Before starting any application students should read these tips for how to avoid getting a college rejection. It would be fair to say that applying for college is one of the most stressful and important tasks that you undertake in your young adult life. Getting in to your dream college can be the perfect stepping stone for setting up the future that you have always dreamed of, but unfortunately it isn’t as easy as just putting down your preference and getting an invite. There is so much more to consider when applying to college than just the school you desire. It takes a certain skill set to be able to impress both on paper and in interview to actually be offered a place to study. If you are a young person who is just about to embark on the rollercoaster that is applying to college, then here are a few tips for how to avoid getting rejected by your chosen colleges.
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1. Maintain a High GPA
There really isn’t any way of getting around this one I’m afraid! Colleges are going to be much more willing to give you a spot at their institution if you can prove that you have been a consistently hard worker and high achiever throughout your time in high school. Anybody can bring out a few good test scores when the time is right, but to have maintained a good grade level across your academic career is something that is very attractive to potential colleges.
2. High SAT Score
Of course, some tests are more important than others, and the SATs are definitely in that category! You might see the SAT as just another test to take when in you’re in the middle of high school, but you need to remember that colleges look at this score as a general indicator of your academic capability, so it really is more important than others. Some colleges have a strict requirement for minimum SAT scores, so in some cases you might not even get past the first stage of application if you didn’t get a high mark.
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3. Find Your Spike
You need to work on finding your spike, and this the term that is used to describe the thing that is going to set you apart from the rest of the applicants. You need to work an angle that makes you stand out from the crowd, and this could be something to with a personal passion, a relevant club that you are a member of, your extracurricular activities or one of your achievements. Try to make this a central theme of your application and colleges will appreciate a showing of real personality outside of the facts and figures.
4. Compelling Personal Statement
Your numbers and grades can only get you so far, especially when competition is fierce. What you need to accompany your strong grades is an equally strong personal statement. Don’t think that you can crack one of these out in a single afternoon. You should treat it like any other school essay and go through multiple drafts before deciding you’ve produced the best you can. Talk about who you are as a person because your academic transcript will already be telling them who you are as a student. Focus on your spike and what makes you a unique candidate.
5. Apply Early
Take the bull by the horns and apply for your colleges as early as possible. If your favorite schools offer early action or early decision, then take the initiative and get the ball rolling as soon as possible. It’s not necessarily a first come, first served type of situation, but it never hurts to have your application on the desks of the important people before some other students have even thought about their personal statement!
6. Don’t Rush
Applying early doesn’t mean rushing, because rushing is one of the worst things you can do. The last thing you want is for your application to be sloppy and filled with mistakes that could easily have been rectified if you had spent a little more time fine-tuning and perfecting. This is one of the most important parts of your life to date, so give it the time that it deserves.
These tips for how to avoid getting a college rejection do not guarantee you being offered a place but they will certainly help your cause.