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Health & Fitness

College Advising: The Irresistible Student-- Could be You!

There are many ways to be an attractive and even irresistible applicant to your future school. The most important is to be a great student and have a transcript that shows your ability to do hard work.  Below are a few of the lesser-known attributes that will help secure your admission to most of the competitive and highly competitive schools in the country.

Become a Niche Applicant:  Develop your one true strength.  Rather than learn five languages (Wow, if you can!) learn three fluently and use your fluency to read books online in these languages.  Whatever it is that you can do well, do really well.  Take it to the top and give back in a way that makes sense to you.

Cherish your low income and first generation status: If you are a low income or first generation student, you are a precious future student to high-level colleges around the country. To make use of your status, work hard and earn the highest grades in the best classes your school has to offer. Make use of any tutoring or SAT/ACT preparation classes in your area. Seek guidance and mentorships from any college graduates or representatives in your community. Go for the top. Top schools are waiting for your application.

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Practice writing by reading. Read everything you can: All colleges are hoping to find your story when they open your application.  High-level schools are looking for an honest, deep, and powerful reflection of who you are and what you intend to do with your college education. Read to write well. By example, you’ll discover the style and tone that is most successful in a college essays. The other rule I like to use is, “If you can talk well, you can write well.” Tell your story out loud, then write it as you told it. 

Develop your Independent Intellectual Curiosity: Is there anything that you want to learn more about?  Now is the time to develop that curiosity.  We all have busy schedules, but how you use your free time says a lot about you. Hanging out with friends can actually help develop your future success. Think about conversations you have with your best friends. Some kids just hang out, while others build skateboards, search for things to sell online, or research WWII aircraft. If you have interesting friends, you (and your friends) might be right for high-level college admissions. All schools love any extra talents and knowledge that students bring to school!  The bigger the “wow factor,” the better!

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Having a reason why: I look at college applications every day.  Without a doubt, the most common question on college supplements reads something like:  Why Yale? (Replace “Yale” with just about any high-level college in the country.) It’s your job as a future student to answer that question like an insider. Do your homework in person or online and ask representatives, and graduates from that school what makes a certain school so special.  When you find an answer that surprises you, you know you’re on the right track!

Be a relaxed superstar: Just writing that phrase refreshes me, as it should you. Avoid the frantic, over-scheduled lives of the people around you. Focus, play, and enjoy your life. Any changes that you can make now to achieve time-management and schedule down-sizing will be noticed by admissions committees. Even better, you’ll be in such a better place for doing your best in everything you really care about.

All the best for your success from www.PerfectFitCollege.Net

 


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