Here at Better College Apps, we believe that the key for every student to the college admissions process is simple: you are unique. Sure, you’re human so you have tons in common with the rest of us–but, as a human, you have your own life experiences, talents, and goals. There is no one exactly like you, and highlighting your singularity is crucial to your college application.
Perhaps, as a high school student, you are very aware of your originality–or perhaps, you are convinced that nothing about you could stand out to colleges as an ideal applicant. I’ve been there, but it’s simply not true. If you don’t believe me, shuffle a deck of cards. It is overwhelmingly likely that no deck of cards ever has ever been in that exact order before and never will again (in fact, the odds are beyond astronomical–try 1 in 8.066*10^67). And that’s with just 52 playing cards. How much more extremely complex is a person, with emotions, ideas, passions, and dreams?
Colleges are not simply picking the top applicants with the top statistics; they are curating a student body. They want it to be diverse, engaging, stimulating, and yes, unique. That’s why applications consist of more than just your transcript and test scores. Sure, colleges like high stats because these boost the college’s academic reputation and rankings. And true, admissions officers say the high school transcript is the most important part of an application, because it shows them how likely you are to succeed academically. It’s very important to admit students who can cut it at the college level and won’t fail out. But applications also include extracurricular activities, awards, letters of recommendation, and essays, because admissions officers are looking for students who fit the following criteria as well:
- Students who can contribute intellectually and bring something to the table, rather than drag down or detract from academic and intellectual progress. Students who will teach and learn from each other.
- Students who have unique perspectives, skills, values, talents, abilities, etc, and will use those to the betterment of the college and student body.
- Students who will be engaged in activities, in building new groups and new connections, in achievement, in idea creation, etc.
- Students who will be leaders in thought and action, who will make a mark on the college and the world by going on to do even greater things. Students who push boundaries and aspire to overcome great challenges, or who will invent new things or ways of doing things.
- Students who have integrity and who will build the college’s reputation and prestige. Students who represent the college well both as students and as alumni.
Conversely, there are also types of students who they don’t want. They don’t want freeloaders or lazy bums who are just skating by to get their degree and move on. They don’t want students who will bring down the reputation of the college. They don’t want people who try to be exactly the same as everyone else. They don’t want students who lack integrity and moral fiber, or who are happy with the status quo and never take on challenges. They don’t want unimaginative people who give up easily. They don’t want students who are too full of themselves to work with others. They don’t even want 2000 uninteresting students with completely perfect statistics because that would counteract so much of what they are trying to build in a student body.
As you begin a college application, always bear in mind the traits colleges want in their students. Don’t worry, you are already a great candidate. You just need to showcase this well by being aware of your own uniqueness and how you can contribute at your dream school. Your hand of cards is different than anyone’s has been or ever will be; play them well.
