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The Importance of Extracurricular Activities in College Admissions

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A strong academic background is crucial to getting into top colleges and universities, but it’s not the only factor that determines admission. Admission committees also review extracurricular activities that students report on their applications.

Extracurricular activities reflect the applicant’s unique interests and tell a story of personal growth. They are a key part of a student’s offensive strategy. Colleges no longer accept solely high GPAs and test scores; they want students to show the capacity for individual thinking and creative leadership. 

Keep reading to learn why colleges value extracurriculars and what that means for applicants.

Role of ECs in College Selection and Ivy League Admissions 

Colleges love to see extracurriculars that highlight an applicant’s intellectual curiosity, show clear community impact, demonstrate collaboration over competition, and display exceptional talent. Through extracurriculars, admissions officers gain insight into each student’s personal interests and passions, a crucial determining factor that colleges use to create classes of diverse students with varying strengths and interests.

Most universities also use a holistic review process to determine which students fit in with their community. This means that applicants should include activities that not only show who they are but also demonstrate how and why they’re the type of student colleges want to have on campus.

However, it’s important to remember that there isn’t one type of activity that’s superior to another. Long-term commitment to a local organization that helps feed the unhoused can be just as impressive as winning a math competition. What makes sense for an individual student will depend on what that student can follow through on and grow into. Not every student will have “founder of an NGO” on their application (in fact, for some colleges, that’s a negative–nine times out of ten “founder of an NGO” just means “dad gave me a lot of money and talked to some lawyers to set up a 501c3”–colleges can see right through those maneuvers). Most of the time, small and meaningful activities that show consistent and growing dedication over time will have the most impact.

This is especially true at the Ivy League: admissions officers at those colleges will certainly expect to see that students have gotten national-level awards in science fairs, math competitions, or writing contests. But the former Ivy League admissions officers on Zenith staff also emphasize that top colleges want to see extracurricular activities that show a student’s ability to collaborate with peers and identify creative ways to make a difference in their local community. If a student just dumps all of their time into grinding practice tests for a competition, they might not seem sufficiently collaborative and community minded for top schools. 

Benefits of Participating in Extracurricular Activities

To understand why extracurriculars are key to successful college admission, it’s important to examine how these activities shape students with the potential that colleges seek. Here are some of the benefits:

Fosters Leadership

Extracurriculars provide opportunities to hold leadership roles at school, such as DECA president, student council officer, or robotics programming lead. Outside school, student leadership roles might include tutoring a neighbor or organizing a Ramadan Night at a mosque. These roles teach students responsibility and teamwork, which prepare them for college and beyond. 

Promotes Social Skills

Students who engage in sports, clubs, and other group activities interact with their peers and work with others toward a common goal. In these activities, students develop crucial social skills and build confidence by engaging with others, finding common ground, and problem-solving. With these important skills, students are more likely to excel in college.

Cultivates a Winning Mindset

Mindsets are powerful enough to determine life’s outcomes. Extracurricular activities teach students how to set and achieve goals through hard work and strategizing. Students can develop a winning mindset that shows anything is possible with effort. Also–just as important–when things don’t go well, these activities teach students how to pick up the pieces and take the next right step forward. These activities create resilience. 

Encourages Self-Discovery

Connecting with others through extracurriculars allows students to learn new things about themselves. These activities provide a foundation for self-discovery, where students can reflect on their abilities, limitations, and dreams through challenges, rewards, and social dynamics. Students don’t just do activities that reflect their pre-existing strengths: these activities change who a student is. 

Demonstrates Commitment

Embracing additional responsibilities outside of schoolwork nurtures commitment. Retaining that position for an extended period also demonstrates passion, strength of character, and maturity. Colleges want students who display these qualities, as they show drive and responsibility.

Improves Time Management Skills

Since extracurricular activities require juggling school work with these extra roles, students learn to manage their time and build achievements on multiple fronts. Colleges know that students who can successfully manage numerous commitments in high school can likely handle intense college coursework and still participate in other campus activities.

Types of Extracurricular Activities that Impact Admissions 

Extracurricular activities vary widely, from work and internship experiences to school-sponsored activities and community engagement. Considering that top colleges are notoriously challenging to get into, students should select activities they enjoy doing or want to do rather than look for specific outcomes or results. The most impressive results are always built out of those things that students can follow through over the long term. 

Here are some different extracurriculars to consider:

School-Sponsored Clubs and Teams

College admissions officers want to see evidence that students can collaborate with peers in high school because that is the best way to see how those students might collaborate with peers in college. Some examples include: 

  •  Organized team sports such as soccer, tennis, volleyball, cheerleading, and track.
  •  Science, drama, and art clubs such as Science Olympiad, Thespians, ceramics clubs, and computer science clubs.
  •  School newspaper or yearbook staff.
  •  Music groups such as choir, orchestra, and marching band.

Community Initiatives

Colleges want to see students who have the capacity to seek engagement with the community around them, show compassion, and find unique opportunities. These activities help assure colleges that the student can go beyond their institutional home and make an impact. Some examples include:

  • Community service activities, such as working with homeless shelters, Habitat for Humanity, and hurricane clean-ups.
  • Cultural celebrations and festivals. 
  • Community gardens.
  • Youth mentorship programs.
  • Elderly tech training at libraries.

Work and Internships

Over 20% of teenagers aged 16 and 19 worked while attending school in 2020. Many work part-time to gain experience, while others work to support their families. Regardless of the reason, colleges view after-school employment as an extracurricular activity that indicates a strong work ethic. Participating in internships related to an applicant’s interests strengthens their profile, emphasizing passion and responsibility.

Note that not all internships are created equal. Parents and students sometimes think that the impressiveness of the company is what makes for a noteworthy internship. But that is not the case. A student whose uncle made some calls to business associates and got him an internship at Apple where he sits in a room and twiddles his thumbs will not be that impressive. But a student who built up his skills in computer programming from a young age, put together a portfolio of projects, and then used that portfolio to get an internship at a small startup where he was trusted with building out a crucial backend feature will absolutely be impressive. Internships can be great additions to a portfolio, but only if students have put in the foundational work that would allow them to contribute meaningfully to the company’s operations.  

