19 College Application Tips (To Help You Stand Out)
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- Опубликовано: 2 июл 2024
- Applying to college this year? Start here.
Whether you're an incoming Freshman or transferring to a new university, here are 19 college application tips that may help students who are beginning to write their supplemental essays, Common App extracurricular activities list, or the additional information section. Which of my 19 tips helped you the most?
🔗LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO 🔗
Spreadsheet on Early Decision vs. Regular Decision Acceptance Rates can be found in this blog post:
www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/...
The "Everything I Want Colleges To Know About Me" Brainstorming Exercise:
www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/...
21 Details Brainstorming Exercise:
www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/...
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I’m Ethan (College Essay Guy) and my goal is to bring more ease, joy, purpose, and access to the college admission process. I wrote two Amazon bestsellers on college essays and each year my team and I reach more than 1MM students and counselors via www.collegeessayguy.com.
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Hey Ethan! As an international student from Russia I'd like to tell you that your content is super relatable and helpful! Thank you for sharing all these tips with us!
So awesome to hear, Milana. Happy writing. :)
Can you give some tips?i am considering applying to Russian universities
@@rahmahdalhat8484 If you are from US, I wouldn't recommend to. The Russian University diploma is not as valued as a basic US state diploma. For example, Moscow State University (МВГУ - short in russian) which is really good and right at the top of all Russian Universities, is less valued that University of Central Florida (UCF)
Please review my UT Austin essay, please I'm begging you this is the only great college I am applying to and so I cannot afford to fail. ( www.collegevine.com/essay/d65cef26 )4
Поступила?)
Hey Ethan, thanks a lot for these resources. These are regularly helping me track myself as well as the application. Thank you againn.
Long live 🖖
Great to hear!
you are so awesome! thank you so much for this - i am so happy i found your channel!
You're welcome, SuperAce!
oh my god you're a lifesaver. seriously, thank you so much for all your help! I'm so glad I was able to find your channel!!!
Happy to help!
Hi, thanks for the video! In some cases, it is actually an excellent strategy to tell a school that you need more financial aid from how much aid you received at other schools, as long as the two schools are comparable in acceptance rate, etc.
Good point! While sharing competing financial aid offers might be good in some cases, it's often best not to start off a conversation on appealing financial aid by sharing what you've received from other colleges. Why? Jodi Okun shares lots more on this podcast episode at around 18:25: www.collegeessayguy.com/podcast-stream/how-to-appeal-a-financial-aid-award-letter
Thank you so much! This really help me with my application. Since my June SAT just got cancelled, I think I need to make my application shine 🙂
You got this!
Thank you SIr< One of the best video about those quality tips
Thanks for watching!
Great content, great person. Thanks for everything.
Thanks for watching!
Great video, so much info and directions to go for more information. Thanks. Your videos are really really helpful. I am recommending to my students.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
this was so comprehensive I was not prepared for the quality!
Thank you! :)
Thank you so much! So very helpful! Do you think you could do any videos for those kind of tips focused on international students?
Glad I could help! I have another video about getting financial aid as an international student here: ruclips.net/video/abjR9bOBLrQ/видео.html
I’d never heard of a financial appeal letter before! As a junior your channel has definitely helped me understand how college applications work. (Especially the finer details)
Please review my UT Austin essay, please I'm begging you this is the only great college I am applying to and so I cannot afford to fail. ( www.collegevine.com/essay/d65cef26 )4
I'm so glad!
I assume now you’re a college freshman unless you are taking a gap year, so where did you go and what are you studying?
I’m a rising senior about to begin applying to colleges
@@ckdraws410 you would be right! I just finished my freshman year. For my specific financial situation I needed to attend a college I could pay my way through by working or that would meet my full financial needs.
By the time I was sending out applications here is where I was stats wise. I took the SAT once and I got a 1310, but most of my schools went test optional so unless I was above their average I didn’t send it in. I took 7 AP classes, got As in most of them and I passed 5/7 AP Exams. My GPA was around 4.1ish, so I was somewhere in the top 25 out of 180 kids. I did violin 7 years, tennis 4 years (2 JV, 2 varsity).
I ended up getting a merit scholarship to a fairly local university and negotiated with the school for a bit more than they originally offered.
