by Marie Todd
Four Mistakes Successful College Applicants Avoid
The preparation for a successful college application does not happen overnight but is instead the culmination of years of work throughout high school. However, not all aspiring college students take the correct steps leading up to, and during, the application process.
Here are four mistakes successful college candidates don’t make and that you should avoid, too, to have your best chance of being accepted at your target schools:
1. Underestimating the importance of completing a rigorous curriculum and failing to determine a strategy for their standardized test
Successful college applicants push themselves to explore their interests by taking increasingly challenging courses while maintaining strong grades. For example, they work to complete both geometry and algebra II in preparation for the SAT or ACT exam. They take practice entrance exams to determine which test format they perform better on. They allow enough time to prepare for and take their selected entrance exam at least twice so they receive their results before their application deadlines (usually by the end of junior year). This approach helps them understand where they stand at schools that require test scores and whether to submit scores to institutions that are test optional.
2. Undervaluing their essay responses and required documentation
Successful applicants know that having a strong GPA and above-average test scores is not enough to get them accepted, so they invest sufficient time and thought into their essay responses. They are mindful of the schools’ deadlines and don’t wait until the last minute to submit their applications. They request letters of recommendation well in advance of when they must be submitted so their teachers/counselor have plenty of time to work on the letters. They use their essays to discuss their interests, life experiences, and aspirations and avoid repeating information found elsewhere in their application. They share information and stories that create a broader picture for the adcom of who they are and how they can contribute to the overall college environment.
3. Not considering appropriate college fit
Successful applicants begin with an initial list of colleges recommended by family members and friends but then expand their search from there. They research which schools are the best matches for them on many levels – the size of the student population, distance from home, financial obligations, academic interests, special programs, clubs, alumni ties, and so on – and then apply to a range of schools that are good fits, including fallback and dream schools. They schedule campus tours (in person or virtual) and reach out to college counselors whenever possible. They speak with students at the schools as well as recent graduates. They ask their tour guides/hosts questions about how/why they selected the college and about experiences they’ve had there that matched (or didn’t match) their expectations. They also ask what the guides/hosts might do differently in hindsight. They can articulate why each school they are targeting is a good fit for them.
4. Taking things easy their senior year
Successful applicants maintain a rigorous curriculum throughout high school, demonstrate an upward trend in academic demands, and engage in ongoing extracurricular involvement with increasing leadership responsibility. They enjoy their senior year and have fun, of course, but always keep their college goals in mind. They stay on top of assignments and prepare well for exams.
This might all sound totally logical, if not obvious, but these are nonetheless common missteps college-bound high schoolers make. Take care to avoid them so you can be well positioned for application success.
Marie Todd has been involved in college admissions for more than 20 years. Marie has both counseled applicants to top colleges and evaluated more than 5,000 applications for the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; College of Engineering; School of Kinesiology; School of Nursing; and Taubman College of Architecture. Want Marie to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch.
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