Passion Projects

Besides school activities and community service, admissions offices love to see passion projects that students create to express their interests and values. Passion projects vary widely, but the key is that they relate to a student’s specific interests. Here are impactful examples:

Creative and artistic pursuits:

  • A student who combines their love of history, art, and social justice, curating their own gallery with work from peers and community members focusing on different representations of the American Dream.
  • A student who combines a love for research and acting as a lead voice actor in a learning app that uses AI to create personalized lessons in a comforting voice. 
  • A student whose passion for biology and illustration leads them to create and publish a children’s book about the different kinds of mushrooms that grow in the woods around their house. 

Humanitarian pursuits:

  • A student with a family history of mental illnesses making the mental health brochures at their local free health clinic.
  • A student, inspired by their experience working with the unhoused, hosting linen drives in their community to gather supplies and raise money. 
  • A student who recruits and trains tutors to work at a bilingual math tutoring center for students who are struggling academically and have limited support at school. 

Strategies for Students and Parents to Navigate Extracurriculars 

As colleges focus on a holistic approach to admissions, parents, and students should plan for extracurricular involvement. Here are strategies to make the most of extracurriculars:

  • Start early: Students should start exploring activities to identify those that interest them as early as elementary school. Parents should discuss these activities and help children navigate their interests by researching programs and encouraging independent exploration.
  • Narrow the focus: Parents should work with their children to narrow their activities because too many can be burdensome and affect the balance between academics and extracurriculars. Additionally, many colleges prefer long-term commitment where the student shows growth and commitment. A grab bag of random activities that are started and stopped can look unfocused and scattered. 
  • Find motivation: An admissions officer can easily tell if an applicant has pursued a specific activity out of genuine interest or just to add lines to their resume. Parents should encourage their children to select activities they love because passion fuels motivation, which will appear on a college application.
  • Explore additional resources: Selecting activities that match interest and striking the perfect balance to ensure excellence in and outside the classroom can be tricky. As a parent, consider utilizing professional resources to maximize your child’s college profile.

Prepare for College Admissions With Zenith Prep Academy

Parents and students must understand that more students are applying to the top colleges and universities than there is space available. Now, students need more than just good grades and test scores to get accepted.

Extracurriculars are an essential part of Zenith Prep Academy’s strategy to support students in understanding and utilizing their strengths in and outside the classroom. As the nation’s top college consulting and education company on the Inc. 5000 list, Zenith Prep Academy has strategies that have led to a strong track record and award-winning outcomes. To learn more about Zenith Prep Academy and its offerings, book a free consultation today!

How to Demonstrate Interest in a College

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Many students dream of being admitted to a prestigious college or university, but how can a student set their application apart from thousands of applicants with similar grades, test scores, and extracurriculars? One fundamental aspect of the admissions process is the student’s demonstrated interest in the institution.

Keep reading to learn Zenith Prep Academy’s tips on how students can effectively show interest in a university. By following these recommendations, students can enhance their applications and increase their chances of admission to their dream schools.

What Is Demonstrated Interest?

Demonstrated interest refers to student actions that show genuine interest in attending a college or university. This is important for colleges because, at the end of the day, they are trying to protect their yield–an internal metric they use to measure the number of acceptances they send out and the number of students that actually accept those offers and matriculate. If a student is well-qualified for a particular college in terms of academics and extracurriculars, but that student never bothered to tour, attend an information session, open up an email, or ask a question, then the college has good reason to think that sending the student an acceptance letter would be a waste. 

Colleges and universities monitor student interest by tracking campus visits, attendance at virtual and in-person functions, and interactions on social media and email. Students can also show interest by deciding to apply early to the university of their choice. All this information may impact admissions decisions.

Which Colleges Track Demonstrated Interest?

In 2023, as many as 15.7% of colleges and universities rated demonstrated interest as ‘highly important’ in admission decisions. Students can visit the admission website to determine whether an institution monitors demonstrated interest. Additionally, resources like the Common Data Set provide detailed information on what factors institutions consider in their admissions decisions.

Do Ivy Leagues Track Demonstrated Interest?

Ivy Leagues and many other prestigious colleges and universities do not explicitly track demonstrated interest. They, for the most part, assume that if you are accepted you will come and their yield rates tend to be very high. This means that sending Harvard a bunch of emails to show how committed you are to attending isn’t going to move the needle (and might just be annoying). However, these institutions often recommend that prospective students explore the colleges and universities they are interested in to determine whether the school would be a good fit. Leveraging demonstrated interest strategies are still important at the Ivy League so that students can get enough information to be thoughtful and specific in essays and interviews for that college. After all, when Harvard asks you why you want to come, just saying “because it’s prestigious” is too vague to help your application stand out. 

How to Show Demonstrated Interest

Students seeking to show genuine interest in a school can actively engage with the institution through various methods:

1. Campus Visits

Official campus visits help students learn more about an institution and experience the campus environment. During the visit, students should take guided tours, attend information sessions, and engage with current students and faculty. Asking targeted questions also shows curiosity and enthusiasm about the university. Students should document the visit with notes and photos, which can be referenced in an application essay or interviews.

Note that just going to a campus and walking around on your own–without an official tour or some other event that you register for–does not count towards demonstrated interest. If you are going to visit a campus, plan ahead and register for an official admissions event.

2. College Fairs

Engaging with representatives at college fairs is a valuable opportunity to make a positive impression. Students should introduce themselves and ask thoughtful questions about programs, campus life, and admissions criteria.

Eye contact and active listening are keys to a good impression in these meetings, and students should avoid distractions, such as checking their watches or phones. After the conversation, students can collect the admissions representative’s contact information and follow up with a thank-you email referencing specific details from the discussion.

