How to Get Into Your Dream College: Advice From a Former Admission Officer
Get ready. I’m about to tell you the secret of how to get into your dream college. The answer is much simpler than you think.
Be yourself.
First of all, you should never trust anyone who tells you they know the secret of getting into college. But before you start cursing me and slamming your laptop shut, hear me out. Being yourself does not mean watching Tik Tok videos and playing (insert name of cool video game) in all your spare time. I’m asking you to be the best version of you right now. Now maybe the best version of you wants to spend all your time watching Tik Tok videos and playing (insert name of cool video game). But guess what? That’s probably not going to get you into your dream college.
Here’s what the best version of you does:
Finds authentic interests to pursue. It could be dance or basketball or volunteering. But it could also be writing music, yoga, botany, upcycling, or street fashion. Find something you love simply for the love of it. You won’t get anything at all for participating in this thing - no awards, no resume-boosting, nothing. What would you choose?
Is curious about the world around you. That doesn’t mean you have to read the Wall Street Journal on the daily, it just means that you look outside of your teenage bubble every once in a while to see what’s going on around you. You don’t have to be Greta Thunberg to care about your community. What’s an issue at your school you can help solve? What’s something that you learned in class recently that’s piqued your interest? Find a book or read some articles online about it on your own time. And if you are woefully clueless about the news, check out The Skimm for a low-investment way to keep up-to-date on current events.
Is a valuable member of a community. Maybe this is your friend-group, or maybe it’s a sports team or music ensemble. No matter where you find it, this is one of the keys to a long and healthy life. For young people, an adult mentor (outside of the family) is especially helpful. Take a moment to think about the most positive relationships in your life. How do you help build and strengthen them? What is your role in the communities you belong to?
Looks for challenge. In yoga, there is a concept called Svadhyaya, which essentially means “self-study”. Notice when and where you are working too hard, just right, or not hard enough. The best version of you takes time to reflect on the ways you can challenge yourself in order to grow. Even if you fail to meet your challenge, you’ll be better just for trying.
Oh, and get good grades. I know. This isn't a particularly inspirational or creative concept, but it’s a fact. Good grades keep doors open, although there are some colleges who are using alternative methods to admit students who may not have the most stellar of academic records.
That’s not so bad, right? Turns out getting into your dream college isn’t nearly as complicated as you thought. There isn’t a secret or shortcut - sorry. Getting into your dream college (or any college for that matter) requires you to work hard and reflect on who you are, but it isn’t nearly as hard as Linear Algebra or Organic Chemistry. You can do this. And the good news is, you can be yourself while doing it.