How do I ensure my college application sets me apart? What do I need to do to be the strongest college applicant possible?

Question

For students looking for help distinguishing themselves in the college application process, including the Common App, personal statements, supplemental essays, etc.

Answer 1

To stand out means to participate, engage and perhaps lead something that you enjoy. The standing out comes in the essay, for sure. Write about something that you wouldn't think is a good story! One of my students wrote about winning a stuffed pink pig at the fair, another wrote about her toybox, another wrote about popsicles. Don't hold back. It's not what they want to read, it is Totally what you want to tell them about you.

Answer 2

A college essay is your personal reflection, the way you see yourself in a mirror everyday. Similarly, your writing style, tone, choice of words by creating connections always help you stand out.

Pour yourself out on that piece of paper by using the following:

1. share your personal experiences and relate them to real life situations
2. write about how you manage to overcome any challenges in life
3. narrate in a simple yet creative and honest way
4. how you think about your own self (positive/negative) person?
5. how you can be a value adding student to your class, college and your peers
6. why particularly you are targeting this field of study (subject, course)?
7. your inspirations and aspirations

Put yourself in your admission officer shoes and think what you would look for in a student who is applying for admission. I would be happy to review your college essay if you want to and help you improve where you can to turn it into a success.

Answer 3

Write in a style that has a unique feel to it. Make sure from sentence one forward that your sentences reflect your thoughts and feelings. It's not only what you write; it's how you write it, not only grammar but movement and tone.

Answer 4

I tell my students to think about a few of their strongest assets as a human being, and then narrate a short story, vignette, or anecdote that adequately reflects those values.

For example, I was working with a student named Heidi who wanted to get into a Nursing College, and she told me that one of her strengths is working with kids. (Heidi's long-term goal, in fact, was to one day become a pediatric nurse practitioner.) We talked about times in Heidi's life where she was able to demonstrate her strength of working with kids and fostering their development. In the end, she was able to recount a time when she was working at a YMCA summer camp in her hometown, and one of the kids had a severe allergic reaction to a bug bite. Heidi then wrote about how she quickly calmed the boy down, sent a coworker to retrieve an EpiPen, administered the shot, and contacted the boy's mother. Overall, recounting this story allowed the Nursing College to see that Heidi is a caring and compassionate individual, especially when it comes to working with youths.

Generally, I think that concrete and specific details such as these will help your application to stand out from the others.

Answer 5

The key is to position yourself as a leader in all elements of your college application materials. Even if you didn't hold an official leadership position in all of your involvement, you want to communicate to your admissions officer that you are a valuable addition to every team you join. You'll want to use any essays and/or open-ended statements to convey this information and to shine as a unique individual. The goal is to help highlight yourself as a standout amongst the many other applicants. I can help you craft an application that conveys this strong story!