What makes me stand out from other college applicants?

Stand-out applications showcase achievement, merit, and previous academic success. Taking honors classes or AP courses can give you a significant advantage. Most colleges generally prefer applicants with a B in an honors program over those with an A in standard courses because it shows initiative.

What are the three main things that colleges look at when determining who to admit to their schools?

Colleges use your scores (SAT/ACT scores, GPA/transcript, class rank, and other test scores) as well as your extracurriculars, application essays, and letters of recommendation to judge your readiness to attend their school.

How do I stand out to colleges?

Take the following steps to ensure that you stand out on college applications.

1. Get to know your guidance counselor.
2. Stay academically competitive.
3. Take more than the state minimums for required high school courses.
4. Take standardized tests.
5. Ask for letters of recommendation.
6. Submit stellar essays.

Do Admissions Officers Fact Check essays?

But with colleges receiving tens of thousands of applications a year, it is virtually impossible to check them all for cheating, officials said. They said they do not routinely put essays, for example, through plagiarism checkers. Instead, they rely on experience, intuition and the honor system.

How to make your college application essay stand out?

7 Ways to Make Your College Application Essay Stand Out. 1 1. Choose a Thoughtful Title. College essays are not typically required to have a title, but opting for one can be a powerful tool to make your essay 2 2. Jump Right In. 3 3. Don’t Be Afraid to Use Humor. 4 4. Use Specific Examples. 5 5. Channel Your Most Unusual Passions.

Should your college essay have a title?

College essays are not typically required to have a title, but opting for one can be a powerful tool to make your essay stand out right away — which is why Benjamin Caldarelli, co-founder of Princeton College Consulting, recommends adding one.

Is the common application essay the same for every college?

While the main Common Application essay is meant to stay the same, many colleges have their own school-specific supplements with prompts meant to gauge a student’s knowledge of the institution and their motivations for applying. While many supplemental prompts can be very similar, it’s important to make sure you tailor your essays for each school.

What do colleges want in an essay?

Colleges want a genuine, thoughtful essay, so give them that. Fact: Just like any other application component, the essay is just one piece of the admissions puzzle. Don’t think your admissions chances, good or bad, hinge solely on the essay.