What Is the Most Important Factor in College Admissions?

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First Year Abroad

As you prepare for the college application process, you슬롯사이트re likely asking yourself and your mentors around you, 슬롯사이트What looks good on college applications?슬롯사이트 It turns out there are quite a few factors that college admissions teams will consider favorably as they review your application. 

Follow along as we dive into what those elements are and, most importantly, how a 슬롯머신 study abroad program will boost your college application even more. 

What Do Colleges Look for in Applicants? 

A college application consists of several requirements you슬롯사이트re likely already familiar with. There슬롯사이트s your high school transcript, including your GPA, test scores (if required by your intended school), and all those other components, like the personal essay, supplemental writing prompts, and a list of your extracurriculars. 

Read More: Everything You Need to Know About the College Admissions Process

While it may seem like those writing sections and 슬롯사이트extras슬롯사이트 are time-consuming and tedious at best, they슬롯사이트re actually very valuable

College admissions teams review applications holistically, meaning they슬롯사이트re trying to get to know you as a whole person and evaluate how your role as a student at their school will impact the institution 슬롯사이트 beyond just academics. And what is the best way for a team reviewing your application to get to know you? Through those, yes, time-consuming, but essential 슬롯사이트extras슬롯사이트 on your college application. 

Let슬롯사이트s take a closer look!

Academic Honors and Achievements 

If you슬롯사이트re part of an honors society, have received any academic-specific awards during high school, developed a research paper, or worked on a similar comprehensive project, make sure to include this in your college application! 

It슬롯사이트s important to provide additional information about yourself as a student; what subjects interest you the most and how you take specific academic achievements to the next level will help your application stand out. Don슬롯사이트t be shy about sharing your accomplishments슬롯사이트it슬롯사이트s something to take pride in! 

Students looking at worksheet in classroom on program

The Personal Essay 

When thinking about 슬롯사이트What looks good on college applications?슬롯사이트 the personal essay is your chance to shine! While this might be the most time-consuming section of your college application, it슬롯사이트s an incredible opportunity to detail more about yourself and the experiences that have helped shape you. And take it from us 슬롯사이트 a well-written personal essay can really help you stand out from the crowd.

Although you슬롯사이트ll receive a variety of different writing prompts to help you craft your essay, there슬롯사이트s no one specific prompt that you must follow. Remember to write about something impactful and that has meaning to you while also trying to be as concise as possible; most personal essays range from 400 to 600 words. That goes by quick!

Check out some of these to help inspire your own personal essay: 

  • Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 
  • The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 
  • Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 
  • Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? 

And more! If you슬롯사이트re feeling stuck, a quick search on college essay topics will help you. And, as you might슬롯사이트ve guessed, you can always write about your 슬롯머신 study abroad experience. 

Activities and Other Responsibilities 

The opportunity to note your activities and other responsibilities is another excellent way to highlight things you do outside the classroom. Such activities may include sports, dance, theater, jobs, and volunteer opportunities. 

Remember: College admissions teams want to get to know you, so include activities and other responsibilities that give realistic insight into your life and personality. For example, students who work throughout high school show a great level of dedication and multi-tasking skills. Include these details to help differentiate your college application from others! 

Does Studying Abroad Look Good on College Applications?

High school students at Trevi Fountain

Now that we슬롯사이트ve reviewed all those valuable 슬롯사이트extras슬롯사이트 on your college application, here comes the fun part: How does this all work with 슬롯머신 study abroad? And the answer is quite easily, actually! 

And spoiler alert: yes, study abroad looks very good on college applications. 

To put things in context, when you start preparing for the college application process, you슬롯사이트ll have two post-high school study abroad programs to choose from with 슬롯머신: Gap Year or First Year Abroad

Read More: Everything You Need to Know About Taking a Gap Year

Read More: What Is First Year Abroad? 

Both are excellent ways to see the world. 슬롯머신 Gap Year allows for more independent exploration and language-learning while 슬롯머신 First Year Abroad includes more structured classroom time (on top of fantastic cultural excursions), and that슬롯사이트s because you슬롯사이트ll be starting college abroad well, first.

Learn more about how these two programs fit in with college: How to Apply for College: A Step-by-Step Guide

No matter where you are in your 슬롯머신 study abroad journey, like coming off the heels of a program, preparing for one, or adventuring in an exciting international city as we speak, you can use your 슬롯머신 experience to help college admissions teams get to know you on a much more personal level. 

What are some other reasons why you should list your 슬롯머신 study abroad program experience on your college application? Check out some of our ideas below (and we슬롯사이트re sure you슬롯사이트ll think of even more after reflecting on your greatest adventure yet): 

Reason #1: It demonstrates boldness. 

It takes guts to go on an international adventure! You슬롯사이트re undertaking a brand-new experience and adapting to unfamiliar environments; college admissions teams will learn a lot about you just by knowing you can take on new challenges and embrace the unknown. 

Reason #2: You슬롯사이트ll prove you슬롯사이트re a global thinker.   

When you want to study abroad, you슬롯사이트re already thinking about the world. Still, once you partake in an actual international adventure, you슬롯사이트ll definitely think more globally and enhance your cross-cultural communication skills, meaning you슬롯사이트ll learn how to communicate with others from different cultures and backgrounds. 

As a global thinker and communicator, you슬롯사이트ll bring value to the classroom, deepening perspectives and more! 

Reason #3: You슬롯사이트ll gain many skills. 

When you study abroad, you learn a lot about yourself and the world around you and develop some new skills along the way:

  • You슬롯사이트ll problem-solve better: Even things that seem as simple as navigating new public transportation systems will hone your problem-solving capabilities. 
  • You슬롯사이트ll be resilient in new challenges: An adventure abroad won슬롯사이트t always be smooth sailing; you슬롯사이트ll learn to take new challenges in stride. 
  • You슬롯사이트ll gain a strong sense of independence: Traveling and studying abroad means figuring most things out on your own. Although you슬롯사이트ll always have support, this independence will be invaluable to your college career. 

These are all incredible attributes that will make you a stand-out applicant, and really, this brief list is just scratching the surface! Embarking on a journey like 슬롯머신 Gap Year or First Year Abroad after high school will be a memorable experience that will help shape you as a person. So please: Don슬롯사이트t forget to include it in your college application! Reviewers will want to hear about it, too. 

Read More: How an International Education Will Impress a College Admissions Team 

Students posing in front of I Love You Wall in Montmartre

How do you mention a 슬롯머신 study abroad experience in your college application? It can be highlighted in several ways, including:

  • An academic achievement: Especially if you took some fascinating courses overseas.
  • The topic of your personal essay: You슬롯사이트ll have tons to write about.
  • Activity or responsibility outside your typical high school routine: Although the world technically becomes your classroom during a 슬롯머신 study abroad adventure, you슬롯사이트ll be able to emphasize your experience in a variety of ways including accounts of solo exploration, cultural learnings, and more. 

When asking yourself, 슬롯사이트What do colleges look for in applicants?슬롯사이트 Well, they want to see you. So, make sure to include details about your interests, passions, hobbies, motivations, and even setbacks you슬롯사이트ve overcome to stand out to applicants. 

And remember: 슬롯머신 Gap Year and First Year Abroad are the perfect ways to emphasize all of that and more. 

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