Mistakes You Must Avoid on Your College Application
Posted on Thu, Dec 15, 2011
When it comes time to begin the tedious process of filling out college applications, it is imperative that they are done correctly, efficiently, and effectively.
Our former admissions counselors have seen many applications land in the trash due to simple mistakes. Consider the competition involved when it comes to college acceptance due to the struggling economy. Since just about every state in the union has had to make cuts in order to balance budgets, and colleges receive the bulk of their money from state funding, it has, in some cases, led to a reduction in the amount of students who can be accepted. 
With less seats available for students to fill, and more students than ever applying, a simple misspelling on your college application could be the difference between hearing "We are happy to announce...", and "We are sorry to inform...".
It may not seem fair to judge someone's entire academic career holistically just by glancing at their college application, but try to think from an admissions counselor's perspective. You're sitting at a desk in a cramped cubicle, and a stack of fifty applications are placed in front of you. All fifty of the college applications before you have been pre-approved, meaning they meet the minimum requirements necessary for acceptance. The dilemma? There are only thirty slots available, so you are forced to reject twenty qualified college applications. Your job is a simple two-step process; first you eliminate any college applications containing errors, and then you stack the remaining college applications from best to worst based on SAT scores, accomplishments in and out of school, and GPA's. The top thirty are accepted, the bottom twenty are eliminated.
Wouldn't it be a shame if the college application of a brilliant, deserving student didn't make it in the final cut because certain credentials and civic accomplishments were not properly noted? Wouldn't it be even worse if it never made it past step one due to a spelling or grammatical error?
Below is a list of common mistakes you must avoid when filling out a college application:
- Misspellings: Ask an english teacher or highly educated friend or family member to edit your college application prior to submission. This is the single biggest reason why college applications end up in the no pile.
- Grammatical errors: Once again, have someone revise your college application for you. The more revisions, the better.
- Lack of professional wording: Referring to the school as "your school" isn't professional. It is good to have a personal attachment to the school, but keep it professional.
- Lack of leadership examples: Mention every club, any volunteering you've done, every church play you've participated in, fundraising events, etc.
- Bad Handwriting: There is a reason why many college applications must be handwritten, and you will be rejected if it isn't legible or clearly and professionally written.
Be sure to use this list as a guide while filling out your applications. Keep it handy throughout the process so that your college application can make it to step three "We are happy to announce...".
View general college application requirements.
Need assistance reviewing your college applications? Make an appointment with an experiences college planning counselor.