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I want to preface this by telling you not to ever lie on an application for anything -- be it a college application, a job application, or a resume. You may think that it does not matter because no one would ever find out, but they might. And if they do, you could get kicked out of school. Academic Qualifications Of course, these are often the most important of all. Good grade point averages (GPA), high class ranks, course loads packed with honors and Advance Placement classes, and competitive SAT/ACT/SATII scores will give you an advantage. Not everyone has these, however. If you don't, you have two options: --Apply to schools that put less emphasis on them (less competitive schools pay less attention to grades and class rank, many top schools are making test scores optional) --Find a way to account for the low marks. For example, if you have a learning disability that makes tests tough, make sure it is documented. If you had little time for homework because you had to work and take care of a younger sibling, put this on your application. Also, highlight any honors or scholarships you have. Other Qualifications Make sure to highlight all of the activities you participated in throughout high school. Especially important are: leadership roles in school clubs, positions on publications, community service and volunteer projects, athletics (even intramurals), part-time jobs, participation in religious organizations, and musical groups. Your Summers Colleges and universities do not want to see a candidate who has spent his or her summers sitting at home. Instead, go away to a pre-college program or a summer school, get a job as a camp counselor or at a store, volunteer as a candy striper or at a soup kitchen, tale enrichment classes at school, tutor younger kids, participate in summer arts programs, go on an outward bound experience, build houses in Mexico, or travel to another country to enrich your language skills. The Essay Most applications require at least one essay, and some require many more, including short-answer questions and various essay prompts. The essays range from 250 exercises on specific topics to "tell us about yourself" with no listed word limit. What is most important is to answer the questions with a clear personal style and creative pizzazz. Have your parents, your guidance counselor, and a trusted teacher (especially English) look over your work and give suggestions about grammar, content, and spelling. If the applications says that the essay is optional, you should send it anyway - sometimes it is used to determine scholarships. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Applications, Part 2 in Higher Education is owned by ML Arthur. Permission to republish Applications, Part 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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