3 Tips for Colorado Students to Get Their College Application Noticed

As though your high school student didn’t have enough pressure to get a great grade point average, they also have to volunteer and get glowing recommendations from influential educators in order to get into a good college. With college applications becoming more competitive with each passing year, some students are coming up with creative ways to get their colleges of choice to notice them.

In his book “The New Rules of College Admissions,” Scott Ham, the former Admissions Dean of Northwestern University explains that gimmicks that seem clever to high school graduates are often just a pain to deal with and don’t help in any way. He has had students turn their college applications into jigsaw puzzles, write them backwards and send them in with a mirror and every year he gets some applications with a show (one foot in the door) or a balloon (so it will rise to the top). Here are some of his best tips for success with college applications.

Just be yourself

The best way to not be looked over is to be memorable and the only way to do that is to foster a personal connection with the admissions officer. While parents can offer advice about content, and teachers and tutors can help polish the grammar and vocabulary, the application must be written by the student.

When the application letter is sincere, from the heart and shows the real personality of the student, there is a far better chance of forging a real connection and a memorable introduction. As in all things, be yourself, be sincere and don’t try to write what you think they want to hear.

Show your stuff

Don’t send along a resume; these are almost always disregarded. Instead, showcase your talents effectively within the reasonable limits of the application form. Each university is looking for students who are talented and who will add to the eclectic tapestry of campus life.

If you can play a musical instrument, add a video of a recent performance or if you are an accomplished artist, include a slide show of your work. Whatever your unique talents, include them in your application even if they don’t pertain to the course you are going to study.

Show that you are serious

When the recruiting officer comes to you school, be sure to make contact with them and ask them to fill out an information card. Visit the campus and fill out an information card to show that you were there and ask for an interview while you are at it. Colleges want to be sure that they are your first choice when going through the application process, so show your commitment by making contact as often as possible.

When it comes to college applications, remember that your poor admissions officer has thousands to get through. Make their lives easier by sticking to the format and really trying to show them who you are, what you are passionate about and (above all else) be sincere.

Is Your Colorado Student Skipping School? Here's what to Do

Almost every student plays truant from time to time. Perhaps they feign illness or pretend to go to school only to end up skipping class. When this problem becomes chronic, your student could be facing bad grades or failed semesters. The key to dealing effectively with your child not wanting to go to school is to really understand the problem.

Find the cause

There are a number of reasons why your student may not be attending school. Perhaps they are overwhelmed and are not coping in class, or perhaps they have been bullied and are afraid to go to school. Anxiety from these kinds of issues can lead to physiological symptoms like stomach ache, headaches and nausea.

You can also explore other possibilities like not getting along with the teacher or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It’s vital that you understand the underlying causes of your child’s absenteeism if you are to effect a plan of action that can help them to overcome their difficulties.

Getting answers

Of course the first person you should talk to is your student. It’s important to remain calm and patient, even if they seem reticent to tell you. Remember that if they are feeling overwhelmed or if they are being bullied, they may be too embarrassed or afraid to tell you.

Speak with their teachers who have an excellent insight into what happens during school hours. Your child’s teacher and help to unravel the root causes of absenteeism and provide insight as to who may be influencing your student. Educators have excellent ideas or suggestions on how to solve the situation too. You should also speak with friends and other family members to make sure you understand the situation and see the whole picture. Chances are if the absenteeism is chronic, there may be more than one cause.

Plan of action

When formulating a plan of action to overcome the difficulties your student is experiencing, you need to include them in the discussion. When they are part of the planning, they are far more likely to be part of the solution.

Together, you should outline a very clear plan of action so that they feel supported and so that there is a structure in place and they know what’s expected of them. Address the underlying issues directly and get their input on how best to handle the situation. For example, if they are being bullied, they may not want you to get involved. In this case, you should discuss coping strategies and ways to deal with bullies.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Extraordinary circumstances call for strong measures, so don’t be afraid to ask family members for help. You can also rely on the teacher and principal for added support and help with formulating a realistic plan for overcoming difficulties. If your student feels overwhelmed, get a tutor to help them with their studies. If anxiety is an issue, speak with the school councilor about ways in which to offer support or getting counseling that will your student to cope.