College Application Strategies: Get Accepted to Your Dream College

If you are a rising high school senior, you’re probably feeling wistful, knowing that your summer is shorter than usual. That’s because college application season begins on August 1st. Everything you’ve worked for up to this point is culminating in this moment. Are you stressed? Yes. Are you excited for the next chapter? Definitely. Will you be successful in conveying your unique story, your passions, and your achievements to the colleges you’re targeting? Yes! If you follow our strategy tips, you’ll be able to submit college applications that showcase why you are a standout candidate. The key is knowing how to make that story shine through every piece of your application. Our all-star guide breaks down the strategies you need to know, from universal best practices to tips for mastering specific application platforms.

If you are a younger high school student, you’ll want to pay attention, because the strategies and tips I’m sharing will help you to determine where to apply your time and effort as you build your academic profile for college. So no matter where you are in planning your college journey, this blog post is exactly what you need. Let’s go!

Universal Strategies to Make Your College Application Shine

These are the foundational truths that apply to every college application, no matter the platform.

Grades & Course Rigor

Your transcript is your academic story. Maintain strong grades throughout your senior year, and don’t shy away from challenging courses like AP, IB, or honors classes. Colleges want to see that you’re pushing yourself to grow.

• What ensures you’ll have strong grades?

  • Showing up for class.

By showing up, you’ll earn valuable participation points, you’ll be better able to understand the material, and you’ll be able to ask questions. You’ll also know what has been assigned to be completed in class, and what has been assigned for homework. You’ll also feel comfortable meeting with your teachers to ask for help – it’s hard to do that if you and your teachers know that you’ve missed a number of their classes. By simply showing up, you’ll already be putting yourself in a great position to perform well!

• • Paying attention while in class.

Showing up is half the battle, but you need to pay attention to what is going on, and you need to be an engaged student. When you are engaged, you’re aware. And often that combination of showing up and being engaged is nearly all you need to succeed!

• • Completing your assignments and turning them in on time.

When students have lower grades, the most common reason is that they aren’t completing their assignments, or if they are completing them, they are turning them in late. Many teachers award only partial credit for late assignments, or might not award any credit at all for late work. Nothing lowers your grade faster than partial credits and zeroes for late work!

• Why is academic rigor so important for your college application?

  • Colleges want to admit students who are prepared for the academic rigor of college. They know that one way they can check for that is to focus on students who are challenging themselves with more rigorous classes in high school. Students who do this are more likely to be prepared both academically and emotionally for the challenging courses that lie ahead in college.
  • In addition, admission reps can look at the grades earned in these more rigorous high school classes – applicants who have earned strong grades in these classes have already proven that they are more likely to perform well in college.
  • So essentially, high school rigor is a testing ground and enables admission reps to “hedge their bets” by admitting students who have a high GPA even when the student is taking challenging AP, IB, honors, and dual enrollment classes.
  • High school seniors often want to reduce their academic rigor so that they can relax a bit during their final year of high school. Unfortunately, this is viewed negatively by selective colleges. Colleges want to see academic rigor all through high school, including senior year. So if your current senior year schedule is a bit weak, talk with your school counselor and see what you can do to boost to a more challenging schedule of classes. You might only need to swap or add one or two classes to achieve a schedule that would impress admission reps.

    • Specific class suggestions for senior year

      • Upgrade from a “standard” senior English class to an AP or Honors English class.
      • Enroll in a science class if you don’t currently have one on your schedule – physics is a good choice, or you could enroll in an AP or honors science class.
      • Enroll in a math class if you don’t currently have one on your schedule – calculus or pre-calculus are good choices.
      • Enroll in a 4th year of your chosen world language class.
      • Interested in taking an art class? Choose an AP art class to upgrade the challenge while still being able to enjoy a creative class.
      • Choose an academic elective that enables you to grow as well as have fun – journalism or debate are great choices.

Entrance exam scores

When it comes to college admissions, the role of standardized tests like the SAT and ACT has been in constant evolution. While these exams were once a non-negotiable part of every application, a growing number of colleges have adopted “test-optional” or even “test-blind” policies.

• A test-optional policy means you can choose whether or not to submit your scores—if you feel your scores will strengthen your application, you can send them; if not, your application will be evaluated without them.
• A test-blind policy means the college will not look at your scores even if you submit them.

Despite these more recent changes, many colleges still require or strongly recommend that you submit scores, so it’s essential to check the specific policy for every school on your list.

• Which exam is best?

The SAT and ACT are often seen as different flavors of the same test.

• • The SAT generally focuses more on reasoning and problem-solving, with an emphasis on evidence-based reading and writing and a math section that concentrates on core algebra and geometry concepts.
  • The ACT is more of a curriculum-based achievement test, covering English, math (with a broader range of topics), reading, and a dedicated science section that tests your ability to interpret data and draw conclusions.