3. Virtual Tours

Virtual tours offer an excellent way to explore colleges where visiting in person would be difficult. Almost all institutions offer some kind of virtual tour or information session, which can include interactive maps and videos of the campus. Students who watch live streams or sign up for live information sessions can ask questions to gain greater insight into the institution. These virtual tours can be found on a college or university’s admissions website. Even though these events are virtual, they will be part of official demonstrated interest as long as they collect a student’s email address and information.

4. High School Visits

College representatives will sometimes come to high schools to visit. If you are thinking about applying to a college and the representative comes to your high school, you should make attending that visit a high priority. Of course, depending on when those visits are scheduled, you might have a chemistry test or other binding obligation. If you can’t make the visit, be sure to get the rep’s email contact information from your counselor (or whoever coordinates those visits at your high school) and reach out to the rep to let them know that you would love to come but have another binding commitment. If college reps don’t happen to visit your high school, that is okay! Just make sure that you use the other demonstrated interest strategies listed above.

5. Summer Programs

Exploring summer opportunities at a college or university, such as pre-college programs or boot camps, allows students to experience that college’s campus life and academic offerings. These pre-college programs often do not, in and of themselves, increase one’s chances of getting into a given college. However, students who have been on campus and interacted with faculty through these programs usually can write a more compelling and specific “Why school” essay for a particular college.

Keep in mind that there are lots of different ways to demonstrate interest. Zenith counselors help students find the best way to make use of limited time and resources. 

Connecting with Admissions Representatives

Networking skills are crucial in making meaningful connections with admissions officers. It’s also important to know that many college admissions officers actively like it when people reach out to them. Students shouldn’t think that they are imposing as long as they are reaching out in a thoughtful and respectful manner. 

Speaking with an admissions representative is a great way to build rapport with the admissions team and demonstrate interest in a college or university. Many admissions offices allow students to schedule a Zoom call with an admissions representative, and prospective students can also email admissions offices.

Writing well-crafted emails and asking the right questions is crucial for making a positive impression on college admission officers. Communication should be clear, concise, and personalized, reflecting a student’s interest in the college. Students should be prepared to say what they think they might study, talk about at least one extracurricular activity, and have at least three specific questions to ask the admissions officer. Students should also highlight particular aspects of the institution that appeal to them and explain why they are suitable candidates.

After any in-person interactions, students should follow up with a thank-you email to reinforce their interest. To show attentiveness and sincerity in the email, mention specific details from the conversation.

Prepare for Life After High School With Zenith Prep Academy

Demonstrated interest strategies can help students find schools that meet their needs. Students should start preparing early to bolster their chances of acceptance into a dream institution, and Zenith Prep Academy can help.

Zenith Prep Academy aims to help students reach their dreams and is recognized as the top college counseling company in the United States. For over a decade, Zenith has assisted students seeking acceptance into Ivy Leagues and the top 25 schools. To get ahead of the competition, start preparing today! Schedule a free consultation or call to discover why thousands of students and parents choose Zenith.

How to Stand Out to College Admissions

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Gone are the days when a student receives all A’s and is accepted into a top 25 university. Students now are competing against tens of thousands of others for a few coveted seats. In 2024, Harvard University received over 54,000 applications (yes, that’s 54 THOUSAND) for less than 2,000 spots. So, how can students increase their likelihood of being one of those 2,000 admitted? What can students do now to make themselves more competitive for colleges later?

This is where strategy comes in! Finding the right college admissions strategy can set a candidate apart from other applicants and increase their chances of getting into their dream university. 

Keep reading to learn how Zenith Prep Academy, the #1 College Counseling Company on the Inc. 5000 list, crafts compelling college application strategies that showcase student personality, ability, and unique life experiences.

The college playing field has changed. Ready to stand out?

The Offensive Approach for College Admissions

Typically, students start prepping their college applications in 11th or 12th grade. They focus on their academic grades and write essays highlighting their interest in the colleges they’re applying to. The overall outcome is a nice, defensively strong application.

Isn’t that enough? Unfortunately, no.

A strictly defensive strategy doesn’t give universities enough reasons to admit a student. While grade point average (GPA) is a key consideration for admission, most applicants will have similar scores. The same goes for the SAT or ACT. So, to stand out to admission officers, you need an offensive strategy, too.

The offensive approach involves going beyond just doing well on the assignments that are set for you by classes and tests. Offense is all about being proactive with your activities and showing that you can be a creative, thoughtful, and compassionate leader. Universities and colleges aren’t looking for good students–they’re looking for people who will take initiative in flourishing careers after college.

To demonstrate this potential to colleges, a student doesn’t just need great GPAs and test scores. What they need are intangibles–those things that get admissions officers talking. When admissions officers are talking about who they want to admit, intangibles sound like this: 

  • “Hey, what about that student that started an urban farming initiative to grow food for their local food bank?” 
  • “I can’t forget the student who created a series of Youtube shorts about the physics of yo-yos…” 
  • “That one student who is doing quantum computing research has been going around to middle schools and offering talks that make the topic accessible to youngsters!” 

What these intangibles have in common is that they are based on a foundation of normal academic and community work: knowing how to start and manage a farm, having a deep understanding of physics, getting deep enough into computer science to understand its cutting edge. But then that foundation is utilized in a creative way that engages a larger community.

Benefits of an Offensive Approach

Every choice a student makes impacts their college application, so it’s important to ensure their time is used strategically to build an offensive-minded profile that gives universities a reason to admit a student who might otherwise be indistinguishable in a sea of similar GPAs and SAT scores. 

The offensive approach is even more vital for students with a lower GPA. Most top universities look for a GPA of 4.0 or higher, while others are fine with a GPA above 3.0. If an applicant is aiming for a more prestigious university but has a lower GPA, the student can use the offensive approach to boost their application and partially make up for their grades.

