This document provides advice to students on how to make their college applications stand out. It discusses the various factors colleges consider like grades, test scores, course rigor, applications, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest. It emphasizes the importance of a strong senior year and maintaining good grades. Specific tips are provided for each application component like having recommendation letters submitted on time and keeping track of application statuses and deadlines. Students are encouraged to visit colleges, participate in online events, and demonstrate continued interest in their top schools. The overall message is that with preparation and effort, students can successfully complete their applications.

1. Making Your College
Applications Stand Out
Fall 2020
Dr. Rebecca Joseph
getmetocollege@gmail.com
Getmetocollege.org
@getmetocollege

2. What Do Colleges Look For…
 Grades
 Rigor of Coursework
 Test Scores
 Applications
 Essays
 Recommendations
 Activities
 Interviews
 Demonstrated
Interest
 Strong Senior Years

3. Grades Matter
 Grades are the top factor of
admissions.
 Get an official copy of your transcript
and check.
 Please make sure to enter all
academic information correctly on
applications.
 Get extra copies for future usage.
 Make sure you report the correct
GPA—don’t estimate. Ask your
counselor.
 Senior year is critical year. Colleges
will see your grades now or later.
 Many colleges will see your first
semester even after application is
submitted.
 You can even send in first quarter
grades to early colleges.
 Colleges will see second semester-
avoid the black hole of senioritis.
 Look for patterns and passions.

4. Let’s Not Let This Happen

5. Rigor of Coursework
 Colleges look at how hard
you pushed yourself in and
out of high school
academically.
 Colleges expect you to
keep the difficulty of your
classes consistent through
senior year.
 You list your senior grades
on applications.
 If you change or drop
classes, you must notify
colleges.
 If you are planning on
transferring, your grades all
senior year are the most
important of all time.

6. Test Scores
 You have two more times
to take the SAT and ACT.
 The more you practice, the
better you do.
 There are more than 1,000
test optional colleges.
Fairtest.org
 Some colleges now allow
self-report. Check to make
sure. The UCs and Cal
State have special ways to
submit.
 Double-check that colleges
received scores.
 Some colleges take
◦ Only highest overall day
◦ Highest per section

7. Applications

8. College Four By Four
PlanFour Cal States
No essays except for EOP
and Honors Colleges
Four Privates
Common Application and
supplements
https://getmetocollege.org/what-
colleges-look-for/2019-fall-
diversity-visit-programs
https://www.collegegreenlight.co
m/
Four UCs
Four insight Questions
Additional Information and
Questions
Four Scholarships
https://roybal-
allard.house.gov/uploadedfiles/stud
ent_resource_guide_2019-2020.pdf
https://www.maldef.org/wp-
content/uploads/2018/11/2019-
2020_MALDEF_Scholarship_Resou
rce_Guide.pdf

9. Applications
 Keep all application
usernames and
passwords on your
phone and on your
computer
 Once you apply, please
make sure to keep all
emails—they will send
you college specific user
names, enable you to
track status of all
submitted materials, and
send you info about
scholarships
 Make sure all paperwork
is submitted

10. Applications-Part 2
 Make sure you fill out
all sections of
applications.
 Look at optional
sections and see if you
can submit key
additional information
 Spend the months of
October-December
completing high quality
applications.
 Print them out before
submitting and double-
check for mistakes or
omissions.

11. Recommendations
 Please remind teachers
and counselors to submit
your recommendations in
time for your colleges.
 Give them brag sheets and
graded papers.
 Track the submission on
Naviance, Common
Application, and individual
college websites.
 If you need extra
recommendations, contact
recommenders now and
find out how to submit the
recommendations
 Give gift cards and thank
you notes.

12. Activities
 Make sure to continue
with your leadership and
initiative in activities.
 If colleges ask for
activities, be as
descriptive about your
leadership and initiative
as possible.
 Keep a record of what
you do all year.
 If you are planning to
transfer, your activities
are key this year and
next summer.
 Make sure you have an
up-to-date resume.

13. Application Essays
 You need to keep
revising your essays
 Make sure they answer
all parts of the prompt
 Make sure you give
visuals and key
examples of your
leadership and initiative
 Have someone you trust
proof them for grammar
and technical
 Format the essays
correctly.
◦ Common Application
◦ UC Insight Questions

14. 10 Essay Reviewing
Questions
1. Does your essay start with a story that hooks us in from the
first paragraph?
2. If you start in the past, do you get to the present very
quickly? Colleges want to know about the recent you. Great
essays can start more recently and weave in past events.
3. Do you write only in the first person and not spend too
much time describing anyone or anything else? Use my
one-third-two-third rule. You may not spend more than 1/3
of the essay describing anything other than your own
activities and goals.
4. If you are writing about your community or family or
location, do you get to the present and your life and life
works quickly? Can this description only connect to you and
your story of who are you and how you are making a
difference?
5. Do you only tell one story and not try to tell your entire life
story?

15. More Reviewing Questions
6. If you are writing about an obstacle or challenge or failure overcome, do
you get to how you have responded and made a difference in the life of
your community by the second or third paragraph of the essay?
Admissions officers want to know who are you and how you make an
impact drawing upon your obstacles or challenges or failures.
7. Do you have a metaphor that goes through the entire piece…does this
metaphor reveal who you are and what you offer to potential colleges? You
can embed this metaphor throughout out your piece.
8. Can I close my eyes and picture your story? Does it make you sound
unique and not like anyone else applying? Can I see your leadership and
initiative and the power of what you will offer a college campus?
9. Do you tell new stories and qualities in each separate essay your write?
Do you make sure to reveal powerful information and core messages that
colleges will need to know to admit you and give you money to attend?
10. Endings-Do you end with a bang? Do you make it clear by the end you
have goals and aspirations that drive you. Your endings must be specific
for some prompts like the University of California and University of Texas,
but can be more oblique and implied in Common Application and many
supplementary essays. Do you end your essays leaving the reader with
the desire to get to know you more, to see you on his or her campus, and
to share your essay with someone else?

16. Interviews and Campus Visits
 Go to college websites and
see if they conduct
interviews
 Check my tips.
http://getmetocollege.org/h
s/short-and-sweet-
interview-tips
 Interviews are information
or evaluative.
 Many campuses do them
after you submit
application. Make sure your
respond to requests
immediately.
 Make sure you prepare and
send a thank you note
within 48 hours.
 Also it’s not too late to visit
colleges on your list that
are within an hour or two

17. Demonstrated Interest

18. Demonstrated Interest
 Try to visit local colleges on your
list if you haven’t already.
 Even if you can’t visit, you can
demonstrate interest to a college.
 One of the college specific
webcasts today counts. Example
College Week Live
 You can read their blogs, you can
follow them on twitter, you can go
to local events. Example, today.
 Keep track of what you learn so
you can use it in a college specific
essay or contact info on Common
Application.
 If you apply, and then something
really cool happens, send the
admissions officer in charge of
your area with an update email.

19. Online College Fairs
 https://www.college
weeklive.com/even
t-schedule
College Week Live: https://www.collegeweeklive.com/event-schedule

20. Senior Year
 Senior year is difficult
in many ways but it is
essential to do well.
 You must keep your
grades as high as
possible.
 You can apply for as
many scholarships as
possible.
 You must enjoy
yourself but not allow
the black hole of
senioritis to take over
your life.
◦ Two stories

21. You can do it!
 I know you can
make the next few
months really
count.
 If you need any
help,
◦ Look at my website:
getmetocollege
◦ Follow me on twitter
@getmetocollege
◦ This and other
powerpoints are on
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