There isn’t a single reason why applicants get rejected. It’s often a combination of things, some of which might not be in your control. However, there are common mistakes that applicants make, too, that decrease their chances of getting into the school they want. Make sure you steer clear of these mistakes when you try out for your dream high school or college.
Answering the Form Right Away
Don’t start answering the form as soon as you’ve gone through the first question. Instead, read the entire school admission form first. Some of the questions might result in identical answers. Since the form is the school’s first impression of you, you’ll want to make the most out of your answers. This is an opportunity for you to create a good first impression. Make the most out of every question by reading through everything and planning your approach. Your answers can help you stand out.
Lack of Details
Context is everything. Think about your situation. How are you different from everyone else? Are you a working student? Applicants with low socio-economic backgrounds have a different extracurricular profile from their affluent peers who have all the time in the world to engage in painting classes, for instance. Explain your circumstances well. Provide a context to give the screening panel an accurate take on who you are, your situation, and your personal backstory. Do you have a learning disability? Are your parents religious to the point that you were sheltered from mainstream culture? Does someone in your family have an addiction problem that’s made it difficult for you to pursue schooling? Context can make all the difference in your application.
Not Being Mindful
How many times do you use the word “I” in your application? Do you give credit to your mentors and teachers? To your friends and family? Do you mention them in your essay and how they helped you achieve your goals? Have you ever thought about what you want to contribute to the world, how you can help others or are you only concerned about what the school can do for you? Be mindful of what you write—or don’t write. This will factor into your application.
Not Defining What Ambition Means
Most screening committees appreciate ambition in the applications they read. If you write that your ambition is to graduate from a good school and get a good job after college, then that’s ambitious if you’re the first of your family to do that, or if there are circumstances that make all that extra challenging for you than the average person. However, if your only ambition in life is to get a good education, find a good job, and be happy, not all schools will be impressed with that thinking. Go at it, anyway. If that’s your dream, no one should have the right to judge you if it’s ambitious or not. If living that dream means that you get to make full use of your abilities, that you get to help other people in your line of work, and that you get to live a life that you don’t regret, that’s already ambitious. That also, shows, though, how important context really is. Do a good job of showing them what it is you want to do and what you’ll do with your life and education.
Not Highlighting the Positives
Your application is not a confession. This is not the place to confess to the theft you did when you were eight years old in a candy store unless it leads up to a good anecdote about yourself and your qualities. Talk about your positive traits instead. Describe the circumstances that you went through, that you had to overcome, to get to this point. What were the challenges and hurdles faced? How has adversity changed your life and perspective? Show them positive qualities like resilience and dedication. Walk them through the difficult experiences you’ve had and what you had to do to come out of the other side.
Excluding Your Activities
A lot of schools don’t just take a look at your academic records. They also review your extracurricular profile. Were you part of the school band? Did you win first place at the Science Fair for your project? Do you love to sew? What are your interests? What are you passionate about? Don’t leave those details out. Include them in the conversation in a way that will show the panel your positive qualities. Every answer is a chance for you to build up your profile and get their interest. Every answer is an opportunity to get into the school of your dreams. Make each one count.
The next time you fill out that application, improve your chances of getting into the school you want. Don’t answer as soon as you read the first line. Avoid that mistake and more by filling out the school admission form properly.