“Will this look good on a college application?”

Our team has heard this question in many forms over the years. We always cringe inside (although we understand where it comes from!) because there is no one perfect college application filled with things a college wants to see. In fact, it can be counterproductive and disingenuous to paint a fabricated image of your student during the application process.

We get why you ask this!

Students and their parents feel so much pressure surrounding college admissions. This “will this look good” question is raw evidence of that. Families are looking for a magical list of activities and courses that will give their student an edge on their college application.

Sometimes the question is an either/or format. Is it better to earn an Eagle Scout ranking or be a varsity athlete? These questions attach another dimension to the list – that there is a stacked ranking or hierarchy to the items on this list.

Let’s clear this up now. There is no list. There is no ranking of activities and experiences. Anyone who claims to have a magic list should be viewed with skepticism.

What are colleges looking for?

If there’s no list, then what makes a strong applicant? How do families make these decisions?

First, understand that the college application review is holistic and will look different from college to college. Each college is creating their own community of learners. They will view each application as a whole on its own terms. We can never predict how their review will go because we can’t know what the application pool will look like in any given year. Understand that a strong application is one that shows off your student’s strengths and interests and tells their own story.

How colleges view academics

Remember that at its most basic level, college is an academic function. Students take classes and tests and earn grades. It’s harder than high school. For these reasons, colleges look (usually first) at a student’s academic track record. Can this student be successful in their chosen major at our college? Do they have a similar academic background to other students who have done well at our college?

They’ll focus carefully on the courses a student takes and the grades they receive in those courses. An ACT or SAT score gives the student a chance to strengthen the academic part of their application. The coursework rigor and grades are a clue for the colleges about your student’s potential at their college.

When you have questions about testing and/or high school course planning, remember our Private Consultations are 1-on-1 customizable meetings for you and your student.

How colleges view extracurriculars

High school students also have a lot of time outside of school to do other things. These extracurriculars can span a very wide range, from soccer to dance and from robotics to art club. By selecting activities of interest and engaging in them, their choices tell a story of who they are.

If a student’s engagement leads to growth or perhaps leadership opportunities, that’s even better for the student. Leadership doesn’t have to be a formal position like team captain or club president. Leadership can also be mentoring younger members, developing a fundraiser, or leading a project.

Making academic choices

When it comes to course selection, take the most challenging coursework you can. But don’t overextend yourself. You want to perform well. As a college-bound student, flexing your academic muscles is preparation for the level of rigor in college. Self-evaluate your performance and interest in the courses you take on a subject-by-subject, year-by-year basis.

Use our “brake pedal and gas pedal” theory. Some courses are harder, but you are interested in them and are ready for that level of rigor, so step on the gas pedal. Other courses hold less interest for you or are in a subject you find too challenging, tap the brake pedal to maintain balance. Research what your targeted colleges and majors require that you take in high school. And with a nod to balance, be sure to consider your outside activities – what academics can I excel at while doing these things outside of school?

Sometimes students struggle to align interests, majors, and careers. When you need support in this area, consider our tools including our Why Go to College? webinar, our Heads Up! workshop for grades 7-9, Guided Self Assessment for grades 10 to early college, and our free Career Calls.

Choosing extracurricular activities

When it comes to extracurriculars, most college students would tell their younger peers to “do what makes you happy.” Be genuine. Find ways to do what you enjoy. We often describe these activities as joyful diversions.

Unlike course selection (which has fewer options), there’s practically a smorgasbord of extracurricular choices. Use them to explore interests and grow. Because each student is a unique human, their list of extracurriculars will also be unique.

Considering colleges with super low acceptance rates?

Be realistic. Keep in mind that other applicants will have near perfect test scores. Most will have taken many AP, IB, and/or dual enrollment courses. Some will have had a very high level of success in their extracurriculars (i.e., national level honors). Applicants may have all of these. This kind of talent pool, coupled with a finite number of seats and a perceived view of a college’s quality (whether real or not), results in a very low acceptance rate.

Don’t stray from who you are to fit some notion of the perfect applicant for one of these schools. Present your true self and apply to a strong and varied list of colleges. The colleges that accept you will be the lucky ones.

So, what’s the answer to our original question?

Instead of asking, “Will this look good on a college application?” shift to asking student-centered questions like “Would I enjoy this class and have a reasonable chance to be successful?” and “Does being in this extracurricular continue to interest me and support my balance?” Doing things just to look good to a college can create a resume that’s doesn’t reflect the true you. The key is honesty and living genuinely during high school.

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