I am on track to graduate early and without debt. I’m not at a top school but I am at a school where I stand out because of the work that I put in. My professors know me by name even in my larger lectures, which means I’ll have letters of recommendation secured for whatever path I choose. As for what I am studying, I entered as a psychology major but because of the way my credits worked out I’m probably going to double major.
All of this to say, consider YOUR options and YOUR situation above all. People’s opinions on your life decisions do not matter. I didn’t want to have debt from undergrad because I’m going to accumulate more than enough during law school or grad school. But many people said that I was wasting my potential going to a smaller school. They are now stuck with debt and a philosophy degree, im not.
Talk to people who go to the schools on your list and take as many tours as you can. If you get a bad vibe, trust your gut. I found out that a school I chose not to attend was super racist recently, very glad I dodged that bullet.
All in all, i want to wish you the best of luck. College isn’t bad but it isn’t easy. Take this time to form good habits and routines so that you are prepared to succeed.
best college youtube video on RUclips period!
Thanks!
Im a CC student hoping to transfer next fall. I look forward to using your videos as a way to help with my Personal Statements.
Happy writing! Check out my free guide for more videos and a step-by-step guide: collegeessayguy.com/the-free-guide
Thank you so much this was really helpful
I’m still in middle school but I just wanna have some rough drafts to be ready for when I do need to do a College application
I'm so glad!
I really can’t get over the drives with two feet thing.
I can't go back to one foot!
@@Collegeessayguy whats your reasoning for this?
So helpful
Thanks
You're welcome!
You're like the saviour of lost students. I am an international student(sophomore currently) who feels like I have an enormous pile of to do things, but I don't know where to start from. Thank you very much, I don't have any ( literally any, including my school counsler who is supposed to know about that topic) people or resources that I can rely on for guidance or information. I just have to depend on my research.
You're welcome, Omar! Good luck on your journey.
I love u men ur tips r really superb
Glad you like them!
Thanks for making this video! Is it ok if one of the teachers writing a letter of recommendation taught me during my sophomore year? Junior year was all virtual, so I think sophomore year's teachers will actually know me better than most teachers I had junior year.
Yep, that can work!
I’m applying for a biology program in the fall and I was wondering what are some important or unique things to include when writing a “why us” sort of application essay?
Good question! Here's a blog post I wrote on this exact type of essay: www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/why-this-college-essay
Hey! First of all I wanted to thank you for this it is really helping me out , though just a question for a few universities like University of Leicester or like LSE university I'm not able to find the common data set, is there any way I'll be able to access it?
Hi Ethan! Just wanted to say thank you for all of your helpful videos. What I am struggling with the most is what I actually want to go to college for. I have been dual enrolled at my high school and I'm going to be graduating high school with over 30 general prerequisite college credits done (not including AP classes). My point is, I keep putting off my applications because it stresses me out that I can't find my calling in life! This doesn't really relate to what you help with, but do you have any advice on what I could do? Also- should I write an essay about dual enrollment and how it has made me a better student? Do you think colleges would want to know about that? I'm also a swimmer and I'm captain of the swim team at my school. I am also in many clubs but I'm worried that I won't write an application that will show that I'm well rounded. Help!! Thank you
Hi there! The admissions readers will already have a good idea about your dual enrollment experience since you'll be including information about it in other parts of the application. There may be "better" essay topics that can round you out as a great candidate. A good question to ask yourself is: "Does this topic demonstrate the skills, qualities, values, and interests I offer the school as an incoming student?"
If yes, then start outlining and writing your first drafts. If no, go back to brainstorming!
Hi, thanks for this video, it was super helpful! Current high school junior here, and although I've got a lot of good info about what to put on college apps and the like, I was wondering when generally college applications open up? I'd like to start on my essays asap to refine them and make sure they're the best they can be, but so far I haven't heard any information about when college apps open.
Thanks for the love! To answer your question-- it depends on the schools you're applying to. Applications can open as early as May and as late as August. I recommend making a college list to help organize your essays, application deadlines, and other important action items all in one place. At this blog post (www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-college), you can download a free spreadsheet template for tracking all this information I listed above. Hope this helps!
Wow 😲
I am applying for Cornell (ED) and Brown(RD).
I think you saved me
Glad I could help!
Ayee shoutout my unc was a starting receiver for northwestern! Go cats
That's awesome!
I didn't know where to begin with the application. This was extremely helpful, Thank you ! Is it helpful to have someone pre-read an application before sending it in? Such as a Professor or mentor ?
