Experts Advice: How to Get Your College Application Noticed

It's a brave new world, as Aldous Huxley would put it. The title of Huxley's novel might be a good opening for your application essay, yet something would hold you back. You didn't think of it after you read the recent news about colleges turning to e-learning after the coronavirus outbreak. You still have to go through the college application process, and your application must not look like a shopping list. The experts are here, and their advice should help you in getting that unconditional offer.

You must keep your mind off the latest happenings, which could send America into another recession. You might be wary of getting near the entrance to Chinatown until you recall an incoming student who happens to be a son of Taiwanese immigrants. You may be put off by his numerous attempts to dominate the conversation, but your curiosity was piqued after he described an outrageous musical comedy about a virus outbreak in Taipei. The tenants, all yuppies grappling with isolation, found a sweet escape from the quarantine. Song-and-dances reminded him of Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and Cyd Charisse. You imagined such a segment in SNL until you realized that writers and producers would prefer another Trump episode. (And it could be a joke on the Chinese virus.) This is not a detour, as this unusual film, which would remind you of Haruki Murakami's novels, could be a perfect essay topic, and there's a good chance that you would write about it during your first year. You're thinking about youngsters emulating Jack Kerouac, who is a loner who can't stay in one place for long. It might be morbid to suspect that Kerouac, a poster boy of the Beat Generation, won't be able to adapt to the stringent measures brought by the rapid transmission of the virus, yet you could think of a similar stance when you look at your shortlist of possible topics for your application essay. It won't be your top priority, though.

Most applicants do take their application seriously, but it would turn out to be generic, if not the kind of application that tutors have read too many times. And they are sick and tired of it. You're about to read some good advice from experts, which should boost your confidence. You may be curious about the names, but let's be honest about one thing. You rather hear what they would say on such an important matter. They won't be offended if you're not inclined to engage in a lengthy conversation with them. 

6 Ways to Ace Your College Application

Always be yourself. You're one of the thousands of applicants who must vie for the attention of admissions tutors, and you might not have thought that they could be overwhelmed at making such hard decisions. You don't have to enumerate the number of classics that you read (if you aspire to study literature) or brag about another constant (that may be named in your honor). You can be your goofy self (while you compose your application essay), as tutors want to know you immediately. They have different criteria based on the vision and mission of their respective universities. It's not the case of who is the loudest, so this is the right time to express your thoughts (and/or feelings) in a subtle, yet persuasive, manner.

Tutors won't trip you up. You might be intimidated at admissions tutors, but they want to know your capabilities. They want to see your enthusiasm and passion for your chosen field of study, and what can you offer during panel discussions. In other words, prove to them that you belong to that university (that you hope to be admitted at). Your application essay doesn't have to be a masterpiece that would be published in The New Yorker, but you could make it as interesting as it should be. And make sure that you showcase the depth of your knowledge on your chosen field of study.

You're never too young to apply. Yours have learned about it after your conversation with a mature student, who seems to be old enough to be your father. If you plan to study literature, you may be feeling uneasy about your lack of knowledge in Victorian literature. You're a huge fan of Japanese animated films, though. You have seen many animated features that were based on British classics. It could be an entertaining, if not unique, point of view.

Don't forget to outline your long-term career prospects. Admissions tutors would be impressed at you after reading your vision of your older self. And it could include in your personal statement. What do you want to be? The answer to that question, if not your chances of success, would depend on what modules to study, and the long hours that you're willing to put into it. The outbreak has serious ramifications, and one of which would be the shift from traditional methods of learning to virtual learning. Some may not like It, but you could gain a new perspective from being experimental. And it could turn you into a seasoned (paper) writer.

Stand out. You should imagine the stress that tutors would sense after going through tens of applications, and many aren't worth their time. Do them a favor.

Don't dream it's over (or don't be carried away by an illusion). You have romantic thoughts about the coursework and your esteemed place in your chosen department. If you have the right attitude and aptitude, then you would go the distance.

What Your Parents Taught You

You might have been tired of hearing your parents recounting their younger years, but it should teach you something. Your (life) experience, however it may be short, could connect you to your tutors immediately. This is a testament to a great novel, but don't forget about what you write in your application.

 

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