Neither test is inherently “easier” than the other; the best choice for you often comes down to which exam format and content better suit your strengths. By taking a practice test for each, you can get a good feel for which one allows you to perform your best.

• When should I take my entrance exam?

  • If you plan to take an entrance exam, it’s best to take it during your junior year of high school, and then retake it once or twice more before you submit your college applications.
  • If you are a high school senior and you haven’t yet taken an entrance exam, take it as early as you can in your senior year – that would typically be in August or September. By taking your exam early, you are preserving the opportunity to be able to retake the exam again and have those scores still be submitted to colleges. The last available test date for high school seniors who are applying to college for the following fall term is usually in early December; however, some colleges might not consider December test scores. It’s critical to check the SAT / ACT exam score deadlines for all of the colleges you are applying to.

• How do I prepare for my entrance exam?

There are numerous ways to prep for entrance exams:

• • Online test prep options, including free test prep with Khan Academy
  • Test prep books you can borrow at your local library or buy online or at your local book store
  • In-person test prep classes in your community
  • Study groups on your high school campus – ask your school counselor about this, or consider creating your own study group for yourself and your peers

College Application Essays

Crafting well-written application essays is a must. In fact, we’ve got a blog post dedicated specifically to application essays. Checkout the full post, but in the meantime, here are some key tips:

• What should I write about?

If you are presented with multiple essay prompts to choose from, consider each prompt carefully. Don’t just respond to the first prompt that “looks good.” Instead, take a few minutes to jot some notes down about what you could write about for EACH prompt. If you are finding that some of the prompts are more difficult to respond to, don’t choose them. Focus on the prompt that flows easily from you, and that enables you to showcase your unique background talents, passions, and experiences.

Most college application essays are personal statement essays. Keep that in mind, and make sure that your essay conveys who you are and what you care about.

• Essay writing basics

  • Start with an outline so that your essay follows a well-thought plan.
  • Start writing your application essay(s) well before the application deadline.
  • Give yourself the time and space to be successful. Always stay within the word count requirements.
  • If you are considering using AI tools to help you with your college applications, be careful. Colleges are on the lookout for students who rely on generative AI for their application essays. It’s best to draft your essay entirely on your own first, and potentially copy/paste your essay into an AI tool and ask for feedback or suggestions for improvement.

• Stay on topic, and on track

  • Be sure you stay on topic throughout your essay.
  • Make sure you actually respond to the entire essay question – all too often, students get side-tracked and miss answering part of the prompt.
  • Ensure that you are emotionally connected to what you are writing about, and use words and phrases that demonstrate that connection. If you aren’t emotionally connected to what you are writing about, your essay will come across as flat to the reader.

• Get feedback

 

• • Ask a parent, teacher, or other adult to review your essay and give you feedback. Don’t allow that person to re-write your essay, but consider their feedback and decide what edits you want to make.

• • Always make sure that your spelling, grammar, and punctuation are accurate. If English isn’t your native language, or if you struggle with writing, make sure that someone who communicates well in English carefully reviews your essay specifically for these issues.

Standout Extracurriculars

Students often worry that they are not involved in enough extracurriculars, or they wonder if they have chosen the “right” extracurriculars. Here’s what to keep in mind.

• Quality over quantity

College reps want you to be “deeply engaged” in a few core extracurriculars. They much prefer that to the scattershot approach that many students take. All too often, students will sign up to be members of numerous clubs on campus, but then they attend few meetings of those clubs, and often do little else with those organizations beyond attending a meager number of meetings. So consider the available clubs and activities, and focus on just a few of those activities that you are truly passionate about.

• • Demonstrate your passion by showing sustained commitment over an extended length of time, and work your way into leadership roles with those organizations. Don’t forget to include extracurriculars that you’ve been involved in for many years, starting prior to high school. For example, if your high school baseball career began with T-Ball and then progressed through Little League and Travel Ball before getting on your high school’s junior varsity and varsity baseball teams, be sure to say so!
  • Make an effort to create a tangible impact. What does a “tangible impact” look like? It means that you personally have left a mark on that organization through your time and effort. This could mean that you founded a club on-campus and recruited members to that club. Maybe you became a club officer. Or perhaps you organized an activity or event for your high school campus or your community. If your activity is a sport, then tangible impact would relate to your stats and contributions as a member of that team.

• Remember the “hidden” extracurriculars in your college application

You might be engaged in extracurriculars and not even know it! That’s right! Not all extracurriculars are clubs and sports.

