How to Make Your College Apps Stand Out

All that soul searching to find the perfect college has come down to this—your application for admission. But what actually goes into that mythical document? How do you write the application essay? Who's responsible for your standardized test scores? What do admission counselors really want from you?! It's a lot to consider, but luckily, we asked an admission insider to break it all down for you. Keep reading for comprehensive expert advice on how to make your college applications rise to the top of the heap.

How admission decisions are made

Before diving into your college applications, it’s good to think about how they will be reviewed by the admission committees at the colleges you’re considering. Although the application process is largely the same as it has been for generations with application fees to pay, essays to be written, and transcripts to be sent, it also has changed dramatically with most of it now done online. When the process is complete, students still generally receive their decision letters the old-fashioned way—that classic “fat envelope” in the mail!

Each college has its criteria for making admission decisions. However, all colleges look for strong students they believe will return each year, succeed in their campus environment and culture, and ultimately graduate. Though criteria vary from school to school, here’s the basic breakdown of application elements and what admission counselors are looking for:

Grades, GPA, and rank in class: These speak for themselves. However, today, many high schools are choosing to no longer report rank in class in favor of looking more closely at GPA and the rigor of classes taken.
High school curriculum: Admission counselors are looking for academic rigor. Have you challenged yourself to the best of your ability, based on the classes available at your high school? Have you displayed genuine intellectual curiosity?
Standardized test scores: Test scores should be consistent with your high school grades. A great test score won’t make up for a mediocre GPA—just like a mediocre test score won’t wipe out years of strong grades. And many colleges are now test-optional, so they may request additional documentation and information to supplement the lack of scores.
Letters of recommendation: These should always come from people who know you well. Your letters should provide additional information from teachers or counselors who can comment on your academic highlights, special achievements, and your character.
Extracurricular activities and achievements. Admission counselors are looking for quality over quantity with extracurriculars. Your hours of community service, special talents, leadership qualities, athletics, and other activities all factor into the admission decision.
The application essay: Your admission essay gives admission reviewers important insights into your personality, goals, and values that no other piece of the application provides.
Personal meetings/interviews: Some colleges and universities require an admission interview, but even if yours don’t, they’re often valuable experiences for both the student and the admission interviewer. You may want to sign up for one anyway!
Demonstrated interest: Admission counselors want to enroll students who want to attend their institution, and you can demonstrate that through campus visits, admission interviews, and even requests for information from the admission office. They keep track of these things!
The fine details: The intangible factors like meeting deadlines, quality of the overall application, and the feeling that you really would like to attend the college are taken into account. Demographics, legacy relationships, and other factors may also be considered.

Although the academic cutoffs at certain colleges may be impossible to maneuver around, many colleges look at more than grades and test scores. They look at the whole student. They want to know about your personality, academic interests, and extracurricular passions. They’re looking for grit, curiosity, and determination. And they’re hoping their school is a good fit for you—and vice versa. That doesn’t mean grades and test scores are not important—they are still the most important factors in the admission decision. But it does mean that there are other considerations, such as the essay and the personal meeting/interview, that might make up for weaker areas of your college application.

Get organized

Organizing your application materials may be the most important part of the admission process. Once you have the final list of schools to which you will apply, Make sure you know each school’s requirements, and don’t be afraid to call the admission office if you have a question about an application element. A few more organizational tips to keep in mind. Start a college search spreadsheet to track as much info as you can all in one place, like the colleges you're applying to, their application deadlines, and their requirements for admission, but also include things like the dates of when you visited the campus, met a counselor at a college fair, had an admission interview, requested your high school transcript, sent a thank you card, etc. Also create a physical or digital folder for each school you’re applying to and keep any relevant documents in there: applications, essays, brochures, or other correspondence.

Use a calendar to keep track of important dates and deadlines for all of your schools. Then be sure to submit your app and additional materials, like test scores and transcripts, at least a week or two in advance. Submitting a little early will give you a buffer, just in case something gets lost in translation. Then, once you’ve submitted, check the status of your applications online (or via phone or email) to make sure your schools have everything. This may seem like a lot of work now, but you’ll be glad you have a record—especially if the school informs you they’re missing a part of your application.

Submission deadlines

Staying organized will also ensure you submit your applications before the deadlines roll around. All of your application elements, including test scores and transcripts, should be in well before the deadline. There are several types of application deadlines, but most students choose the Regular Decision deadline. Here's a rundown of all your options:

Regular Decision deadlines usually fall between January 1 and March 1 of the year you plan to enroll, and you should receive a response in April. You then usually have until May 1 to accept or decline any offers of admission.
Early Action deadlines generally fall between mid-October and mid-November, depending on the school. You should receive a decision in December. Early Action applications are non-binding, so you may apply to as many Early Action schools as you would like and choose among all that admit you.
Early Decision applications are not to be taken quite so lightly. The due dates are similar to Early Action, but Early Decision admission is binding, which means you must attend if a school admits you and withdraw all other submitted applications to other institutions. You should only apply to a college or university Early Decision if it is your absolute top choice.
Single Choice Early Action is non-binding, but if you go this route, you cannot apply to any other schools early; you can apply to other schools Regular Decision, but not Early Action or Early Decision. You are then guaranteed a prompt admission decision and will still have until May 1 to accept or decline.
Rolling admission means you do not have an official deadline to apply, per se; students can submit their application materials throughout the year. Admission decisions are then normally made in a few weeks. However, students are also accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and positions can fill up quickly.

