The Common App Honors Section Advantage

Students seeking to impress college admissions officers need to make the most of every section of their application. The majority of students utilize the Common Application, which is accepted by more than 1,000 colleges throughout the U.S. and more than 50 international universities. It includes an Honors section, giving students an opportunity to highlight their accomplishments.

The Common App prompt reads: Do you wish to report any honors related to your academic achievements beginning with the ninth grade or international equivalent?

 

There is space allocated for up to five honors, so students should choose carefully and place them in decreasing order of prominence.  National awards are typically listed first, followed by state, local, and school awards. 

Rutgers University Joins the Common Application

Life just got easier for college-bound students with Rutgers on their list. The New Jersey public university, with campuses in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden, has joined the ranks of more than 1,000 colleges accepting the newest Common App which goes live on August 1^st. 

The Common Application was first launched back in 1998 to help streamline the college application process.  It allows students to fill out information once -- including family information, high school data, SAT and AP scores (which are sometimes optional), and activities. Students list their colleges of interest on a “Dashboard,” and ultimately use this platform to submit their applications.

 

The Common App includes an essay that is required by the majority of colleges. Students have the option of choosing from among seven prompts, with one being “topic of your choice.”  Other prompts allow students to share a talent or interest, challenge they’ve overcome, accomplishment or period of personal growth, or a topic they find captivating.

Summer Activities of Top College Applicants

Students vying for acceptance to the most competitive colleges know the benefit of highlighting impressive SAT scores and GPA, ideally including a perfect “5” on a gamut of AP exams. While that will move them to the top of the pack, more needs to be accomplished to acquire a seat at one of the most coveted universities.   

The summer provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in meaningful activities that will demonstrate their commitment to a particular field of study and help them stand out from their peers.  This can be accomplished through participation in extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities, or enrollment in specialized courses. 

 

Students seeking acceptance into a particular course of study – business, engineering, pre-med, physical therapy – are often asked to write a supplemental essay about their “experiences” that have led to their passion for the field.  Summer is the ideal time to shadow a mentor in the field, participate in an internship, or engage in some pre-professional program.

What’s an Acceptable SAT Score for College Admissions?

College-bound students often wonder what SAT score they need to reach their goals.  The answer is that it varies greatly.  It depends on the student’s aspirations and the competition from their peers.

 

Students should make a list of their colleges of choice, and then look up the “middle 50” range of SAT scores.  This information is included in the Best Colleges guide by U.S. News & World Report.  At Princeton University, for example, the 25/75 percentile SAT scores are listed as 1460-1570.  At Stevens Institute of Technology its 1370-1510, at Rutgers-New Brunswick its 1240-1470, and at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) its 1180-1430.

 

Students who not only want to gain acceptance but also be awarded scholarship money should aim for the upper portion of that range or exceed it.