Applying to college is stressful. With competition increasing and acceptance rates decreasing it’s tough to know how to differentiate yourself in a way that will impress admissions officers and get that coveted acceptance letter.
With more and more kids producing perfect test scores, impressive GPA’s and a list of extracurriculars that make you exhausted just reading them, it seems the only way to stand out, truly set yourself apart, is with your essay. But how? How do you let the school know that you are the one they should admit? How do you communicate that you’d be a great fit for the school? What can you say about yourself that will convince them to choose you?
Well, there are 3 things your college essay MUST say to stand out and none of them are about you. These 3 things must be said, but not obviously. These 3 things will undoubtedly let the school know that you are the one to choose and while they will never tell you outright, they want to hear these things.
1. If You Accept Me, I Will Accept You
Sifting through thousands upon thousands of applications is a lot of work and schools take this task very seriously. Each application is thoughtfully reviewed, and each essay read. This amounts to countless hours of time devoted to pick the right kids to come and continue their educational journey and when the final list is created, the hope is that their first choice is your first choice too.
Schools know that they aren’t the only school students apply to. According to the Cappex College Admissions Counseling Survey, the average student submits just shy of 6 applications. Students apply to reach schools, target schools and safety schools. If a student gets admitted into a reach school, finances aside, clearly this will be their choice. But how is a school to know if they are your reach school?
Tell them, communicate in your essay very specific reasons why you want to go there. Let the school know you’ve researched them, you know them and they are your first choice for reasons x, y and z. In the same manner someone might name drop to grab attention, drop little known facts and tidbits about the school that will grab the attention of your essay reader. Your specificity will let them know you really care about going to this school and it’s they are more than just another school added to your list.
2. If you Accept Me, I Will Be an Active Participant in Campus Life
Colleges and Universities work hard to cultivate a unique culture on campus, their own vibe that defines them. This vibe is made up of the many activities and opportunities that colleges cultivate on campus to enrich the lives of their students. They want their student body to fully embrace this and add to it. It’s a living, breathing mechanism that thrives on the participation of students.
When you arrive at school, they want you to integrate yourself not only into your studies but in campus life. You are meant to fully participate in their college experience and they want to know this is something you want too.
In your essay, let them know you that a certain club, opportunity, or activity appeals to you. That there’s more to you than just taking classes and you want to share time, talents, and skills with the school. Tell them that your interests align with their interests and as such you two are a perfect fit for each other. You are about to enter a 4-5 year relationship with the school and they want to know it’s going to be a successful one.
3. If you Accept Me, I Will Be a Brand Ambassador When I Leave
At the end of the day, colleges just like any other entity need to market themselves. They need to let prospective students know that they exist and encourage them to apply to attend. Whether for profit or not, schools have budgets, financial obligations and such and need to ensure they remain a going interest to ensure future longevity.
So, after the dust settles on graduation day, when the chairs are folded up and packed away, and the graduates go out into the world to pursue the career goals, will they remember their time at college? Will they talk about if fondly? Will they help spread awareness and good will towards the school they spent 4 years at and thousands of dollars to earn a degree? Schools sure hope they do.
More effective than any website, brochure or even gorgeous campus is the first-hand testimony of a prior student to build a school’s brand and reputation. If school’s have rave reviews from prior students, prospective ones are more likely to consider attending.
Your essay needs to communicate in a subtle but obvious way, that you know with certainty that your time there is going to be amazing (again because of the specifics you share about the school) and you will want to share your experiences with anyone willing to listen. Tell them in your own way, you can’t wait to be an alumni, and how you intend to cheerlead for the school long after you leave. Effectively tell them, you will help them market the school.
It’s Not About You, It’s About Them
Most students mistakenly think they need to brag and brag and brag some more about how amazing they are in their essays to convince a school they should be accepted. When, yes, in reality you do need to introduce yourself, share things about you that cannot be gleaned from other documents submitted and do so in a way that is memorable within the sea of thousands of essays – you need to remember to do so through the lens of the school.
Think holistically about your essays. Remember that the people reading them could be admissions officers, other college staff or even alumni. The one thing these 3 groups of people have in common is their affiliation with the college. Create a bond from the get-go by conveying the one thing you share with the reader, your affinity and admiration for the school. That’s how you will stand out and hopefully get the email that you’ve been waiting for.