How to Build a Balanced Application Approach

Applying to college is hard. The application process can be confusing, and there are lots of choices. Do you want to study political science at a good school? Great; you have 4,000 options. Where do you even begin? Building a strong application starts by having an intentional goal, focusing on the parts of the process that allow you to highlight the student you are today, and setting your expectations accordingly.

Here are some tips on how to build a balanced application.

Know the facts. What’s the difference between Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania? Boston College and Boston University? Don’t forget the “the” when you apply to the Ohio State University! There are tons of little details that make each college distinctive. When you are putting together your college list, you should know what those details are and you should be able to articulate the reasons why you are applying to each college. Generic statements, such as, “I want to study at a research university in the mid-Atlantic,” will not get you very far with Johns Hopkins or the University of Maryland. (Ask me how I know.)

We recommend you apply to a list of six to eight colleges. This list of schools should be intentional–there should be a reason for your application to each. Your application, as a result, will be focused and specific. You will write better essays and read better as an applicant.

Control what you can. We live in an age where data is king, but there is a ton of misinformation out there. This is especially true about the college admissions process. Decisions are made behind closed doors, so it’s easy to rely on what you’ve heard from a battle buddy or your mom’s neighbor. Ultimately, much of applying to college is out of your hands. Your academic coursework and your essays, in particular, will tell the story of why you are the right fit for the school you are applying to. Let your application speak for itself. 

By the way, you know how they say you can’t outrun a bad diet? Well, you can’t outrun your current grades, either. Your transcript will do most of the heavy lifting in your application. Your academic record is the part of the process that you are most in control of, so devote most of your energy to being the best student you can be.

Manage your expectations. The reality is that some colleges, the ones you might consider “prestigious,” turn away more than 90% of the students who apply. They just have more qualified applicants than seats in their classes. While we are always hopeful that our S2S applicants will be admitted to their top schools, we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the reality: most students simply don’t get in. We can help you shoot your shot–just make sure you understand the reality of the game.

If you’ve built a college list with six to eight schools, be sure to include an option or two that you are likely to get into. That will alleviate some of the stress you feel as you await decisions from the more selective institutions.

Applying to college can feel like a stressful task, especially on top of your family life, your job, and everything else. Try to relieve some of that stress by being honest with yourself. Our goal is never to deter you from applying to any college or university; we just want you to prepare the best application possible and set your expectations accordingly.

They say to shoot for the moon and if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. No matter what happens, with a balanced approach to applying, you will end up at a college that would be lucky to have you.

Watch the recording of our How to Build a Balanced, Thoughtful, Successful College List webinar.

Sign up for admissions support and get hands-on insights into your college list.