4 answers
hannah
Student
Lima, Ohio
4
Questions
Asked
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What would you recommend to a Highschool student worried about college ?
I fear my college application won’t make me as competitive compared to others. I’m looking for advice to make me stand out or to help improve my resume. Thank you!
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4 answers
A. Michelle Hawkins
Make contributions and identify volunteer opportunities for employees
108
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
A. Michelle’s Answer
It’s important not to be so worried about college admissions that it has a negative impact on your current high school experience and the admissions process. That said, it is good to be proactive and think of ways you can position yourself for college admissions success. Grades are not the sole deciding factor for colleges, but they are important. Beyond getting good grades, it is helpful to take challenging coursework. What you do outside of the classroom is equally important. Here, you will want to show mastery (lead violinist or varsity athlete), leadership (chairing a club vs. being a member) and commitment to others (volunteerism, counseling). Your personal essays can help to differentiate you as can letters of support from teachers. Get to know your teachers well, and ask ones that can speak glowingly and in depth about you to provide letters. There are many colleges, and with a bit of preparation, you should be able to find at least a few to which you are likely to be accepted that will help you thrive.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1179
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Hannah. When the time comes, I do hope that you find out soon if the colleges you've applied to have accepted you. You express that you are worried about being accepted for admission at college. This is a natural reaction because you want to move along with the goals you have set for yourself.
Although I do not know which schools you are applying for, I can say that many times we worry about things that don't come to pass, so worry does not solve anything. It is automatic, though, when we deeply care about something going right for us. When a perspn makes the choice to stop worrying, they can gain good foresight and have a peace within while waiting to hear back from the schools. There is a short but rather good article with information on worrying that you may find helpful and I will provide the link to it below.
To fill your resume, think about volunteer work, part time jobs, clubs, learning news skills in any areas that you're interested in. By applying to colleges, just like applying for employment, try to submit as many applications as you can. The more you apply for, the higher your chances will be for results.
Also important is to keep busy. By spending time with others, engaging in hobbies and interests, you won't have time to worry. That keeps you active and worry holds you back. You are special, unique and only you can do you. Try to break out of comparing yourself with others because your authenticity is what is important, otherwise life just becomes a race or a competition with lots of stress. Take care of your overall physical health, too.
I hope things get more comfortable for you, and I think they will, as you have already taken the first step to reach out for advice. Best wishes to you in all you do !
https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/how-to-stop-worrying/ ARTICLE ABOUT WORRYING
Although I do not know which schools you are applying for, I can say that many times we worry about things that don't come to pass, so worry does not solve anything. It is automatic, though, when we deeply care about something going right for us. When a perspn makes the choice to stop worrying, they can gain good foresight and have a peace within while waiting to hear back from the schools. There is a short but rather good article with information on worrying that you may find helpful and I will provide the link to it below.
To fill your resume, think about volunteer work, part time jobs, clubs, learning news skills in any areas that you're interested in. By applying to colleges, just like applying for employment, try to submit as many applications as you can. The more you apply for, the higher your chances will be for results.
Also important is to keep busy. By spending time with others, engaging in hobbies and interests, you won't have time to worry. That keeps you active and worry holds you back. You are special, unique and only you can do you. Try to break out of comparing yourself with others because your authenticity is what is important, otherwise life just becomes a race or a competition with lots of stress. Take care of your overall physical health, too.
I hope things get more comfortable for you, and I think they will, as you have already taken the first step to reach out for advice. Best wishes to you in all you do !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
![Saradhi Saripalli [MAT]’s Avatar](https://res.cloudinary.com/careervillage/image/upload/w_120,h_120,c_scale/v1688753859/215846.webp){kind=avatar}
Saradhi Saripalli [MAT]
Sr. Account Manager
3
Answers
Yorba Linda, California
Updated
Saradhi’s Answer
Hi Hannah!
First and foremost, this is a completely natural fear, and I applaud you for taking the first step and reaching out on this platform.
As far as improving your candidacy, I recommend a few things.
1.) Grades and GPA - this is the first things that any school will look at. Some schools even have a cut off for which they will not even look at an application if their minimum GPA requirement is not met. I would recommend taking a look at some of the average GPA's at some of the schools you are thinking about, and keeping yours consistently around that mark.
2.) Extra Curricular - now some say more is better here. I am of the school of thought that it should be quality over quantity. Choose 2 activities that you are really passionate about, and commit to those. Show growth, dedication, and leadership within those actives rather than just being a member at every club possible. This will show schools that you are not just a resume filler, but that you are truly a well rounded candidate.
3.) Go for the whole school, and not the name. There are so many institutions of higher learning available to students now. Everything from Ivy League established institutions, to online programs. Decide what is right for you, and what you want out of your college experience. Your path in life will not ultimately be determined by what University Name is at the top of your resume. As someone who has been in the professional ranks for over 15 years now, I can whole heartedly attest that professional and personal experience will always overcome a University name tag line.
