Good Letters Of Recommendation
In addition, getting a letter of recommendation from a former boss enables a student to stand a better chance to be selected for the admission as compared to those without a recommendation. The recommendation letter identifies some of the skills colleges look for that the applicant has demonstrated in the past. As well, you can get the recommendation letter from a supervisor from a previous volunteer activity. In the case whereby an individual runs a business, then they can ask one of their clients to write them a recommendation letter. A family friend cam also serves the purpose of writing a recommendation letter. However, professional references tend to be stronger as compared to personal references.
Myth : Being Well Rounded Is Critical For Success
One of the most pervasive myths out there about what looks good on a college application is the idea of being well rounded.
Many students assume they’ll need to have tons of extracurricular activities on their applications this, they believe, will emphasize their array of interests as well as their knowledge of a variety of fields. But all this really tells admissions committees is that you’re stretching yourself too thin and lack focus on a specific endeavor in your life.
What colleges actually want to see is a spike, that is, a single passion. This allows colleges to get a clearer feel for who you are, what you’re interested in, and what your goals are. Having a spike lets you stand out in a truly meaningful way, whereas being well rounded will make you forgettable and seem too similar to other applicants.
Spikes are especially important at highly selective colleges and universities, such as Harvard, Yale, and other Ivy League-level schools. You can read more about how to develop a spike in our guide to getting into the Ivy League. Alternatively, if you’re interested in pursuing education at a liberal arts school, check out our article on how to figure out what to go to college for.
If you aim for well rounded, you’ll start to look like everyone else.
What Is Academic Support
Learn About Academic Support at Home A lot of parents have decided that itâs time for their child to benefit from academic support. Do they know exactly what it is? Usually not… They often confuse academic support with other extracurricular support like private tutorials. How exactly is it different? How can we define it? What
06/28/2018 â 6 minutes reading time
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Challenging Curriculum And High Gpa
Curriculum selection is one of the most critical aspects of college planning and begins prior to your freshman year. The classes you select will allow you to step up in academic rigor to honors and AP classes when possible. Always know the prerequisites in your freshman and sophomore year so you will be able to take challenging courses during your junior and senior years.
Your junior year is one the most important years to demonstrate academic rigor and a high GPA. Do not get too aggressive with your class load or load up on too many AP classes. Admissions officials want to see you taking the most challenging classes available to you and achieving the best possible grades!
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Elements For Winning College Applications
What looks good on college applications depends on how your college application will be read at a desired institution. Colleges all have different criteria for evaluating college applications.
For example, Penn State takes a very academic approach. They focus on the transcript as the most important factor in their application review. The University of Miami reviews all applicants in a holistic manner, which means admissions officials read all of your application materials to fully understand your background and experiences. A holistic review generally includes grades, essay, standardized test scores , activities, and letters of recommendation.
If you shape your application items to the most selective colleges, you will likely be ready for any review process. If you are uncertain about whether a college may read more academically or holistically, ask us!
What are the application elements you need to know about right now? Let us go over that information, below.
High School Curriculum & Performance
High achieving students should take on a challenging high school curriculum consisting of at least five core courses per semester. In fact, many colleges will recalculate GPA based only on core subjects alone, such as math, science, English, social studies, foreign languages, etc. It’s also recommended to take AP and honors classes, as an advanced curriculum is preferred to straight As in less challenging courses.
Overall, college admissions typically value students with a difficult course load and grades that represent strong efforts and upward trending scores. But in addition to curriculum and grades, colleges also look at students scores on the SAT or ACT. While high scores on these exams do not compensate for low grades, colleges do value solid scores on the SAT or ACT, and like to see that they are consistent with high school grades.
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Strong Test Scores Still Look Good On College Applications
The test-optional movement does not seem to be slowing down. All Ivy League universities have committed to test-optional plans at least through the 2023 admissions cycle and expect other universities to follow in their footsteps.
As more colleges extend their test-optional policies into future years, you need to know the fine print. It is important to note that test scores can be advantageous to include in your college application for increased acceptance odds. Admissions officials will review them if you indicate on your application you would like them considered.
I recently hosted Compass Education Group as part of my regional leader duties for the Independent Educational Consultants Association . One of the most impressive aspects about Compass Education Group is their nationwide research and data collection about standardized testing in college admissions. Check out the video below to see the recent trends in standardized testing that will impact you in the 2023 application and the years ahead.
What Looks Good On A College Application
If your child is planning on attending college after they graduate high school, its important to get an early start on academic preparation. Its pretty hard to boost a 2.5 GPA to a 3.5 when you have only one year left.
But academics arent the only consideration in college admissions. While there is no specific combination of factors that will guarantee your student a spot at their preferred college, a survey compiled by the National Association for College Admission Counseling reports that, besides academics, admissions officers look at factors like test results, community involvement, and demonstrated interest.
Here are 5 tips to make the most of high school in preparation for college!
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College Applications: What Looks Good
When it comes to getting into college, unfortunately theres not a magic formula that works for every single applicant. However, there are some pretty standard criteria that colleges use to evaluate applicants. And based on these criteria, its possible to get a sense for what looks good on college applications. In this guide, well go over the most important factors colleges consider when reviewing applications.
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Create A Short List Of Schools
Choosing colleges requires thorough research as well as a study of all those school websites. You should pause, take some time and think about what you are good at. Then consider how your learning style and other preferences make a good fit for the particular college.
You can make a list of approximately 15 colleges and split them into three categories. They are: reach schools, target schools and schools with high odds of admission. It will help you further point out the college that is the most suitable for you and the one you would like to apply to.
