What Looks Good On College Apps: A Guide For Ambitious High School Students
After entering high school, every ambitious student has one thing on their mind: perfecting their college applications! In this blog post, we are going to discuss the best ways to make your college application stand out in the eyes of the admissions counselors. Stellar grades and extravagant test scores are great, but these alone do not guarantee admission. In this guide, you will learn about what exactly looks good on college apps, from the basics to going above and beyond in demonstrating experience, dedication, and interest in both the college of your choice as well as the major of your choice!
Academic Excellence
Academic excellence is one of the basic necessities of a good college application. Having good grades certainly looks good on your college apps. If your goal is an Ivy League or a similar top school, academic excellence is critical. To even be considered as a potential candidate for a top school, you need to have near perfect test scores, a strong GPA, all while balancing a somewhat rigorous courseload. These requirements would preferably include:
An SAT score of 1550 or higher
A GPA at or near 4.0
A courseload of AP and honors classes or equivalent to your school (such as IB).
Academic excellence varies based on the college of your choice, and if you do not choose to pursue a top college, the grade requirements will be a lot more lenient. Even so, to ensure that you demonstrate to any college that you are a good candidate it is best to:
Have an SAT score of at least 1400
GPA of around 3.5
Courseload of around 2-5 APs, Honors, or any equivalent to your school
Every college is different with their academic requirements, so be sure to research the academic requirements for the college of your choice and ensure that you have hit the target. With a good academic standing, you will already have the foundation to be considered a potential candidate in the college of your dreams.
Extracurricular Activities/Demonstrated Leadership
Extracurricular Activities both in school and out of school look really good on college apps, especially when you take the time to display demonstrated leadership.
Be sure to pick extracurricular activities you plan to stay committed to throughout high school. This shows colleges your dedication and perseverance and looks really good on your apps. For instance, try out for a sport that you plan to continue for the next four years. Join the student council all throughout your time in high school to demonstrate your interest in the student body.
However, don’t remain on the sidelines in these clubs either. If you plan to stay committed to a club for four years, then try to work your way up to leadership positions. Join the student council, actively participate to show that you genuinely care, and then run for a leadership position. If you utilize this tactic in several clubs you commit to, you can certainly gain at least one leadership position. This is an excellent example of demonstrated leadership, which is sure to look really good on college apps.
If possible, try to find clubs and extracurriculars that match your planned major. For instance, if you are going into Computer Science, join the CS club at school, or the Robotics Team. If you are interested in Biomedical Engineering, join your school’s HOSA Chapter.
And if clubs like these that match your major are not found in your school, then start your own! Starting up your own club based on something you are passionate about certainly shows demonstrated leadership and looks great on your college apps.
Community Service
Accumulating community service hours shows that you care about others in addition to yourself, which certainly looks good on college applications. It creates a window into your character showing concrete proof of your dedication to making a positive impact to something more than just your GPA. It's more than just getting involved; it shows how dedicated you are to making the community better and your willingness to put in time and effort for a bigger cause.
Admission committees recognize how valuable these experiences are, understanding that they shape individuals who are not just good academically but also care about others. Doing community service makes your college application stand out by showing qualities like responsibility, empathy, and resilience.
Through community service, you often gain a better understanding of the world around you, promoting humility and a real desire to contribute meaningfully to society. This kind of involvement reflects well on your character, providing a complete view that goes beyond grades and test scores, and resonates with colleges looking for individuals like you – well-rounded and ready to make a positive impact on the world.
Research, Internships, and Summer Programs
Research opportunities, internships, and summer programs are one of the best ways to demonstrate your skills to colleges, and look really good on your college apps.
There are summer programs hosted by a wide variety of universities as well as outside organizations (InspiritAI included!) that you can apply to all throughout high school. It is highly recommended that you apply to summer programs of your choice all 3 summers before your senior year so that you will have built up your portfolio by the time college app season rolls around. Getting accepted into a prestigious summer program, such as MITES at MIT or the Columbia University Science Honors Program will definitely give you a really good edge in the college application process.
Based on the career and intended major of your choice, you can search for internships aligning with your interests. Many companies globally offer high school internships, however these are usually for those in their third or fourth year of high school (juniors and seniors). This does not mean it is impossible to get an internship as a freshman or a sophomore (first and second year of high school). If you demonstrate your abilities to a company, some may consider taking younger high schoolers, a feat which would certainly impress admissions officers and look really good on college apps.
