Jessica Yeager.Courtesy of Jessica Yeager
There’s a lot riding on each college application.
A few weeks ago, I gave you my seven tips to ace a college application.
Now that we are getting close to application deadlines, I wanted to share some mistakes students make that really hurt their chances of being accepted at their dream colleges.
1. Starting too late
My college essay (that got me into Harvard, Yale, MIT, Stanford, Cornell, and Columbia) took me months to write.
The one college I was rejected from (Princeton) didn’t get that essay; instead I sent Princeton four short answers that I waited until the weekend before to send. Not too surprising that I didn’t get in. You really want to give yourself plenty of time to develop your unique story, so don’t wait to start your essay. Start today, if you haven’t already!
2. Being generic
It’s so easy for your application to look like everyone else’s, and admissions officers literally spend only a few minutes with your application. It’s so important that you stand out. Your essay should tell the admissions committee something unique about who you are and what you’ll bring to the campus that the rest of your application doesn’t.
3. Burning yourself out
This one starts even before you start filling out your application. So many students think the only way to get into Harvard or Yale is by joining 17 clubs, playing three sports, volunteering at the local hospital a few hours a week, and taking seven AP courses.
Usually this only leads to burnout and isn’t a guarantee that you’ll get into your dream college. In fact, schools may interpret it as not really knowing yourself and what you want to do. Focusing on a few interests you really care about and going deep can really set you apart.
4. Doing anything cold
Every aspect of the application requires preparation. You never want to take the ACT or SAT without studying and taking practice exams. You’d also never want to go into an alumni or admissions interview without practicing your interview skills and thinking about what you want to talk about. Practicing your interview can be as simple as filming yourself while answering some of the obvious questions like, “Why do you want to go to this school?”
5. Selling yourself short
The application is your place to brag. If you started a club, raised thousands of dollars, and got 20 students to join, SAY THAT! Don’t just say president of club to help underprivileged kids. Being specific and quantitative about all your amazing accomplishments is critical to a successful application. I see this all the time. College applications are not the place to undersell.
6. Acting aloof
Yield rates, the percentage of accepted students who enroll, are extremely important to elite universities. If you act aloof about getting into a particular school, you might be waitlisted or even denied. Show your interest by visiting campus if you can, connecting with professors or coaches, and researching organizations and majors you want to discuss in your supplemental essays.
7. Skipping the optional essay
Schools make their Why do you want to go to our school? essays optional for one reason — to increase their number of applications. Don’t fall for this trick. Spend time crafting this essay just like you would any required supplemental essay. It’s your opportunity to show all the research you’ve done on the school and why you’re a perfect fit.
If you want even more tips for creating your absolute best college application, get my Ultimate Guide to the Common App.
Jessica is a graduate of Harvard and MIT with over ten years of tutoring experience. As a senior in high school, she gained acceptance to Harvard, MIT, Yale, Stanford, Cornell, and Columbia. She is the founder of Impress the Ivies and host of the Dream College Summit. Her students have gotten into elite schools, like Harvard and Carnegie Mellon.
