The College Application process is stressful, draining, and downright unpleasant. But it’s also an important time of introspection that is valuable and sometimes even gratifying. Here are ten things I wish I had known as I was applying to college:
Adjust your mindset and expectations.
You probably know that the college admissions process is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. After all, what university you attend will dictate the next four years of your life, the people you’ll meet, and the direction your career takes. Most people go into this process feeling this pressure of needing to be the “perfect applicant” in order to get into their “dream school.” I get it…I’ve been there too. My advice is to abandon that train of thought and completely reset your mindset. If I had to describe this process in one word it would be “humbling.” You have to accept that this process will be difficult and that you will struggle. It’s not supposed to be a walk in the park–after all, nothing worth having ever comes easy!
You should also realize that the college admissions process isn’t fair–and neither is life. There are certain things outside your control, and you should simply accept that and do your best within the confines of what’s within your power. Remember that you don’t have to be perfect (nobody’s perfect!). Just present the best possible version of yourself.
I like to think of college admissions like a dating app. There’s only so much you can do to craft your profile; ultimately each college has separate tastes and standards that will cause them to swipe right or left. Banish the idea of “soul mates” from your mind–at least in terms of colleges. There is no “perfect college” for you, so don’t stress over whether or not you’re applying to the “right” schools or not. Think of it more like multiple schools are a good match for you, and know that you’ll end up somewhere that you’ll fit in. You just have to trust that the right match is out there who will appreciate you for what you’re worth.
Try to stay objective and keep an open mind. Many people are so fixated on their “dream school” that they miss out on opportunities to apply to or attend other great institutions! It’s ok to have a “dream school” but don’t let it be the end all be all. At the end of the day, you’re in control of your education, your career, and your life and each college is simply a vessel to help you achieve your success. Never forget that!
Take a step back and self-reflect.
This is the time when you will really have to get to know yourself. Before you even start looking at colleges and writing essays, I recommend looking inward to discover your identity. What do you love to do? What drives you? Think about the activities you engage in and the subjects that interest you. Now consider why they are so appealing to you and what that says about who you are. Brainstorm a list of qualities that you think best describe you and find times when you’ve clearly exhibited these qualities. Try to be as specific as possible. This will help later on with brainstorming essay topics and anecdotes.
Once you’ve determined the qualities you want to exhibit throughout your application, ask yourself: “What do I want from my college experience?” What type of college are you interested in? A large public school with plenty of students and opportunities? A small private school with intense student focus and support? A school with a social scene or a school with academic rigor? Maybe some schools have specialized programs for an academic interest that really attracts you. Your personal qualities and a prospective school’s values should align. Because one of the deciding factors in this process–and I promise you’ll hear this time and time again–is fit.
Stay organized and set priorities.
As you begin your college search and compiling your list of schools, make sure to establish an organized system to keep track of all your schools, deadlines, essays, recommendations, etc. If you’re tech-savvy, maybe a spreadsheet and distinct Google drive folders for each college is the way to go. If you want a more traditional approach, maybe a notebook and printed documents is more your style. Whatever you choose, make sure you can clearly keep track of all the documents and resources.
In terms of making a list of schools, it’s a good idea to start broad and narrow your list down later. It’s ok if your list changes throughout the process…in fact it probably will as you grow and adapt over the months (my lists in August and in December were very different). But once you have a general outline of what your college list will look like, determine which colleges you want to focus the most on. Some applications are more strenuous and effortful than others so this can help you decide on how you want to order your colleges. Maybe you want to finish your high-priority applications first to avoid the infamous “College Essay Burnout.” Maybe you want to save your high-priority applications for the end to ensure you’ve got more experience and drafts under your belt to put your best foot forward. Either way, set priorities for your schools and adjust your schedule accordingly.
Do your research.
Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of this process is the research. While essay writing can be difficult, it’s nearly impossible if you don’t know what you’re talking about. You should always do research on each school that you apply to. Even if your parents attended a school or you watch their football team play every Saturday, there’s always important information waiting to be found if you dig deeper. What is a school known for? What programs do they offer that you can’t find anywhere else? Is there a professor that you’d love to work/research with? Maybe a club that seems tailor-made for you? Many schools have the infamous “Why Us?” essay and you’ll need to dig deep to show that you’re truly interested in attending that specific institution.