Research opportunities are generally hosted by a university and led by a professor from that university. These research opportunities could be a part of a summer program, such as the Governer’s STEM Scholars program in New Jersey, or they could result from you as a student cold emailing professors of your choice with your skills and experience presented on a resume. If you apply as a high schooler to a research program with a university and get selected to participate, you will get a chance to research a topic of your choice or one you are presented with. If a professor decides to become your mentor, the research will likely be something you are interested in and which that professor has ample experience with as they guide you throughout the process.
Research opportunities are extremely unique and not many high schoolers get the opportunity to do this. If you are lucky enough to get a research opportunity whether it be from a program or from cold emailing a professor, putting a research opportunity on your college app with be sure to make it stand out.
Passion Projects and Hobbies
Developing a passion project in high school based on your hobbies, intended major, or overall passion is something that certainly will look good on your college apps and will make them stand out. Passion projects are something that varies based on your own interests, but they can vary from developing an app as a CS major or starting up a medical non profit as a Pre-Med or BME major. Passion projects demonstrate your own personal drive to make a difference in the world and showcase your skills, and show that you are willing to dedicate time beyond school to your interests. This kind of commitment and intrinsic drive is something that admissions officers love to see in a student, and will definitely make your college application more valuable in their eyes.
Furthermore, the hobbies you pursue outside of school have a similar impact. While colleges are highly interested in you as a student, they also want to know about your identity beyond the classroom. Hobbies define you as an individual whose entire life isn't solely focused on grades and test scores. Hobbies can encompass anything you're passionate about and play a significant role in shaping your personality. Moreover, they can be aligned with your intended major.
Maintaining a balance between hobbies related to and unrelated to your major is crucial. For example, having played a musical instrument for six years is commendable and something colleges would certainly appreciate learning about you. However, if you plan to major in Aerospace Engineering, cultivating a hobby like constructing model planes in your free time and potentially participating in state or national-level competitions with these models showcases to colleges your dedication to your future career. This not only makes your college application more unique but also underscores your passion for your chosen field of study.
Letters of Recommendation
Building solid connections with teachers not only boosts personal and academic growth but also looks good on college applications. The real magic happens in the recommendation letters that sprout from these connections. A good recommendation letter is like a supercharged introduction, giving colleges a deeper look into who you are beyond grades. It's like a backstage pass to your character, work habits, and potential contributions to college life.
When teachers really know you, they can paint a fuller picture, highlighting your unique qualities and achievements. These letters add a special something that stands out in the sea of applications, making yours shine. They're like the secret sauce that makes your college application memorable.
So, the effort you put into building strong connections with teachers isn't just a nice touch – it's a smart move that looks really good on college applications. It's the difference between saying, "Here are my grades," and saying, "Here's who I am and why I will be a great fit for your college."
Essays and Personal Statements
Constructing a compelling essay or personal statement isn't just about putting words on paper; its about creating a narrative that looks good on college applications, making your story stand out from the pool of potential admits. These written components are more than a formality; they are your opportunity to showcase who you are beyond grades and scores. A well-crafted essay provides insight into your character, experiences, and aspirations, giving admissions committees a deeper understanding of your unique qualities.
It's not merely about meeting application requirements; it's about presenting a genuine and memorable portrayal of yourself. So, the effort invested in honing your essay or personal statement isn't just a writing exercise; it's a strategic move that looks really good on college applications, demonstrating your ability to express yourself and stand out in a competitive field.
Summary
Overall, this guide, summarized below, has outlined key strategies for ambitious high school students pondering what looks good on college apps and aiming to enhance their college applications:
Academic Excellence:
Emphasize high grades, GPA, and a challenging course load
Tailor requirements to the college of choice
Extracurricular Activities:
Commit long-term and progress to leadership roles
Align with intended major
Community Service:
Showcase dedication beyond academics
Demonstrate qualities like responsibility and empathy
Research, Internships, and Summer Programs:
Participate to demonstrate skills and commitment
Apply consistently to build a strong portfolio
Passion Projects and Hobbies:
Develop projects aligned with interests or major
Showcase dedication beyond academics
Letters of Recommendation:
Build strong connections with teachers
Positive words from teachers provide a deeper understanding of applicant beyond grades
Essays and Personal Statements:
Craft compelling narratives showcasing unique qualities
Go beyond grades and test scores
With the help of these tips, we hope you are now enlightened on what colleges are looking for and have a solid plan on how to make yourself stand out to your dream school! Good Luck!
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
