How to Get Recruited for College

Stand out!

It is a known fact that extraordinary students who demonstrate exceptional abilities, accomplishments, and potential, particularly in sports, can get recruited to college. However, not many people know that athletics is not the only ticket to college admissions. Because colleges are trying to produce a diverse and talented incoming class, they recruit brilliant students with extraordinary talents coming from different groups and organizations.


How to Get Recruited for College

There are three primary types of recruitment that college admissions committees from different schools do. These include:

1. Recruiting with guaranteed admission and a full scholarship;

2. Recruiting with guaranteed admission and no scholarship; and

3. Preferred admissions walk‐on situations


The first two types are fairly self‐explanatory and are more familiar to aspiring students who want to get recruited in college. The third type, offered by some top‐tier schools including Dartmouth College and Harvard University, works when an organization head, say a debate coach, chooses prospects who excel in the organization, ranks them according to their performance, and sends the list of preferred candidates to the admissions office of a particular college.


Recruiting from the Debate Team

Aside from athletics, another common organization where colleges recruit prospective students is the
debate team, whose members are exposed and trained to develop good communication, public
speaking, reasoning, and logical skills. Debate is often considered an “academic sport" because of the intense preparation and competitive spirit that the activity embodies.

If you are a member of the debate team and you want to get recruited by top universities in the US, it’s not enough that you get endorsed by your debate coach. Your name also has to ring a bell to college admissions officers. The best way to do this is to network with debate coaches and debate judges whom you have encountered over the years. You must also keep in constant communication with debaters you’ve met during tournaments and introduce yourself to debate advisers in the colleges you prefer to attend in. This is similar to athletes who go to camps and advertise themselves to coaches to get recruited.


Intrinsically Valuable Activities vs. Extrinsically Valuable Activities

Most importantly, a student can guarantee recruitment for college if he or she constantly aims for
excellence in activities that are both intrinsically and extrinsically valuable. An activity is said to be
intrinsically valuable if participation in it enables the student to demonstrate important qualities, such
as leadership, dedication, focus, and hard work by the captain of a state‐championship winning football team.

On the other hand, an activity is considered extrinsically valuable if participation in it shows that you can make a distinct contribution to the same activity or group when you attend college.  An active
and admirable high school debater, for example, can most likely be of help to the college debate team.

Useful Tips for Writing a Winning College Admissions Essay

Write that essay!

In addition to high school grades and standardized test scores, a stellar college admissions essay is a
ticket into your top choice college.  The essay, being such a valuable piece of the puzzle, can be
daunting.

While there is no specific formula for writing a perfect essay, you must set your eyes on the main goal – to persuade the admissions committee of your worthiness. You want to prove to them that you are more than your standardized test scores or GPA.  You are a person, and by the end of the essay, they need to like you.

Summer is a great time to prepare and to start implementing the following tips:

Focus on the essay question. Most colleges provide questions so it’s important never to lose sight of
your subject matter. Stick to the topic and answer the questions straight to the point.
In your first draft, write freely. Write whatever comes to mind.  Writing involves an endless process of thinking, taking notes, and editing. This first step, however, will surely lead you to a well-written essay.


Write a strong and convincing introduction. Due to piles of college essays awaiting them, most
admissions officers have very limited time to go through an entire application. They may only read the first part of your essay. So, you need to capture their attention in the first paragraph of your essay,
maybe even the first sentence! You should include interesting details and pieces of information that will keep them engrossed in your writing.


Reveal your voice. The point of the admissions essay is for the admissions committee to get to know
you, personally. This essay gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself, show them what you are
made of, and what you can offer to their institution. Be creative in doing so, but also have a sense of
restriction not to overwrite.


Make time for revisions. As mentioned earlier, a successful essay involves the rigorous process of
writing and rewriting. Revisit your essay multiple times to see if you have further additions that will
improve your writing. Check your essay for typographical and grammatical errors, because sometimes these simple mistakes may ruin the totality of your final output.


Finally, have other people read and edit your essay. You may ask friends or family members to go over your written work, as they may have additional input that could contribute to the betterment of your essay. Do not fear criticism, as it will definitely help you produce a winning college admissions essay.

