Unprecedented times offer unprecedented opportunities. College-bound students, in the past, had their work clearly delineated: score high on the SAT, have an impressive G.P.A., get involved in extracurricular activities, and be sure to devote time to volunteer work. Now, however, the rules have changed.
SAT scores, while extremely important to many colleges, are no longer required by all universities. Grade point averages are not what they used to be, as a number of high schools are grading on a pass/fail basis. Extracurricular activities have been greatly curtailed, as have volunteer opportunities.
All of this unprecedented turmoil has truly left students in the driver’s seat to determine what their particular niche will be. While the specific college admission requirements have gotten hazy, the fact will always remain that colleges will choose the most competitive and appealing students from their applicant pool.
An “appealing” student is one who stands out – in almost any arena. Students this year have the opportunity to create their own niche, accomplish something truly remarkable, and let the college admissions people know about it.
Working with a multitude of students on college applications each year, I am always impressed by the unique talents they possess and the amazing accomplishments they are able to enumerate. One of my current students, for example, will have completed 14 AP courses by the time she graduates high school in June. Another, who is interested in a medical career, secured a “surgical observership” at a hospital where she shadowed surgeons in various specialties and viewed more than twenty surgeries. Yet another student is working with mentors who have been guiding him through the intriguing world of computer animation.
Other students choose to supplement their high school education by “trying out” their potential future major with online college courses. One of my students, intrigued with psychology, participated in a six-week Yale University online course, “Introduction to Psychology.’’ Another student, anticipating a career in forensic science, attended the virtual Summer of 2020 “Forensic Science Academy” at Georgetown University.
The options are limitless. Create a “Shopify Store” and build your own online business. Gather the short stories or poems you’ve been writing and self-publish your own book via Amazon. Launch a podcast and share your passion for any topic at all.
Millions of students are finding themselves with something they’ve previously only dreamed of – free time. Using it wisely can prove very beneficial to students and can also impress college admissions officers when the time rolls around to file applications.
Susan Alaimo is the founder of Collegebound Review. For the past 25 years, Collegebound Review's Ivy League educated tutors have prepared students for the PSAT®, SAT®, ACT®, Subject Tests®, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362
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