College Application Dos & Don’ts for Success

The first college application deadlines for the Class of 2030 will be here before you know it. Here are some of the early application deadlines students need to be aware of.

Is the University of Southern California on your college list? Part of USC’s application process includes submitting a letter of recommendation. While your academic performance in high school carries the most weight in the admissions process, a strong letter of recommendation from a teacher or school counselor will tell another piece of your story — who you are, how you conducted yourself at school, and how you might contribute to the campus community. 

Most STEM students already know that MIT is one of the most reputable names, not to mention an exceptionally academically rigorous college. However, there is still a lot of uncertainty about their admissions process, including the MIT interview. There’s a lot you can do to stand out in this part of the process.

UCLA is part of the University of California system, which is comprised of 10 campuses throughout the state. Students applying to UCLA must use the UC application — the University of California system does not use the Common App or Coalition Application. The application process includes several personal statement prompts, or what UC refers to as personal insight questions. Keep reading to learn more about these prompts and tips for responding to them.   

Many schools utilize the Common App as their primary application form, and school-specific supplements allow every institution to customize this universal application in order to build a well-rounded first-year class. From asking about a student’s favorite snack to designing their dream seminars, many colleges are getting creative with their supplement questions so that admissions officers can learn as much about applicants as possible.

Harvard is one of the most popular first-choice colleges for students, and it’s also one of the most competitive. Admission rates are consistently under 5% — for the class of 2028, the admission rate was 3.65%.

Given this competitive admissions rate, some very talented students are going to find themselves on Harvard’s waitlist. While most applicants have a general idea of what a waitlisted outcome means, few understand how waitlists really work and what they can do to boost their odds of admission.

Stressed about college application deadlines? Here are 5 tips to help you finish your applications strong.

This time of year makes for very anxious high school seniors as many wait to hear back from colleges about their admissions decisions. The period between submitting applications and receiving decisions can feel like an eternity and often leaves students in an academic limbo with many thinking, “I’ve done all I can and the decision is in the hands of the admissions committee — what else can I do?”

Many colleges are known for getting creative with their essay prompts, sometimes asking weird and wacky questions to encourage students to dig for thoughtful, creative responses. Another way some colleges are shaking up the college admissions process is with college application videos.

Summer is a great time for you to catch up on your college prep, including pulling together some materials that will be helpful when it’s time to start the college application process. Compiling a list of your activities, awards, internships, and more is a great way to organize all the information you want colleges to know — and sets you up for a smoother college application experience.