Successful college admission is all about finding a college/ university that fits your students. As an applicant, your students should look for an environment where they can thrive academically and personally. There are multiple factors in an ideal admission application. Each college requires unique students who can contribute to their campus and make the institute stand out. Hence, your student’s college application form should speak for your student.
It takes a lot of effort and hard work to guarantee a successful college application. You can make it rise to the top of the pile by providing relevant, correct and interesting sides of your student.
There are multiple factors when it comes to applying to college – tests, essays, recommendation letters, transcripts – and each element has a deadline attached. As a career counsellor, it is your responsibility to help your student in submitting all the required documents on time. It’s better to make a careful note of deadlines for each college your student is applying for so that you don’t miss them!
How Many Colleges To Apply To?
There are a ton of schools out there, but applying to too many colleges is a common mistake. Submitting the application for 5-8 colleges is suggested. Include a variety of institutes in your list like dream colleges, safety colleges, possible colleges, and more.
| Dream Colleges are colleges you know will be a challenge to get into.
Target Colleges are colleges you need to target considering all the key factors. Match Colleges are colleges you know that match perfectly with your interests & financial budget. Safety Colleges are colleges you know are very likely to accept you. Possible Colleges are the colleges you have a good chance of getting into. |
The College Application Checklist
Having a clear list of steps to follow helps students meet deadlines and make the college application process smoother. While learners should also consider other components, such as completing additional supplementary materials and requesting high school transcripts, the following list covers some of the basics.
- Research and Self-Reflection
- Choose Where to Apply
- Take Required Standardized Tests
- Plan When to Apply
- Complete Your Application
- Applying for Financial Aid
- Choose Where to Attend
5 Things College Applicants Can Do to Stand Out
Build on Your Student’s Academic Strengths
Schools are looking for students who have not only done well but who have also challenged themselves, as they are more likely to succeed in college-level courses. The key is to plan ahead and start in eighth or ninth grade to build a foundation that will open doors to advanced coursework later on.
For instance, you can also opt for online courses to strengthen your profile. Online courses in a similar domain as your area of interest will help you gain some insight into the field you would wish to pursue. This would also add credibility to your claim for having an interest in that specific area of study. If you wish to stand out amongst the thousands of applications for one particular program, an online course in the same area of interest will give your profile a major boost. Don’t believe in any misconception and have clarity of what to do and what not to do.
Get a Hand on Entrance Tests
Always remember to check the entry requirements for your course before taking up any entrance test. To get the journey going, your student should take a language assessment test and an admissions test before applying. There are many standard questions students ask like which exams do I need to take to study abroad?
There is no single answer to that question, as it depends on these factors:
- The subject they want to study (law, business, medicine…)
- The level of the course (foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate…)
- The country of their choice, and more.
Think Outside the Extracurriculars
No matter what your student’s interests are, find ways to use them to make a contribution to his/her school or local community. Colleges look at extracurriculars in the context of a student’s environment.
Extracurricular activities show colleges a wide range of your aspects and characteristics that form a positive impression, such as being willing to learn new skills or work with others as a team. Your student’s extracurricular activities on the college application provide colleges with information on his/her interests outside of the field, which shows that they have a well-rounded profile.
Work on Recommendations Carefully
Always give great consideration to people you ask to write recommendations. While letters of recommendation are just one part of the application, they do play an important role in the college admissions process. These letters provide admission representatives with valuable information that’s not necessarily obvious from your college application alone. Letters of recommendation stand as a testament to your unique qualities, character, tenacity, academic successes, and personal achievements.
Show It Up to the Extent
Visiting the campus shows the admissions office that you’d be likely to attend if accepted. Showing up is still a great way to reveal what schools refer to as “demonstrated interest,” Making a trip to campus isn’t the only way to let your interest be known, especially in the digital age which includes opening a college’s emails or clicking on a link in a particular message, participating in a webinar or Facebook Live event, and more. And be sure to introduce yourself to recruiters during visits to your high school or at local college fairs.
This is the perfect college admission plan and the ways to get your students into their desired colleges. If you want to help students more effectively, upskilling yourself is the best move.
The Global Career Counsellor Program by Univariety in collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Extension is an all-in-one guide to Career Counselling. With over a decade of experience in dealing with students and parents, Univariety found the GAP and collaborated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Extension to create an online program for India’s first generation of career counsellors. The Global Career Counsellor program is more than just a counselling course. It is a unique program that has been created to equip individuals with blended learning through world-class instructors, skills and practical training to become career counsellors.
Know More About the Program Here
Parul is an enthusiast writer, currently working at Univariety. Despite being from a technical educational background, she started her career in writing because of her passion. She loves sketching and doodling while enjoying a cup of black coffee. When she is not writing, she likes watching movies, travelling, and exploring new places.
