What can I do to stand out to colleges?

What Should High Schoolers Do Over the Summer to Impress Colleges?
  1. Participate in a specialized high school program. ...
  2. Take a college class. ...
  3. Find a summer program at a local school or community college. ...
  4. Get involved with research. ...
  5. Create your own project. ...
  6. Take a free online class. ...
  7. Get a job. ...
  8. Volunteer in your community.
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What makes a college stand out?

Great school spirit, famous faculty, or a classically beautiful campus can be qualities that help set colleges apart from each other in your mind.
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What do colleges look at the most?

KEY FACTORS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
  1. Good Grades. Earning good grades is the most critical factor for college applications. ...
  2. Challenging High School Curriculum. ...
  3. Strong Standardized Test Scores. ...
  4. A Well-Written Essay. ...
  5. Extracurricular Participation and Leadership Skills. ...
  6. Diversity. ...
  7. Enthusiasm for the School. ...
  8. Letters of Recommendation.
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Do colleges look at your social media?

About 65% of admissions officers view social media as “fair game” when evaluating potential enrollees, according to a survey performed by Kaplan Test Prep in 2020. With that said, only 36% of the 313 officers surveyed said they actually took the time to browse applicants' TikTok, Instagram and other accounts.
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What personalities do colleges look for?

Top Character Qualities Colleges Want
  • Leadership.
  • Willingness to take risks.
  • Initiative.
  • Sense of social responsibility.
  • Commitment to service.
  • Special talents or abilities.
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The WOW Factor: 7 Ways to Stand Out in College Admissions



What are your 3 qualities that will add value to your college?

Top 7 Qualities Valued by US University Admissions Officers
  • Evidence of passion for your chosen subject. ...
  • Having held any positions of responsibility. ...
  • A good level of written English. ...
  • A reasonable level of mathematics. ...
  • A positive attitude towards studies. ...
  • Ability to think and work independently.
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What looks the most impressive on a college application?

Academics
  • Grade Point Average (GPA) The most important step you can take to make yourself a competitive candidate is, of course, to work hard in school. ...
  • Test Scores. For schools that consider standardized test scores, those typically rank second in importance. ...
  • Clubs. ...
  • Sports. ...
  • Community Service. ...
  • Jobs/Internships.
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What are the top three things you want to get out of college?

Here are four things that students should look to gain from their college experience:
  • People skills. There is perhaps nothing more vital to a student's future success than learning how to analyze people. ...
  • Exposure to multicultural activities. ...
  • The ability to work in high pressure situations. ...
  • Analytical/problem solving skills.
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What makes a college want to accept you?

At the end of the day, good grades and impressive test scores are still key to college acceptance. "Applications that instantly get accepted are well-rounded students — high GPA, extracurricular involvement (and leadership roles within those activities ideally), and strong short answers and essays," said Murray.
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What makes you more likely to get into college?

What Are the Most Important Factors in College Admissions? According to a 2019 report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the top factors for admissions are overall high school GPA, grades in Advanced Placement or other college-prep classes and the difficulty of the student's curriculum.
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What is the biggest factor in choosing a college?

Perspective. The most important factor when considering a college is how the school made you feel. Regardless of all the programs, opportunities, and scholarships, the school you choose should feel like home, a place where you will be able to grow and develop not just academically but in all aspects of life.
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What to say when colleges ask what makes you unique?

Identify What Makes You Unique
  • Where did you grow up? ...
  • What is an unusual family tradition? ...
  • Are you a demographic minority? ...
  • Who is the most significant person in your life? ...
  • Have you traveled? ...
  • Do you play any instruments? ...
  • What's the most interesting job you've had? ...
  • Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
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What should you not say on a college application?

Staying away from these 12 topics can give you a better chance at having your application considered instead of tossed aside.
  • Controversial Topics. ...
  • Highly Personal Topics. ...
  • Personal Achievements and Accomplishments. ...
  • Most Important Place or a Role Model. ...
  • Creative Writing. ...
  • Athletic Topics. ...
  • Humorous Topics or Jokes. ...
  • Tragic Events.
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What are the top 4 things college admissions officers are looking for?

Basically, there are six main factors that college admissions officers consider: AP classes and challenging course loads, high school GPAs, SAT and ACT scores (unless they are test-optional), meaningful extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and your personal statement.
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What strengths do I bring to college?

Take a look at this list of skills your student should start developing in preparation for college.
  • Assertiveness. ...
  • Responsibility. ...
  • Self management skills. ...
  • Communication skills. ...
  • Collaboration skills. ...
  • Independent work skills. ...
  • Critical-thinking skills. ...
  • Study skills.
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What are colleges looking for in essays?

Colleges look for three things in your admission essay: a unique perspective, strong writing, and an authentic voice. People in admissions often say that a great essay is one where it feels like the student is right there in the room, talking authentically to the admissions committee!
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What are the 4 mistakes to avoid when applying for a college?

Opinion The four biggest mistakes students make when applying to college
  • Delaying the campus visit until the spring. ...
  • Considering only research universities for undergraduate research. ...
  • Ignoring life after college when choosing a college. ...
  • Getting your heart set on one place before the financial-aid offer.
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What are 5 common popular college essay topics?

Tackling the Common App Essay Prompts
  • Prompt #1: Share your story.
  • Prompt #2: Learning from obstacles.
  • Prompt #3: Challenging a belief.
  • Prompt #4: Solving a problem.
  • Prompt #5: Personal growth.
  • Prompt #6: What captivates you?
  • Prompt #7: Topic of your choice.
  • Describe a person you admire.
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What college essay topics to avoid?

Top College Essay Topics to Avoid and Why
  • A Litany of Your Academic and/or Extracurricular Achievements. ...
  • Your Hero. ...
  • Experimental or Creative Writing. ...
  • A Sports-Related Challenge or Success. ...
  • Service Trips. ...
  • Tragedy. ...
  • Controversial or Polarizing Subjects.
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How do you tell a college they are your top choice?

Apply Early. Applying early tells a school that they are your absolute number one top pick. (You can only apply to one school early decision, and if you are accepted, the decision is binding.)
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What qualities make you unique?

15 Qualities That Make A Person Unique
  • Genetics. Our genetic make-up is one component that makes us different from everyone else. ...
  • Physical Characteristics. Every individual is not physically created the same. ...
  • Personality. ...
  • Attitude. ...
  • Perspective. ...
  • Habits. ...
  • Intellect. ...
  • Goals.
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What makes you unique from all the applicants?

“What makes you unique?” actually translates to “What skills, qualities and experiences make you the best candidate for this job?” By asking this question, employers are inviting you to brag about yourself and your best qualities, and tell them what differentiates you from other graduate candidates.
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What stresses college students out the most?

College students commonly experience stress because of increased responsibilities, a lack of good time management, changes in eating and sleeping habits, and not taking enough breaks for self-care. Transitioning to college can be a source of stress for most first-year students.
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What are the top 3 things you think are most important for a college student to do to build credit responsibly while they're in school?

Five Credit-Building Strategies to Try Before You Graduate
  • Make payments on a student loan while you're in school. Your credit score measures your ability to repay debt. ...
  • Use your rent payments to build credit. ...
  • Get a co-signer to help you qualify for a credit card. ...
  • Get a secured card. ...
  • Use a credit-builder loan.
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What GPA do colleges look at the most?

An unweighted GPA is the most popular grade point average reporting scale. It is used in high schools and colleges across much of America. You probably already know a lot about it, but let us refresh your memory, just in case.
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