How to Apply the Offensive Approach

Curious about how to apply this offensive approach to the college application process? Use the advice below!

1. Start Preparing Early

They say that “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” So, do not spend a mere day on college applications! Starting as early as possible is the most vital component of the offensive approach. Zenith Prep Academy recommends that students begin as young as 12 years old. An early start gives students the time to explore their interests and build the foundation that will help them craft a unique profile in the future.

Students who are further along in their educational journeys can still do a lot to prepare. A student who is already underway in their high school extracurriculars can find ways to step up into a leadership role or get creative about starting a new initiative. There’s also a lot of work to do around optimizing course selection, building a college list, and getting those essays done. These are all things that Zenith Prep Academy can help with. 

2. Understand Admissions Expectations

Every university has its own admission requirements. These often include academic transcripts, standardized tests, personal statements, and recommendations. They may also require interviews, portfolios, or even a graded paper from the student’s high school career. To learn more about admissions requirements, visit the university’s admissions page or the Common App.

Along with application requirements, each university weighs the different parts of the application differently. For example, Princeton’s Common Data Set from 2024 states that they do not consider an applicant’s level of interest (demonstrated interest) when deciding admissions. However, for a school such as Northwestern, it is considered. Another thing to note is that the Common Data set reports how much colleges care about those intangibles. “Character/Personal Traits” and “Talent/Ability” cannot be easily read from a GPA or a test score. It is the unique passion and dedicated values that students show over time in their profile that give colleges a window into those intangibles. 

Of course, the Common Data Set is only a partial overview of what colleges look for in an application. Particular programs at individual colleges often have their own preferences and expectations that are not clearly laid out. And no amount of data is going to relay exactly how a college will respond to a unique and compelling profile. That is where Zenith’s counselors can help!

Knowing admissions expectations from the start will help students figure out where to focus their energies! 

3. Develop a Unique Personal Narrative 

Most universities require applicants to submit an admission essay or personal statement. With limited words, the student must convince the university why they are a particularly compelling applicant. 

The personal statement is the most critical application essay and should speak about the student’s unique individuality: a learner, a carer, a scholar, a teacher, a risk-taker, or whatever they pride most in themselves. Throw out any preconceived ideas about what a good personal statement looks like (it’s not a cover letter!) and leave any questions about what admissions expect from these essays at the door. Don’t write what college admission teams want to see; write about what is most important to show. This is the one place on the Common Application where an applicant gets to tell admissions who they are (and who they hope to become) in their own words, with their own voice. Anxiously emulating examples of “successful” personal statements or prompting ChatGPT to pop out something will almost always result in a statement that is inauthentic and not unique to the individual student. 

4. Enhance Extracurricular Involvement

Extracurricular activities will help an applicant stand out. However, choosing activities that complement their academic and personal interests is essential. Paired with their personal statement, targeted extracurricular activities will showcase an applicant’s “mission” and support their claims for being accepted.  

There is no one “right” kind of extracurricular activity. The key is that no matter what students do, they need to be involved in something for a number of years and they need to show that they can grow into a creative and thoughtful leader in that activity. For example, one trajectory of growth might be going from dropping a spinning mace at the start of a freshman drumline show, and going on to become the Varsity/Lead Drum Major of a school’s 300-student marching band. The key here is that the student shows resilience and commitment. Just doing a large number of random activities can make a student seem unfocused. No one can do everything: students show their values by virtue of what they choose to do.

5. Dive into Community Engagement

Universities also value community, and they like to see their students show that value in the activities and interests they pursue. Whether volunteering or helping with community events, engaging with a community is an experiential way to show the admissions committee that community is important. Doing so will positively reflect the applicant’s character, giving them a leg up in the application progress. For example, highlighting an applicant’s neighborhood soccer team, composed of a nineteen-year-old Ukrainian refugee, a forty-two-year-old Mexican father of three, two Senegalese cooks, and a multilingual Pakistani Saudi-American high schooler, shows more than just soccer. It shows the respite from daily life, the years of camaraderie and friendships that give the applicant an intimate and culturally-competent take. 

6. Collect Credible Recommendations

Recommendations are considered the best evidence regarding an individual’s character and achievements. However, their effectiveness depends on selecting the right people to write them.

Most higher education institutions request one recommendation from a school counselor and up to two recommendations from core subject teachers (math, science, history, world language, or English). Additionally, some universities allow applicants to submit an “other recommendation” from a coach, employer, or research mentor.

At the end of the day, it is essential to choose someone who knows the applicant well and understands their personal story. Students sometimes hustle to get a letter of recommendation from an “impressive” person (like a school principal or state senator) who doesn’t know the student that well. But the best recommenders will always be those people who can speak about a student’s unique offensive spark from direct personal experience. 

7. Build Academic Strength

While grades aren’t everything, they’re still essential. Universities want to ensure their students can meet the demands of coursework and student life. However, they’re interested in more than just a number.

Colleges will look at the trajectory of a student’s grades and check to see if they are taking a rigorous course load–especially in the areas that are crucial for a student’s planned area of study. A student who is planning on doing engineering might want to take additional math classes at a community college in order to advance past the all-too-common AP Calculus BC class. A student who is planning on studying international relations will still want to take the required math classes, but it will be much more important to advance their study of different world languages. The course load that is right for a particular student depends on the overall shape of the student’s profile. 

Stand Out With Help From Zenith Prep Academy

Need help with this college application process? Want to start the process early? Zenith Prep Academy stands among the nation’s elite preparatory institutions and has earned features in Forbes, USA Today, Bloomberg, and Nasdaq, with particular praise for a pioneering STEM curriculum and 98% college placement rate at top-tier universities. The dedicated team of college counselors is here to provide personalized college and career planning, guidance tailored to an individual learning path and pace, and a strategy to build an offensive approach to college applications.

If you’d like to learn more about Zenith Prep Academy and its offerings, book a free consultation today!

