The college admission process can be tiring, hectic, and overwhelming. There will always be a sense of uncertainty about whether you are doing enough to receive admission from the university of your dreams. Students try to dip their toes into several activities in order to strengthen their applications which could create a negative impression on the admissions officers. The admissions committee does not want students to take too much on their plate rather wants students to find their calling/passion during high school. They prefer to see a student who has spent large amounts of effort in order to develop one skill rather than having 10 incoherent skills.
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
Here are some Do’s and Don’ts on the Profile building/Activities section of the Application:
#1 Build a story: The activities that one chooses should be able to tell the admission officers about your personality, your background, and your story. They should be able to tell the reason you chose to spend important hours of your high school duration to work/ take part in that particular activity. The activity itself should narrate a story about your development and progress through the past years in the activity and life. What motivates and drives you, is important as it says a lot.
#2 Jack of all trades, Master of none: Every student feels like they should be part of the maximum number of activities/clubs/societies in high school, but this could backfire as students are unable to grow or develop in any activities substantially. Dipping your toes in multiple activities could also affect your grades which is a major section of the application. A few activities that you have pursued in depth over a period of time is valuable as it shows time management, commitment and perseverance. In this situation being the master of one is better than jack of all.
#3 Do not start activities only for college applications: Admissions officers read thousands of applications and they are aware when students are taking part and joining activities only for application. This is showcased when a student starts an activity during the final year of high school with no concrete results and developments. Rather pick activities that you love and have been taking part in for several years with constant growth. Do not pick up any activity just because you are worried of being left behind.
#4 Be Different: This sounds preachy and unattainable as students feel that everything has been already done. Being different doesn’t mean you discover a new element or start an activity that has never been done before. It means that you add a unique twist to any activity that you do. Admission officers look for students who are creative and have made the common activities into something different, interesting, and unique. Being comfortable with who you are, and confidence are particularly important.
#5 Plan Ahead: If you plan to apply to top universities, you should plan out your timelines months in advance. You should write application essays months in advance. That will give you an idea of what achievements or facet of your personality you want to showcase to your dream university. Obviously, if there is a gap between where you want to be and where you are now, it will give you some time to build up and focus on that aspect.
EZ Scholar is a premium admissions consultancy and test prep organization which works with bright and ambitious students seeking admissions to Ivy Leagues, Oxbridge and other top global universities. Our experts have mentored thousands of students with their profile building, research papers, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, test prep and admissions essays.
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