In the hyper-competitive world of college applications, one might think their key to success is to throw a bunch of spaghetti at the wall and hope something sticks. But we find that the best approach is to create an actual strategy, discover what elements of a university are interesting to you, and where you might be a good fit. You’re not going to be a fit at every school. It’s best to create a list of schools in which you will be. While some applicants apply to 30 schools, we find that 12-15 schools (a healthy balance between reaches, safeties, and targets) is a solid range.
Research
The biggest downside to applying to a staggering number of schools is you can’t possibly put your best foot forward on all 30 applications. We spend a lot of time with our students nurturing each application and editing every essay for a range of schools at which the student would both be happy and has a chance of success. Applying to a million schools isn’t going to help you. You’ll just end up being rushed and submitting something that’s subpar. Applying to any more than 12-15 schools also typically indicates a lack of research. We recommend doing a deep-dive into what every school you’re interested in offers. That way, you’ll have a better sense for what they’re looking for in an applicant. But more importantly, you should learn what you’re really looking for in a school and the key to that is digging deep.
Finding Schools That Fit
Each school is looking for a freshman class that will fit in perfectly. Every school has a personality and a particular brand of academic, cultural, and social offerings. You should aim to find the schools that match your own personality. We encourage our students to develop an academic niche throughout their four years of high school. This should be a specific area around which you build your classes and extracurriculars. It goes without saying, this should be something you’re really passionate about. We’re here to say, it’s perfectly fine to go into your freshman year not really knowing what it is you want to study. If you’ve spent your high school years developing an academic niche in physics, it’s also perfectly okay to decide you’re going to become a literary scholar in college. But for the sake of the application process, you should really hone in on the niche you’ve been developing in high school and find the academic overlap at universities you’re considering. Then, when it’s time to apply, you should make a case for why attending that university will help you continue your multi-year pursuit in a particular academic area of expertise. (Once you get accepted, you’re free to then pursue whatever it is you want academically—including an “I Have No Clue” major).
Establishing Likes and Dislikes
Once you’ve identified the package your presenting as the applicant and some schools that might be looking for a student who offers what you do academically, it’s important to learn what it is you really want (or more importantly, don’t want) for the next four years. Are you excited by the prospect of a big school or would you feel more comfortable somewhere smaller? Do you want to get on a plane to come home for the holidays or would you prefer a train ride? How do you feel about the cold? Do you want to participate in Greek life, protests, or intermural Quidditch? We strongly encourage our students to visit schools to really get a feel for what it is they want. We recommend doing a bit of legwork outside of the baked-in, college-sanctioned tour.
We find that these are generally functions of marketing campaigns and don’t give prospective students the fully authentic feeling for what it’s like on (or off) campus. When you visit a university, talk to current students. Ask them what they do on the weekend and make sure you’re getting a sense for the vibe of the university (and not just the parent-friendly tour of the new, state-of-the-art gym). If you find you don’t like something while visiting a school, make note of it. Knowing those things will be helpful in narrowing down your options and building a list of schools where you could actually see yourself.
The goal in applying to schools should be to a create a list that hits the ideals of everything you’re looking for in a location, size, educational program, and social life. The fact is, every kid is different and there aren’t that many schools that perfect for each and every kid. (But there are some!) So, do your research. Find out what it is you want, what’s available at schools, and also where you’re eligible. Narrow it down until you have a well-balanced (but manageable) list.
Need some help crafting a stand-out resume? Call us. We’re experts at helping students get ahead in the application process.