By: Brennen Carter, M.Ed., MLS

Hey it’s Brennen with the GOATs! Here are 8 great tips for applying to college:

1. Be Authentic

Write the college apps as you: the real you. Authenticity is key, especially in terms of finding a college that could be a really good fit for you.

3. Edit, Edit, Edit

Edit your essays. Make sure your answers are consistent with your transcript. Make sure your app has the correct information in all senses. Have someone else look it over: a teacher, parent, counselor, tutor, etc.

4. Focus on Deeper Themes

Try and identify the deeper themes about you and your journey through your answers. Showcase your skills and abilities and what you can bring to a campus by using metaphors, themes, and the like to express deeper motives and traits in the responses you give.

5. Be Innovative & Don’t Repeat Yourself

Try to be innovative with your answers, if possible, utilizing literary techniques such as stories and themes to express things about yourself. Certainly don’t repeat information, save when necessary, as well.

6. Answer the Question & Keep the Reader in Mind

Remember to fully and realistically answer the questions given by the prompts. Stay on topic and write a focused, coherent essay. Also remember that a representative of the school will read your essay, so keep that in mind too.

7. Be Careful with Humor & Hyperbole

Be careful when using humor and shy away from hyperbole. Exaggerating too much or being too lackadaisical or crass can be a large disadvantage to your application.

8. Write A Compelling Beginning & End

Draw the reader in with your introduction and close well with a line that makes the reader remember your essay, and, more importantly: you.

These tips should help you with your collegiate applications. Good luck to you through this process!

*Sources: Brennen Carter, Harvard Summer School, University of the People