The process of applying to universities can be daunting. At 17 years old you are still a child in many ways, but suddenly you’re expected to make decisions that feel as if they determine your entire future.
If you’re anything like I was, you might be feeling overwhelmed by the weight of this responsibility. With the world at your feet, how do you choose the path that is best suited for you?
When I was going through the application process, I remember watching endless YouTube videos with titles like “How I got into every college I applied to”. I listened to their advice, thinking that if I achieved the same grade point average (GPA) they did in high school, I would experience the same success.
I remember being confused when one person with a nearly perfect GPA and SAT score got rejected from one of their choices, while another student with lower grades was accepted.
I wondered what magical quality they possessed that made them stand apart from other students. Panic set in as I began considering what my own talent would be; I wasn’t the star of any play, the leader of any student body or the captain of any sports team.
However, if I could go back in time and give my 17-year-old self some advice, I would tell her that there isn’t a blueprint to follow when applying to universities. While there is an emphasis on grades and stats during the US college admissions process, there are other things to remember too.
Of course, you should still try hard in school. However, I would argue that colleges are just as interested in getting to know you as they are in perfect grades. That’s why it’s so important to learn how to craft an application that is authentic to you.
So rather than becoming discouraged that you don’t possess one grand academic talent, I encourage you to look at the bigger picture.
What challenges have you overcome and how can you use those experiences to model your resilience? How have past trials and difficulties inspired your passions in life, and how are you going to use them in the real world? In my experience, this is what colleges truly want to know.
The world of academics is competitive, filled with intelligent and dedicated students. In an environment like this, it is impossible to stand out based on grades alone.
In a two-dimensional application full of numbers, write something that makes your application come alive and reminds the admissions team that you are a multifaceted individual full of complexity and bright ideas.
Once I possessed this knowledge, the process of applying to universities didn’t feel as intimidating. I have a passion for writing, films, and really any form of media that provides me with a momentary escape from reality. Coupled with the fact that I knew I wanted to use this passion to help others, I began reflecting on my own life and found a personal anecdote that demonstrated this desire.
Starting large and narrowing in allowed me to gain clarity on the story that I wanted to share with admissions – but it might be different for you.
By remaining true to myself during the application process, I was able to land a spot at one of my top choices – the University of Virginia. I’m currently entering my third year of undergrad there, and although I began my time at university apprehensive and unsure of what to expect, I can now confidently say that I can’t imagine myself anywhere else.
The essay portion of the application is important. You don’t have to write about some grand epiphany or a unique talent you have. Just be yourself and share what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown.
Topics students have written about range from broad to obscure, but the most successful ones are those that are authentic. So, as cliched as it might seem, remember that admissions officers are people too. They want to get to know you and they also love to hear a good story.
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