Sincere Specific And Well
The personal statement is an important part of your college application as it’s one of the only areas where you can really showcase your personality.
According to the 2019 NACAC survey, 56% of schools consider application essays moderately or considerably important. While some colleges don’t require essays, those that do usually place at least moderate importance on them.
So how can you ensure your essay will impress the admissions committee? Generally, colleges are looking for three main qualities in a personal essay:
- Honesty: What you write about should have actually happened to you and should be how you actually feel. Exaggerating details and outright lying are big no-noes here!
- Specificity: Using concrete details to effectively convey your thoughts, view, and experiences will make your essay a lot more memorable, personable, andmost importantlyunique.
- Eloquence: Don’t expect to get accepted anywhere if your essay is poorly written and full of grammar and spelling errors. A great personal statement has a sensible organization, tells a compelling story, and is completely free of technical errors.
Below are some steps you can take to guarantee that your essay will have all three qualities.
Step 1: Brainstorm Significant Moments From Your Life
What you write about for your college essay will vary depending on the prompt you’re given from your school or the prompt you choose .
In general, you’ll want to pick a topic that meets the following criteria:
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Let Us Introduce You To Private Home Tutoring
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09/27/2017 â 8 minutes reading time
Ways To Improve Your College Applications Over The Summer
As a high school student, there are not a lot of internships available that will give you marketable and legitimate experience in the field you desire to go into. However, there are still many other options to make your summer productive while gaining experience especially if you are looking for ways to make your college applications stand out:
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Additional Factors To Consider
Many colleges set aside spaces for students who may not meet traditional criteria but will add to the class diversity. Geographic location, racial or ethnic background, extenuating or unusual life circumstances and experience living or studying overseas may all be influential. Evidence suggests that in some cases applying early decision may also increase the chances of admission.
Be Relevant And Realistic
For example, if you want to be an engineer, you will need to include calculus and advanced math classes in addition to geometry and algebra. You may even want to take some extra classes over the summer to give yourself some time to get it all in. If science is your thing, you should begin planning as early as possible. This will help you put together a plan for classes that will allow you to take advanced courses in your junior or senior year.
While it is not imperative to choose your career path this early, the more prepared you are, the better. Its easy to overlook long-range preparations when you have just entered high school. Four years seems like a lifetime at this age. But the truth is that the classes you take now will affect your ability to choose courses that will match your college goals later on. It is definitely well worth it to set aside time to discuss a plan with your parents and guidance counselor earlier rather than later.
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Does Taking The Sat Or Act Still Matter
Yes! Standardized testing still looks good on college applications. The chart below from Compass Education group illustrates how many highly selective colleges are admitting more students who submit standardized test scores. However, if standardized testing is not a strength for you, you may want to strategize a test-optional pathway.
Essays That Showcase Your Personality
Of course, your college essays need to be written with precise language, strong grammar and be overall of college student caliber. Colleges use your essays to make sure that your writing is on par with the expectations of the university. More than that, however, colleges read your essays to find out as much as they can about you, your interests, and your personality.
So even though you may be tempted to write your college essays in a very professional and erudite manner, you should really write your essays in your own voice. You also want to make sure that the content of your essays touch upon the core things that make you unique and not just the things that colleges want to hear. After reading your essays, the college should have a decent idea of who you are both as a student and as a person.
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Sports Activities That Can Help To Make Your College Application Stand Out
You might be wondering if sports look good on college applications. And they do besides being another commitment, they reveal discipline, teamwork, and leadership.
If you practice and play with friends during the summer, you can always list your sports as a hobby on your resume. However, if you are going to commit a lot of time to a sport, you may want to consider taking it to a higher level of organization.
Prepare For Your Choice Of College With An Expert
Whether you’re trying to improve your computer programming skills or prepare for your SATs, you can always find a private tutor in your area with the right platform.
Enter, Superprof! Superprof is one such platform that links teachers to students and vice-versa. Use it to find yourself a tutor in your area and with a possibly free first session.
Using this tremendous resource, you can brush up over the summer and head into your applications with the confidence to succeed.
Sign up today, enter your preferences, and look for an instructor who shares your penchant for success!
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Why Get A Job In High School
There are many benefits to getting a job in high school. First of all, youll be making money of course. Even if your job is not highly paid, the money you earn will add up and can go towards anything, from investing in a hobby to opening a college savings account.
Second of all, working allows you to explore your professional interests in a real world setting. Perhaps you have always been interested in a certain industry or career. Picking up a part-time job in your prospective field will not only provide exposure, but also help you to identify specific career paths in the industry. For example, if you are interested in the education sector, working at an after-school program for children could give you some perspective on whether youd actually enjoy working in the classroom or if youre more interested in administration or policy. Gaining real world experience early on can help you better tailor your college applications to the programs that best suit your unique interests.
Working in high school also teaches you personal responsibility. While youve likely had your share of group work in the classroom setting, at work, your ability to manage your time and responsibilities effectively ties directly back to business outcomes. Learning accountability and professionalism early on will make you a strong team player in the longer term.
Recommendations From Counselors And Teachers
At selective colleges, strong school support in the form of recommendations from counselors and faculty members has become more important than ever. These recommendations should be highly specific, describing not just each student’s love of learning, but the ways in which the students have demonstrated that they can
- Add to the classroom experience.
- Challenge themselves.
- Attempt original projects.
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How To Prepare For A New School Year
Preparing for a new school year In this article, we will discuss the responsibilities of parents, students, and teachers before and during the beginning of the school year. Continue reading to learn what you should do to make the beginning of school smooth and fruitful. Help your kids get ready for the new school year
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