In today’s competitive society, success generally depends on two things: proper positioning and energetic promotion. It’s no different for a student who wants to be accepted into a top-notch college. A student with board scores in the 500s and a B average has plenty of options, if he knows self-promote. Read on to learn get into a top college with ordinary grades.
Instructions
1. Take the right courses in high school. The quality and level of courses you take actually count for more than grades. A B in an advanced placement course counts for more than an A in a standard track course.
2. Take review courses and read review books for the college boards. If you take them a second time, you should show improvement.
3. Nail the essay in the application form. Make sure it’s spelled right, grammatically correct and interesting. Give the admissions office a reason to notice you. Highlight any interesting activities or interests, such as work or volunteer experience, sports, hobbies or other strengths.
4. Ask teachers and employers for recommendations. Encourage them to be specific about any special talents or qualities you have. You want them to go beyond, “Sally is a fine student and a joy to teach.”
5. Apply to unlikely schools or to schools in which you expect to be a minority. Colleges look for diversity. As a small-town student, you may be just what a large urban university like Harvard is looking for. Jewish? Try a Catholic school. Male? Try a newly integrated woman’s college.
6. Apply to your parents’ alma mater. Before you dismiss the idea, consider that an alumnus parent boosts admission chances significantly.
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