How to Get Into Your Dream College
What are colleges looking for?
Branch | The Fundamentals
I came into high school with the goal of going to a great college, and the only things I knew would contribute to this were to get a high GPA and SAT. Looking back as a senior, there are dozens of things I wish I had known two or three years ago that would have made my college application 10 times stronger.
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One thing to keep in mind before reading these essentials is that more people are applying to college every year. It is becoming harder and harder to get into top schools, even as an honors student, making it even more important to know how to stand out.
Buds | The Necessities
The first tip is that you shouldn’t be afraid to join clubs in high school. Colleges are looking at extracurriculars more than ever, and they want to see not only that you have multiple interests, but that you contribute to those interests as well. This doesn’t mean joining as many clubs as possible, but it does mean that you should choose a few that you know you’ll be willing to be a part of for the next two or three years. Being able to stick a few more activities that are fun and easy onto your application can really boost your chances.
Something else to stay on top of is community service. Whether this means you become a member at a local food bank or you sign up for the nearby red cross organization as a volunteer, colleges love seeing students that give back to their communities. However, one thing to keep in mind is that your hours need to be tracked. For example, during the pandemic, my brother and I ran a food drive that raised over 400 pounds of food for those in need. While this was great for the community, because we weren’t members of an organization, I was unable to put this on my college application. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t help people when you can, but if you want to use community service in your application, you need to make sure it is ‘resume ready’.
The biggest necessity for getting into a great college is to take a challenging course load throughout high school. Yes, it’s great if you can get a high GPA by taking relatively easy classes, but if you aren’t taking hard classes, most colleges won’t even look at your common app. Make sure that you sign up for AP and Honors classes to demonstrate that you can be an exceptional student.
As for your SAT and ACT scores, don’t worry too much about them. YES, having a great SAT can be awesome to have on your application, but contrary to popular belief, this is no longer essential. Dozens of colleges are switching to test-optional every year, mainly because it has been found that SAT scores aren’t that reliable. Now, if you take the SAT and you believe your score is noticeable, then by all means please use it, it can only help your chances; however, if you feel your score doesn’t live up to your standards as a student, then don’t be afraid to take advantage of the test-optional status, especially when applying to more competitive schools.
Leaves | The Standouts
The practices and hobbies highlighted in the Buds section are what will make you a top-tier student, but these two tips will set you apart from even the best.
First, become highly involved in an activity not related to the school. This could mean getting a job, joining club sports, or even something like robotics. It is important to show that you can make an impact at multiple organizations, and aren’t afraid to work hard outside of school. This especially highlights your ability to handle various commitments and manage your time. For me, this meant putting aside at least 10 hours every week for 6 years to play club soccer, alongside already playing for the high school team.
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Lastly, it is absolutely essential that you have at least one interest that you develop heavily on your own, not attached to another organization. This could be something as assertive as starting your own online business, or as artistic as mastering piano and performing recitals at the local theater. As always, make sure there are ways that a college can see your commitment to this. I started a podcast in my sophomore year of high school and posted my episodes on apps like Spotify, tangible places where colleges could see my hobby. For someone interested in fitness this might mean starting a social media page, and for someone interested in programming this might mean building your own app to publish on the app store. However, before you release your efforts, make sure they are professionally made and reflect you as a person.
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