• • Are you enrolled in choir or band classes at school? Taking art classes in school? These classes can also be considered “extracurriculars!” Just because you are earning credits and grades doesn’t mean they aren’t technically extracurriculars. These kinds of classes, as well as other electives like journalism, culinary arts and auto mechanics can all be considered extracurricular interests and activities for the purposes of your college application. That’s because these classes also reveal your personal interests and passions. If you’re taking a culinary arts class, chances are that you are preparing meals and desserts at home for fun. If you’re enrolled in an auto mechanics class, you’re likely working on repairing cars at home. If you are in choir classes, there is a good chance that you’re singing for your personal enjoyment, and maybe getting out on the town for some karaoke as well.
  • Maybe you aren’t involved in many extracurriculars in school, but you are actively involved in your church youth group. Or you’re volunteering for a non-profit organization. Or you’re filling a sketch book with drawings, or you’re busy writing your first novel. All of these activities are “extracurriculars” for the purposes of your college application.
  • What if you are busy helping your family by providing care for your younger siblings or an elderly grandparent? What if you are working at a diner? These activities are also “extracurriculars” for the purposes of your college application.

• How to convey your extracurricular activities on your college applications

Depending on the type of application you’re using (more about that below), you’ll have different ways of showcasing your extracurriculars. In general, you’ll want to focus your efforts on the activities you were most engaged with. You’ll want to be able to estimate the number of hours spent in these activities per week or per month, and you’ll also want to be able to briefly describe your level of engagement.

If you are writing one or more essays to accompany your application, you’ll have an opportunity to describe your most impactful extracurriculars within your essay submissions.

Ensure your letters of recommendation reflect your strengths

Letters of recommendation carry a lot of weight with college admission reps. It’s the college’s one chance to learn about you from the perspective of an authoritative professional. So if the rep is on the fence about whether or not to admit you, your letters of recommendation might be what pushes that “maybe” to a yes!

Who should be your recommenders? Ask for recommendations from those who know you well and can speak to your character and abilities in detail. Good choices are teachers, counselors, mentors, or work/internship supervisors. Most importantly, ask early! Your chosen recommenders are likely being asked to recommend many students, so be respectful and give them plenty of advance notice. 

To ensure your letters of recommendation convey what you want to convey, it’s essential that you provide materials to your recommenders that will help guide their letter. Give them:

• Your resume that highlights your academics, work experience, community service experience, honors and awards, etc.
• A list of your activities and achievements beyond what is covered in your resume
• A link to your profile on LinkedIn, if you have one
• Information about the colleges you are applying to and why you chose those colleges

Be aware that sometimes recommenders will ask YOU to draft your own letter of recommendation to help them get started. If you are asked to do this, follow our tips.

Show Demonstrated Interest

For many private and out of state universities, showing “demonstrated interest” in the school can tip the scales in your favor. What does “demonstrated interest” include?

• Visiting the campus in-person, and planning your visit in advance to accomplish a number of things:

• • Scheduling a campus tour
  • Scheduling a housing tour
  • Meeting with a representative from your major
  • Meeting with the admissions office
  • Meeting with the financial aid office
  • Enjoying a meal in the dining hall
  • Interacting with students on-campus
  • Checking out the downtown area

• If you are unable to visit in-person, spend time on the college’s website and social channels, attend virtual campus and housing tours offered through the website or the college’s YouTube channel. Schedule Zoom meetings with admissions, financial aid, and your major department.
• Attending information sessions organized by your school or by the college itself
• Talking with admissions representatives at college fairs
• Joining online groups and communities for the college
• Following the college’s social media

When applying to the college, be sure to include some of the activities above within your college application to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the school and are truly excited to attend.

Boosting Your Admission Chances at Elite Schools

If you are targeting the most elite schools, you’ll need to do everything in this post and more. Top colleges are seeking students who have:

• Superior academics, including a weighted GPA that is higher than a 4.0
• High composite scores on the SAT or ACT – typically 1500 or higher for SAT or 35 or higher for ACT
• Outstanding college application essays that demonstrate the student’s ability to write with impact. Essays that stay in the admission rep’s mind long after they have finished reviewing the student’s application will receive high marks from the reviewer.
• Challenged themselves with AP, IB and/or dual enrollment classes
• Compelling recommendation letters that demonstrate the recommenders connection to you
• Truly distinguished themselves with unique accomplishments, such as one or more of the following:
  • High-ranking Varsity athlete
  • Founded and led a club or organization on-campus with extensive student engagement
  • Held officer role(s) in student government or campus clubs
  • Created and launched your own mobile app
  • Made a significant difference to the campus community or broader community through extensive volunteer service, mentoring, fundraising activities, etc.
  • Demonstrated a unique talent or and passion through multiple years of engagement and practice

Conquering the Common App: Strategies for the Most Popular Platform

The Common App enables you to complete a single college application to apply to numerous colleges. It can be a huge timesaver, but its wide use also means you need to be strategic to stand out. In addition, many colleges have supplemental questions, and may require additional materials, so review the requirements for each college carefully to be sure that you submit everything required for each of the colleges. Also be aware that some colleges won’t accept the Common App, and instead ask that you apply with their own application.