Typically, you’re trying to answer two questions: “Why am I interested in attending this school?” and “How am I a good match for this school?” When researching, there are plenty of factors to consider in prospective schools including: academics, extracurricular/athletic opportunities, student support, location, size, and price. It’s important that throughout your research, you stay objective in your views of a college. Recognize that there are pros and cons to every university. A large public school will have a massive network and boundless opportunities, but it may not focus on the student as much. A small private institution will provide world-class professors and plenty of research opportunities but might have a higher price tag. Even your “dream school” will have its fair share of shortcomings, and it’s important that your enthusiasm for that school doesn’t blind you to its less desirable features. Similarly, if there’s a school that you’ve for some reason always hated growing up, take a step back and consider some of its pros. Dispel your preconceived notions and consider each school fairly and objectively.
As you research, you’ll encounter plenty of statistics provided by the schools. My advice? Don’t take too much about stats into account. Stats like average SAT/ACT scores, average GPA, and acceptance percentage never tell the real story. If you’ve taken stats (or even if you haven’t), you should know that the biggest takeaway is that “Correlation doesn’t equal causation.” These stats reflect a sweeping generalization of the past, but this is no way to predict the future. Just because you have an SAT within or above a school’s average range does NOT mean you’ll get in. Conversely, if your score is under their average, that doesn’t mean you’ll get rejected.
The one stat that I particularly cannot stand is acceptance rate because it’s so misleading. Take Harvard for example. They have an incredibly low acceptance rate of 4%. But contrary to popular belief, THIS DOES NOT MEAN EVERYBODY HAS A 4% CHANCE OF ADMITTANCE! Students are not randomly selected to get into college (that would be absolute chaos). Instead, every applicant is unique and is selected based on whether or not they meet what a college admissions counselor is looking for. I like to think about it as everyone having their individual acceptance probability based on their tangible qualities (GPA, Class Rank, SAT/ACT, extracurriculars, etc.) and can increase or decrease their probability by showing their intangible qualities (personality, character, teacher recommendations, personal voice). It’s true that numbers don’t lie, but they often don’t tell the whole story. So don’t pay too close attention to numbers.
Establish your platform.
Based on what I’ve seen and heard and my own experiences, the best way to put your best foot forward is to establish a clear platform. What I mean by this is combining all aspects of your application from your essays to your activities and teacher recommendations into one focus that your entire application will be based around.
Too many people think they have to be flashy and outlandish in their actions just to be unique enough to get accepted. This is just false, and most of the time, these students will come across as ingenuine, the exact opposite of what you want to convey. I’m going to be brutally honest: there isn’t any one thing you can do to guarantee your admission into any school. No matter what you try, it’s almost certain someone else has done it before. I’ve met high schoolers that have researched cures for a disease, helped cybersecurity encryption for government agencies, and performed music at the legendary Carnegie Hall. Unless you’re genuinely passionate about something, don’t try something crazy just for the sake of standing out: it’ll probably backfire. You should never have to change who you are just to be accepted.
Instead, try to emphasize the unique experiences and background you come from and how that has shaped your distinct perspective. Although it may be intimidating to convey your entire life through a single application, embrace the fact that colleges don’t know who you are and relish the opportunity to show them your passion and vision. The beautiful part of this process is that you get to pick and choose what you want to show to colleges.
I think of it as telling the story of your identity. Every part of your application should mesh together to tell a clear, cohesive story of who you are as an applicant. It’s important to establish a stance of who you are and incorporate this common theme throughout your app. Let’s say you’re involved in the competitive math team and Science Olympiad and have a passion for Rubik’s Cubes and are a tutor at Kumon. Your common theme might be problem-solving…you love solving puzzles and challenging yourself to think outside the box to not only learn but also teach. Hammer this point home and clearly show college admissions exactly who you are.
