Significance of Writing a Captivating College Essay

Students facing the college application process typically dread one component: the Common App essay.  Here, students are presented with six essay prompts, as well as a seventh option, which is “topic of your choice.” Students therefore have limitless possibilities for this essay which will be carefully reviewed by each college to which the student applies.

 

The goal of college admissions officers is to learn about the student who is applying: personal qualities, struggles, ambitions, priorities.  On other parts of the application a student’s “data” is detailed. So, this is not the place to write about one’s SAT scores, GPA, or intended major, or to enumerate one’s activities.  It is the place to write about an event, situation, or life circumstance that has influenced the student’s attitudes, goals, and perceptions of life.

Demonstrated Interest Increases College Acceptances

Colleges nationwide are cognizant of the fact that high school students, utilizing the Common App (which is accepted by more than 1,000 institutions), can easily apply to a multitude of schools.  As high school seniors ultimately will enroll in only one college, it becomes a guessing game as to which school each applicant will choose. 

Since many colleges have multi-billion-dollar budgets, it’s important to them to identify which students would likely enroll, and pay tuition, if accepted. The way for a student to get their attention is to show “demonstrated interest” – indicating that the college is special and is likely to be the applicant’s top choice.

 

There are a multitude of ways to show demonstrated interest. One of the most important is to visit colleges under consideration, signing in at the Admissions Office and taking the official tour. There is a spot on the Common App whereby each college asks if the applicant has visited and, if so, the month and year of the tour. When students apply to colleges within a few hours of home, and never took the time to visit, admissions staff are hesitant to believe that their institution is truly a top choice.

2024 Top Trends in College Admissions

Although the COVID era initiated a “test optional” policy at colleges across the country, eager to attract applicants, the admission process has now gone full circle. The number of students taking the SAT is back to pre-COVID days as many colleges nationwide reinstated test scores as a requirement in the application process. 

“Our research shows standardized tests help us better assess the academic preparedness of all applicants,” stated the Dean of Admissions at MIT, who added that this requirement “is more equitable and transparent than a test-optional policy.”

 

The SAT also serves a multitude of other purposes, such as allowing students to test out of freshman year of college placement exams and making them eligible for many merit scholarships that require test scores.

College Admissions Advantage of Early Decision

High school students with their hearts set on a particular college would do well to employ a time-honored strategy: apply early decision.  By promising a college that they will attend, if accepted, students typically increase the odds that they will get a “You’re accepted!” email or letter. 

At some colleges, the early decision admission advantage is enormous. At The College of New Jersey, one of the highest ranked colleges in the Garden State, the early decision acceptance rate was 97% compared to the regular decision acceptance rate of 64%.

 

At Villanova University, a Pennsylvania school popular with New Jersey students, the early decision rate was 55% compared to 23% for regular applicants.

 

At American University in Washington D.C., the acceptance ratio was 86% to 41%, while at the College of the Holy Cross, located about an hour from Boston, the acceptance ratio was 81% to 36%.

New Jersey Based College Rankings

New Jersey is known for its “brain drain,” with more than half of its college bound students heading out-of-state for their higher education. But these students may be overlooking some key advantages of staying within state boundaries.

First of all, there is the matter of tuition.  New Jersey is home to 18 community colleges that offer more than 1,700 degree and certificate programs. Students can launch their higher education at minimal cost, and then transfer to a four-year college to earn their diploma. At Raritan Valley Community College, for example, the cost of tuition for local residents is $186 per credit, with substantial discounts to students from families with an adjusted gross income below $80,000.

Students can also enroll directly in one of New Jersey’s public four-year colleges and universities and take advantage of a substantially discounted in-state tuition. Rutgers University – New Brunswick is ranked #15 in the Top Public National Universities, according to U.S. News & World Report.  Tuition for in-state students at its College of Arts & Sciences has been set at $14,222 (plus fees) for the 2024-25 school year, while out-of-state students will be billed $33,734 (plus fees).

Successful High School Students’ College Timeline

High school years pass by quickly, and before students know it they are working on their college applications.  They are being asked what major they are choosing, what volunteer work they’ve engaged in, why they’re applying to each college, and what they’re likely to contribute to their future college community.  Hopefully, students will have amassed experiences during their first three years of high school to be able to provide meaningful answers.

Freshman year is the ideal time to assess one’s academic strengths and interests. Students should join clubs and activities that will help direct them to their potential college major and career.  If considering pre-med, they might join “Doctors of Tomorrow.” For engineering-related experiences, they should consider “Robotics” and “Engineering Club.”  For business, they could get involved with “Future Business Leaders of America,” or “Young Investors Society.” For computer science, students might join “Quantum Computing Club” or “Computer Science Club.”  By doing so early on, students will be able to assess if this is truly the field they want to pursue.  If it is, they will have time to ultimately earn a leadership position which carries substantial weight on college applications. If it’s not, they have time to “try out” a different field of study.

What to Avoid in College Application Essays

An important part of the Common Application, which is accepted by more than 1,000 colleges, is the “personal essay.” Students are given six options as prompts, as well as a seventh option which is to share an essay on a topic of choice.  So, students can write about anything at all.

The essay is an integral part of the application, as it is typically viewed by all the schools to which a student applies.  It is the one section where students have the opportunity to share what is unique about them and what qualities they will bring to their future college community.

 

To make their essay stand out, students should avoid some common pitfalls.