It’s not just the studies you should be focusing on. It would be best if you started your university application preps right in your freshman year. Along with your high school grades, you have to prepare for college applications, write essays, build a strong profile with projects, internships and school grades. Finding the right college that provides the program suitable for your career might feel overwhelming with so much to do. You have to navigate many criteria and finally, have a list of colleges that cater to your every need.

Here are some crucial tips to ease your college hunt and find you your dream university.

How to list your university?

  1. Choose your subject: You must choose a subject that suits you perfectly. After all, you will invest your next three to four years studying it and working on it for the rest of your working days. Make sure your subject spikes up your interest, is viable as a career option and has jobs in it. Go to the university program you are interested in, and look up the different variations of the subjects provided under the program and how it is relevant to your interests and your career.
  2. While researching, university rankings may come across many parameters to sort and rearrange the universities you arrange and shuffle into. You want to consider the university rankings concerning the following metrics: course quality, Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Faculty/Student Ratio, Citations per faculty, International Faculty Ratio, International Student Ratio. You must select the metrics that matter to you the most and accordingly shortlist the unis.
  3. Sports and societies: find out the list of co-curricular activities provided. You might want to find something that matches your hobby and is available on the university campus. Find out about the events, clubs, sports, fitness classes, or volunteering in the local community. Your university experience doesn’t have to be crammed with books, assignments and projects; you may enjoy refreshment offered by co-curricular activities.
  4. Student accommodation: you must find out if you want to live off-campus, in an apartment with your friends or in college accommodations. You must consider and compare the basic amenities available in the hostel rooms, dorms, and off-campus apartments. Consider the location and surroundings; if you are looking for an off-campus home, consider a roommate, availability of laundry, wifi, cleaning, workout rooms.
  5. Location/distance: consider the location of the universities you are shortlisting. Your university must be accessible via roads and railways, airways. Do not go for some discretely located uni located outside the city, which has the nearest gas station many miles away. Also, check the distance between your home and the university location. Are you comfortable with the distance so as to visit home every weekend or once in a while? Discuss it with your family.
  6. Support or cost: find out the scholarships, financial aid and the student unions/associations that will help you out. They will guide you through the course materials, mental health, and financing. Find out the protocols and prerequisites for getting in touch with the student unions, and help you integrate with the student body.

How to apply?

  1. Make an early start: it takes time for you to figure out your subject, the colleges you will apply to, and other factors that may influence your admission. Start working on your application, grades and planning comprehensively about your career. It would be best if you started as early as your freshman year, so you have four years to plan out all the requirements, applications, tests, essays, and SOPs, interviews. You get enough time to sort through the complex criteria for each university and understand their unique requirements and screening process for their student, increasing your chances of getting selected.
  2. Check admission requirements: you must have a plan of action in working while applying to the shortlisted colleges. You must conduct thorough research, including talking to the presently enrolled students, contacting admissions offices to get the specification of the faculties and facilities, stalking the university online, checking the online website to get an idea of the university culture. Tailor your application statement of purpose according to the work culture you deduced from your research.
  3. Ace the standardised admission tests: you must take tests to improve your chances of getting into the university of your choice. SATs and ACTs are the standard criteria for evaluating the students according to their scores. You may also take AP classes, but you must study for them as some colleges only accept a perfect score of 5. Wizeprep lessons are one of the best preparatory platforms for you to research and win your dream college.
  4. Applications do’s: get organised. List the college requirements and tailor your application to answer the college qualifications. List the things you want to add to your application; Showcase your credits relevant to the college ethics, and eliminate unnecessary material references. It will reduce the hassle of processing your application at the university end: complex applications will confuse the university officials and cause you to lose your opportunity.

Be mindful of the deadlines. A late application will catch the eye for all the wrong reasons. On the other hand, if you are late due to unavoidable circumstances, you might also send it in and hope for the best.

Do not write short essays, less than minimum words, or articles that overshoot the word limit by a considerable margin. Remember to proofread your essay manually, as software applications that proofread your essay may lead to subtle errors that require 2-3 proofread cycles.

The college will scrutinise your work and judge whether you have invested your time in the college essays and letters.

Conclusion:


With all the important reminders covered, you are ready to prep vigorously for the university of your choice. But, unfortunately, there is no shortcut for you to get into your dream college. Still, with intelligent research and carefully drafted applications, essays, SOPs, you might be able to grab the university official’s attention and get into your dream college/university.

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