How to Get Into Ivy League Schools

The Eight Ivy League Schools

The Ivy League is a group of eight private colleges and universities in the East Coast known for providing high-quality education and exceptional learning experience. These universities were among the earliest academic institutions founded in the United States and have contributed significantly throughout history.

The prestigious colleges and universities that make up the Ivy League are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth University, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. Although the term Ivy League was originally associated with an athletic conference in which the sports teams of the eight colleges competed, it has developed to connote academic excellence, high standard admission process, and social elitism.


Ivy League Admissions Process

Every year, a myriad of outstanding and average applicants knock at the admission doors of the eight
schools belonging to the Ivy League. However, with the exceedingly competitive nature of each college, getting into an Ivy League school can be very tough. All eight universities are highly selective and set the bar extremely high, as acceptance rates are normally below 10. Moreover, getting into and attending an Ivy League school can be very expensive, costing an average of $35,000 a year.

Different colleges have different admission processes and look for different types of candidates.

• Princeton University looks for students with intellectual curiosity, academic excellence, and strong personal and extracurricular accomplishments. In addition to exceptional academic records and exam scores, Princeton will ask you to write two to three essays as part of the application process. 

• At Harvard University, the factors that are weighted the most are academic accomplishments, strong personal qualities, special talents, and unique personal circumstances. Prerequisites for Harvard college admission include the application and supplemental essays, SAT or ACT scores, high school transcripts, teacher evaluations, and application fees. 

• Similarly, Yale University prioritizes an applicant’s academic strength, which can be derived from grades, standardized test scores, and evaluations from teachers and counselors. In addition, the school’s admissions committee evaluates the motivation, leadership skills, and distinctive talents of each applicant. 

How to Get into a Good College

Having a good education can significantly help you achieve your personal and professional goals in life. If you are ambitious about your future and want a job that you love and that pays well, there is no better preparation than getting a high-quality education from a good college. Getting into a good college starts by showcasing your skills and talents, fulfilling the school’s requirements, and completing the college admissions process.

Questions Asked On College Interviews

The college interview is an important part of the college application process at many US colleges and
universities. Although it is rarely the deciding factor in whether an applicant will get admitted to or rejected from a specific school, the college admissions interview is a great opportunity for candidates to showcase themselves, share information that are not available in their application file, discuss their expectations about the school and the program, and talk about their future career plans and goals. This is where you will be tested if you can communicate well and express your thoughts in a confident manner. Combine that with an impressive application letter, you'll have a very good chance of being admitted into your dream college.


Conducted by a faculty member, admissions committee member, an alumnus, or a current student in
the school, interviews give candidates a chance to meet with someone who represents the college. Most college interview questions are meant to help them and the interviewer find out if they are a good match to the school and the program.



Common Interview Questions

Below are some typical questions asked during college interviews that can help you prepare and think

about your answers ahead of time.

 Why are you considering this college?

 What makes you think that this college would be a good match?

 Where else are you applying and why?

 What do you hope to major in?

 What do you expect to be doing ten years from now?

 How do you define “success?”

 What have you liked or disliked about your school?

 How would you describe yourself to someone who did not know you?

 What newspapers and magazines do you read?

 What books not required for school have you read recently?

 What television shows do you watch?

 Tell us about your family.

 How do you spend a typical afternoon after school? Evening? Weekend?

 What extracurricular activities have you found most satisfying?

 What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

 What has been your proudest achievement so far?

 If you could talk with anyone living (or deceased) person, whom would it be and why?

 What events have been crucial in your life?

 What is the most important thing you’ve learned in high school?

 What mark do you feel you’ve left on your school?

 What do you want to get out of your college experience?

 What makes you unique?

 What could you contribute to our college community?

 Talk about a significant challenge you have encountered.

 Is there anything you’d like to tell us about your transcript?

 What is your greatest passion?

 How would your friends describe you?

 If you had high school to do over again, what might you have done differently?

 What are your goals for your senior year?


Other Pointers to Remember

Different schools have different interview questions and guidelines. You can be interview either by one school representative or a panel of interviewers.  There is no official set of interview questions, as well.

All you can do is to anticipate what they could probably ask you, and how you will respond to their
questions. Feeling nervous is normal, but you have to contain your emotions during the interview. It is important that you be confident and show that you are well-prepared for the interview and are ready to take on whatever is in store for you during the entirety of the college admissions process.