Happy Application Season! ‘Tis the moment when everything comes together, and how you manage your time becomes increasingly vital. So as you polish your essays and refine your best right-fit college list, we want to make sure you don’t forget about the application itself. It may seem straightforward, like an easier task to check off your list, we want to encourage you to slow down: there are many key opportunities in the application to highlight YOU, and help you shine.
Parents: the application is a key place for you to lend a hand. Set aside an evening or weekend morning to watch the video below with your student. Our amazing Directors, Kelsey and Andy, expand on our tips and walk through the application itself. Give it a watch and follow along.
FREEBIE: Be sure to read to the end of this blog for our Activities Section Playbook, a giveaway from our own work with students that will help elevate one of the most important aspects of the application: activities descriptions!
2023 Common App Updates
Heads up Seniors! Did you know that:
- There are 29 new Common Application schools this year, including Rudgers and University of Nevada, Reno.
- The Common App has added a third legal sex option “X,” as well as a preferred first name option for greater inclusivity.
- The recent SCOTUS decision on affirmative action means that it is now possible for colleges to suppress the data you enter about your identity.
On this final update – as you may have heard, the Supreme Court recently handed down their decision that race can no longer be used as a specific factor in college admissions. THAT SAID, there is still room for you to add information about your own background and experiences in your applications, to give admissions readers more context about who you are. If you have questions about how to navigate these application questions, please get in touch.
With these updates in mind, it’s time to dive into the application. Using your time wisely and completing the application sooner than later will help you find more balance and less stress this fall. Starting early also means you’ll have time to avoid the mistakes listed below. You’ve got this!
Most Common Application Mistakes
From USC to Syracuse to UCLA, Colledge Application Specialists are experts in the field. As readers for colleges across the country, they know what it takes to make your application stand out in the pool. Here are six of the most common mistakes we see students make in their Common Application:
- Neglecting to Showcase Leadership: Be sure to highlight your leadership skills and any unique roles you play in your activities. Ensure that your application reflects your active involvement and contributions. Don’t underestimate your true strengths.
- Overlooking Unshared Achievements: Be sure to share the ways you spend your time outside of school, even if these activities don’t fit within the box of a club or team. Every accomplishment, – including self-started projects, family duties and independent study – should find a place in your application.
- Ignoring optional components: Review each application thoroughly and note any “optional” sections. Some colleges offer optional fields where you can provide additional information about yourself. If you have something meaningful to add, take advantage of these opportunities to strengthen your application.
- Failure to Review Your Application (big picture): Always double-check your entire application. Navigate through every section and fill out all questions for each college you’re applying to. Hidden questions in the “My Colleges” section may be specific to each institution, so be sure you don’t miss anything.
- Submit Early, Not on the Deadline: Waiting until the last moment to submit your application is a risky move. Many applicants are going through the process simultaneously, and technical glitches can occur, so give yourself ample time. At Colledge, we have our students submit at least 5-10 days before the deadline.
- Not seeking help: Don’t hesitate to reach out to your high school counselor or a trusted adult for guidance and feedback on your application. They can help you identify and correct potential mistakes.
To support you in getting all that is special about YOU into your application, in a way that resonates with colleges, we wanted to share an exclusive tool that we use with Colledge clients. Check out our application Activities Section Playbook!
FREEBIE: Colledge Activities Section Playbook
Once you’ve written a draft of your Activities descriptions (draft these in a document, not in the app itself, so you can edit!), review it with our exclusive Playbook below. It’s even better if you swap your descriptions with a friend and review together.
If your marks fall in the “Amazing!” category, your Activities section is submission-ready. If marks are in the “Good” category, look to polish further. If you mark “Developing” or “Missed the Mark,” try reworking your activities description.
Does this activities section…
Submit Your Applications With Confidence
As with all aspects of the application process, if you haven’t started your Common App and Activities descriptions yet, rip off the bandaid and go for it! Those November early admissions deadlines are coming up fast, and you want to have time to polish all your details and stay ahead of the curve.
Protip: When it comes time to submit, sit down with a parent or supporter and read through the entire application (and essays!) aloud. Then, submit with the confidence that you’ve done everything you could to present your best self to colleges.
If you find yourself needing additional support about how to best show your nuanced accomplishments and interests in your application, schedule a Student Success Call. We have only a few spots remaining in our Class of 2024, but we’d be happy to help.
