Five Fast Facts About the College Admissions Process
Five Fast Facts About the College Admissions Process
Five Fast Facts About the College Admissions Process
The average acceptance rate to an Ivy League university is 5.21%.
Ivy League admissions rates have plummeted in recent years, as applicant pools have swelled. Now, every Ivy League school has a single-digit acceptance rate. While these small numbers may seem daunting, starting early will set you up for success in the competitive college application process! Check out our detailed timelines to ensure that you’re staying on track as you build a compelling admissions profile!
When it comes time to apply to college senior year, you’ll apply through the Common App. The personal essay affords you 650 words to convey who you are to admissions officers.
What makes you you? In this limited word count, you should communicate your unique outlook on life, core values, and distinct voice. If that seems like a tall order, that’s because it is! Writing a compelling essay requires numerous rounds of brainstorming, drafting, editing, and revising. But with the right strategic guidance, you can approach this process with confidence and self-awareness.
On the Common App, you can report 10 Activities that demonstrate how you spend your time and what you value most.
Your extracurricular involvements can say a lot to admissions officers about the type of student you will be on a college campus, both in and outside of the classroom. What have you accomplished in your extracurricular endeavors? With just ten slots, be sure to strategically highlight what YOU accomplished, quantitatively and qualitatively.
Most students apply to 15 colleges and universities, including 4–5 reach schools, 4–5 match schools, and 2–3 safety schools.
Do you want to go to school in an urban or rural setting? Would you like to attend a small, liberal arts college or big state university? Once you know what kind of school you want to attend, you can determine which schools you should apply to based on how your standardized test scores compare to the median scores of accepted students.
Schools require that students submit 2 letters of recommendation from teachers highlighting their unique qualities as a community member and student.
Are you the first to help a struggling peer? To organize a study session or team dinner after practice? Hold the door open for others? Attend extra help until you finally understand a concept and improve your grades from a C to an A? The letters of recommendation shed light into your role as a student, community member, and peer. By providing specific information and qualities that you want your recommender to highlight, you can ensure that your recommendations catch the eye of admissions officers at top schools!
The average acceptance rate to an Ivy League university is 5.21%.
Ivy League admissions rates have plummeted in recent years, as applicant pools have swelled. Now, every Ivy League school has a single-digit acceptance rate. While these small numbers may seem daunting, starting early will set you up for success in the competitive college application process! Check out our detailed timelines to ensure that you’re staying on track as you build a compelling admissions profile!
When it comes time to apply to college senior year, you’ll apply through the Common App. The personal essay affords you 650 words to convey who you are to admissions officers.
What makes you you? In this limited word count, you should communicate your unique outlook on life, core values, and distinct voice. If that seems like a tall order, that’s because it is! Writing a compelling essay requires numerous rounds of brainstorming, drafting, editing, and revising. But with the right strategic guidance, you can approach this process with confidence and self-awareness.
On the Common App, you can report 10 Activities that demonstrate how you spend your time and what you value most.
Your extracurricular involvements can say a lot to admissions officers about the type of student you will be on a college campus, both in and outside of the classroom. What have you accomplished in your extracurricular endeavors? With just ten slots, be sure to strategically highlight what YOU accomplished, quantitatively and qualitatively.
Most students apply to 15 colleges and universities, including 4–5 reach schools, 4–5 match schools, and 2–3 safety schools.
Do you want to go to school in an urban or rural setting? Would you like to attend a small, liberal arts college or big state university? Once you know what kind of school you want to attend, you can determine which schools you should apply to based on how your standardized test scores compare to the median scores of accepted students.
Schools require that students submit 2 letters of recommendation from teachers highlighting their unique qualities as a community member and student.
Are you the first to help a struggling peer? To organize a study session or team dinner after practice? Hold the door open for others? Attend extra help until you finally understand a concept and improve your grades from a C to an A? The letters of recommendation shed light into your role as a student, community member, and peer. By providing specific information and qualities that you want your recommender to highlight, you can ensure that your recommendations catch the eye of admissions officers at top schools!
College Planning Resources
Enrolling in AP, IB and A-Levels
Colleges don’t just want to see that you’ve earned great grades, but also that you have challenged yourself to the best of your abilities by taking the most rigorous courses available to you. Not sure which classes to enroll in? Read our guide to AP, IB and A-Levels.
Standardized Tests
The ACT and SAT have made a comeback in the last few admissions cycles—and they have undergone some major changes! Do you know which test is right for you? How can you determine your goal score? What are some strategies for fighting test-taking anxieties? We have answers to all of these questions and more in our comprehensive guide.
How can I get extra help with school work?
Sometimes, the hardest part of improving your grades is actually knowing when and how to ask for help. Read our guide to learn!
Finding and Developing Your Hook
Beyond top grades and test scores, colleges are looking for students who are specialists in their fields. Learn more about how to pursue your unique interests and develop your hook!
College Planning Resources
Enrolling in AP, IB and A-Levels
Colleges don’t just want to see that you’ve earned great grades, but also that you have challenged yourself to the best of your abilities by taking the most rigorous courses available to you. Not sure which classes to enroll in? Read our guide to AP, IB and A-Levels.
Standardized Tests
The ACT and SAT have made a comeback in the last few admissions cycles—and they have undergone some major changes! Do you know which test is right for you? How can you determine your goal score? What are some strategies for fighting test-taking anxieties? We have answers to all of these questions and more in our comprehensive guide.
How can I get extra help with school work?
Sometimes, the hardest part of improving your grades is actually knowing when and how to ask for help. Read our guide to learn!
Finding and Developing Your Hook
Beyond top grades and test scores, colleges are looking for students who are specialists in their fields. Learn more about how to pursue your unique interests and develop your hook!
Command Education is a boutique college consulting firm that empowers students to discover their passions and stand out to their dream colleges through personalized, near-peer mentorship.
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