This process isn’t just about showing who you are, it’s also showing colleges who you want to be. Connect your past experiences, the lessons you’ve learned, the people you’ve met, the perspectives that make you who you are into how you intend to pursue success in the future. The strongest applicants don’t have to be the smartest or the most talented or the most active (sometimes less is more). The strongest applicants are able to connect their entire application together and tell one memorable yet irrefutable story that proudly says: “This is who I am now, and at your college, this is who I’ll grow to be.”
BONUS TIP: Pick a major that makes sense.
An essential part of your “story” is what major or academic interest you say you’re interested in. If you know exactly what you want to major in, great! Your job now is to find ways to explain WHY. Maybe you loved reading Greek classics and Aristotle and Plato inspired your love for philosophy. Maybe you love keeping up with the rocket launches of SpaceX and learning about the new technology that takes us “out of this world,” which makes you interested in pursuing aerospace engineering. Maybe you’ve always had a passion for dissecting computers and building small devices from scratch, which makes computer engineering your thing. If you already know what you want to major in, chances are you’ve been active in pursuing opportunities to further your particular passions, so all you have to do is show it!
However, the reality is that most high school students have no idea what they want to do with their lives so choosing a major is difficult. And that’s totally ok! When you write essays describing your academic interests, you’re not committing yourself to this major for the next four years, you’re simply expressing a field that you find fascinating. Many students choose to write about a major just because they enjoyed learning the subject in a high school class. And while it may be the easy route to take (“I want to major in chemistry because honors chemistry was fun”), it doesn’t benefit your application or your story as much as it could.
Instead, take some time to truly research the hundreds of majors out there. Your major should at least somewhat align with the interests you’ve exhibited throughout the rest of your application. It wouldn’t make sense for someone who has predominantly shown STEM interests in activities and classes to suddenly major in American History unless they have a truly convincing story. If you’re choosing a strange major just to be unique, DON’T…admissions committees will see right through that. Instead, sit down and reflect on what general fields you’ve been active in–STEM, Humanities, or some intersection between the two. From there, consider the ideas (not subjects) that interest you…this will help you start to narrow down potential majors. It’s ok if you’re dead set on a major, you are free to change in college. You should just pick one that you can write easily about and convince college admissions that you are passionate about.
A quick warning to those who want to major in Pre-med, computer science, or another very popular STEM major. Make sure you are applying to this major because you love it, not because they’re in high demand or they pay well or your parents want you to. These are HIGHLY competitive majors full of applicants who have grown up wanting to be doctors and computer scientists. I’m not saying don’t apply pre-med or comp sci, just make sure you’re doing so for the right reasons. If you’re truly passionate about medicine or coding, all the power to you. But if you don’t really know why you’ve always said you wanted to be a doctor (this was also me once lol), I’d advise looking at other majors that might better suit your platform.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
While this is ultimately your journey, don’t forget that you’re not in this alone! Your friends, family, and trusted mentors are there to help you. If you know someone who is currently in college, maybe a sibling or a relative or a friend, don’t be afraid to ask for advice on this process. Most of your friends are going through this same process and are feeling many of the emotions you are feeling. While everyone’s journey is different, your friends are also applying to college and feeling the stress and pressure of the process. Sharing the process with people you love doesn’t necessarily make it easier, but it does make it more manageable.
It’s also important that you have others review your essays. As a writer, sometimes things you say make sense in your head but sound incoherent and unclear to everyone else. You should have someone you trust review your essays for grammar, syntax, and clarity and help you make edits to improve your writing. Most importantly, have someone close to you read your essays to make sure it sounds genuinely like you. If your essay had no name or indication of the author, your friends should still be able to distinguish that it’s yours. Keep an open mind and be prepared to accept criticism about your writing. You can ultimately choose to ignore any advice, and that’s totally fine. But having different eyes read your essay will definitely help you improve your writing and convey your messages more clearly.
Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy the company of your friends and family! It’s ok to take breaks and socialize! If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, reach out to a friend or relative and find a way to decompress. If your mind isn’t in the right place, it’s almost impossible to work effectively.
Take your time…but don’t procrastinate.
Everybody’s timeline is slightly different but most people’s college application “season” lies somewhere between August 1 and January 1. Five months may seem like loads of time, but trust me, it FLIES by. To give yourself as much time as possible, try to start as early as the summer before senior year. You don’t necessarily have to write all your essays over the summer (enjoy your vacation–you’ve earned it), but brainstorming and research can be done ahead of time to spend more time during the fall to craft essays.
