Four Ways To Work on Your College Application This SummerJune 11, 2024
The summer before senior year can be crucial to complete your college application timely in the coming months. For many students, working on applications for undergraduate admission can be an intimidating and stressful task, involving familiarizing themselves with collegiate terms, writing personal statements, while balancing academics and extracurricular commitments. Breaking these into manageable steps and getting a head start before senior year starts can significantly reduce stress and help you make time for memorable experiences during your final year of study.
Here are four ways to make the most out of summer break and jumpstart your college application:
Create A College Shortlist
With close to 6000 colleges in the US alone, students applying to multiple countries can narrow their focus by creating a college list that best meets their needs and academic background to maximize their acceptance chances and assure a fulfilling campus experience. A realistic identification of factors like academic interests, tuition cost, college ranking, and average test scores from previous student profiles are just some things that you can search for while creating this list. This will also help you review admissions application requirements, and the scores you will need in standardized tests like the SAT or ACT or advanced-study courses like the AP exam.
Start Filling Your Application Portals
Application systems like UCAS and Common Application (CA) are useful planning tools as they provide key information like application deadlines, document requirements like recommendation letters, semester transcripts and more in one place. By filling in necessary details such as education history and extracurricular activities during your summer vacation, you can reduce the risk of missing important information and avoid last-minute setbacks. Acquainting yourself with the portal interface can also help you flag any technical concerns early in the journey. You can also review additional requirements like application fee and create a detailed checklist. By following these steps, you will also aid your school advisor by giving them ample time to review your information before the portals open for submission.
Work On Your Personal Statement
Good writing is a result of planning well done. By starting early on your personal statement and essay drafts, you can capture different ideas for essay prompts without worrying about tight revision deadlines. Utilize tools like mindmaps and flowcharts to organize your ideas before making an outline. You can discuss your ideas with your counsellor to get valuable feedback and gain new perspectives towards crafting a compelling essay. This collaborative approach can ensure you highlight your accomplishments and unique traits, as these responses are an important component of informing admission officers about your suitability for their institution.
Engage in Meaningful Summer Activities
Don’t let the college admission process deter you from spending a productive summer break. Like any successful college freshman will tell you, effective planning and balancing commitments is key, and your vacation can be an excellent opportunity to seek relevant internships, complete an online course, engage in volunteer work with local NGOs, or undertake summer programmes at colleges to get an extra credit or two. You can even choose to continue one of your older activities, and fill any gaps in your activity list.
To start strong and finish stronger, create a solid plan and stick to it. The College Tribe’s expert advisors offer personalized guidance and help you with creating a balanced college list, provide feedback on your essay drafts, and more. Creating a standout application requires starting early, so fill this form today to learn how we can assist you.