Yes, I recommend it!
5:10 it's crazy how everything applied to me but I don't want a pity party from college admissions officers
I feel you, Quan. If you connect those details and challenges with what you did to overcome them and the values/skills you developed as a result, it can really help to provide useful context for colleges and show your resilience. Here's a blog post on this that might help: www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/how-to-write-about-challenges-college-essay
Thanks sir
You're very welcome!
Hey, I really love Economics and to be very honest when I learned much about economics as I used to study beyond course work, I started having sympathy for children in third world countries who can’t even live on $1 and I started to have ideas about writing a book on wealth inequality or to help education system reach out to those children when I become an economist(in future hopefully). How can I fit this in my application? I really don’t want to sound vague and hyped up. Thanks 👏🏼
It's OK to talk about your future ambitions and values in your application essays-- just make sure you're connecting them back to your life in the present (so you don't seem vague and hyped up, as you say).
@@Collegeessayguy thanks for the advice 😇
Great video! Do you have anything for adults going back to college?
In general, most of the resources on my site will apply to any student tackling their undergraduate applications! I don't have specific resources for adults returning to college, but I'd focus on telling your journey back to college at some point in your applications or essays.
What if your parents make a lot of money (therefore small financial aid) but they won’t pay for your college-other than the one THEY want you to go to?
Hmm, this is a tricky situation to navigate. I'd recommend talking with your parents directly, as many things (like which colleges will admit you) are out of your control!
Please review my UT Austin essay, please I'm begging you this is the only great college I am applying to and so I cannot afford to fail. ( www.collegevine.com/essay/d65cef26 )4
Need based scholarships and federal grants are based on your family income, but Merit-Based scholarships are not based on family income. Different colleges give out scholarships in different ways. Many colleges have merit based aid, and you can also look for colleges with lower starting tuition, like state schools and community colleges. The best way to save money is to find the right schools for you in your circumstances, the ones that have the major you want to study and the financial package that meets your needs.
I’m sure you get this a lot but what’s a good way to overcome an sat/act score that’s not so great? Covid has canceled all testing in my area and it doesn’t seem like I’ll be able to get better scores before applying early action.
If you're not so happy with your SAT/ACT scores, I recommend shining through in other areas of your college application (like your Activities List).
I wrote a blog post on the paradox of SAT/ACT scores a while back that you may find interesting. Feel free to check it out: www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/how-much-do-sat-scores-matter
Other than that, a bunch of schools this year have gone test-optional (and some even test-blind). In your case, you may have the option of excluding your SAT/ACT scores altogether (with no strings attached-- your application will be reviewed the same as other folks who may be submitting their scores).
Thanks Soo much, my question is what word will I use to start my personal statement
That's up to you! :)
Should I mention that, while I'm not a first-gen student, my parents didn't go to college in the US? Also, do you think I could still get into top universities/liberal arts colleges if I'm only taking 2 years of a foreign language (because I'm graduating in 3 years and my senior year schedule is full with the other classes I need to graduate)? My counselor told me I couldn't because it doesn't show enough "course rigor."
You could mention that in the additional information section if that feels right to you.
As far as your foreign language class credits, it depends on which schools you're applying to and their admission/credit hour requirements. Dive deeper into each school's requirements and consider adapting your class schedule to meet your needs. :)
This is kinda late so I’m not sure if you’re still responding to comments but I was wondering about extracurricular activities. I don’t have a ton to be honest but I did do wrestling and football during my freshman year. I was wondering if mentioning those would be good or would I need to have won an award or went to state for it to even help my chances of being accepted?
It's OK if you haven't won any awards in your extracurricular activities. I say include it in your list (especially if you have ample room to).
Thank you so much for the great tips! What would you suggest for someone who is considering taking a gap year? Pros and cons?
Gap years can be great!
Hey! Love this video, it really eased some of my worries. A question thats been bugging me though, are you allowed to talk about your mental health in your essays to emphasize the impact of your struggles and how you overcame them?
Hi! Thanks for asking. It's ultimately up to you, but I've seen it work well before. Seems like you have the right idea!
You might want to check this out ruclips.net/video/gNBrdE_CR80/видео.html
I know it's super slim for me to get to a uc college with a C in my grade (math this year was horrible in distance learning), but I have one year to make up for it. What can I do? I have so much volunteer hours and I am very involved in clubs both within and outside of my school. I also play a sport. Im confodent in my writing skills for the applications. (Edit:confident, my foot! I spelled something wrong!) Is there more I can try to do?
