When you’re applying to college, you’re going to be competing against other students for a limited amount of space. If it’s a highly competitive school, your odds of being accepted go down significantly. However, there are steps you can take to boost your college acceptance odds no matter where you’re applying to.
Pay Attention to the Requirements
The first thing you can do to boost your acceptance odds is a must: Pay attention to the application requirements. Missing an important paper or document can cause your application to be immediately declined. If the college asks for two letters of recommendation, double-check that both are attached before submitting the documents.
This is also important to note when it comes to essays. If a college does require an essay, make sure you’re following the guidelines. This includes the topic and length. You don’t want to go overboard or miss the subject of the essay.
Apply for Early Decision
Applying for early decision shows a school you’re serious about attending the college, significantly boosting your acceptance odds. Early action is also a good choice if you’re looking to apply sooner rather than later to a college. The amount of students accepted during early decision or early action tends to be much higher than the number of students accepted during the regular application process.
However, don’t apply for early decision lightly. This is a binding contract and if you’re accepted, you have to attend this school. If you’re sure it’s your dream school though, this could be a smart move to help your acceptance chances. Early action, on the other hand, allows you to apply early while not making that commitment.
Reach Out to the School
Another way to boost your acceptance odds is to make your interest further known to the college. Visiting schools is a must. It’s the perfect time to introduce yourself to the admission department representative, ask questions, and potentially meet your future professors. However, at some larger or higher-ranked colleges, this won’t have a huge effect on your chances (they have a lot of students who visit the campus each year), but you should visit anyway to ensure it is the right school for you.
Visiting is also a great time to request information and literature about your prospective college and fill out any interest cards. If you can’t travel the college just yet, head to local college fairs where the school is attending and introduce yourself.
Participate online as well. Join Facebook groups, like pages, follow Twitter accounts, and take part in school or student discussions. Admission representatives may notice the extra steps you’re taking to already be a part of the community and college.
Applying to colleges can be a stressful time, especially when you’re waiting for acceptance letters. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help your admission odds. Start with following the guidelines the college asks for and then work from there to show your interest and passion when it comes to your school of choice.
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