College Admission

College Entrance Tips

Every college bound child and parent of that child have dreams of top colleges such as Harvard, Stanford, Yale, MIT, Wharton or a state university.  Attending such institutes can not only earn a student scholarships but also land them high paying jobs after the graduation.  Below are some tips to prepare for college admission:

Broad and Challenging Courses

In order to get into a top school a student must take challenging course in a variety of subjecs and maintain top grades. The student's transcript will be an important part of his or her college application. 

  • Students should start planning a high school courses when they are in seventh grade. 
  • They should take Algebra and Geometry courses by grade 9th.
  • They should take Trigonometery, Calculus and Science course in the high school as well.
  • Students should take advanced placement (AP) courses and exams either through their high school or by joining a running start program at a local community college or university. AP courses are college-level courses in approximately 16 different subjects; they help students prepare for college-level work while they are still in high school.
  • Students should consult their high school counselor and an admission counselor from the institute they are interested in to learn more about the course requirements of that specific college.

Take Standardized Tests

Almost all of the top colleges require standardized tests for admission.  You must appear and score high in exams such as SATs and ACTs.  Most of the top institutes accept scores from SATs.  If english is your second language, then you should take TOEFL as well. 

Great Writing Skills Are A Must

The best colleges in America require their students to have great writing skills.  Such skills are tested by requiring students to submit an essay along with their application.  You must work on your writing skills and learn to be a great writer, so that you can increase your odds of getting an admission.  We have an article on How to write a college application essay with some tips you may be able to use.

Extra Curricular Activities

Extra curricular activities such as sports, math and science club can also increase your chances to get into a top college. 

Volunteer Your Time

You must volunteer your time for some kind of community service.  Try volunteering in the field you are interested in pursuing your education in.  For example, if you are interested in becomign a doctor then volunteering at a hospital makes sense.  If you are interested in becoming a computer programmer, then you should volunteer at a library and give free comptuer classes to adults who are interested in learning how to use a computer. 

Part Time Job / Pre-College Internship

A part time job can strengthen your college application as well.  It will not only show that you can handle multiple commitments but also a job in your field of interest can give you a head start in your industry and prove it to the admission committe that you are  serious about that particular field. 

Great References and Letters of Recommendation

This is going to be one of the most critical components of your college application.   You must have great references from your teachers, coaches, employers and other community leaders.  These references shall demonstrate that not only you are academically good but you are also a great leader.