> Application Components

Application Components: Extracurriculars, Recommendations, Etc.

We've got all of the information about what goes into your college applications. Check out our resources on approaching teachers for recommendations, deciding which activities to include (and which to leave out!), and every other aspect of putting together your apps.

What are Colleges Looking for in an Applicant?
Colleges evaluate a number of factors when evaluating a candidate for admission. This short piece explains what colleges are looking for and how they weight each part of the application.

Extracurricular Activities: Strategies
Extracurricular activities are an essential component of your college applications.

Get Top-Notch Teacher Recommendations
Having quality teacher recommendations can be a huge boost to your application. You want to do everything you can to make sure your recs are powerful and persuasive.

Ways to Build an Impressive Admissions Resume
Other than grades, test scores, and good recommendations, what are colleges looking for? If you're not a concert-caliber pianist or gymnastics superstar, what can you do during high school to impress admissions officers?

Get Started with the College Admissions Process
For those who have put off college admissions as long as possible, here are some important steps for getting started with the college admissions process.

Review of How to Survive Getting Into College
A part of the Hundreds of Heads series, How to Survive Getting Into College is a collection of worthwhile advice from hundreds of people who have been through the rigors of the college admissions process.

Summer Activities to Impress Colleges
Increasingly, high school students are getting involved with summer activities that they can put on their application resumes. What should you be doing during the summer to impress colleges?

Early Decision vs. Early Action
Early Decision programs are not the same as Early Action ones. It's important to know the difference between Early Decision and Early Action.

Application Timing - Does it Matter When You Send in Your Applications?
Just because there's a deadline doesn't mean that application timing is unimportant. At some schools - but not all of them - getting your application in early provides a big benefit.

What is a Gap Year?
A "gap year" refers to time off taken by students between high school and college.