How to Write a Personal Statement

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Writing a personal statement can be an overwhelming step in applying to college. Although a strong academic and extracurricular profile is crucial for a student’s application to be considered—especially at top universities with competitive applicant pools—the personal statement is a distinguishing factor in selecting which students are ultimately accepted.

This essay allows students to share their unique stories and show who they are beyond their academic and extracurricular profiles. It can be challenging for students to authentically convey themselves, especially in a high-stakes environment where they need to stand out.

This guide breaks the process down step-by-step to help students craft genuine narratives in an engaging and memorable way.

What Is a Personal Statement? 

Before viewing the personal statement from a student’s perspective, zoom out and evaluate the reason universities ask students to write it in the first place.

Simply put, judging a book by its cover isn’t possible—a student’s resume and transcript tell only part of the story. The personal statement allows college admission offices to delve deeper and gain a holistic perspective on:

  • Who the student is—what they care about and their values
  • How they will impact the campus community and beyond—how their qualities and skills demonstrate future potential

From the student’s point of view, the personal statement is a chance to get personal. This essay cuts through the minutiae of titles and accolades. It allows students to add an emotional and human element to their applications by writing about the moments and experiences that have shaped them as people. It is also an opportunity for students to engage in self-reflection by highlighting their achievements, experiences, and challenges they have overcome. Most importantly, the personal statement allows the student to paint a picture of who they want to become and how that institution would help them achieve that.

Personal Statements vs. College Essays

Most schools require a personal statement as the primary application essay. It gives the reader a fundamental understanding of an applicant’s character, background, and personality. Depending on the school, the personal statement may be the only essay an applicant is required to submit.

It is common for universities, particularly those that are more selective, to have supplemental essay prompts for students to answer in addition to submitting their personal statements. These prompts vary from school to school, but they are generally more targeted in assessing institutional fit by asking students why they want to attend that particular college and also asking questions like “Tell us more about an extracurricular activity that is important to you.” Colleges will read all of these essays together, and–ideally–the themes and ideas in the personal statement will echo through the supplemental essays.

How to Write a Personal Statement

It is important to remember that this type of writing and task is very new for most students. Normal high school classes usually don’t ask students to write in a reflective personal essay that gets to the same depth and insight that a good personal statement does. 

Writing a personal statement is a process. It requires brainstorming, reflection, careful planning, and numerous revisions to produce a compelling and authentic piece.

1. Start With Reflection

The ability to self-reflect is a critical skill colleges want to see in students. It’s also the first step to writing a thoughtful personal statement. Some questions to help generate the reflection process include:

  • What am I passionate about?
  • What moments and experiences have shaped who I am?
  • Why am I applying to college, and what do I hope to achieve?
  • What challenges have I overcome, and what did I learn?

While working through these questions, start brainstorming a few answers. It’s important to avoid overthinking at this stage. This freewriting is not what will be submitted, so writing can—and honestly should be—unpolished, raw, and disorganized. Instead, focus on writing that is honest and real. It’s also important to do that brainstorming yourself and not fall back on asking ChatGPT to pump out ideas. The specific texture of your life that comes out at this stage of the process is what will ultimately give your personal statement a feeling that is truly personal. 

2. Craft a Strong Opening

First impressions are everything. Admissions officers read countless essays on a given day, and a subpar introduction can make them glaze over the rest of the essay. The introduction should make yur reader want more. 

Here’s an example of a weak introduction:

“Since I was a child, I have wanted to help others and make a difference in the lives around me by becoming a doctor.”  

  • Cliché: Statements like “Since I was a child…” sound like every other applicant. This type of impersonal writing does not help make the reader feel connected to the student. 
  • Too general: Specificity is key to writing a good essay. Wanting to help others and make a difference could apply to just about any student. 

Here’s a strong introduction:

“The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as I struggled to make out my trembling hands covered in ketchup.”

  • Mysterious: People don’t like spoiled endings for a reason. The more unexpected or unusual something is, the more people are naturally interested. This sentence raises many questions—why is there ketchup on the student’s hands? Where could they be with buzzing fluorescent lights? What’s making the hands tremble? This makes the reader want to keep reading.
  • Vulnerable: The way the writing starts in the middle of this chaotic moment almost makes it feel like the reader shouldn’t be there. The writer heightens the stakes by infusing emotions and energy into the details, like trembling hands and intense lighting.   

Whether a student uses a personal anecdote, shares a fun fact, or reveals a confession—the introduction needs to be personal, engaging, and captivating. 

3. Show, Don’t Tell

Sharing stories, moments, and experiences to convey something is far more impactful than just stating it. Students should show, not tell, the reader about their experience. 

Telling:

“I’m passionate about science.”

Showing:

“In ninth grade, I spent late nights testing blade designs to ensure the mini wind turbine I built for my science fair project generated the most power possible.”

The second example is far more personal, thoughtful, and engaging. It helps the reader connect to the human behind the writing and see the world for a moment through their eyes. It also helps the student be memorable—an admissions officer is far more likely to remember the kid staying up late at night building his mini wind turbine than someone who is vaguely “passionate” about science.

4. Focus on Growth

It’s easy to get caught up in the plot of the personal statement, but students need to consider the bigger picture: What does all of this say about them as a person?

One way to incorporate growth in the personal statement is to have every “what” be followed by a “why.” Students should always ask themselves why they include this information and what they try to show about themselves.

  • What: Student writes about overcoming a challenge… Why: Shows how they developed resilience, adaptability, and the ability to advocate for themself
  • What: A student writes about discovering their passion… Why: Shows how they found a sense of purpose, gained self-confidence, and fostered a deeper sense of self-awareness
  • What: A student writes about their involvement in a club… Why: Shows how they learned to collaborate, gained leadership skills, and found a sense of belonging

The student needs to connect the dots and reflect on how the moments and experiences they write about molded the person they are.