One of the more underrated stressors in this process is the fact that you still have high school and extracurriculars to attend! It’s not like your sole focus is college apps, you also have to keep up with your grades and commitments. That’s why it’s essential to manage your time wisely. If there’s a day with less homework or maybe some free time on the weekend, dedicate it to working on your apps. Writing essays is especially time-consuming and you’ll find that writer’s block can often be a real challenge. Sometimes you’ll sit down to write and discover that you’ve forgotten everything you’ve learned about the English language. Another common yet unfortunate event is having to completely restart an essay. Even if you try to force yourself to write, it simply might not be the day so afford yourself plenty of time and opportunities to draft, edit, revise, and repeat!
It’s important you take the time to be thorough throughout this process. If possible, everything should be planned and thought out in advance from your essay topics to your activity descriptions and your teacher recommendation selections. Don’t let careless mistakes hurt your chances! Before submitting an application, double and triple-check to make sure everything is as you intend it to be. Don’t rush something and regret it later!
Perhaps the most stressful times in high school were right before important college deadlines (for me November 1 and January 1 were killers). Try not to procrastinate and leave all your work until the last minute. If you do, your application might not be as polished as it could be. Now I understand that it’s tough to feel motivated until the deadlines give you that boost of adrenaline needed to start working (trust me, I’ve been there). But if you can start early, you’ll give yourself plenty of buffer to get your best possible application in before the deadline.
Craft stories, not essays.
Ah, the infamous college essay. Perhaps the most important yet tricky part of the college application is writing the essays. It’s often intimidating: you’ll sometimes struggle to even think of topics to write about. But don’t be discouraged…take each essay one at a time and afford yourself plenty of time to work on multiple drafts.
After you’ve brainstormed several ideas, create a general outline of how you want to structure your essay. Longer essays within the 350-650 word range especially need to have a well-defined structure to break them down into manageable paragraphs. Shorter essays should be outlined in terms of ideas you want to express.
When you sit down to write your first draft, don’t be afraid to simply spew your thoughts on a document in a “stream of consciousness” style. Rough drafts are just about getting ideas on paper because you’ll go back to edit and revise later. Don’t worry about diction or grammar or word count, just get words on paper.
It’s important to take a break between drafts to clear your head and return once you’ve spent time away from a particular essay. Oftentimes, after spending too much consecutive time with an essay, you’ll find ways to convince yourself it’s better than it actually is, and it’s completely normal. When you return, dig a bit deeper and refine your ideas with strong sentences and clear messages. After a few revisions, you can share it with others to get more feedback to improve your writing.
There is no such thing as a “perfect” essay or writing style; write in your own voice and a style that is comfortable to you. If you naturally gravitate towards using literary devices and vivid imagery, use that style! Maybe you like a more direct humorous approach with witty humor that makes you chuckle as you write–go for it! This isn’t the time to experiment with writing styles…if it’s not natural to you, it probably won’t read very naturally to admissions.
However you decide to write, the most important part of an essay is its content. The essay is the chance for a college admissions committee to understand your personality, character, and identity. So make sure you show them! First and foremost, you should be the star of your essays: your essays should focus on you. There are plenty of different prompts but each essentially boils down to “What makes you, you?” You don’t want to show that you’re perfect, just show that you’re unique.
Don’t think you’re unique? Let me prove you otherwise. From the moment you were born, you’ve been surrounded by a unique family and grew up with distinct experiences that have shaped your identity and perspectives today. Your background and experiences are inherently special and make you one of a kind. That’s why anecdotes are especially valuable because they show aspects of you that are unique. Chances are you have an experience that reveals an ingrained part of your character that you can write about to add personality to your essays. The trick is just being able to dig into your past and recall old memories.
Ultimately, your essays should tell a story. Instead of telling colleges about your qualities, it’s much more effective to SHOW them. Describe your experiences that have shown you’re hard-working and caring. Maybe you grew up taking care of your grandparents or working in the family business–write about that! Instead of saying you’re naturally curious, explain how you were intrigued by watching a David Blaine magic show and were nearly driven crazy trying to explain his wizardry.
