CRAFTING AN APPLICATION What Colleges Look for in an Applicant Presented by: Kelly Tallerine Senior Admission Counselor Texas State University

Applying to University ■Requirements –Applications (Common App/ApplyTexas) –Application Fee (Waivers?) –SAT or ACT scores –Official Transcripts –Essays –Letters of Recommendation –Resumes Applications Open August 1st

Types of Admission ■Assured Admission –Class Rank –Test Scores –GPA ■Holistic Review –Academics –Extracurricular Activities and Awards –Letters of Recommendation –Essays

Texas State University Assured Admission Requirements

Holistic Review ■Academics ■Extracurricular Activities and Awards ■Letters of Recommendation ■Essays

Academics ■Strong Grades with an Upward Trend –Did your grades become stronger throughout your high school career? Or did they drop as you began taking more difficult classes? ■Class Rank –Higher class rank = lower required test scores –Lower class rank = higher required test scores ■Solid Standardized Test Scores –Are the schools you’re looking at rely heavily on test scores? ■A Challenging Curriculum –AP, IB, dual credit, and other more rigorous courses look great!

Extracurricular Activities and Awards ■Quality Organizational Involvement –Passionate involvement –Quality not quantity –Leadership and initiative ■Community Service –A concern for others and a global perspective –Consistency is a plus! ■Employment or Other “Professional” Experience –After-school jobs, summer camp leadership, summer internships, etc. –Responsibility, dedication, motivation, and personal development ■Other Attributes or Awards –Honors, awards, talents, experiences, etc. –What will set you apart from other applicants? –Potentially active, contributing members of the student body

A Well-Written Essay ■Thoughtful and personal ■Demonstrate careful & well-constructed writing ■Clear of grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors ■Stay on topic and answer the chosen topic completely ■Helpful Tips: –Have multiple adults (teachers, parents, counselors) read your essay. –TMI! –Don’t overuse the thesaurus. –Think outside the box and show your creativity.

Positive Recommendation Letters ■Adults who know the student well –Provide information on how the writer knows the student and how long they have known the student. ■Helpful Tips: –Tell us something we don’t know about the student. –If the student has chosen a major, tell us why they would be a valuable addition to that department. –Provide evidence of integrity, special skills or circumstances, & positive characteristics. –School personnel or supervisors > casual acquaintances or friends of the family

Overall… Colleges are looking for well-rounded students who will be able to handle academically rigorous classes while being an active, contributing member of the student community.

Questions? ■What happens if my students schedule or grades change senior year? –Can college resend admission? ■Does the application information help with scholarships? ■Do all schools require letters or rec? Essays?