More than 10 million high school students apply to college every year, and each one is trying to stand out just enough to get into their desired school. The total number of applications continues to rise every single year, too — from 2002 to 2017, college applications in the United States more than doubled from 4.9 million to 10.2 million.
While there is no “secret sauce” to getting into the college of your dreams, there are some universally accepted tactics that help you put your best foot forward, whether you’re applying to a local school or an ultra-competitive Ivy League program.
Mistakes students make on their applications
By the time August comes along your senior year, you’ve already done most of the heavy lifting. You’ve done the studying, gotten the grades, contributed to the extracurriculars, and now it’s time to finally apply to college!
That being said, there are some crucial mistakes that applicants make in crunch time, like:
- Missing application deadlines or waiting until the last minute
- Not standing out beyond their transcript
- Turning in generic letters of recommendations and essays
With a little extra preparation and effort (and by using the following tips) you can put yourself ahead of the pack. We’re now going to go through six key tips to give you the best chance of attending your dream school!
- Apply early and note deadlines
Most college applications open on August 1. You don’t need to apply on day one, but as soon as all your materials are together, you should apply sooner than later.
However, most students don’t do that.
As soon as you have decided which colleges you want to apply to, go to their websites, write down when their application cycles begin and end and stick to those days. Keep these dates stored on your phone or a calendar and watch them carefully.
You don’t want to get to the end of the application cycle and be rushing to submit applications, request letters of recommendation or complete other important actions. Applying early doesn’t necessarily mean you have a better chance of getting accepted, but submitting in August means you won’t be rushing to meet your deadlines.
Also, make sure you pay attention to early decision deadlines — these are usually more than a month earlier than the final deadline — for spring deadlines, they can be as early as November. Your application schedule will look greatly different if you’re aiming for an early decision.
- Follow all instructions
Every college is different, and most ask for more than just filling out the application itself. Make sure to check the Admissions websites of the colleges you’re applying to for additional requirements, like transcripts, essays, letters of recommendation, resumes, etc.
For example, Texas A&M University requires a Self-Reported Academic Report (SRAR) separate from your application. The SRAR helps the Admissions team get the full picture of your academic achievements.
Make sure to read any required writing prompts carefully. Some schools will give you multiple prompts and make one required and one optional. Speaking of essays, that takes us into our next tip.
- Be original and personal on your essay
Most colleges require an application essay. These essays are a college’s way to get to know you, your writing style and see if you’d be a good fit. While it can be difficult to be introspective and vulnerable, it’s important you put a lot of thought and effort into college essays. They can be the difference between acceptance and rejection.
Make sure you read the instructions and prompts carefully, and don’t get to writing right away. Sit back and think about the prompt and how it applies to your life.
Texas A&M’s essay prompt is: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?
A lot of students miss out by not taking the essay seriously. Be sure to put your own personal spin on your story, and don’t make any of the following mistakes:
- Being too graphic
- Providing “too much information”
- Being too generic
- Telling a boring story
- Being pessimistic
- Lying or exaggerating
Certain majors might require an additional essay or short answer question, like Texas A&M’s Engineering program. Make sure to double check and apply the same amount of thought and care to these.
- Proofread everything
Any essays, short answer questions, resumes or other written submissions should all include proper spelling, grammar and punctuation. Little mistakes can be distracting, and while they might be uncharacteristic for you, the people reading your application won’t know that.
Use Grammarly and Spell Check on everything you write. Read your essay aloud to find run-on sentences or phrases that sound weird. Find a trusted adult like a teacher or family member to proofread your application materials.
- Provide as much information as possible
You want to give the Admissions office as many reasons to admit you as possible, and that means submitting documents that aren’t required, like SAT/ACT scores, letters of recommendation, optional essays, resumes, etc.
Schools won’t admit you simply for submitting these, but they go a long way towards putting together a more complete picture of who you are. Remember, college applications are all about marketing yourself to a university that is likely receiving thousands of applications. Provide as much information that will make you stand out as you can.
- Double check if your application is complete
Again, just completing the application isn’t enough. Make sure you double check the colleges’ Admissions websites that they don’t require any more documents or actions.
Texas A&M requires the SRAR, an essay and a non-refundable processing fee. Without these documents submitted, our Admissions office will not review your application. Most schools operate with these same principles.
Use the schools’ applicant portal to double check your application status (Texas A&M uses the Applicant Information System) and reach out to their Admissions office if you have questions.
Your next chapter is about to begin
College applications open in less than a month and by this time next year, you’ll be gearing up for your freshman year. This is a really exciting time for you! Keep all these tips in mind as you go through the application process in the next few months. If you need additional resources, visit Texas A&M’s Admissions resources page.
Texas A&M provides a home to students from all backgrounds. With 1,100+ student organizations and more than 140 undergraduate programs to choose from, the Aggie family extends to people with different interests, passions and hobbies.
Students excel where they feel more comfortable. At Texas A&M, you’ll find a second home and family with students that share your personal and career interests while getting a world-class education. You’ll get access to top-of-the-line resources, undergraduate research opportunities and excellent professors.
Texas A&M helps send well-rounded individuals into the world. You’ll learn the skills necessary for your degree and grow in leadership, communication and teamwork. Students from across the world call Aggieland their home — if you want to not only change the world, but improve it, Texas A&M is Where You Belong.
When our application opens on August 1, head to the Freshman Admissions page to begin your Aggie journey!