SAN DIEGO — Many San Diego high school seniors are working on their college applications, but what legal tips and tricks are there to better odds of getting accepted following the college admissions scandal?
In 2019, more than 94,000 students applied to San Diego State University – a record number of applications. University officials believe the number of applications in 2020 will surpass those of 2019.
But what is the worst mistake high school seniors make in their college applications? Incomplete applications.
Many students wait until the last minute then rush to fill out their college applications and in the process they miss important information.
What will set applications apart from others?
Believe it or not, more is not always better when it comes to listing extracurricular activities.
“I think sometimes they try to be all things and they really try to guess, in a sense, what a college is looking for rather than just being authentic and tell us what they are interested in - what their passions are,” said Steve Pultz, University of San Diego enrollment office.
Simply put, universities are not looking for a well-rounded student as much as they are looking for a well-rounded student body. Colleges and universities are looking for diverse interests and backgrounds to create a better learning environment on campus.
One of the best ways high school seniors can set themselves apart is in their essays.
“We give them some prompts about the values and characteristics of our student body, and we want them to reflect a little bit on what resonates to them, what is attractive to them about USD, and made them want to apply,” said Pultz.
Just because some essays have smaller word count limits than others do does not mean they are less important than others. Writing thoughtful answers and avoiding silly mistakes can make all the difference.
Applicants should also keep in mind that they cannot outsmart admissions offices, like applying for a major they are not really interested in just because they think it will be easier to get accepted.
“We are going to be able to see that,” said Sandra.
Sandra not only works in enrollment but has gone through the process with one of her own kids. She knows firsthand that it is a very stressful process for high school students but did offer some words of encouragement: “Don’t stress. Stay positive and there is a place for you.”