Most colleges require at least one letter of recommendation from either your high school counselor or a high school teacher or both. Therefore, we can say it's pretty important to secure great recommendation letters for your application. If you're asking for a letter from a teacher , make sure to choose someone whose class you got a high grade in ideally an A and who is familiar with your abilities, ambitions, and interests.
It's a good idea to also get a letter from a teacher who works in the field you plan to major in. So if you got an A in AP English and plan to major in English, asking that teacher for a recommendation letter would give a great boost to your application. While you don't have to be best buddies with the teacher you ask, they should definitely know you well , beyond the classroom, so they can effectively explain to admissions committees what makes you special, that is, what makes you worth admitting.
For example, if you did research with a particular teacher, are part of a club this teacher coaches or leads, or helped out this teacher with a project, this would be a good person to ask to write a letter for you. Once you've secured a recommendation letter writer, be sure to provide them with any materials or information they might need to help them craft a compelling letter.
Colleges love it when an applicant has not simply volunteered but has also made a measurable impact with their volunteering efforts. What does this mean exactly? If you have volunteered somewhere or for an organization, your assistance should have resulted in a noticeable, positive change to the group, community, or area you were aiming to help.
For instance, say you volunteered at a local library. Maybe the library was struggling to get funds to continue operating, and you came up with the idea to hold a hour reading marathon in order to raise money.
With your college application, then, you could specifically mention how your initiative allowed the library to remain open. Note that you don't need to have assumed a leadership role in order to have made a positive impact through your service. That said, college admissions committees are often very big fans of students who show evidence of their budding leadership skills.
Although you're certainly not required to work a part-time job in high school, having some work experience on your college applications, especially any jobs that are related to what you want to study or do professionally, will help you stand out in a positive way.
Even if your job isn't connected to a long-term academic or career goal you have, any part-time work experience you have will be great to put down on your application because it emphasizes your sense of responsibility, maturity, and willingness to work for your goals, key qualities that are usually considered important for success in college.
Also, if you have any room on the application to elaborate on your job, I suggest explaining why you initially took the job and what values or skills it's taught you, such as the importance of responsibility or how to work with certain equipment that you'll likely use again in the future.
What looks really good on a college application? Many students think they know, but the truth is that there are a lot of myths out there about what you should include on your application. One of the most pervasive myths out there about what looks good on a college application is the idea of being well rounded. Many students assume they'll need to have tons of extracurricular activities on their applications; this, they believe, will emphasize their array of interests as well as their knowledge of a variety of fields.
But all this really tells admissions committees is that you're stretching yourself too thin and most likely lack focus on a specific endeavor in your life. What colleges actually want to see is a spike, that is, a single passion. This allows colleges to get a clearer feel for who you are, what you're interested in, and what your goals are. Having a spike lets you stand out in a truly meaningful way, whereas being well rounded will make you forgettable and seem too similar to other applicants.
Spikes are especially important at highly selective colleges and universities , such as Harvard, Yale, and other Ivy League-level schools. You can read more about how to develop a spike in our guide to getting into the Ivy League.
Alternatively, if you're interested in pursuing education at a liberal arts school , check out our article on how to figure out what to go to college for. If you aim for well rounded, you'll start to look like everyone else. After Time published a article on why college application essays don't actually matter all that much , students began to fear that all their hard work on their statements wouldn't mean much in the end, if at all.
But while some colleges don't require personal essays , most colleges do require at least one or two essays—and will place a decent amount of emphasis on it, especially if it is being used as a deciding factor between two otherwise equally qualified applicants.
Even though you should approach the essay seriously, it's still generally rare for an exceptionally well-written essay to make up for tons of low grades and poor test scores. On the flip side, if you have a great application but a badly written essay, that essay alone could get you rejected! Therefore, make sure that you are following all the steps listed above so you can craft the perfect statement for your application. Many students believe it's better to stick to the classes you know you'll get As in, but this piece of advice is misguided when it comes to college applications.
In general, colleges prefer students who challenge themselves by taking an array of difficult classes, such as AP and honors classes.
And you don't have to get perfect grades in them. If you get a B in a tough AP class, for example, this will emphasize to the admissions committee that you are willing to take on new challenges and test your limits, traits that are necessary for succeeding in and after college. On the other hand, getting As in all easy classes, though not totally unimpressive, is not nearly as interesting to colleges, as it suggests you're unwilling to push yourself and further hone your higher-level critical thinking skills.
C and D grades obviously won't look great to an admissions committee, even if you got these grades while challenging yourself in AP classes. Many students assume that if they have one little flaw in their application, such as a below-average test score or slightly low grade in a class, their chances of getting admitted to college will be slim to none. Yes, a very low test score or a very poor transcript may cause you to get rejected from a college, but many colleges use a holistic admission process, meaning they look at and consider each individual applicant as a whole.
So even if your application has a not-so-stellar component on it, this doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a reject. In fact, at particularly selective colleges, such as the Ivy League , you'll often hear of cases in which ostensibly "perfect" applicants got rejected.
That kind of thing. For example, one college may offer a major that you cannot find at another school. Or, you may want to study with a noted professor, or take certain classes that are only offered at a specific school.
That means you need to be doing research — looking at course listings at every college on your list and finding classes you would like to take, professors you would want to study with. You should also ask your alumni interviewer what they did outside of the classroom at a college, and what they enjoyed most. So, what you need to think about is what you would offer a university — what do you bring to the table? For example, what co-curricular activities at Harvard do you see yourself participating in?
Do you know everything Harvard offers outside of the classroom? This article has been approved by an Indeed Career Coach. Just as you are seeking the right college and degrees for yourself, colleges and universities are seeking good fits for their institutions. College admission interviews are an important part of the admission process for both you and the school. Being prepared for the interview can reduce stress and help you enjoy the experience.
Consider practicing potential interview questions and answers to help you prepare. In this article, we explore 40 common college interview questions and offer example answers and tips to help you get ready. It may take place on campus, off-site or even virtually. The interviewer asks questions to learn about you, your interests and your potential to do well in their program.
Not all colleges require interviews. If you are given the option, however, you should ask for one. General questions are typically asked at the beginning of the conversation and help the interviewer get to know you.
Examples include: 1. Tell me about yourself. How did you hear about this college? What do you know about our school? Why do you want to attend this college? Why do you feel you should be accepted to this college? What are some of your academic strengths? What do you consider your academic weaknesses?
How do you address them? What do you plan to major in? What are the expectations of your college education program? What will you do to make make a difference at this college? You may be asked questions about your high school experience and educational background. What was your graduating GPA? What extracurricular activities have you participated in? Did you complete any honors or AP courses?
If so, which ones? How would you describe your high school atmosphere? What are some of your academic achievements? What academic skills do you feel you can improve on? What are some of your interests outside of school?
What skills have you developed to help you succeed in college? Describe an experience or project you worked on in high school that you enjoyed?
Think about:. Although the iconic image of a college is an expansive quad surrounded by ivy-covered buildings, colleges come in all shapes, sizes, styles, and settings. Of course, college is not only about studying. Who you spend time with and what you are able to do socially has a big impact on your day-to-day experience on campus. Be sure to find out about these factors:. Some colleges will be more able than others to help you get the results you want, from keeping college debt manageable to launching your career.
Look at student outcomes , including:. Choosing a college major is an important decision — and for some We try to make content available to you on CollegeData. The content may include articles, opinions and other information provided by third parties.
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We will not be liable for the content on CollegeData. Share: Researching -- or even visiting -- a few colleges can leave you feeling that they are more alike than different.
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