College Applications: You Need to Stand Out
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You have spent years dreaming of attending one of the most prestigious colleges in the United States. There is no denying it, getting into an Ivy League school is tough. It takes more than just submitting a handful of college applications. The first step is not an obvious one and students often overlook it. Not all Ivy League schools are equal. Each one is different and specializes in different academic fields. You need to research the school and select the one that is the best fit for you and your educational outcomes.
Admission Requirements
After you have made your selection, make sure you are aware of all the admission requirements for that school – including which of the standardized tests they prefer, the SAT or the ACT. This is also the time for you to begin preparing for the next step in your education. With all the major league schools having an acceptance rate of under 10% and most schools accepting under 5% of applications, what steps do you need to take on your college applications to get your acceptance letter?
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Academic Achievement
Academic achievement is vital, including high scores in either the SAT or the ACT, a perfect GPA, and extra AP classes. Remember, you are competing with up to 40,000 other college applications so your application may the proverbial needle in the haystack. Do not lose hope, however. It is hard, but not impossible.
Academic achievement aside, you are going to want something else to drive and motivate your college applications. Just being well-rounded is not going to be enough to push you to the forefront of the admissions officers’ minds. You need something that makes you stand out. You need to look to your extracurriculars and awards to get you that coveted acceptance letter. You may want to create a plan with college admissions consultants specialists in the industry to help you put your best foot forward.
The only way you can stand out is to be uniquely you. Look at your interests and how you can use them to set yourself apart from others. Dedicate your time to the pursuit of this skill. Use this ability to achieve your volunteering and extracurricular activities. Find and compete in competitions to prove you pursue this ability.
Letters of Recommendation
Your letters of recommendation and personal statements need to show how you helped those around you with your talents. Create personal experiences and use your passion in your essay to make them remember you. Explain how you used all the resources at your disposal to dig deeper into your passion. This will show your drive to succeed. Use your talent to accomplish other obvious checklist goals like volunteering.
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This creative, out-of-the-box thinking will show you have what it takes to become tomorrow’s industry leader. You will move from being part of a well-rounded pack to the leader of them. This is the difference that these schools are looking for.
What If You Don’t Get Into Your School?
What if you don’t get into your school? It is not the end of the world. Many roads will lead you to the same destination. Many schools out there will give you the education you need. Remember, the drive to succeed comes from within, and no school can give you that.
Want more information on how to get into an Ivy League school? This short 7-minute video reveals one student’s life hack.