4.) Be kind to yourself. Applying to a University can feel like it's determining the rest of your life. While it is important, it is not the end all be all of who you are, and what you will accomplish in life. Do your best to make yourself stand out as an individual, while being true to yourself, and maintaining your sanity.
I hope this helps, and good luck on your journey!
First and foremost, this is a completely natural fear, and I applaud you for taking the first step and reaching out on this platform.
As far as improving your candidacy, I recommend a few things.
1.) Grades and GPA - this is the first things that any school will look at. Some schools even have a cut off for which they will not even look at an application if their minimum GPA requirement is not met. I would recommend taking a look at some of the average GPA's at some of the schools you are thinking about, and keeping yours consistently around that mark.
2.) Extra Curricular - now some say more is better here. I am of the school of thought that it should be quality over quantity. Choose 2 activities that you are really passionate about, and commit to those. Show growth, dedication, and leadership within those actives rather than just being a member at every club possible. This will show schools that you are not just a resume filler, but that you are truly a well rounded candidate.
3.) Go for the whole school, and not the name. There are so many institutions of higher learning available to students now. Everything from Ivy League established institutions, to online programs. Decide what is right for you, and what you want out of your college experience. Your path in life will not ultimately be determined by what University Name is at the top of your resume. As someone who has been in the professional ranks for over 15 years now, I can whole heartedly attest that professional and personal experience will always overcome a University name tag line.
4.) Be kind to yourself. Applying to a University can feel like it's determining the rest of your life. While it is important, it is not the end all be all of who you are, and what you will accomplish in life. Do your best to make yourself stand out as an individual, while being true to yourself, and maintaining your sanity.
I hope this helps, and good luck on your journey!
Cindy McAllister
retired Guidance Counselor
12
Answers
Syracuse, New York
Updated
Cindy’s Answer
Hi Hannah,
You don't say what grade you will be going into next year so I'm guessing you'll either be a junior or senior. No matter what grade you are going into, the best advice is to work hard and get the best grades you can. When I was a school counselor here is the advice I would give my soon to be freshmen. Colleges look at grades, your course load, extra-curricular activities, and your essay. Take the most demanding courses YOU can handle. Don't over reach but don't take the easy way out either. As far as extra-curricular goes, everyone is different. If you're an athlete you may not have time for clubs so don't unless you really want to. You can fill in your resume with non-athletic activities during your breaks and summer vacation. Try to do some volunteer work if you can. If you're extremely busy, there are often things that don't take much time. For instance, in April is Earth Day. Get some friends together and go clean a park, school, neighborhood, etc. There are often walks/marches for various organizations. Don't under estimate your application essay. This is a great chance to explain any blemishes in your academic record. Maybe one semester you got sick and your grades dropped. It's also a good opportunity to tell things that are unique about you. Maybe one of your parents is in the military and you've moved around a lot. Perhaps you were fortunate enough to do some extensive traveling. If you have an idea of what you want to major in, try job shadowing for a day or get some work experience in that area. When you're ready to apply to college, try to schedule an in-person interview. If you make a good impression it will help you get in. Look at the requirements for admission to each college you want to apply to. Make sure at least one of them is considered a "safe" school that you're sure to get in. Another option is a community college and transferring after a year or two.
Good luck!
You don't say what grade you will be going into next year so I'm guessing you'll either be a junior or senior. No matter what grade you are going into, the best advice is to work hard and get the best grades you can. When I was a school counselor here is the advice I would give my soon to be freshmen. Colleges look at grades, your course load, extra-curricular activities, and your essay. Take the most demanding courses YOU can handle. Don't over reach but don't take the easy way out either. As far as extra-curricular goes, everyone is different. If you're an athlete you may not have time for clubs so don't unless you really want to. You can fill in your resume with non-athletic activities during your breaks and summer vacation. Try to do some volunteer work if you can. If you're extremely busy, there are often things that don't take much time. For instance, in April is Earth Day. Get some friends together and go clean a park, school, neighborhood, etc. There are often walks/marches for various organizations. Don't under estimate your application essay. This is a great chance to explain any blemishes in your academic record. Maybe one semester you got sick and your grades dropped. It's also a good opportunity to tell things that are unique about you. Maybe one of your parents is in the military and you've moved around a lot. Perhaps you were fortunate enough to do some extensive traveling. If you have an idea of what you want to major in, try job shadowing for a day or get some work experience in that area. When you're ready to apply to college, try to schedule an in-person interview. If you make a good impression it will help you get in. Look at the requirements for admission to each college you want to apply to. Make sure at least one of them is considered a "safe" school that you're sure to get in. Another option is a community college and transferring after a year or two.
Good luck!