Strong academic performance, impressive extracurricular activities, meaningful leadership roles, and compelling personal essays are all characteristics of a competitive college applicant.
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A competitive college applicant is someone who stands out among the sea of applicants to attract the attention of admission officers. While academic performance is crucial, it’s not the only factor that makes an applicant competitive. Meaningful involvement in extracurricular activities and leadership roles also play an important part.
According to Forbes, “colleges are looking for the character qualities that will help students thrive — not just on their campuses, but also in their larger communities and in their personal and professional lives.” Hence, it’s not just about having good grades, but also about being a well-rounded person.
Here are some characteristics of competitive college applicants:
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Strong Academic Performance: First and foremost, colleges want students who are academically strong. High grades in rigorous courses, high test scores, and a challenging course load are all essential.
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Impressive Extracurricular Activities: Involvement in extracurricular activities showcases an applicant’s interests and passions outside of academics. It also demonstrates their leadership, team-building, and time management skills. The key here is not just the number of activities, but the depth of involvement and achievements.
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Meaningful Leadership Roles: Holding leadership positions in extracurricular activities, volunteering, or working part-time jobs can reflect an applicant’s potential as a leader in college and beyond. Not just holding the title, but actually making a significant impact on the community or organization is what counts.
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Compelling Personal Essays: College essays are an opportunity for applicants to showcase their writing skills and unique personality. Admissions officers want to read authentic and insightful essays that showcase the applicant’s values, beliefs, and personality. As noted by Admissions Revolution, “essays serve as a vital component in demonstrating an applicant’s desirability, fit, and intellectual readiness for the challenges of higher education.”
In summary, to be a competitive college applicant, you need to have a combination of academic excellence, extracurricular involvement, leadership experience, and personal traits that align with the values of the colleges you are applying to. As stated by former Harvard Admissions Officer William R. Fitzsimmons, “We’re looking to create a diverse and interesting mosaic of students in each class who will learn from each other as well as from their professors.” In other words, be your authentic self and show what makes you stand out from the crowd.
Here’s a table to summarize the traits of competitive college applicants:
| Traits | Description |
|---|---|
| Strong Academic Performance | High grades, challenging courses, and rigorous testing |
| Impressive Extracurricular Activities | Involvement in a meaningful activity, showcasing interests and passions |
| Meaningful Leadership Roles | Holding positions of leadership and making a significant impact on organizations and communities |
| Compelling Personal Essays | Authentic and insightful essays that showcase an applicant’s values, beliefs, and personality |
Video answer
In this video, The Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief, Rob Franek, discusses the six most crucial aspects that college admission counselors and committees consider when reviewing a student’s application for admission. These include high school transcripts and GPA, standardized test scores, the college essay, recommendation letters, demonstrated interest, and the student’s list of extracurricular activities. Franek emphasizes the uniqueness and individuality of each of these criteria to highlight the value of a holistic approach to college admissions.
I found further information on the Internet
A high GPA (relative to what admitted students have) and a rigorous curriculum. Strong test scores (relative to what admitted students have) A specific, honest, and well-written personal statement and/or essays. A unique extracurricular interest or passion (a "spike," as we like to call it)
In general, a great application will have most or all of the following elements: A high GPA (relative to what admitted students have) and a rigorous curriculum Strong test scores (relative to what admitted students have) A specific, honest, and well-written personal statement and/or essays
How to Be a Competitive College Applicant
- Exceed the admission requirements When it comes to college admission, meeting the requirements is the minimum standard.
- Take your academics to the finish line
- Focus on your college application early
What Makes A Competitive College Applicant
- Exceed Admission Requirements Go beyond what’s expected where possible.
- Don’t Take It Easy Senior Year Don’t allow yourself to phone in your high school senior year work.
People also ask
What makes you competitive for college? In reply to that: Most colleges consider grades and class rigor top factors in the admissions process. High SAT/ACT scores can impress admissions committees, even at test-optional schools. Students can demonstrate interest by applying early decision and visiting the campus.
People also ask, What makes you a competitive applicant?
A very solid academic performance, with especially high grades in science pre-requisite courses, as well as overall. As a general rule, a 3.5 or above cumulative grade point average is desirable, although each institution has different expectations.
How do you stand out for competitive colleges? Response will be: If you want to make your college application stand out memorably, take a look at these 16 tips.
- Choose Your High School Classes With Intention.
- Strive for Good Grades.
- Tell the Story of Who You Are.
- Participate in Extracurricular Activities.
- Volunteer.
- Keep Accurate Records.
- Manage Your Social Media Presence.
Regarding this, How do I make myself a competitive applicant? Below you will find my tips on becoming a competitive graduate school applicant before graduating college.
- Build Strong Relationships with Advisors.
- Gain Research Experience.
- Build Strong Writing Skills.
- Consider Taking the GRE or other entrance exams as a senior.
- Apply for Travel and Research Grants.
How to be a competitive college applicant?
Applying to college is nerve-wracking, especially when you feel as though you don’t meet the standards for your colleges of interest—but with a little extra effort, you can be a competitive college applicant! Be communicative, be proactive, and be intentional, and you’re sure to catch the eye of the admission committees.
Consequently, Do colleges look for good things on a college application?
Response will be: Fortunately, the answer is yes! Read on to learn what colleges look for in applicants, what looks really good on a college application, and what kinds of myths there are about good things to put on a college application. What Are Colleges Looking for in Applicants?
Is the college admissions landscape getting more competitive? But recently, the college admissions landscape has gotten more competitive: The number of submitted applications rose by 21.3% between 2019-2020 and 2021-2022, according to a March 2022 Common Application report, which included data from 853 member schools. The increase was especially large among students of color and first-generation applicants.
What is the point of a college application?
Answer will be: Overall, the basic point of a college application is to make you stand out from other applicants in a positive, memorable, and unique way. This fact is especially important in light of how many first-year applications colleges receive each year.