Components of an Undergraduate Application
Applying to the Well-Versed Universities for UG programs in different streams of Engineering, medical and Arts?
Then you need to know all the components that colleges expect during the admission. TestprepKart takes you through the articles you need to address and give attention to when applying for college admissions.
Academics:
- Top-notch colleges always look for the consistency in academics. So send your Grade 10th and 11th scores with the applications.
- Hope the best and wait till the results are out if your dream university offers you the admission after the grade 12 result.
Standardized Test Score:
- Whatever the standardized test you have done, your dream colleges always choose the best applicants and colleges evaluate students with disparate backgrounds.
- Every college admission process varies, some accept SAT scores and some accept ACT scores. And some accept SAT Subject Tests along with SAT General Test and some accept ACT with Writing.
- Mostly, the SAT Essay score is mandatory for the renowned colleges.
Your Letter of Recommendation (LOR):
- Most universities accept 2-3 Letters of Recommendation (LOR). You have to ask for recommendations once you applied under Early Action or Early Decision. So ensure you’ve informed all your referees (persons that write letters & recommend you for your college admission) at least 1-2 months prior to the college application’s deadline.
- Pick up your teachers or employers as a referee who knows you well and can mirror your competencies in the letter well. College admission officers will trust your LOR if you’ve seen them.
Statement of Purpose (SOP):
- Statement of Purpose is an essay of about 1000 words which addresses the student’s academics, life, the motivation he garnered to pick up his career choice and their goals.
- SOP is often asked by the foreign universities. It varies with the university, some universities ask question-based essays and some ask for regular Statement of Purpose (SOP). But you need to be ready for both.
University Wise Specific Essays:
Many renowned universities will ask you to submit specific essays. These essays are published on their websites and students are supposed to submit their response on those specific essays. Here are examples of essays from Stanford University:
Short Essays
Candidates respond to all three essay topics. Each essay should be a 100-word minimum and to a 250-word maximum.
- The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.
- Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—know you better.
- Tell us about something that is meaningful to you, and why?
Coalition Application Essay Prompts
Choose one of the following prompts. The Coalition recommends you write an essay between 300 and 400 words and no longer than 500 to 550 words.
- Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
- Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
- Has there been a time when you've had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?
- What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What's the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?
- Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.
Common Application Essay Prompts
Choose one of the following prompts. Each essay should be in between 250-word and a 650-word.
- 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?
- Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
- Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
- 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?
- Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Your Personal Profile:
Your personal profile also assists you to admit in a top-notch university if you are incredible in the below aspects.
- Your Awards & Honours will also build your profile strong.
- If you own patents or copyrights then you’ll likely have a chance of acceptance.
- Your Internships, Researches and Publications are also preferred during admission.
- Your leadership quality is assessed by addressing your activities in the clubs, blogs that you’ve associated with and how actively you’re participating in.
- If you excel at any of the competitive sports then you’ll likely have a chance of acceptance.
The Myths of a “Well-Rounded” Profile
Filling up your profile with extracurricular activities or working as a volunteer in an NGO might not help you to get college admission.
Renowned colleges aren’t looking for “well-rounded” students. Instead, colleges are looking for the students who can integrate with the distinct and diverse students.
Some Ideal Activities:
Just get to know the more ideal activities you can explore below
If you’re keen on the Arts, explore Music, Painting, Swimming, Sketching, Photography etc.
If you’re willing to do the voluntary job then aim about Environment, Literacy, Sanitation and Health, Human Rights etc.
If you’re after professional activities, then go for Internships, Summer Jobs, Part-time work, Publishing Papers etc.
To admit in a top-tier college, you have to balance all these articles. Start working on them. TestprepKart wishes you the good luck.
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