You got this. You could use the Additional Information section or Coivd-19 prompt to address this!
Hi! Thanks for all the info! =) I have one question: can they ask you about financial aid/your financial status in the interview if the college is need-blind?
Thanks for writing in! Not sure actually--might be good to check in with your school counselor or an admissions counselor at the school you'll be interviewing with.
@@Collegeessayguy thanks for the info. You're the best! 🙌
Have your own college application tip to share or just a question? Hit me up below.
how do I tell if my essay topic isn't clique?
I say ask yourself this question: Are there many other students applying to this college who are writing on this topic? If so, what are ways that I can focus on uncommon values. More here on finding uncommon values for common topics: www.collegeessayguy.com/uc-prompts-guide/2-5-montage-structure-example
Literally me!! LOL I got a B+ in chemistry and I’m like....should I mention it? 😂
Hah! Glad it helped you pump the brakes a tad.
Hey first i will like to began by saying Thank you for this awesome and. I was wondering if you can help me a bit with my essay because i am struggling a lot on it.
Thank you!!!
Hi there! Thanks for watching. Have you checked out my website? There are tons of free and pay-what-you-can resources on there for students applying to college. Check it out! www.collegeessayguy.com/
My parents are not divorced so my family is technically not single parent but my dad works in another district and can very rarely make time to come visit so although my dad would come for like two weeks in the summer my mom practically raised me up on her own. Should I mention that?
Sure! You can briefly mention this in a sentence if you feel the context is important. :)
@@Collegeessayguy thank youuu love your videosss 💖
I have had a bad grade year and I was planning to write an essay about it. But as you said you dont, where can I let them know that that college grade doesn't define me?
Check out my guide on the Additional Information section and consider mentioning it there: www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/common-app-additional-info-guide-examples
hi! do you think adding information about dropping a subject on getting low grades matters?
It depends on your situation! I suggest speaking with your counselor about this for more clarity.
Hi Ethan,
By any chance do you offer any advice services for college applications and essay editing? Please let me know. Thank you
Hi there! Unfortunately I don't offer any essay editing or one-time revisions, but my friends at prompt do! You should check them out: prompt.com/ceg/
@@Collegeessayguy great! thank you 😊
What should I do if I did literally nothing in highschool? No clubs, sports or anything??
Did you work on any self-directed projects? i.e. recording/producing your own music? Competitive gaming? Hiking/camping trips? Get creative. Anything you might have done outside of the classroom can count towards your application!
what is the difference between "SAT or ACT" and "SAT only" in cds?
Thanks for writing in! This would be a better question for Google or for your school counselor. I'm not an expert on the SAT/ACT, so don't want to misinform you!
Hey , amazing video!!
I have a doubt regarding honors. My school gives out what's called distinction and merit cards for academic excellence??(I have these cards all 3 years of high school- I'm a senior) Which section should I put it under??
Honors & Awards Section would be great.
I know this comment is kind of late, but can I write about how I improved as a person as I started going through high school. Like freshman year I did baddd, but the years after I had way better grades almost all A’s. Can I talk about how I got better grades ?
You'll be submitting your high school course grades when applying to colleges, so you don't necessarily need to explain one year of low grades. If you really feel inclined to, you can briefly mention it in the Additional Information section. Hope this helps.
College Essay Guy alright thanks for the help
Hi where can I find the excel spreadsheet on the ED/RD statistics? Thanks!
Hi there! The spreadsheet on Early Decision vs. Regular Decision Acceptance Rates can be found in this blog post:
www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/early-action-early-decision-colleges
It's also linked in the description!
@@Collegeessayguy thanks so much!
Hi my question is that you mentioned about personal statement like when I went to common app there's were more than 4 questions I took one of them and I answer it is what I did personal statement??
For the Common App, you just need to answer one of the options there.
@@Collegeessayguy Yes, I understand that, but what I don't understand is personal statement different and I should write one or the question I answered is personal statement
any recommendations for the coronavirus based essay?
Yes! Everything I have to say is at this link: www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/coronavirus-covid19-college-essay
Sir, can't we reject an ED binding in case we don't get the expected financial aid??
Good question! In some cases, yes, that's true. Check in with the exact wording of the ED agreement that you sign prior to applying ED.