5. End With Impact

The conclusion is often the hardest part of the personal statement to write. This is the conclusion to a 5-paragraph essay that ends with a restatement of the evidence previously discussed… what could be more boring? 

Ideally, the conclusion finds some creative way to twist the ideas from the previous paragraphs in a new way or open up on a new experience. For example, an essay about the challenges a student faced while trying to make a horror film as a fun side project might end with a scene that describes the moment the monster actually emerges on set for the first time. Or an essay about learning how to make the perfect pasta for their grandmother who is sick might end with the student talking about how they apply those same skills of patience on the lacrosse court. Rather than “concluding” the essay, a good conclusion should leave the admissions officer thinking that they want to hear more about the applicant. 

6. Revise and Refine

It takes many rounds of writing, rewriting, proofreading, and edits before reaching the final draft.

Students should read their personal statements out loud. Hearing it through spoken word often reveals sentences that don’t make sense or flow.

Take breaks after finishing a draft. Eat a snack, take a walk, or even better—get a good night of sleep—before revisiting it with a clear mind and fresh eyes.

Speaking of eyes, students should get other eyes on it, too. They should share it with parents, teachers, or mentors to get various perspectives and opinions. 

Some aspects to consider during revisions include:

  • Substance—Are there examples and anecdotes to support the topics written about? Does the student’s voice shine through the writing? Does the essay accurately represent the student?
  • Structure—Are there clear transitions between sentences and paragraphs? Does it sound like a cohesive narrative that flows together, or are there sections that seem disjointed, scattered, or random?
  • Compelling—Is the content unique and interesting? Can anything be cut that is repetitive or unnecessary?
  • Grammar/Syntax—Is the writing clear and readable? Are there grammatical/spelling errors?

8 Tips for Writing a Personal Statement

Consider these tips that will help a personal statement stand out:

  1.   Stay focused: Quality is better than quantity. While sharing as much information as possible can be tempting, the student should focus on depth over breadth.
  2.   Be authentic: Avoid trying too hard or coming across as forced—admissions officers value honesty over complex language. The students’ personalities should shine through their writing. If they naturally have a sense of humor, this is the place to show it! (and if they don’t, this isn’t the place to try out a new jokey personality that doesn’t fit).
  3.   Show passion: Students should express their passion through detailed examples. The reader should be able to feel it through the writing!
  4.   Be humble and reflective: Research has shown a positive correlation between intelligence and humility. Students should acknowledge those who supported their journey and demonstrate their ability to view mistakes as opportunities to grow and learn. 
  5.   Use personal stories: This is the best way to “show” rather than “tell” what a student is like. It helps the reader to connect with the student on an emotional level because it makes the applicant feel like a living, breathing human being.
  6.   Avoid superlatives: Achievements should speak for themselves. Students should avoid overusing words like “best” or “greatest” at the risk of sounding pretentious and insincere. This goes back to prioritizing authenticity and exercising humility.
  7. Start early: Writing the personal statement is a process. Students should start early and give themselves time to brainstorm, draft, and refine their statements.

Maximize College Success With Zenith Prep Academy

As one of the top college consulting and education companies in the United States, Zenith Prep Academy is here to guide your student into the college of their dreams. 

With thousands of happy clients and our proven track record of Ivy League and Top 25 University acceptance rates, our dedicated team is committed to maximizing your child’s potential.

Book a free consultation with us today, and let’s discuss how we can turn your child’s college dreams into reality.

Top College Essay Mistakes Students Make

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With the competitive college admissions landscape, how will a student know when their application is ready? What other factors besides grades and test scores matter?

There are many factors determining college admissions: grades, test scores, geography (in-state applicants vs. out-of-state applicants), letters of recommendation… the one part of the application that a student has total control over are the essays. This is where students (in a limited word count) can speak in their own voice and make the case for why they should be admitted. 

Why Your College Essay Matters

Schools consider far more than SAT and ACT scores when making decisions, and college essays allow applicants to show a different side of themselves. The essays help showcase the college profile that students have been crafting throughout their high school years. 

With a massive surge in applications in 2024 and the most selective higher education institutions admitting fewer than 10% of their applicants, college essays are essential. Beyond the sea of similar grades and test scores, colleges want to understand how an individual applicant will grow into a creative and thoughtful leader and community member. Colleges aren’t looking for people who are just good students–they are looking for leaders with self-awareness and a unique voice. 

Highly selective colleges have more applicants than space, especially in competitive fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It’s that unique voice that sets the best STEM applicants apart. Maybe a student is thinking about majoring in engineering because they “hate” writing… but the best engineers need to be able to communicate their vision to a variety of stakeholders and muster a team. So even engineering students need to have stellare application essays.

Top 3 College Essay Mistakes

Steering clear of these will help students avoid the common pitfalls of cliché essays.

1. Overused Essay Themes and Cliches

A college essay is meant to make an applicant memorable to an admissions officer who has read thousands of essays. An essay that covers the same topics and uses the same clichés is much more likely to get put into the “rejected” pile. Trying to sound profound or using vague phrases such as “I learned valuable lessons” or “It made me the person I am today” also shows a lack of personal ownership and creativity. 

A great college essay is not a cover letter, a rehashed resume, or a typical sports essay! Here are some themes to avoid:

  • Mental Health

While the conversation around mental health has become more prominent and is a positive step forward, writing about it in a college essay can inadvertently signal a lack of readiness for the demands of college life. The stigma surrounding mental health still exists, and admissions offices are no exception.

  • Video Games

The topic of video games is overdone and often becomes monotonous, particularly with students interested in computer science. It’s rare for a student to offer a fresh perspective or make the essay personal enough to stand out.

  • Vulgar/derogatory essays

It may seem obvious, but an essay should not include anything vulgar or derogatory. The goal is to present a positive view of an applicant; topics that hint at questionable values can hurt their chances. This applies to content in any language—keep it classy and focused on the applicant’s best version of themselves!

