College Series 1: How to Stand Out on Your College Application

Applying for college. The bringer of fear, worry, stress, anxiety, and confusion. I promise you, if you feel any or all of those things, you are not alone. For me, the idea of college was absolutely terrifying. I wanted to be productive and start the application process early, but I found myself not knowing where to start and worried about ruining my future. Through a little mini series, here are some ways on how to survive this stressful time and get excited about this new journey you are about to take. We'll talk about your essays, auditions, scholarships, all that good stuff in this series. I'm not a professional college admissions counselor, but these are things I wish I thought about more, or things that really helped me with my process this past year.

Let's start with small ways to make your application stand out. 

1. Be involved. Most colleges care more about quality versus quantity. It's really cool if you are in every picture on the club page in the yearbook, but it is more important to pick a couple clubs you are passionate about and really be involved in them. On most college applications, when you add your extra-curricular activities, there is usually a spot to describe your leadership position, or what you have done for the club. Colleges want to know what you can bring to their school, so by displaying your heavy involvement in clubs, colleges will not only better understand your passions, but they will also get a sense of what you will be able to bring to their school.

2. Highlight your unique qualities. Whether this is through an essay or a portfolio, share your story and your personality. Though scores and stats are important, colleges want to know what kind of person you are. They want people, not robots. Pick specific traits or things you like to help them remember you by. For my Common App Personal Essay, I wrote about K-pop. No one has experienced the things that you have experienced, so use that to your advantage and share who you are, who you hope to be, things that have shaped you, and the actions you will take to reach your goals.

3. Don't be afraid to reach out if you have questions. If you have questions about the school, the program, or anything else, do not be afraid to ask them. Emails of admissions, program directors, and more, are usually posted on the school's website so ask questions and start conversations. This will express your interest in the school and will get your name out there. They know how stressful the application process is and are usually very happy to share more about their school.

NYU Summer Program 2017

4. Look for summer or winter programs. A lot of colleges have programs for high schoolers to come visit their campus and go through a college type experience. For example, New York University has a summer intensive type program where you can live on campus, take classes from professors, and feel what it would be like to be a student at NYU. These types of programs will not only help you  decide if you like the school, but it will also allow you to make connections with faculty and other students. You can also talk about your experience in your application to show how interested you are in that specific school.

Feel free to comment below any questions you have about the college application process, and I'll make sure to answer them!

More Pictures from NYU on Images