More students than ever are applying to schools for undergraduate degrees. Ivy League schools still have acceptance rates in the single digits. Most other four-year colleges and schools still admit only two of every three applicants.
So what can you do to increase your odds of catching the admissions counselor鈥檚 attention? How can you stand out?
Personal essays are always great places to stand out. Admissions counselors want to get to know you, to see if you would be a good fit for the community at the school, and to see what you can add to the campus community. The best ways to do this are through your application, transcripts, and personal essay.
Take your time聽creating your application. Make sure you stay above the minimum word count for responses, but below the maximum. Find ways to present yourself in as many quality words as possible.
Don鈥檛 skip the extracurricular activities section.聽List all that you participated in throughout your high school career. This section and your transcripts show the counselors what kind of drive you had both inside and outside of school. In high school, take as many Advanced Placement or challenging courses as you can, and take them seriously.
Not only do schools want students who can take the challenge of college-level academics, they also want students who can get the most out of the school鈥檚 resources, and students who give back to the school. Colleges are looking for students who want to use their higher education to become leaders and enact change.
This is exactly how North Park sees its role in higher education, to prepare students for lives of significance and service.