Every anecdote should connect back to who you are. Everything should come back to your platform and the common theme you want to exhibit throughout your application. Your scores, stats, activities and experiences are the backbone of your story–you choose what to highlight in your essays and how to “spin” them in a way that portrays you as a distinct scholar and person that will make an impact at a particular college.
One of the most valuable tips I received was to put myself in the shoes of an admissions counselor when rereading my essays. Something that makes sense to me might be interpreted differently by a college admissions committee. Read your essays critically and objectively to consider how you come across as. Here are examples of what you DON’T want to sound like:
The God/Savior Complex - overconfident and flashy, invincible and superior, “I use my gifts to help those less fortunate than me.” It’s ok to want to help others, but don’t be cocky or ingenuine about it.
The Negative Pessimist - sees everything in a negative light, overly self-critical, potentially unmotivated to seek change. If this is who you truly are, try not to show it as few colleges will want to accept someone who brings a negative aura to their campus.
The Thesaurus - uses words that you’d only find in the Scripps Spelling Bee, clearly looks up synonyms for every possible word. Contrary to popular belief, the thesaurus is NOT your best friend. Use words that are natural for you. Your essays should reflect your personality and writing style, not a thesaurus.
The Robot - emotionless, monotone, only studies and does work, has no life or fun. As an Asian-American applicant, this is the stereotype that unfortunately is associated with us. Break the stereotype and show PASSION in your essays.
There is no formula for crafting a good college essay. One thing that you can count on is that it WILL take time. Everybody’s writing style will be different and you’ll encounter many types of essays. Whatever the prompt, always brainstorm, outline, draft, edit, polish, repeat. And the focus should always be to tell a clear, concise story of who you are.
Work hard, be patient, trust the process, and don’t overreact.
Philip Pullman once said, “What is worth having is worth working for.” You get one shot at applying to colleges, so most people are understandably stressed and feel the pressure. But just step back, take a deep breath, keep your head down, and work. This is not the time to slack off–both in and out of school–as any dips in performance (drastic grade drops or suspensions or reportable disciplinary action) could look really bad. This is going to be a hard process, but you’re prepared for it so push through the adversity! After all, as the saying goes “You Only Apply to College Once!”
The several months after you submit your applications might be the hardest part: the wait! Waiting for admissions decisions can be excruciating and burdensome, but don’t let it stop you from enjoying your last year of high school! After you submit, it’s out of your hands and there’s nothing more you can do. Sit back, relax, and wait patiently for that decision.
When notification days usually roll around, it can seem like a very tense time. Try your best to stay calm, relax, and trust the process. Remember, an acceptance/rejection doesn’t dictate your life, you will control your destiny at whatever college you attend. Rejection is an unfortunate inevitability of this process but don’t let it drag you down! Accept it and move on with the understanding that your talents will be better served elsewhere. Keep your head high and don’t be discouraged.
When you do get that acceptance, feel free to celebrate! Congrats on this momentous achievement! But don’t get too caught up in the frenzy of an acceptance. While it’s great to feel excited and proud of yourself, don’t make any rash decisions and wait for your other decisions to come back so you have all options on the table. There may still be better offers and options yet to come!
In the end, you might not necessarily get into the school you wanted but have faith that you’ll end up at the school where you belong. Whether you get accepted, rejected, or waitlisted, you’ve still grown as an intellect and as a person throughout this process, which is something you should be incredibly proud of. Celebrate your wins, move on from your losses, and stay positive throughout the whole process!
Have confidence, be yourself, and take pride in who you are!
The college application process is filled with stress, fear, frustration, and uncertainty. But it’s also a revealing process that helps you better understand yourself at the end. If there’s one thing you can take away from these tips, it’s that you should always be yourself and be proud of who you are. You are a unique and talented individual that will ultimately leave a mark on this planet. No matter what happens, continue to work hard on your journey through college and life. You will doubtless continue to grow as you gain experience and wisdom. But never change who you are for someone else. Best of luck!
CS
The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.
Very thoughtful and excellent information!
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