It’s no secret that getting accepted to a top college has never been more competitive. A stellar GPA and impressive SAT scores are just the start. According to Forbes, admissions officers are favoring applicants with evidence of leadership, extracurriculars that have an impact, demonstration of an entrepreneurial spirit, and engagement in a “passion project.”
A recent report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling found that college applicants who demonstrate leadership roles have a distinct advantage in the admissions process. There’s a wide range of opportunities to do so, including serving as captain on an athletic team, securing a position on student government, spearheading a volunteer activity, or founding a club or securing a leadership role in an existing one. Since colleges want students who will be active leaders on campus, evidence of this trait in high school activities carries a great deal of weight.
A study by the Harvard Graduate School of Education found that colleges are more impressed by students with a niche who focus deeply on one or two activities than by those who spread themselves thin. “Depth over breadth” is the saying that emphasizes the importance of becoming deeply engaged in a limited number of activities that have a positive impact, rather than with a multitude of engagements.
A surge in entrepreneurship among teens has caught the attention of college admissions officers. “Students who can demonstrate how they built something from scratch – whether it’s a product, service, or movement – show initiative, innovation, and resilience,” reported Forbes. A student’s entrepreneurial experiences can also provide material for an impressive college application essay, sharing a real-world problem that was solved while communication, leadership, and critical thinking skills were developed.
Many successful college applicants are also able to share a “passion project” with which they were engaged throughout most of their high school days. Students with whom I’ve worked over the past few years were involved in projects in a wide range of fields – typically tied to their potential college major.
A future pre-med student in Hillsborough launched an eyeglass drive with collection sites throughout the township. To date, he has donated more than a thousand pairs which were sent abroad where doctors identify the prescription and distribute them to needy people. A Montgomery student launched a non-profit to send medical supplies and funds to an orphanage in India. A Bridgewater student collected used soccer balls to distribute to inner city students.
Today’s high school students are encouraged to identify their passions and then utilize them through hands-on activities in their school and community.
Susan Alaimo is the founder & director of Collegebound Review, offering PSAT/SAT® preparation & private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362
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