4 answers
Gabrielle
Student
Tracy, California
2
Questions
Asked
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What are recommended things to do for college applications?
Such as extracurriculars, dual credit college classes, AP courses, clubs, etc.
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4 answers
T.J. Worthy
Mentor
202
Answers
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Updated
T.J.’s Answer
Hello, Gab!
College applications are a place for you to share your unique strengths, perspectives, and experiences! You're trying to show the best version of yourself.
For academic and outside activities, here are my tips:
- Classes & Courses: You are automatically required to share your transcript, so you don't really need to explain your grades (unless there's noticeable deficiencies in your GPA).
For AP/Dual Enrollment, you can release specific AP scores or credit separately. Ask your guidance counselor for help with sending these to colleges.
- Extracurriculars & Clubs: For these activities, it's about quality over quantity.
Colleges prefer to see you dedicate time towards something versus having multiple short experiences. Schools also like to see examples of leadership!
You can approach sharing school activities in two ways. You can tell colleges that you have either:
- Dedication as a member for a long period of time (2+ years or more in a club will work).
- Dedication as a e-board [executive board] member in a leadership role.
E-board positions for clubs are president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, or club representative.
Also --- If you've done anything related to community service, jobs, internships, or made personal projects (a self-owned business), share that as well!
The key when talking about experiences is to share the skills you learned.
What did you learn from [insert activity]?
- Did you learn public speaking, empathy, problem-solving?
- Did you learn something about yourself as a person, or about others?
- What skills do you plan to carry with you in college or in the future?
You can talk about these things within your personal essay. Most schools will ask for an personal essay, anyway.
There are some differences of where you place & format information for the Common App, Coalition, or College-Specific System application. However, generally the info you share is the same.
Since most U.S. colleges use the Common App, here's a guide that you could use while filling it out:
https://ingeniusprep.com/blog/guide-to-the-common-application/
The last thing I will say is relax. College admissions feels so intimidating. However, you got this!
Allow yourself to ask for help. Either here, from staff at your school, or on college application support sites like College Vine [https://www.collegevine.com/].
Sending you good vibes as you apply for college :)
College applications are a place for you to share your unique strengths, perspectives, and experiences! You're trying to show the best version of yourself.
For academic and outside activities, here are my tips:
- Classes & Courses: You are automatically required to share your transcript, so you don't really need to explain your grades (unless there's noticeable deficiencies in your GPA).
For AP/Dual Enrollment, you can release specific AP scores or credit separately. Ask your guidance counselor for help with sending these to colleges.
- Extracurriculars & Clubs: For these activities, it's about quality over quantity.
Colleges prefer to see you dedicate time towards something versus having multiple short experiences. Schools also like to see examples of leadership!
You can approach sharing school activities in two ways. You can tell colleges that you have either:
- Dedication as a member for a long period of time (2+ years or more in a club will work).
- Dedication as a e-board [executive board] member in a leadership role.
E-board positions for clubs are president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, or club representative.
Also --- If you've done anything related to community service, jobs, internships, or made personal projects (a self-owned business), share that as well!
The key when talking about experiences is to share the skills you learned.
What did you learn from [insert activity]?
- Did you learn public speaking, empathy, problem-solving?
- Did you learn something about yourself as a person, or about others?
- What skills do you plan to carry with you in college or in the future?
You can talk about these things within your personal essay. Most schools will ask for an personal essay, anyway.
There are some differences of where you place & format information for the Common App, Coalition, or College-Specific System application. However, generally the info you share is the same.
Since most U.S. colleges use the Common App, here's a guide that you could use while filling it out:
https://ingeniusprep.com/blog/guide-to-the-common-application/
The last thing I will say is relax. College admissions feels so intimidating. However, you got this!
Allow yourself to ask for help. Either here, from staff at your school, or on college application support sites like College Vine [https://www.collegevine.com/].
