How to Make Your College Application a Success

Admission into your dream college starts with filling out your college application. This college application is what represents you and helps the admissions committee to understand whether you are a good fit for the program and university. Alongside your qualifications, your application is a chance for you to stand out against the hundreds of other applications global universities receive. 

So, understandably, every component of the college application is critical for your success. Following the proper steps can make the difference between success and failure in studying abroad at the university of your dreams. In this blog, we break down the insights and advice of our Student Success Consultants on what it takes to build successful university applications. 

Pre-Application

The first question to answer is when exactly you should start working on your college application. Well, the best answer is as soon as you possibly can, as early as a year before the application deadline. College applications take time and preparation, requiring you to plan things months ahead of time. Experts recommend that you start planning as early as 12 months, a full year before you want to apply.

The pre-application stage consists of researching, planning, and preparing your application. During this time, you should do all the necessary research regarding top schools, programs, requirements, and scholarships. The amount of information to consider can seem overwhelming – hence the need to start early. Nonetheless, tools like GRADSearch, a complete course finder with a list of university courses numbering over 130,000 options from top global universities, can make the process easier.

Once you figure out what and where to study, it is also the time to book important appointments and start sending out document requests. Some advice that can make your pre-application period go smoother are:

Mark your deadlines

Deadlines are one of the most important considerations to keep in mind for college applications. Sticking to your deadlines increases your chances of getting in, especially when you don’t push too close to the finish line, since you don’t want to risk seats and scholarships running out. Deadlines depend on the country, college, and degree you are applying for. Your application deadlines are one of the most vital details to note down for any program you are considering. Universities list their academic calendars and program application deadlines on their websites. Consider the following tips:

● Create a spreadsheet of the universities you plan to apply to
● Visit each university website individually since these will list the most up-to-date and reliable information
● If you are unable to find the necessary details or are unsure about dates, email the university
● Create personal deadlines for completing tests, visa interviews etc.
● Track your deadlines and application steps through your spreadsheet 
● Remember not to leave your application until the last minute – otherwise, you might miss first-come, first-serve slots

Book your tests

Standardized tests are an important part of your college applications depending on where you apply. If you are planning to study abroad after 12th grade in the USA, for example, you may need to sit for the SAT or ACT. For postgraduate applications, programs may require the GRE General Test or the GMAT. For virtually all study abroad applications, you will also need to sit for an English proficiency test. 

When booking your tests, remember to take preparation time and deadlines into account. With the time, effort, and money that goes into these tests, you will want to ace them in one sitting – so proper planning, practice, and prep are necessary. Consider the following tips:

● Book your test dates with time to spare until your deadlines but with enough time to practice and prepare.
● Build a regular practice timetable that you stick to and consider training courses and other resources if necessary.
● Leave enough room for error in your timeline planning. You may need to resit the test if your score doesn’t meet the threshold.

Start on your statement of purpose

A statement of purpose or personal statement is probably one of the most important components of your college application. Almost all universities and programs ask you to submit a personal statement or a statement of purpose, outlining your motivations and goals for choosing this program and college. It is an opportunity for you to represent yourself more accurately to the admissions committee than just your grades and test scores can. The requirements for this essay will vary depending on the country, university, and program. If you are applying to the UK to study abroad after 12th grade, for example, you need to work on the UCAS personal statement. 

Again, because of the weight this document can have on your application, you should start on this as early as possible. Work on it mindfully, brainstorming how best to represent why you are an ideal candidate for the program, referencing relevant experiences, achievements, goals, ambitions, etc. Here are some tips to keep in mind for an excellent statement of purpose: 

● Start by outlining or mind-mapping what you should include in your statement
● Structure your essay using the university’s own profile for their ideal applicants to guide you 
● Reference sample essays for an idea of how to organize your writing, but remember to keep your piece original and authentic. Plagiarism can not only lead to immediate rejection, but can also blacklist you from subsequent applications 
● Remember that your essay can go through multiple drafts and revisions to become the strongest version you can submit 

Ask for letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation are essentially testimonials from your teachers or employers who can vouch for your candidacy for your target program and university. In many cases, strong recommendations can make all the difference in a successful college application. Your referee is someone who understands your goals, ambitions, and potential more closely than anyone else. So, be mindful in selecting your referee and approach them early so they have the time to write a stellar LOR for you. 

● Decide early on about who to ask for recommendations.
● Make sure to deliver regular reminders for your LOR, but don’t be pushy, since your referees will also be busy with their regular workload.

