College Search- Extra-curricular Activities?

Before you can get into a top college or any college, for that matter, you have to decide where you want to apply. Deciding where to go to college is not easy. Conducing a college search can be the biggest decision that you and your parents make together.

There are some important factors for you and your parents to consider when doing a college search. Where you apply  influences where you get in, and where you go to college can have a big impact on your career and future in general.  One of the most important things to consider when doing your college search is: What Extra Curricular Activities Are Offered?

Some people may think this is a shallow thing to consider, but I would strongly disagree. Although, I personally would place academics first, I think extra curricular activities are a close second because they are what brings balance to your life. For many, college without certain extra curricular activities like sports or arts, would be unbearable, if not financially impossible (that is, if you get a scholarship. However, keep in mind, that a scholarship can disappear in a flash after an injury or other reason that makes performing impossible).

College can not only be a time for you to continue an activity that you started in high school, or earlier, but it can also be a time to try something new. You never know what you might try and really enjoy. If you have something that you want to do competitively, maybe even more so than your studies, then it is worth researching which colleges and universities are in the top 10. If, on the other hand, you want to continue competitively, but you know that you could never play at a top 10, then consider researching if someone with your background and skill set, could still participate. In general, I would suggest considering a college that has a wide variety of things to do and the money to provide state of the art equipment.

As you may know, conducting a college search is only the first step in the college admissions process.  To help those who are serious about getting into an Ivy League college or other top college, I outline insider information based on my experience as a recruiter and alumni interviewer for Yale University. My recommendations, tips, and insight are available at http://www.collegeadmissionstips.com as part of the Keys to the CASTLE program. If you want to increase the odds of getting into a top college or your child getting into an Ivy League college, then you need to immediately go to http://www.collegeadmissionstips.com. Everyday that goes by that you don’t access this information, the odds of getting in decreases. High school graduation is right around the corner, don’t you want your child to have big plans for the following fall.

College Admission Essay- Focus.

There are some common mistakes made by college applicants when writing their college admission essays. As a former recruiter for Yale University, I remember the reactions from admissions officers as they read one essay versus another. I would say that there are six mistakes that are the most common and potentially the most deadly to college applicants submitting their college admission essays. One mistake I saw was:  only focusing on achievements.

Many people are ashamed of the challenges they face, and some label them as “failures”. I want to encourage you to view your beginnings as obstacles that you overcame despite the odds. Believe me, someone coming from a public school with vary few Ivy League grads will stand out over someone from a prep school, despite what you may think. This is not to say that the odds are not against someone from the “outside”, so to speak, and with someone whose family came over on the Mayflower (willingly) and every generation attended HYP’s (Harvard, Yale, or Princeton), but believe me, those who know how to fight the good fight, are usually the ones who win. The one’s who know how to fight tend to be successful leaders, and Admissions knows that good leaders can become good donors, even if it takes a few years. Also, good leaders tend to get good publicity, which also reflects well on the alma mater. Think about some recent Presidents of the United States, who was more popular with the media and the general public, the silver spoons or the ones who worked their way up from the bottom? This is not to say that there aren’t legacy kids who go on to do amazing things, but the stories just aren’t as interesting and newsworthy are they?

Basically, I know how it feels to not want to stand out like a sore thumb, especially when you are a teenager and all you want to do is fit in and be accepted (yes, even the “outcasts” are still in groups and still seek acceptance on one level, even if they do not want to admit it). I just want you to know that the older I get, the more I realize that what I think makes me different is exactly what makes me connect to other people and others become attracted to me. Do not be afraid to admit that you struggled with a subject, extracurricular activity, family situation, economic circumstances, especially if you managed to excel after much hard work. Believe me, your persistence and perseverance will not only benefit you in the admissions process, but in life in general.  Take pride in overcoming your hardships.

Unfortunately, this is not the only mistake made by college applicants when writing their college admission essays or on college applications as they go through the college admission process. To help those who are serious about getting into an Ivy League college or other top college, I outline insider information based on my experience as a recruiter and alumni interviewer for Yale University. My recommendations, tips, and insight are available at http://www.collegeadmissionstips.com as part of the Keys to the CASTLE program. If you want to increase the odds of getting into a top college or your child getting into an Ivy League college, then you need to immediately go to http://www.collegeadmissionstips.com. Everyday that goes by that you don’t access this information, the odds of getting in decreases. High school graduation is right around the corner, don’t you want your child to have big plans for the following fall.