Figuring out what looks good on college applications is the key to stand out in college applications. It’s not just about acing tests or piling up A’s. Colleges want to see the real you: your passions, grit, and unique spark.
At Global Town School, our flexible curriculum gives students the freedom to chase their interests and passion to build a standout profile. Whether you’re a student-athlete, a performer, coding an app, volunteering, or leading a club, we’re here to help you shine.
This blog post dives into best practices of college applications and shows how Global Town School empowers you to create such a compelling application. With tips to stand out, you’ll learn how to craft a profile that grabs admissions officers’ attention. Let’s get started!
What Colleges Value
Colleges look for students who can handle tough academics while contributing to their community. A well-rounded application showcases a mix of skills and experiences. Based on insights from admissions experts, here are the core elements colleges prioritize:
High GPA and Rigorous Courses: A strong GPA, especially in challenging classes like honors, APs, IB, and dual credit college courses, shows you’re ready for college-level work. The majority of admissions officers rank academic rigor as a top factor.
Extracurricular Commitment: Deep involvement in a few activities, like music or debate, beats a long list of shallow ones. Colleges value passion and consistency over quantity.
Leadership Roles: Leading a club, captaining a team, or organizing events highlights your ability to take charge and inspire others.
Community Service: Volunteering and your involvement in socially responsible projects show that you care about making a difference. For example, four years at a local food bank signals dedication and social awareness.
Personal Essays: A well-crafted essay reveals your personality and values. It’s your chance to share a story that makes you memorable.
Recommendation Letters: Strong letters from teachers or mentors who know you will provide insight into your character and work ethic.
Unique Achievements: Awards, research, or creative projects set you apart. For instance, publishing a blog or winning a science fair can catch an admissions officer’s eye.
This example our CEO, Dr. Salim Ucan shares will put that into perspective. Check it out!
Building a Strong Student Profile
To stand out in college applications, you need a strong student profile that highlights your strengths across multiple areas. Here’s how to build one:
Excel in Academics: Take challenging courses that align with your goals, like AP Calculus, if you’re eyeing engineering. Aim for a high GPA to show you can handle tough material. Seek help from teachers or tutors to stay on track. Along with AP course, dual enrollment college courses are also singificant in showing your academic aptitude to colleges.
Check out how you access 70+ online college courses through Global Town School.
Dive Deep into Extracurriculars: Pick activities you love and stick with them. Whether it’s coding, theater, or sports, long-term commitment shows passion. For example, playing violin for three years in a youth orchestra is more impressive than joining ten clubs briefly.
Take on Leadership: Seek roles like club president or event organizer. Leading a fundraiser or mentoring peers shows initiative. Colleges love students who can influence and inspire.
Volunteer Regularly: Find a cause you care about, like tutoring kids or helping at an animal shelter. Regular volunteering reflects empathy and responsibility, traits colleges value.
Craft Your Narrative: Start reflecting on your experiences early. What challenges have you overcome? What drives you? These insights shape compelling essays and help teachers write strong recommendations.
Recommendation Letters: At the beginning of your high school, identify who you will potentially want your recommendation letters from and begin building a relationship with them.
This includes your counselor, too. Common application requests school information and counselor recommendation from your school. This may make or break your application.
Therefore, begin building a relationship with your counselor so he/she knows you enough to share a strong recommendation about you. Your recommenders should know you close enough to share specific examples to support their claims about you.
For instance, if they say you help other people, they should be able to give an example that you stayed after school to help struggling younger students taking their class (Math, for example).
How Global Town School helps you craft a compelling student portfolio
Global Town School’s online model is designed to help you build a strong student profile that stands out in college applications. Here’s how we support you:
Flexible Scheduling: Our hyper-flexible model lets you set your own schedule, freeing up time for internships, part-time jobs, or volunteering during regular school hours. Unlike traditional schools, you’re not limited to summers or weekends, allowing you to gain experiences that shine on applications.
Success Coaching: Each student gets a dedicated success coach who offers personalized guidance. Your coach helps you identify passions, set goals, and plan activities that align with college requirements, ensuring your profile is well-rounded.
Innovative Learning: Our virtual reality (VR) platform offers unique projects, like designing virtual simulations or collaborating on global challenges. These stand out as distinctive achievements in your application.
Independence and Time Management: Thriving in an online school requires self-discipline, a skill colleges admire. Online schooling demonstrates independence, a trait valued by admissions officers.
Our online high school program meets rigorous standards, ensuring colleges view your education as equivalent to traditional schools. With Global Town School, you have the tools to create a standout profile.
Extra Ways to Shine
Beyond the core elements, these strategies can elevate your application:
Write a Genuine Essay: Your essay is your voice. What should make your essay stand out is that it’s uniquely yours, giving readers a genuine sense of who you are. Be authentic and specific. Your essay should reflect your unique perspective. It should feel like an experience for whoever is reading it.
Show Real Interest: Engage with colleges through virtual tours, webinars, or emails to admissions officers. This shows you’re serious about attending.
Work with a professional coach: Global Town School offers college admission coaching without being a full-time student. Full-time students at Global Town School receive college admission coaching automatically.
However, you can receive this second-to-none service without attending GTS full-time. Studies show that students who work with a professional are more likely to attend their dream college! Our students define our coaching as “having a full-time college counselor supporting you every step of the process.”
Check out what one of our former students says about our college admission coaching:
Conclusion
Knowing what looks good on college applications is about showcasing a strong student profile that blends academics, activities, leadership, and personal stories. As an accredited online school, our flexible scheduling, success coaching, and innovative tools empower you to pursue your passions and stand out. Ready to build an application that shines?
Join Global Town School and start crafting your future today! Increase your chance of getting into your dream college by working with an experienced college admission coach from Global Town School!
FAQs
- What are the most important elements of what looks good on college applications?
Strong academics, deep extracurricular involvement, leadership, community service, compelling essays, recommendations, demonstrated interest, and unique achievements top the list.
- How does Global Town School help with college applications?
Our hyper-flexible model and success coaching help you build a well-rounded profile with diverse experiences.
- Do colleges view online schools differently?
Accredited online schools like Global Town School are viewed similarly to traditional schools, with a focus on your achievements and skills.
- How can I show leadership in my application?
Take on roles like club president or event organizer, and highlight specific impacts, like raising funds or mentoring peers.
- What makes a personal essay stand out?
An authentic, specific story that reflects your values and growth makes your essay memorable and impactful.