Typical Components of a College Application

College applications are more than just forms you fill up and submit online. You will need to provide the university with a collection of documents to verify that you meet their eligibility requirements. These documents will include your grades in school or university, test scores, recommendation letters, and essays. Since every part of the college application can make the difference between success and rejection, you need to give equal care and attention to each component. Keeping a checklist can help track everything going into your application and will typically include:

Document	Components
Application forms	• Personal Information: Name, email, phone number, schools etc. • Extracurriculars: Volunteering, sports, projects, competitions etc. • Honors and achievements: Awards from projects and competitions • Academic history: past and current education details • Program: Course details, intake, funding source
Personal Statement	• Passion for your subject • Reasoning behind choices • Relevant achievements and experience  • Goals
Standardized Test Scores	• SAT/ACT for undergraduate applicants to the USA • GRE/GMAT for postgraduate applicants • English proficiency tests: IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL etc.
Academic Transcripts	• High School Transcript for undergraduate • Bachelor’s or other higher education transcript for postgraduate
Recommendations	• LORs from teachers • Recommendations from your high school or university • LORs from employers (if applicable)
Resume (Generally for postgraduate applicants)	• Education history • Extracurricular involvement • Part-time work/Internships • Any projects • Publications or conference presentations

Increasing Your Chances of Acceptance

Checking off all the items on a university application list isn’t enough to guarantee acceptance. For successful admission to a great university, you will need to stand out. The best way to stand out is to highlight how and why you are a perfect fit for the university throughout your application. A benefit of starting on your application early is to make sure you still have the chance to improve on the things that can land you an acceptance. 

There are some qualifications you can aim for that can drastically increase the quality of your college application. These are:

● Good recommendations: Recommendations from teachers, professors, mentors, and employers who can vouch for your eligibility can land you in some of the best universities.
● High test scores: While some universities may waive test scores, strong scores in English language tests and tests like the GMAT can give you an edge over other applicants.
● Awards and Honors: Academic and extracurricular achievements can indicate your drive and potential to contribute to the university’s academic prestige and student community.
● Good GPA: Academic merit is usually the most important eligibility criterion – another reason to start your applications early is to make sure you have time to bump up your grades. 

Tips for Writing Your Personal Statement

Writing your personal statement is often one of the hardest parts of the entire application process for some students. A good essay can work within the word limit while helping you stand out and convince the reader of your suitability for the program. Personal statements go through intensive reviews by admissions officers and can seal the deal for your college application. Be sure to keep the following tips in mind to ensure that your personal statement gets you into your dream university.

● Be honest: Lying on your statement about any experiences or achievements can backfire very easily. It is always best to tell your own stories in your personal statement.
● Express your passion: Your driving force or passion is very important to the university. If you can convince them that you are passionate about studying there, they will be more inclined to consider you for their program.
● Highlight your achievements: Highlight relevant achievements and experience and always make sure that you demonstrate how these indicate you as a great applicant for the program. For example, your extracurricular activities may have nothing to do with your major, but you can highlight the soft skills you learned that you can apply to both.
● Be yourself: Using your own voice and words is very important in your essay. Let your voice and personality shine throughout your statement since this is how admissions officers will get to know you best.

Completing the Application

After you take all the tests and collect all of your documents, review your application from top to bottom. The last mile of completing the application might just draw to attention anything you missed out on while putting the whole package together. Follow these tips to ensure you complete your college application properly before submitting it:

● Don’t wait till the deadline: The deadline can creep up on you sooner than you think. So, it is best to submit your application with time to spare, especially since you don’t want to risk missing a seat by applying too late.
● Submit once: Submitting more than once can hurt your application and create a bad impression on the admissions officers.
● Keep copies: It is always a good idea to keep a copy of everything you submit. You may need it to look up the information you submitted, in case there are any hiccups in the admissions process.
● Stay on top of your emails: Keep an eye on your email, including the spam folder, in case the university gets in touch with follow-up questions, additional requirements, or an offer. 

Rounding Up

Submitting a college application is the key to starting your academic journey abroad. Your degree at your university of choice hinges on this application, making it a very critical process you need to devote the right time and attention to. However, don’t let all of this overwhelm you. Follow the tips in this blog, with a strong timeline that gives you plenty of time to research and prepare. Ultimately, this is what makes the biggest difference in successful study abroad applications.