  • Focus on parent/grandparent/someone other than the student

College essays should be about the applicant, and focusing too much on someone else can make that hard to achieve. If an applicant writes about their grandmother who has shaped their identity, that essay will almost always fail to recenter its focus on the student. 

  • Parental pressure/expectations

It’s never a good idea to highlight a stressful home life or family dynamic in a college essay. They can easily veer into “trauma dump” territory, and admissions officers aren’t therapists. This is one topic to avoid entirely.

  • Controversial topics

It’s best to avoid divisive topics like religion or hot-button social issues (abortion, immigration, etc.). Keep essays neutral and focused on what unites, not what divides.

2. Lack of Personal Voice

The human element—and, therefore, the human voice—is crucial in a college application essay. A successful college essay is personal and conversational. Some students resist being vulnerable in their writing, but remember that real people are reading these applications and looking to get to know them through the essays. This means that your college essay is not the time to bust out the thesaurus and try to correctly use the word “perspicacious” correctly for the first time. A student should try to mirror the voice that they might use while talking with a trusted friend about a topic they are passionate about. Contractions, some snappy dialogue, the occasional informal (but not vulgar) expression: all of these tools can help an essay seem to flow out of the particular person who is writing it. 

3. Structural and Technical Errors

Admissions officers look carefully at an essay’s structure. They want clarity and correctness so they can focus on the message. Faulty writing mechanics and grammatical errors do not indicate college-ready writing—one of the main things colleges expect from their students. Mistakes such as “they’re”/ “there”/ “their” or using “like” repeatedly are writing red flags.

Another common error is ignoring the prompt or instructions, intentionally or accidentally. Admissions officers may see a “creative decision” as an inability to follow directions. 

4 College Essay Writing Techniques That Work

So, what works? What makes a good college essay great?

1. Be Authentic

Readers should be impressed by the applicant’s profile and emotionally invested in the story of who they are as a living, thinking human. Intimacy is built in many ways, such as through writing subject, style, or story pacing. The best technique is to utilize all these without leaning into cliches or inauthentic writing. Be earnest without being excessively dramatic. In a crowded room of applicants, an essay should invite the admissions reader to root for them.

Is it vulnerable? Is it accurate, true, and forthcoming? What’s the one thing students really want to say about themselves? Does this essay communicate that in a supremely awesome, enjoyable, and unforgettable way? If each part of the story feels authentic and sincere, the student’s unique voice is coming through.

2. Differentiate Yourself

When competing with thousands of other applicants, the student should grab the reader’s attention from the first sentence. Choose a statement, thought, or description that captivates and keeps the reader focused. Set the tone for the rest of the essay early.

College admissions officers want to know more than facts, figures, and extracurriculars. Instead of broader generalizations and explanatory detail, use moments and focus on sensory details and narratives. Show, don’t tell.

If a student is writing about their research, they should show what it looks, feels, sounds, or even smells like in the lab—the smell of chemicals, the whirring of machinery, the punishingly bright white (or maybe eye-searingly yellow fluorescent) lights. Put the reader into the lab.

Sensory detail goes a long way in writing. A great way to think about the personal statement is like a film: the reader should feel like they’re watching a movie where the action occasionally (keyword: occasionally) stalls and the protagonist provides a voice-over to contextualize the scene and provide insight into their inner world.

3. Have the Reader in Mind

Admissions readers will typically spend five to eight minutes on any one application and read dozens of them daily throughout the application season. These are real, breathing people reading the writing; they may skim through dry or uninteresting essays. Admissions readers are unlikely to spend extra time engaging with a piece of writing that makes no effort to grab their attention.

This doesn’t mean that an essay needs to be melodramatic, fantastical, or structurally unique; it just means that college essays should be authentic and personable. It should feel like reading a letter from an interesting stranger.

4. Write, Write Again, and Proofread

The first draft is never the final draft. Plan on writing, then rewriting, and rewriting some more. Write the essay and leave it alone for a few days. Pick it up again and reread it. Does it sound alright? 

Proofreading is also essential. Tools such as Grammarly can help applicants find errors before submitting applications. Remove repetition and pay attention to the nitty-gritty details, like wordiness, readable fonts, and paragraph breaks.

If the final version of an essay answers YES to these questions, it’s ready for submission.

  • Is the story true to the student’s experience?
  • Is the story memorable and engaging?
  • Is the student likable?

Prepare for a Successful Future With Zenith Prep Academy

Need help writing the college essay? Want to start the process early? Zenith Prep Academy stands among the nation’s elite preparatory institutions and has earned features in Forbes, USA Today, Bloomberg, and Nasdaq, with particular praise for working with STEM students and achieving a 98% college placement rate at top-tier universities, guaranteed. The dedicated team of college counselors is here to provide personalized college guidance tailored to help their students take the next right step.

 If you’d like to learn more about Zenith Prep Academy and its offerings, book a free consultation today!

Building a Strong College Profile

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Each year, the United States’ top higher education institutions receive thousands of applications, and to no surprise, the competition is surging. For instance, Harvard University accepted 3.59% of 54,008 applications for the class of 2028.

If applicants dream of attending an Ivy League or another highly sought-after university, setting their application apart and making a good impression on the admissions committee is imperative. Outstanding academic achievements are no longer a requirement; they are the minimum.

So, how can a student stand out? By building a strong college profile!

What Is a College Profile?

A college profile is a snapshot of a student’s identity. It highlights a student’s strengths, passions, and potential. College Admissions Officers use the information in a college profile to evaluate how well a student fits with their institution’s values and academic environment.

