What Will ‘Look Good’ on My College Application?
Through the years, many blogs have poked fun at the brand-chasing resume-building activities of a high school student who wants to attend a highly selective school. Curing cancer! Saving the coral reef! Starting a multimillion-dollar business! When families look to make the most of high school by joining school clubs or attending summer college programs, it’s often with the reasoning that it “will look good on my college application.”
At College Mode, one of our goals, when we meet a high school student, is to shift this narrative from “what do I need to get into college?”, to what do I want to learn, what do I want my college life to be like, and how do I imagine my life after college? We remind students to look inward, even when the rest of the world might be pushing them to look outward, to determine who they are. Part of this encouragement is to look inward and find an interest to explore. When the interest is personal and meaningful, not only does that enhance a college application, but more importantly, it results in personal growth for the student.
Busy students sometimes check the boxes but don’t really take the time to reflect on what they liked about running that blood drive at their high school, or performing that bench lab experiment in AP Chemistry, or leading that summer camp class in their community. At College Mode, we meet frequently with our students – we listen and ask questions. We believe it’s important for students to find those activities or experiences that are meaningful for them.
Our process gives students autonomy to be the driver of their future, and learn about themselves along the way. A few years ago a parent reached out to us frustrated that they couldn’t convince their high school student to get involved in any clubs in their high school. After some conversations and following some of the College Mode process, we helped their high school student to start a small business making jewelry for charity. Working with our families, we look to help students discover what’s important to them and give them the confidence to try something new and grow.
This shift, from what club will make me look better on my college application to finding extracurricular activities that illustrate a student’s growth and engagement, ultimately leads to a great resume for college and essays that reveal their truth. This is one of the steps which results in a great college match. Finding the right college fit means finding the place where the best interests of the student align with the interests of the college. Colleges are looking for students who know themselves, what they want from their college experience, and exactly why a particular college is a good fit for them.
How important are my activities and what type of activities should I include on my college application?
First and foremost, colleges look at your academic record – they want to see that you can do the work. While most colleges use a more holistic process that looks at all the components of an application – the letters of recommendation, activities, honors, and essays – the admission departments will look at the courses a student took at their high school and the grades they received. Then they will look more deeply to see how you were engaged outside of the classroom.
Some students find meaning in community service, working with children, athletics, arts, music, robotics, social justice, or involvement in their church. When a student considering a career in education becomes a buddy to a child with a disability, or a student looking to study medicine volunteers at their local EMS or fire department, extracurriculars start to weave a more meaningful story. When a tenth grader who is considering engineering, designs and builds a deck with their father, or a student with an interest in creative writing or english choreographs an elementary school play, college applications start to make sense to admissions counselors.
Whether a student applies to a summer research program like Stony Brook University's Simons Summer Research Program, explores engineering through an introductory program on a college campus, or works at their local bagel shop, each activity can highlight how a student grew in high school. At College Mode, we help students discover meaningful activities and encourage and motivate them.
If you’re a Junior in High School you should be already starting your college search. College Mode Consulting is here to guide you every step of the way in preparing to find that college that is the right fit for you and your future. Don’t wait until Senior year, contact us today for a free consultation by calling 845-704-1650, email us at info@collegemodeconsulting.com and be sure to check out our website collegemodeconsulting.com.