Many of us high school students spend a good deal of time contemplating what it would be like to get into our dream college. What we should be doing instead is working on setting ourselves up to make that dream a reality.
Although there is no magic formula for getting accepted to the university you’ve got your heart set on, there are many things you can do, starting as early as freshman year, that can help increase your chances.
According to the National Honor Society, “It’s not just about hitting the books hard, though that’s a big part of it. A well-rounded student is academically strong, demonstrates leadership, service, and personal integrity.”
So how does a student show that they are well rounded on a college application? What should we do and be involved in as students to show that we are worthy of that acceptance letter?
Knowing what looks good on a college application, and what can you do to achieve this is the first hurdle. Though a high GPA sets you up better for success, it’s not the only thing you need. Aside from just strong grades, It is important to show you have pushed yourself and followed a rigorous curriculum.
“A well-rounded student at Mount Pisgah is someone who is curious about many subjects, can set goals for themselves and work to achieve them, engages in and outside of the school community in meaningful ways, develops relationships with peers as well as with teachers and coaches, and understands the value of their faith as well as service to others,” said Susan Reilly, Mount Pisgah’s College Counselor.
According to Kaplan Test Prep , colleges want to see honors and AP classes on your application, and that a high B or a low A in an advanced class is preferable to a 100 in a college prep class.
“The best thing you can do to strengthen your college application is to do well in your classes here at school,” said Reilly. “Your transcript is the most important piece of information in the evaluation process, so showing up for class, completing all assignments on time, being engaged during class, and attending tutorial are all essentials for learning the material, which translates into good grades on the transcript.”
Next, volunteering and doing service with an organization you are passionate about is critical for your resume. You should be able to show how you made a meaningful impact while working with the organization.
Mount Pisgah has many volunteer opportunities. There are many different clubs and honor societies on campus that do service such as the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, the Outreach Service Club, the Red Cross Club, as well as the annual Toys for Tots drive hosted by NHS every December.
Showing that you have held a leadership role is also crucial. Being captain of your sports team, a team manager, holding a leadership position in one of the school clubs, or being part of Student Government is a great way to show leadership experience.
Colleges also want to know how you spend your time outside of school. Being part of a school sports team or participating in the arts is a great way to show how you spend your time outside of school hours, but it’s not the only thing that impresses college admissions. If you have an after school or weekend job, include that in your resume. Showing responsibility and time management is something colleges like to see.
Strong relationships with your teachers and coaches will be beneficial to you in the long run. You will need strong letters of recommendation, and you will want to be able to feel comfortable asking for those recommendations.
Lastly, though strong test scores are not the only indicator of a successful student, they can be a very helpful tool when applying to school. Mount Pisgah offers SAT/ACT prep classes that many students find very helpful.
“We offer SAT/ACT Prep at school because it gives those students who want to take such a class the opportunity to do so during the school day instead of trying to fit it into an already busy schedule outside of school,” said Reilly. “Most students do see an increase in their scores if they are not taking the test for the first time.”
Overall, it is most important that high school students stay authentic to themselves in order to discover things they are passionate about that they can continue to explore as they move into their college years.
“There are so many different ways students can add to their resumes as they move through their high school years,” said Reilly. “For some, high school is a time for exploration, to figure out what you love.”