The key elements of a college profile include:

  • Academics: These showcase intellectual abilities. Including GPA, test scores, and course rigor, such as AP and IB courses. Colleges want to see that their applicants are prepared to engage in rigorous coursework and are willing to challenge themselves. 
  • Extracurriculars: Students should be involved in their school community by participating in sports or clubs and growing into leadership positions outside the classroom. It is particularly important for students to stick with and grow through a few chosen activities rather than constantly starting and stopping things. 
  • Personal projects: Colleges also care what a student does outside of their school. Working a job, engaging in some kind of community volunteer work, taking up a hobby or personal pursuit… Anything that a student gives time, energy, or passion to can be part of a college profile even if it is not attached to an official organization. 

A strong college profile sets an applicant apart, especially when applying to the nation’s top schools.

How to Build a College Profile

A well-rounded profile will take time and self-reflection. If you’re unsure where to start, use this guide to help. 

1. Identify Strengths

What makes a student an outstanding candidate? Whether a student likes science, art, music, or sports, they should figure out what inspires them.

Colleges love to see a student’s passion for something, so don’t just dabble — commit to honing in on an area of interest or activity. If it’s math, enter competitions. If writing is a strength, publish articles or start a blog. 

This is a student’s chance to shine in a way that is true to who they are, so lean into strengths and let them guide activities and achievements.

2. Build Extracurricular Activities

Getting involved outside of class is just as important as excelling inside it. If a school offers activities outside class—clubs, sports teams, or community groups—students should join them if they align with their interests and goals.

Once involved in an activity, don’t just participate—be a leader. Now is the perfect opportunity to aim for a leadership role like team captain or club president. The experience will show colleges that an applicant possesses initiative and responsibility, two highly valued traits. Being a leader will also prepare students for their future in the workforce, where they will often lead and collaborate with others.

Volunteering is another way to stand out. Find causes that personally matter, and dedicate time to making a difference in a community or area of interest. The aim is not to show that students are keeping themselves busy—admission officers want to see the depth and purpose of how they spend their time. Volunteering is about making small-scale change!

3. Gain Relevant Experience

Colleges love applicants who have explored potential career paths. If possible, hands-on experience in an applicant’s area of interest is particularly valuable. Students should leverage internships, part-time jobs, or job shadowing opportunities whenever possible.

For example, a student who is interested in animal welfare should reach out to volunteer at a veterinary clinic. Students with an entrepreneurial spark should try their hand at starting their own business–even if it is something as simple as setting up a lemonade stand. 

Alternatively, an excellent way for students to show initiative is by starting or completing a project related to their passions. For instance, coding an app that gives people dog training tips can highlight a passion for animals and an interest in technology. Many colleges will allow students to submit a portfolio or a short video where they can showcase something that they have built or created, whether that is a computer program, an art piece, or even something practical like a hand-built picnic bench. Colleges love to see students who can plan, start, and then finish a project. 

4. Build Strong Relationships

Excellent recommendations can make a significant difference and should come from those who know the student best. Students should build strong relationships with their teachers, counselors, coaches, and mentors. Always be kind and respectful, engage in classes, and ask thoughtful questions. Students who show a genuine appreciation for guidance usually get the most detailed and thoughtful recommendation letters. To build that connection, don’t just do the work assigned in class and then run away: take time to talk to teachers about goals and ambitions so that those teachers are invested in your success. 

5. Create a Stellar Application

The application is where all the hard work comes together. A student’s personal statement tells their story — who they are, where they come from, what they care about, and how they’ve grown. In the essay, write authentically and focus on pivotal moments or experiences. Students should show the admissions officers reading the personal statement what it feels like to be in their shoes. Teach them something new; make them laugh. Give them a reason to advocate for you.

If a college requires supplemental essays, students should tailor each to reflect why they’re a great fit for that specific institution. Be sure to do research–each college is different!

Before applying, make sure every part is polished and error-free. Have a trusted parent, mentor, teacher, counselor, or friend look it over to ensure a unique voice is captured in each aspect.

How to Improve a College Admissions Profile

An applicant’s profile should make them glimmer and stand apart from their peers — especially if they aim for the top college. Here are some practical tips to help craft a standout application:

  • Start early: Begin building the profile as early as possible. Start in middle school if possible. By junior year, focus on a few areas where you can excel and show leadership.
  • Develop a “spike”: Quality over quantity. Instead of trying to be good at everything, aim to become extraordinary in one or two areas — a “spike.” It is this standout quality that can catch admissions officers’ attention. But be careful: no matter what area a student is “spiking” in, they need to show an ability to collaborate and communicate with others. 
  • Craft a personal brand: What’s one thing a student wants admissions officers to remember? Essays and extracurriculars should reinforce a cohesive narrative. An admissions officer should read a student’s profile and be able to come up with a catchy bumper-sticker like “The self-taught slight-of-hand magician who loves mathematical puzzles” or “The computer science student with a poly-sci angle who can talk about international cyber security.”
  • Document your journey: Keep a journal or digital log of academic and extracurricular achievements starting freshman year. Students can even include personal reflections and lessons learned. Journal writings provide great material for future essays and interviews, especially those “Tell me about a time when…” questions. They can also help assess personal growth over time.
  • Stay true to yourself: Authenticity is powerful. Students shouldn’t mold themselves into what they think an Ivy League wants or see their friends or classmates doing. Be honest; admissions officers can tell when an application feels forced, so students should let their genuine selves shine through.
  • Consider college consulting: Need personalized guidance? A college consulting company may help increase a student’s chances of acceptance. These companies provide various services that can extend beyond college profiling assistance.

Zenith Prep Academy Can Help You Stand Out

Building a compelling college profile can seem daunting, especially if you’re a busy high school student aiming for the Ivy League. Wholeheartedly pursuing your area of interest will make all the time and effort more enjoyable. So, start early, take the time for self-reflection, and have fun with this process.

Zenith Prep Academy is here to guide you every step of the way. With our dedicated and experienced team, we’re committed to maximizing your potential. Our proven track record of higher Ivy League and Top 25 University acceptance rates speaks for itself.

Thanks to thousands of happy families, we’ve been named one of the top-ranked college consulting companies numerous times. Book a free consultation with us today!

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