It’s not a secret that it takes considerable time and effort to compose effective college applications, so there’s no better time than the present for college bound students to embark on the journey. Here are some tips to get started:
1) Write an impressive essay. Most students start out with the Common Application, which is accepted by more than 700 colleges. It requires one essay (that can be used for all of the college applications) between 250-650 words. Students need to think of something they want to share with the college admission people that wouldn’t otherwise come across in their application. The goal of an effective college essay is to show insight into one’s admirable character, a sense of direction for the future, and a thirst for knowledge and opportunities in the next stage of life. It has already been announced that the Common Application questions for 2019-20 will be the exact same as those offered for the current year. So students can get to work early, writing and fine-tuning an essay that they are proud of.
2) Personalize each application. Every college is greatly concerned with its “yield” — the percent of accepted students who actually enroll. So a great strategy to actually gain acceptance is to convince the college/university that you will almost certainly attend if given the opportunity to do so. If at all possible, visit any college to which you are applying, sign in so the college has a record of your visit, and take notes of the college’s specific qualities that make it so appealing. On each application, clearly express the reasons the particular school is a great fit. Does it offer impressive internships, or have a high acceptance rate to med school? Does it host a study abroad program in a particular country that would benefit your academic interests? Let each college know the specifics as to why it’s a perfect match, as a show of “demonstrated interest” greatly increases the chances of getting on the accepted list.
3) Cover the basics – which means earning a great GPA while taking a competitive course load and posting impressive SAT scores. Many high schools in New Jersey offer twenty or more AP courses, and colleges consider how competitive a course load you took based on the options you were provided. As for recent SAT scores, the “average” SAT score at several New Jersey high schools, including Montgomery, Princeton and West Windsor-Plainsboro, all topped 1,300. So the bar is set high for students who want to stand out among their peers.
Susan Alaimo is the founder of SAT Smart. For the past 25 years, SAT Smart’s Ivy League educated tutors have prepared students for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, Subject Tests, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.SATsmart.com or call 908-369-5362.
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