Congratulations, you have finally completed your high school education! After your graduation ceremony and all the parties that you attended, it’s now time to get down to business. High school is not the end of the road for many, as most would still like to get to college. But getting into college isn’t always an easy task, especially if you are determined enough to make it to your dream university, as well as take up your dream course.
As you apply for college, there are many papers that you will have to complete, one of which is your college application resume. Before the admissions committee gets to see you and interview you in person, the very first impression that they will have of you will come from your college application resume. Hence, it is imperative that you leave a positive mark through this document.
That said, here are some of the best ways you can quickly improve your college application resume:
1. Make Your Essays As Clear And Simple As Possible
As you create your application resume along with your application essays, keep your words as clear and straightforward as possible. Try to stay away from general statements that leave much room for interpretation. Whatever message you are trying to get across, get it out straight. There is no need to beat around the bush or to fill your application letter with flowery words. You will want the reader of your application to know more about you. Be detailed with your descriptions, and choose words that are easy to understand.
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2. Show Your Interests On Your Resume
While you are preparing to get to college, you should also be active enough to build activities around you that can show the admissions officer that you are interested in their school and in the course you are applying to. Usually, for senior high school students, there are extracurricular activities, training, and seminars you can take to advance your interests on a particular topic or field of study. If you have been immersing yourself in these, include them in your resume. Through this, you can give the admissions officer a positive impression about how dedicated you are in studying this particular course, and how interested you are in pursuing this in their university.
3. Do Your Research
A part of your application resume is your cover letter or your application letter. As you write to the university you are applying to, show that you have done enough research about the university. For instance, you can state their vision and mission, and write in detail about how these statements apply to you or what you have previously done that align with these goals.
Go the extra mile by adequately addressing your department chairs, the school president, and the admissions officer. Instead of having a general greeting such as “To whom it may concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam,” make your letter more personal. Having a polite greeting accompanied by a specific name to whom you are addressing the letter shows that you have done ample research about the school. This can work to your advantage as you have respectfully recognized and addressed your reader on a more personal basis.
4. Include Your Past Social and Community Work
Apart from all the extracurricular activities that you may have been involved in, also include all the community and social works that you have been a part of. The college admissions team will want to know that you are more than just a brainy individual; they will likely prefer someone who can also use their skills to help those around them in the future. Who knows—you might be the next alumni to give out scholarships to this university you are targeting.
Community and social work don’t have to be grand. You just need to show that you are more than just a person who is absorbed in your own success. Have you tutored other students? Write it down. Have you volunteered at a local charity? You don’t even have to be a millionaire’s kid to ace this part.
This also gives the admission officer an idea about which students they can pick out for social and community activities of the school. It will be helpful for them to know right then and there that they will have a potential student who can genuinely extend assistance to others, not just for the publicity or grades.
5. Show That You Are A Well-Rounded Student
While good grades can increase your chances of getting admitted to a particular university, admissions officers also prefer to accept applicants who can show that they are well-rounded individuals. You need to be able to show that you can excel both in academics and extracurricular activities. After all, when you finish college, the reality is that the world outside of the university is a balancing act between work and other demands. You need to exhibit the ability to multitask well and the capacity to handle numerous stressors early on in life.
For instance, if you are in the sports varsity team, then include this in your application. Through this, you might be able to make it to the college varsity team as well.
6. Include A Recommendations Section Or Letter
One of the most neglected parts of a college application resume is the recommendations section or recommendations letter. This refers to letters written by your teacher or any member of the community that can vouch for your character, your hard work, or even that of your personality as a student or as an individual. When another individual is speaking on your behalf, this can increase your chances of being chosen by the applications committee as other people could attest to your good morals and character.
Conclusion
Getting into your dream college to take up your desired course is not an impossible task. However, it is one that is also quite challenging. If you exert all your effort and determination, though, it is something that you can successfully achieve. Before anything else, one of the very first and important steps you can accomplish is to complete the necessary documents. One of these essential papers is your college application resume. With these tips, you are now one step closer towards submitting an impressive application resume.
For more great tips on all things college-related, check out the other blogs on College Basics.