Sending you good vibes as you apply for college :)
Renea Gott
Medical Transcription
36
Answers
Memphis, Tennessee
Updated
Renea’s Answer
Dear heart,
I think all of the things you have listed are very good things to be able to put on your college application and resume too when the time comes. If you want to get into journalism in college, try working for the school newspaper in school. If you want to go into the medical field, try (if your school has this) their medical program. Also maybe during 11th and 12th grade summer break while you are sending off your applications you try to volunteer at a facility that does the kind of work your upcoming major is related to. Call and ask if they have an internship or something. Do this even though you may be doing a practicum in school for a grade. I hope I have helped. Godspeed.
Sincerely,
Si'van
I think all of the things you have listed are very good things to be able to put on your college application and resume too when the time comes. If you want to get into journalism in college, try working for the school newspaper in school. If you want to go into the medical field, try (if your school has this) their medical program. Also maybe during 11th and 12th grade summer break while you are sending off your applications you try to volunteer at a facility that does the kind of work your upcoming major is related to. Call and ask if they have an internship or something. Do this even though you may be doing a practicum in school for a grade. I hope I have helped. Godspeed.
Sincerely,
Si'van
Thank you so much!
Gabrielle
Racheal Noble
10
Answers
Updated
Racheal’s Answer
Hello Gab,
My recommendation for college application would include the following:
First, get a mentor. Someone who is in higher education, a teacher or someone adult who is in the profession you want to go into and ask them fmfir their advice on what they would want someone who is ready to go to college.
I believe AP classes are good, if you want to have an advantage in college level work, however, it's really not that deep.
Extracurricular activity, be it volunteering, a pastime job, or sports do something. Part of college should include doing work to give back to others and or engaging in an activity that bring others together (sports). This will definitely show that there is more to you then just going to school and making grades. It will also prove that you are capable of being able to balance your life and you'll need this from here on out as an adult.
Lastly I would encourage you to apply to different schools and really take time to compare what each as to offer. Remember the program is different than the university or college. Just because a college or university is ranked low doesn't always mean the program that you are going into is ranked low.
Finally, enjoy your high school years, because you can't get them back!
Best of luck!!
My recommendation for college application would include the following:
First, get a mentor. Someone who is in higher education, a teacher or someone adult who is in the profession you want to go into and ask them fmfir their advice on what they would want someone who is ready to go to college.
I believe AP classes are good, if you want to have an advantage in college level work, however, it's really not that deep.
Extracurricular activity, be it volunteering, a pastime job, or sports do something. Part of college should include doing work to give back to others and or engaging in an activity that bring others together (sports). This will definitely show that there is more to you then just going to school and making grades. It will also prove that you are capable of being able to balance your life and you'll need this from here on out as an adult.
Lastly I would encourage you to apply to different schools and really take time to compare what each as to offer. Remember the program is different than the university or college. Just because a college or university is ranked low doesn't always mean the program that you are going into is ranked low.
Finally, enjoy your high school years, because you can't get them back!
Best of luck!!
david kirk
Retired Computing Manager
480
Answers
Syracuse, New York
Updated
david’s Answer
Hello, Gab,
You're on the right track with your questions. Yes, to all of your thoughts on this. You obviously want to have excellent grades, but you also want to demonstrate that you are more than just a smart student. You achieve that by extracurricular involvement, clubs, sports, and any activity outside of class where you demonstrate initiative and participation with others to a goal. That might include such activities as neighborhood cleanup projects, volunteering at charitable events, and the like. Colleges like to see applicants that bring variety and diversity to their campuses. All the best in your pursuits.
You're on the right track with your questions. Yes, to all of your thoughts on this. You obviously want to have excellent grades, but you also want to demonstrate that you are more than just a smart student. You achieve that by extracurricular involvement, clubs, sports, and any activity outside of class where you demonstrate initiative and participation with others to a goal. That might include such activities as neighborhood cleanup projects, volunteering at charitable events, and the like. Colleges like to see applicants that bring variety and diversity to their campuses. All the best in your pursuits.
Thank you so much!
Gabrielle