In addition to studying for finals, doing extracurriculars, and possibly working a part-time job, seniors have to find the time to apply for the colleges they want to join.
In this stressful and overwhelming time of your life, even a small misstep could lead to a rejection letter and shattered dreams. College admissions depend on several factors, many of which can be optimized to increase your odds of getting accepted.
To help you out, here are five of the most common college application mistakes that you’ll definitely want to avoid.
Missing the Deadline
Though it may seem obvious, there’s always a surprisingly high number of students that don’t get admitted simply due to missing the college application deadlines. Additionally, the official application deadline isn’t the only one you need to focus on.
A lot of the time, you have to meet short deadlines for specific admission materials like passport renewals, transcripts, recommendation letters, and test scores. It’s important to be up-to-date on the news and research dates for specific programs as well.
Showing a Lack of Effort
Admission counselors tend to pick out students that seem enthusiastic and are successful in showing their passion in their college application. The top colleges only accept the best and most interesting applicants so something basic won’t cut it.
Missing sections, not correcting mistakes in your essay, and doing the bare minimum work will cause the admissions committee to think you’re not a serious applicant. Another mistake that shows a lack of effort is writing an essay that doesn’t fit the prompt or is recycled from other applications.
Making Personal Statement Errors
A personal statement is one of the only opportunities you have to express yourself and stand out from your competition. A lazy or uninspiring personal statement can really lower your chances of getting admitted into your desired college.
It’s crucial to convey why you chose this particular college above others and show your passion for education and the subject you’ve chosen. Once you’ve written it, read it out loud to a friend or family member to spot mistakes.
Using Generic Letters of Recommendation
Waiting until your last few months or last year of high school to start thinking about letters of recommendation is a major mistake many students make. It’s recommended to start identifying worthy teachers as soon as your sophomore year.
Creating a meaningful relationship with teachers that would result in a letter of recommendation that stands out can take multiple years. Pay close attention to the teachers that specifically look out for you or who you’ve made a good impression on.
Lying About Your Experiences
Lastly, some students tend to take it a bit too far and overly exaggerate statements about their personal experiences just to get into their dream college.
In the majority of cases, admissions officers will see through the bluff and give students an immediate rejection. There can also be legal repercussions to lying your way through the admission process.