• Fill Out the Universal Profile with Care

This is the core of your application that goes to every school. Take your time, fill it out completely and accurately, and have someone proofread it. A clean, error-free profile shows attention to detail.

• Craft a Compelling Personal Essay

This is your best chance to tell colleges who you are beyond your numbers. Choose a unique topic that reveals your personality, passions, or a moment of growth. Don’t just list your achievements; tell a story that makes admissions officers feel like they know you.

• Maximize the Activities Section

You have limited space to describe your extracurriculars and achievements. Use powerful action verbs and quantify your impact whenever possible. Instead of saying, “helped run a bake sale,” say, “Led a team of 5 to organize a charity bake sale that raised $500 for the local food bank.”

• Boost Your Admission Chances With Responses to Supplemental Questions

Many colleges that use the Common App also require supplemental essays or short-answer questions. These are your opportunities to show a deep, specific interest in that particular college. Don’t recycle a generic essay; research what makes that school unique and tailor your response to show how you would contribute to their community.

Be sure that any response to supplemental essay questions is completely unique from the personal statement you are submitting to all of the colleges. The supplemental questions give you an opportunity to expand what admission reps know about you. If you give them similar information, you’ll have squandered that opportunity.

Navigating the Coalition App: Your Unique Opportunity to Stand Out

The Coalition App, also known as the Coalition for College, is used by a select group of schools and has some unique features designed to showcase student growth and collaboration. Some colleges accept both the Common App and the Coalition App. While over 1000 schools accept the Common App, the Coalition App is accepted by a much smaller group of schools (about 150). Similar to the Common App, you can submit a single college application to apply to multiple schools that accept the Coalition App.

What makes the Coalition App special?

The Coalition App is intended for students with demonstrated financial need. All of the colleges that accept the Coalition App understand this, and share a commitment to supporting students with greater financial need.

• Leverage the “Locker” Feature

The Coalition App allows you to upload and store materials in a “Locker” over time, such as essays, research papers, art projects, or videos. By uploading materials to your locker, you can create a dynamic portfolio that demonstrates your talents and growth over your high school years.

• Answer the Essay Prompts Strategically

The Coalition App essay prompts have a greater emphasis on self-reflection and community engagement. Choose the prompt that best allows you to tell an authentic story about your character, resilience, or how you have contributed to your community.

Tackling University-Specific Applications

Some major state university systems have their own unique application platforms. Here are some examples:

• University of California (UC) Campuses

The UC application is its own distinct beast. Instead of a single personal essay, you’ll be asked to respond to four out of eight Personal Insight Questions. Choose the four prompts that best allow you to showcase different aspects of your personality and experiences. Be authentic, be detailed, and remember that there’s no single “right” answer. All UC campuses are test-blind, so you won’t need to take the SAT or ACT to apply.

• California State University (CSU) Campuses

Interested in attending college in California but don’t want to write application essays? We’ve got you! All of the CSU campuses don’t require a personal statement essay to apply! All CSU campuses are test-blind, so no need to worry about entrance exam scores either. And you can complete just one CSU application to apply to any of the 23 CSU campuses.

• Texas Colleges & Universities (ApplyTexas)

ApplyTexas is the platform for most Texas public colleges and universities. It has its own set of essay prompts (known as “Essays A, B, and C”). You will select a prompt based on the requirements of the schools you are applying to. Be sure to check each school’s website for any supplemental essays or unique requirements beyond the standard ApplyTexas prompts.

• The City University of New York (CUNY) system

This large system of public universities in New York City has its own dedicated application for all of its campuses.

• The State University of New York (SUNY) system

While many SUNY campuses do accept the Common App, the system also offers a single, unified SUNY Application for students applying to multiple SUNY schools, which can sometimes be more convenient.

• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT famously uses its own application, which is designed to be highly unique and comprehensive.

• Georgetown University

This top-tier private university in Washington, D.C., is another well-known school that has its own distinct application process.

Time and Effort Well-Spent

Applying to college is a lot of work, but it’s also a chance to reflect on everything you’ve accomplished and who you’ve become. A successful college application is ultimately a combination of strong credentials and strategic, tailored execution. By taking the time to understand each platform’s unique requirements and telling your authentic story with passion and detail, you can make your application shine and greatly increase your chances of being accepted to the colleges you are targeting!

While working on your college applications, make sure you also prioritize applying for scholarships. Because whatever college you’ll ultimately be attending, you’ll also have to be able to manage the cost. Get ahead by applying for scholarships with ScholarshipOwl – get started with a free 7-day trial!