Archives for applications

6 Tips for Writing a College Essay

July 3, 2023 by bethmcgaw in Blog | Comments Off on 6 Tips for Writing a College Essay

With applying for colleges/universities comes the dreaded college essay. Sounding way easier said than done, your college essay is the way you’ll stand out from the hundreds (or thousands) of other students applying. 

What makes you different and a good candidate to attend a particular school? College admissions advisors read thousands of essays, and many times it’s like reading the same thing over and over (and over). It’s important to make your essay uniquely you. 

Here are a few of our tips and tricks for writing a strong college essay!

It’s important to take your time to think about a good essay topic. Don’t settle for the first thought that comes to mind. 

Believe it or not, you’ve already had multiple life experiences and lessons. Brainstorm different experiences and topics you are familiar with. See what sticks out to you. Don’t be discouraged if on day one you only have one idea. It often takes days or even weeks, depending on your schedule, before you feel you have a strong topic. 

A strong topic is something you feel comfortable writing about so you can write the minimum amount of words asked for and engage the reader.

As good as you might think your first draft might be, don’t settle for the first one. Writing multiple drafts on the same topic can help your creative juices flow, can spark new ideas, and can provide you with different perspectives. 

Writing multiple drafts gives you options. You can look through them and pick the one you feel is strongest. 

Also – don’t be afraid to have a few different essay topics written up. You don’t need to confine yourself to one topic or one essay and you can send different essays to different colleges. 

College admissions officers are not English teachers. They don’t want to read a redundant five-page essay. 

Don’t be afraid to have a shorter essay. Be concise. As long as you keep your writing clear, you can stand out through a shorter essay. 

Getting straight to the point might be more impressive to college admissions. It shows you are articulate and smart with your words. 

When writing your essay, if your first draft is a little long don’t fret! That’s what editing is for. Look it over and keep working to combine ideas to shorten it up. It’s often easier to edit by removing information than it is to think of it to make it longer. 

Be creative. Put some of your personality into it. 

The introduction is your way to set the tone and hook your readers.  A good “hook” makes you stand out from other writers and helps the reader form a lasting impression. 

It’s important to have other people read your essays and give you some constructive feedback. A fresh set of eyes gives you a new perspective. No matter how good you think you are at the details like punctuation and grammar, you can still miss the little mistakes in your own work. 

Another perspective can also provide ideas you might not have thought of. 

Don’t be afraid to ask multiple people either! Everyone has something to offer and can give you advice and pointers for focusing on the powerful points in your essay. 

Most importantly: be yourself! 

It’s important to keep it personable and let your personality shine. This isn’t a school essay being graded. This is your shot to convince them that they want you at their college and your college essay helps the people at the college learn more about you as a student and as an individual. 

Test-Optional – What to Do?

September 24, 2021 by bethmcgaw in Blog | Comments Off on Test-Optional – What to Do?

The pandemic made last year and like no other for college admissions. The most significant change is that many schools have decided to go test-optional. Test-optional means you do not have to submit your ACT or SAT scores if you don’t want to and you won’t be penalized for it during the admission review.  

During the admissions cycle for the class of 2021, regardless of the school’s elite status, more than 1,000 campuses have dropped SAT/ACT as an admission requirement and admission officers have reviewed a record number of applications due to the number of students taking advantage of this option.

… test scores are important but not nearly as significant as students and parents think.

– Jeff Selingo

What to Do

In his book, Who Gets in and Why, A Year Inside College Admissions, released just before the pandemic, Jeff Selingo says, “..test scores are important but not nearly as significant as students and parents think.” Admissions officers use scores mainly to check against the transcript, asking questions such as do the grades and transcripts line up?  

It has been discussed among many college advisors that if you have a score lower than 1300, it is advisable not to submit your score. Anything below that, you may want to choose to go test-optional. 

What Happens Then

So, what factors does an admission counselor look at when reviewing an application without test scores? Many put the most weight on GPA as well as the rigor of the curriculum. They will also look at essays, teacher and counselor recommendations, and extracurricular activities. 

Don’t despair if your GPA is lower! There are many schools out there that provide excellent education and accept students with lower GPAs. Your selection of a major may be a deciding factor. 

Try to find opportunities while in high school to show your interest in this field and list them in your extracurricular activities list. Showing an increase in grades, an internship, a volunteer opportunity, or a unique project may be just the advantage you need to overcome a lower GPA. 

Looking for some help with discovering your strengths or figuring out how to showcase your accomplishments for your college applications? We can help! Contact us today. 

Early Action? Early Decision? Regular Admission? Oh My!

September 10, 2021 by bethmcgaw in Blog | Comments Off on Early Action? Early Decision? Regular Admission? Oh My!

There is a little vocabulary to go with filling out your college applications: Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Admissions, and Rolling Admissions. These are like “time zones” of when you should apply to certain colleges. Each “zone” means something a little different. Beth has broken it down a little for you! 

Early Action

Early Action (EA) means the college will review and decide to accept you early (before their Regular Admissions). 

The EA deadline for most colleges is typically before November 15. Check the official date for your specific college on the college website.If accepted, you will receive a letter of acceptance, denial or they may choose to put you in a pile for regular decision. This letter typically arrives in December. 

Applying through EA does not mean you are required to commit to that college when you receive the acceptance.  Being accepted EA does mean you can rest assured that you have at least one (or more) colleges to choose from for your final decision (which is usually May 1).. 

Early Decision

Early Decision (ED) means you want to make an early decision (before May) and does require you to make a decision and commit to that college. If you decide to accept a school ED, you should withdraw your applications from the other colleges on your list.  

The ED deadline for most colleges is also before November 15. Again, check the date for your specific college on the college website. 

You apply through ED to the school that is top on your list and that you want to go to if you are accepted. Again, the school can choose to accept your application as ED or move you to the regular admission pile. 

Jeffrey Selingo, in his book, “Who Gets In And Why, A Year Inside College Admissions,” states that the rising popularity of early decisions is the most significant contributing factor to the admissions calendar. It can be very appealing to some students to secure their spot by December of their senior year, knowing where they will be going in the Fall.  However, Selingo says, “although this might be appealing, it can speed up the decision-making for some students who are not ready to make that decision.”  So be sure about your decision if applying this way!

Regular Admission

If you didn’t apply for EA or ED, don’t despair! Regular Admission is just that – the regular time colleges review applications and make decisions. Colleges leave many of their spots open for Regular Admission, which is the largest candidate pool for admissions counselors.  

The Regular Admission deadline is typically before January 15. Again, check the date for your specific college on the college website. Acceptances from Regular Admission usually go out as early as March, but others may wait until the last minute in April.  

If you haven’t heard from a school you want to attend, you should reach out to your admission counselor to ask about the status. Just be sure not to go overboard in your communication!

Rolling Admissions

While many colleges have admissions deadlines, others have Rolling Admissions, which means you can apply any time during the school year. 

The admission counselors will review your application and get back to you with a decision. Many times they accept applications even into June or July before the Fall semester. 

Keep in mind – there are only a defined number of spaces at each college. So if it is a college you genuinely want to attend, you should apply as early as possible! 

Final Thoughts

As you make your decision between applying EA, ED, Regular Admissions, or choosing a college with Rolling Admissions, think about your goals and personality.  

Are you someone who makes quick decisions, are you someone who wants to see all your options?  

Or are you someone that wants to wait until you narrow your list down before you start applying? 

While these are personal decisions, there is some strategy involved when applying to select schools.  If you need help trying to decide which route to take in the application process, please reach out to Beth or your school counselor to discuss the options and the right strategy! 

← Older posts