@@Collegeessayguy Ohk f9... Tysm :))
hello etthan can u help out with my sop like tips on how to write a great one
Hi there! Unfortunately we don't have specific resources for graduate application essays/SOPs, but if you need inspiration, some examples and tips from my blog may help! www.collegeessayguy.com/
How should I talk about my involvement in Convergence Media? It’s an elective class that I’ve taken for 4 years & I’m an editor. I spend alot of time outside of class on it & I’m proud of some of the articles I’ve written fir the magazine. It’s technically not an EC so I don’t know where/how to include it.
You could still write about it in your essays! Especially if it relates to what you want to do (or think you might want to do) in the future.
Do I need to take help of someone with my application like counselors or is it fine if I check out everything online and do it myself. I am from India.
You can totally do it yourself, Aditi! But it never hurts to get some feedback from a trusted counselor, mentor or friend.
Hello. Please where can i get the list with ED and RD acceptance rate?
Linked in the description!
I have a question, are SAT Math section score and TOEFL score enough for applying? Do I have to pass a full SAT exam to apply?
In general, many schools are going test-optional this year (for SAT and SAT Subject tests) but I'd recommend checking with each of the schools you're applying to directly.
I clicked on this video because I saw the thumbnail and was like "Wait is this Ringo Starr"
LOL! I'll take that as a compliment. :)
Is a student considered still to be a first generation student if the parents attended colleges for a short time without earning a degree ?
By most definitions, that student would still be considered a first generation student. Here's what Chapman University says: www.chapman.edu/students/academic-resources/first-generation/index.aspx#:~:text=First%2DGeneration%20Programs,-Welcome%20Chapman%20University&text=A%20first%2Dgeneration%20college%20student,to%20attain%20a%20bachelor's%20degree.
How do I write about my mental health struggles in a way that doesn't seem like im trying to make an excuse for my lack of leadership roles/grades?
Start with this blog post: www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/how-to-write-about-challenges-college-essay
and then check out some of my brainstorming exercises on my website or here on my channel.
Ethan, I am in eight grade and currently applying for one of the best magnet schools in U.S. I wonder if any of these tips can help me for my application essay, with the fact that I am given small space for my essay
They totally can! Sometimes, though, you have to get more straight-forward in your story.
Do you essay review by any chance ?
I don't personally review them, but there are a few options for you to get your essays reviewed!
1. Submit your essay for review at Prompt: prompt.com/ceg/
2. Submit your essay for a review from my team at College Vine: www.collegevine.com/essays/review/expert/o/3
Hope this helps! I'm sure you're doing great!
6:40
Thanks for watching!
3:05 "will ED actually help your admission chances?" 💀😂
i can't help but compare your youtube picture to thom yorke...
LOL! That's a first.
Is it possible for a Nepalese to get into ivies?
Sure! Your application just has to reflect the skills, qualities, values, and interests that help the admissions officers realize how good of a fit you are for their school!
Hello. I am teaching a high school transitional learning class and would like to use your video as part of the curriculum. Please let me know if you would like me to do so. Thanks! - Dr. Michael Poli
Yes, feel free to share with your class! You're welcome to share just about anything from my website as well. Check out my attribution guidelines here: www.collegeessayguy.com/ceg-attribution/
@@Collegeessayguy Great! Thank You!
Where is that spreadsheet with the Ed and Ed rates?
Here you go: www.bigjeducationalconsulting.com/resources
:((( What if you are a super plain student that doesn't know what your good at... but only ur passion
It's OK to be passionate about something and not be the best at it. Use your unique experience to your advantage! Some more brainstorming may help you out. Here are some of my favorite brainstorming resources: www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/?category=Brainstorm
@@Collegeessayguy Thank you so much!
Why should ‘t you explain a B in your grade?
IMO, it's not illuminating information for the admissions officers. However, if you're a straight A student except for one B that you got because of a specific setback, you could explain it (if you really wanted to).
Not everyone doing the same thing to "stand out"
You got this.
What drugs you do? 😂😂 hilarious guy
The drug called life.
I find you on Twitter
Great!
Best one: Do not aaply. 'APs College. They never obey, the Native law.
Thanks for sharing!
this guy right here is carrying my essay writing experience, truly a giga chad 🫡 thank you so much for all the tips and detailed explanation!
Thanks for watching!
6:40
:)