What to Include in your Application

You college application has to be taken seriously. This package of information is what will determine your enrollment status. If you want to get accepted to the college of your choice, you need to present a coherent, well-organized application package.

Here are five things that you need to include in your application.

Transcripts and Test Scores
You need to provide a record of your academic history. If you’ve taken some college courses at other institutions, you need to secure transcripts from these secondary schools, and include them in your application. You’re GPA and standardized test scores should meet the minimum admission requirements of the institution you’re applying to. You should also make sure that your transcript is packed with challenging courses and advanced placement (AP) classes.

Personal Essay
You personal essay is the most qualitative piece of information included in your application. Your test scores and transcripts give admissions officers’ raw numerical data to crunch compare and contrast with the figures from other applicants. Your personal essay is your opportunity to tell admissions officers who you really are. Be candid, honest and original. Write a well-argued paper with a clear thesis statement and supporting evidence. Show off your ability to reflect, analyze and communicate conclusions. Spend plenty of time organizing your ideas, and make certain that you have answered the essay topic completely.

Letters of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation should only be obtained from people who love you. Teachers are the number one choice here, although you can still send in letters from employers, community and religious leaders. Find a teacher who will take a bullet for you, and have them profess undying enthusiasm for your abilities. You’ve spent all this time forging solid relationships with your teachers, now it’s time to call in the favors.

Accomplishments Outside the Classroom
Celebrate your accomplishments outside the classroom. Illustrate the fact that you are a responsible, passionate person with interests that go beyond academia. Talk about leadership roles you might have held. Mention the fact that you play sports, speak more than one language or are musically inclined. Talk about your hobbies and extra-curricular activities as if your participation in these activities has changed the world.

Confidence
Your college application needs to be crafted with confidence. You are the one making the investment here. You decide which offer letters to accept, and you’re responsible for the tuition bill. Make the school understand that you are a self-assured applicant with options.

For better or worse, your college application is used as a comprehensive snapshot that defines who you are. Make sure that the admissions officers see the entire picture. If there are any special circumstances that they need to consider, make sure you mention them in your personal essay. Get your materials together in an organized fashion. Start on your application early, so you can send it in long before the deadline