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Below are a few videos to explore ways to stand out for colleges and universities.
Students who want to attend the most highly competitive colleges and universities will need to separate themselves from other students throughout high school; perfect grades and test scores will not be enough to get into these schools.
The great news is that students who maintain good grades, show growth throughout high school, and demonstrate sustained commitment to an area of interest will have several good options to continue their education after high school. The information on this page is good food for thought for all college-bound students.
The WOW Factor: 7 Ways to Stand Out in College Admissions
- Proven Excellence (2:25)
- Original Projects (4:06)
- Adulting (5:47)
- Making Headlines (8:32)
- Quirky, Random, and Cool Activities (10:04)
- Clear Leadership (11:32)
- Incredible Grit (12:47)
19 College Application Tips (To Help You Stand Out)
Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, offers tips on helping students brainstorm what they want to tell college about them, how to determine a college list, and various tips about applying. For freshmen and sophomores who want to begin with the end in mind (shout out to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People), the below video has great ideas for students who want to take action now, so that they have things to talk about when they apply during their senior year. For seniors, the video below has help for the application process itself.
Ivy League College Admissions: How to stand out to Ivy Leagues and Top Tier Colleges
The video below is a bit longer. Here are a few direct links to help guide you through roughly an hour of content:
- Short Answer on How to Stand Out (48:56)
- Longer Discussion on Standing Out (8:04)
- Well-Rounded Applicants vs. Well-Rounded Classes (26:20)
- See also: How To Get Into The Ivy League
- Value of College Summer Programs (36:13)
- Ideas for Volunteering (42:30)
- Discussion of ACT/SAT Test Optional and Test Blind (44:30)
- Advice to High School Freshmen (47:37)
Related:
- Here is a CNBC article about selecting schools (click here); the date of the article is April 18, 2023. The embedded video in the article features Christopher Rim (also in video above); he succinctly discusses standing out for colleges and universities in that video.
- It is important to document how you stand out throughout high school, so that you have information ready for applications and requests for letters of recommendation. Click here for a resource to help you get organized.