Dear Class of 2021,
The college application process has many unexpected challenges that are hard to anticipate until you dive in head-first into the application process. Because of this, we decided to gather recent graduates from the Class of 2020 to provide advice they wish they knew before starting the college process, insight on how seniors should approach the application process during the pandemic, and what aspects of their application made them stand out. Read the following article, the final installment in this three-part series, to hear insight and encouragement from fourteen wonderful and brilliant college freshmen.
Question #3: What aspects of your application do you think made you stand out?
Passion
“The admissions officers not only want to see you being involved, but they want to see that you are really passionate about them and not just participating in them to look good for your applications.”
- Ania Szydlowski, University of Illinois at Chicago
“I tailored my experiences and studies to what I wanted to study in college and referenced specific resources of each college to show my purpose for applying and my desire to attend.”
- Michaela Zollicoffer, McGill University
Growth
“I definitely think what stood out about me was my growth and my personal statement. I didn’t care for college formalities, or what somebody would want to see. I wrote my personal statement as a reflection into the person I’ve become, and I let the colleges see that.”
- Miclo Gonzalez, Drake University
“Colleges like to see growth in your extracurriculars. In my case, I was able to gain some form of leadership in the clubs I was really passionate about. And that’s what I think colleges are really looking for in terms of extracurriculars. They want to see you taking initiative in your interests.”
- Emmanuel Nidea, Northwestern University
Leadership
“I think my leadership positions (Student Council President, ACADEC Captain) and independent projects are what made me stand out as an applicant.”
- Allison Chhay, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
"I founded dance clubs and held certain positions in those clubs that were different from other clubs offered. Additionally, because I was so passionate about those clubs, I really went in-depth with my leadership roles, which I think showed on my application."
- Ania Szydlowski, University of Illinois at Chicago
Genuineness
“Do not be afraid of being openly vulnerable about your life because admissions counselors are looking for well-rounded students.”
- Yuri Coleman, Trinity Christian College
“It sounds cheesy but as long as your voice shines through in your essays and supplementals you will find a way to stand out! Make sure it's what you want to say and what you want others to know about you and stay as true to that as you can.“
- Jessica Schnoll, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Essays
"I wanted to make sure my essays were as original and unique to me as they could be. In particular, I am proud of my personal statement—a wholistic review on the role my religion has played on my life—and a supplemental essay I wrote about my love of six-word stories—which got me into every school I used it for."
- Hannah Hansraj, UC Berkeley
“For Northwestern, in particular, my "Why Northwestern?" statement was one of my top priorities. I made sure that the essay was super polished before submitting it. If the college you're applying to has supplementals, focus on making those pieces of writing strong, compelling, and genuine.”
- Jenna Kim, Northwestern University
Versatility
“What I think solidified my appeal to colleges were the things I sought out and built myself. Whatever you are putting on your resume, make sure it speaks to who you are, and not just what you think colleges want to see in another cookie-cutter applicant.”
- London Anderson, Kenyon College
“The variety of summer activities I did at different colleges contributed to my application as well as my essays.”
- Hannah Chen, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Demonstrated Interest
“I did an internship at the NU Feinberg School of Medicine and got a letter of recommendation from my PI, who also happened to be the dean of the NU Graduate School. Now, I realize that not everyone can do an internship at their dream school, but the main takeaway from this was my demonstrated interest. If you love a certain school, research it, reach out to staff, visit it, etc. Show that you care!”
- Jenna Kim, Northwestern University
“I was intentional in showing interest in my top choice school. I visited them at every college fair, attended seminars at school when they visited, went to campus visits, and applied Early Decision. When a school knows that they are your top choice, it generally increases your likelihood of acceptance because the college wants a high yield rate.”
- Naomi Wu, Northwestern University
Recommendations
"I can't stress enough the importance of good recommendation letters. I made sure to ask for recommendations from teachers who have known me for many years and who I have interacted with outside of class through extracurriculars, and I know those went a long way in determining my decisions."
- Hannah Hansraj, UC Berkeley
“I had good recommenders. I never read my letters, but all my recommenders were extremely supportive of me throughout high school and knew me well. I have no doubt that they were able to speak to my strengths.”
- Kayla Huang, Harvard University
Extracurriculars
“I joined many extracurriculars early in high school that showed my versatility (sports, culture, mental health, service, and STEM). I’d like to think that these activities showed commitment and time management skills to college admissions officers.”
- Naomi Wu, Northwestern University
“I put a lot of effort into extracurricular activities across my high school career, and this showed in a semi-unique way that I was able to grow through them (like college courses I took or studying a foreign language through a study abroad program).”
- Michaela Zollicoffer, McGill University
The college application may seem daunting, but there are numerous people who are willing to help you throughout this process. If you ever have any questions or need support, email us at applicationoverloadblog@gmail.com, we are more than happy to help! To find more advice from recent graduates, visit the "Tips From c/o 2020" page on our blog. To current seniors: good luck! We know that this process is challenging, but we are rooting for you every step of the way.
Sincerely,
The Class of 2020
A special thank you to the following Class of 2020 volunteers for sharing your insight, encouragement, and honesty: London Anderson, Hannah Chen, Allison Chhay, Yuri Coleman, Audrey Erickson, Miclo Gonzalez, Kayla Huang, Jenna Kim, Emmanuel Nidea, Jessica Schnoll, Ania Szydlowski, and Michaela Zollicoffer. Visit the "Meet The Contributors" section on our About Page to learn more about them!
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