College application elements

Although they’ll differ for all of your schools, most colleges and universities require the application pieces below.

Application basics

In addition to providing your basic identifying information—name, address, birth date, citizenship, etc.—you will also likely be asked to share your family’s college experience, your high school, languages you speak fluently, and more. Having your own up-to-date high school résumé can help streamline this process, as can reviewing your applications in advance, so you’re familiar with what you need to know when you start filling them out for real. You may also find you are able to submit the Common Application for one or more of your schools. It’s accepted more than 1,000 colleges and universities, and it can definitely streamline your college application process, because you only submit it once! However, keep in mind that some schools will have their own Common App supplements, which often consist of a few short-answer questions.

Standardized test scores

Colleges use the SAT, ACT, and other standardized test scores in different ways, some in the admission process and some for placement. If you take the SAT multiple times, you may choose which score you send to your colleges and universities requiring them. However, if you do not highlight a particular score, the College Board will report all your scores to your schools. It takes the College Board five weeks to send your test scores, but you can request “rush reporting” if necessary, which takes two business days and costs extra, but not all colleges and universities accept rush reporting. You may also encounter some test-optional schools, a growing list of colleges and universities that do not require standardized test scores. However, these schools may still “recommend” you send in your scores or may require supplemental materials in lieu of scores.

Recommendation letters

Recommendations are another facet of the college application that enable admission representatives to see the person behind the GPA and test scores. When it comes to recommendation letters, you won’t be doing the writing. However, you do need to put some time, consideration, and effort into coordinating the people who will be. You may need only one recommendation, often from your high school guidance counselor, or as many as three. Ask professors, employers, or organization leaders who know you well and can speak to your character. Even if you have access to a “notable person” (your aunt works for a state senator), you are much better off with a letter from your pastor who led your sophomore year service trip to Central America—someone who knows from experience just how great you are. (Please do not ask Mom or Dad to write a recommendation, as it may be somewhat biased! Believe it or not, this happens on occasion.) Make sure you give your recommendation writers ample time to compose their letters; a month is usually sufficient, but it’s helpful to give them a “heads up” several months in advance. And don’t forget to send them a thank-you note when all is said and done.

College essay or personal statement

When admission staff members read your application, they’re looking for a glimpse of your personality in addition to all the facts and figures, the classes, and extracurricular activities. That’s where your essay may distinguish you from other candidates for admission—this is your opportunity to stand out among other applicants. If two students have equal GPAs and test scores, your essay can help immensely in tipping the scales in your favor. Give the application reader some insight into your life, your personality, and your values. Make sure you do not, however, hurt your application by making spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors or by failing to adhere to the given word count.

Also, make sure you respond to the statement given or answer the question that is asked. This may seem obvious, but numerous students submit misguided application essays because they fail to take the time to truly understand the prompt. And don’t forget that the essay should always be about you. If the prompt asks about “someone you admire,” your essay should be a reflection of their influence on your life. Spend time thinking about what’s important to you, brainstorming ideas, and outlining possible options. Have other people, including your professors, read the essay and listen to their feedback. You’ll only have a few hundred words to make a lasting impression, so choose a topic that’s specific, unique, and memorable. Above all, be genuine.

Extracurricular activities

Whether or not you played three varsity sports, volunteered 20 hours each week, or played Evita in the senior musical, extracurricular activities are not going to make or break your college application. That being said, they are definitely considered and help admission representatives see the student behind the test scores and course work. Again, they want to see your personality and get a feel for what’s important to you. When listing extracurricular activities, remember that it’s about quality, not quantity. Don’t stuff your application with extracurriculars you joined for a week and then abandoned. Or, if you really are a member of a dozen different clubs and committees, highlight those in which you were most involved. Leadership roles, like editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, are great, but you can also discuss projects you led or sub-committees you were a part of.

Admission interviews

As noted above, admission interviews can benefit you and your admission chances, even if your colleges do not require them. They give your admission counselor a face, voice, and personality to go with your name and application. They demonstrate a considerable amount of interest on your part, which in turn can strengthen your bid for admission as a highly motivated candidate. And you can get yet another glimpse at the inner workings of the school and the people representing it. Your conversation might shed a valuable light on school for you, whether it illuminates wonderful qualities you had yet to consider or puts into stark relief some aspects of the school you don’t really like.

Before sending in your forms, double-check the application checklist of all the necessary elements. It's your responsibility to make sure all required documents have been submitted so a timely decision can be made. Again, you can call and ask if you have outstanding materials or check your application’s status online if you receive instructions to do so. Take care of the things that are in your control. Make sure you read and follow the directions completely and that there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors—then check again. Save copies and mark the dates that you sent each application, fee, and supporting documents in your spreadsheet. It also doesn’t hurt to have someone, like a family member or trusted friend, review your application for errors as well. Sweating the details of your college applications can be frustrating, but the result is exhilarating. And you’ll breathe a big sigh of relief when that acceptance packet comes in the mail!

Did we miss any part of the college application process? Bet we didn't! Keep exploring our content on college applications to find all the tips and tricks you could need.

How to Make Your College Applications Stand Out

How admission decisions are made

Get organized

Submission deadlines