Essays and activities — ways to improve admission odds

Bigger isn’t always better. Consider this year’s class of 2029 college admissions trends: 6-percent increase in applications, 8 million applications through the Common Application and 3.9 million upcoming high school graduates, the largest and most diverse in history, as reported by CBS Evening News this March.

With colleges receiving more applications with limited spots, there are more rejections and waitlist letters. How can a high school student beat the odds to achieve a competitive advantage?

Think of the college application process as building a high school toolbox with three critical tools: standardized test scores, meaningful activities and memorable essays.

Starting with standardized test scores, many colleges have remained test optional. This has boosted the number of colleges that each student is applying to since many perceive there are less barriers for admissions. However, most schools still report average test scores.

For example, the University of Vermont, which is test-optional, touts that their current freshman class test scores are in the top 10 percent of test takers: ACT 31-34 (of 36) and SAT 670-740 (of 800). With the holistic application review process, submitting test scores can make an application more compelling for specific majors and awarding merit scholarships.

In addition, many high schools include their average test scores in their school profile. In fact, some high schools are listing specific GPA ranges with that group’s average standardized test scores. For example, students earning a GPA of 3.9-4.0 are achieving an SAT of 740 in reading and English and 730 in math. This allows the college to assess grade inflation and mastery of the subject.

According to Opportunity Insights, an educational research non-profit, standardized test scores can be a better predictor of college student achievement than GPA. The report compared performance gaps of admitted students who submitted scores to those who did not.

Second, the Common Application asks students to list their top 10 activities with duration throughout high school, estimated weekly hours and leadership roles. The description is limited to 150 characters with spaces, which is roughly equal to a tweet on the X social media platform.

Activities are grouped into 27 categories (drop-down menu) including athletics, career-oriented, community service and work (paid). Collectively, activities help to paint a picture of the student’s interests, commitments and involvement. Since colleges are creating communities, a student’s past experiences can serve as a bridge to their future campus engagement.

For example, if a student is interested in the environment, there are opportunities to be exposed to this field. Champlain Valley Union High offers AP environmental science. The University of Vermont summer academy includes the class Climate Change and You. Shelburne Farms offers youth farmyard educators (ages 15-17) for hands-on agriculture and animal responsibilities. There are internships at Common Roots in South Burlington to support its local sustainability mission.

Finally, the many required college essays highlight a student’s academic achievements and personal activities. Telling memorable stories reflects how life experiences shaped the student’s views and interests.

The 2020 book “Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions” written by Jeffrey Selingo, a bestselling author and journalist, traces being embedded in the college application review process. He explains the college’s point of view on how compelling essays can tilt an application into an acceptance.

Selinger describes a Davidson College review session: “In a sea of sameness that becomes the committee’s deliberations after several hours, it’s once again a small element in a file that turns the group’s opinion. … She scored a 32 (out of 36) on the ACT. The admissions officer says he felt the student ‘didn’t check all the boxes.’ … Then the reader turned to the essay. That’s when I got interested. And so does the rest of the committee.”

The college essays are the only opportunity for the student to share their personal voice, passionate ideas and future goals directly with the committee. Colleges want a range of backgrounds, talents and perspectives to interact within the campus community. If a student starts sounding the same as others, why would a college admit another cog in the wheel?

Throughout high school, it is important to open the tool chest early and assemble it with helpful and shiny experiences. With increasing college applicants for limited slots, many qualified students get passed over each year. The earlier a student begins identifying areas to explore, the bigger the edge compared to those who wait until the last minute.

(Margo Bartsch founded College Essay Coach, a full-service college admission business, and has been an adjunct professor in business at Champlain College and at Middlebury College.)