The 5 Building Blocks of a Strong College Application
Getting into college doesn’t happen overnight. Yes, you need a strong application ,however,, you can’t showcase what you’ve never done. Building your application starts from Day 1 of your freshman year.
We’re going to give you a general road map on what you need to do in order to build a competitive college application. This article will be aimed towards students planning to apply directly to a 4 year university out of high school.
Academic Performance (GPA & Class Difficulty)
a. GPA: Obviously you need to have good grades. But what is a “Good GPA”? The answer to that question will be relative to the schools you are applying to. The average GPA of admitted students will vary depending if you’re looking at state schools in California vs Missouri vs Ivy Leagues. While there isn’t a “target” GPA, aiming for a GPA of 3.6+ (unweighted) is a good goal to strive for. Keep in mind 3.6 will be considered competitive for some schools, but not others. Here is where you need to look at the academic demographics of a particular school’s incoming freshman class.
b. Class Difficulty
Hypothetically you can have a very high GPA simply because you enrolled in the easiest classes at your school. However this “trick” doesn’t really work as colleges have access to the list of available courses at your high school. They will see if your school offered AP/IB courses, and if you took them (and did well). Getting a 4.0 by taking “the easy way out” may not look as favorable as having a slightly lower GPA but taking more rigorous courses.
Standardized Testing (ACT/SAT/AP/IB)
a. One of the most frequent questions we get is: should we take the SAT/ACT? Schools can require these tests, be test optional (meaning schools will consider the score if you submit them, but you won’t be penalized if you don’t submit them), or be test blind (schools won’t consider the scores at all)
b. Why should you take SAT/ACT?
It can strengthen your academic stats/profile
Having strong standardized test scores can accomplish a few things for you in the eyes of the admissions committee. First, it gives the committee a benchmark way to compare you to other applicants (something that has become increasingly difficult). Second, it can potentially help to offset a low GPA, or alternatively, further bolster your strong GPA.
A good score to aim for is the 75th percentile of your desired school. Again the score for the 75th percentile will vary widely depending on the caliber of schools you are applying to. By hitting that benchmark, you are demonstrating that you academically fit into their admissions profile.
General Score Rankings (this is a generalization, please look at your target schools to get the most accurate information)
Moderately Selective Schools: SAT 1200-1350 | ACT 24-28
More Selective Schools: SAT 1350-1450 | ACT 28-32
Highly Selective Schools: SAT 1450-1600 | ACT 32-36
It can make you eligible for certain scholarships/aid
This will require more extensive research on your end to see what scholarships/aid you are eligible for.
c. AP/IB Exams
Scoring well on AP/IB exams can further bolster your application’s academic profile. These tests are standardized and thus are another way for college admissions committees to evaluate you compared to other students. Scoring well on these exams can also earn you college credit upon enrollment and also give you access to earlier class registration dates.
Extracurriculars
a. In today’s competitive admissions climate, good grades & test scores aren’t enough. Students need to be meaningfully involved. Note we say meaningfully. Quality over quantity is really important here. Joining 10 different organizations but just being a basic member and not contributing towards high level organizational goals doesn’t really do anything for you. Admissions committees want to see you taking initiative through active participation and leadership roles. You should able to state clear impact and outcomes resulting from your time in that organization.
Examples include but are not limited to: math olympiad, model UN, debate, robotics, theater, band/choir, non profit internships, peer mentoring programs, student council, club leadership, athletics.
If you know what major you will be planning to study, you should involve yourself in the relevant extracurriculars/involvements
Personal Statement & Supplemental Essays
a. Your essays are your only opportunity for the admissions committee to hear from you directly. Up until now, you are just stats and a resume.
b. The personal statement is your primary essay. Most colleges participate in the Common App system. The goal of your personal statement is not to summarize your resume, rather, you need to communicate your character, desires, or self growth vision.The best personal statements are specific and personal rather than vague and with minimal direction.
A few principles to keep in mind:
Show, don't tell. Don't say you're a leader — describe a specific experience and let the reader draw that conclusion.
Focus on growth, not pain. Writing about hardship is absolutely valid, but the focus should be on your response and growth, not on the hardship itself.
Start early. Your first draft will not be your last. Give yourself enough time to write multiple versions and revisions.
Supplemental essays are additional school-specific essays that may be required. “Why this school” is a popular supplemental essay. The key is to not write something generic here (“great campus atmosphere” “strong community” etc). Admissions committees read thousands of essays and can spot a generic answer easily. Strong supplemental essays are specific: they reference particular programs, research opportunities, or other specifics that genuinely connect to your goals and interests. If you can swap the school's name out and send the same essay to a different school, it's not specific enough.
Letters of Recommendation
a. Letters of recommendation are valued because it gives the admissions committees a sense of who you are through the lens of a professional superior. A strong letter can be the difference between an admission or a rejection.
b. Most schools require two to three letters, typically from teachers and a school counselor. You can ask other mentor figures as well, but just be cognizant of school specific requirements.
c. You may be tempted to ask your favorite teacher or the teacher of a class in which you got a good grade in. However, you want to ask teachers who know you well enough to write something specific and personal about you. Your letters of recommendation should describe your character and personal attributes. A teacher who gave you an A but barely knows your name will write a much weaker letter than a teacher who gave you a B+ but watched you struggle with a concept and push through it.
There you have it. As you can see, building your college application is more than just filling out some paperwork. It takes years of strategy to put yourself in position so that your paperwork stands out more.
If you would like assistance with your college applications, feel free to schedule a free consultation with us.