Online University Admission Secrets

This question is on the minds of almost every teen and parent in America. Many are worried about university, and for good reason. University is very important and everyone should go to university. There are so many benefits to attaining higher education; the hard part is getting into one like Presley University. Here are some tips and guidelines that should be helpful to any student applying for online university.

• Grades, Grades, Grades. Unless you plan on going to university on a football scholarship, then focus on your grades. Top online universities look for the smartest students with the best grades for multiple reasons. They do not want to waste a university education on someone who will not benefit from it, especially someone who does not care about education. Grades in High School tell universities how serious you are about learning, so an A student obviously cares more about school than a C student. Grades also make you stand out from millions of other potential applicants. Besides that, school is about learning, so you should try your best regardless.

 

• Extra-Curricular Activities. Activities Outside of School are very important to university applications. They put a face on an application that is otherwise all numbers and letters. Even more than that, they are a way for students to take a break from schoolwork. How depressing would life be if it was all work? - Exactly. While trying a bit of everything at first to get exposure is good, it is important to narrow your list, especially for university. Participating in a few activities shows that you are capable of committing yourself to something, whether it is a sport or debate. Do not ignore the importance of extra-curricular.

 

• Live life. Nothing is more boring that someone who lacks life experiences. Universities know this and look for applicants who live active lives. One of the most important questions that universities ask during the admission process is; "What can this student add to our student body that this other student cannot?" The solution- make sure to live an active life and participate all of the time. Additionally, living life will give you more experience in areas outside of the classroom. You will be a more well-rounded person, thus more desirable to universities. Granted, all schools need some book worms, but that is only a small portion of the student body. Your unique experiences make you interesting and make you stand out among other students. It is important not to let tests or grades completely destroy your life, because it will only hurt you in the long run. Save time for yourself to try something new, or go to the movies, or hang out with friends.

 

• Find Something to Represent You- This is usually an activity or a hobby. This is THE activity that you spend most if not all of your free time on. It is something that you are dedicated to and are willing to practice, even if you have to stay up later to finish homework. For some people it is a sport, for others it is a hobby like juggling or painting, but you need to find something. Do not just party with friends all of the time, do something productive. Why? - because it makes you special. Universities look for special students who would add to the student body, so you might be that student. Come time for filling out applications, this activity will really come in handy. You will probably be able to write essays about it showing that you are willing to dedicate yourself. This "something" is different for everyone so just go out and explore things that you enjoy.

 

• Tests - It is common knowledge that it is important to score well on standardized tests for university, but which tests are the most important? - In my humble, objective opinion the SAT IIs are the most important. They are like a final that is the same for everyone in the world, so everyone is graded on the same scale. No two schools teach or grade material exactly the same way, so SAT IIs provide a way to grade everyone in a fair way. Then there are AP tests, which are also very useful in much the same way as SAT II tests. They cover some subjects that the SAT II does not and are more comprehensive (they have a free response portion). Next is the ACT. This tests on learnt knowledge and is similar to a regular test in school. You do well on this test if you know the material. Lastly, and my LEAST favorite is the SAT. This test is absolutely worthless and does nothing. It is called a "reasoning test" and tests on how well you can take a test. It is possible for an otherwise stupid person (for lack of a better word) to score higher than a straight A student. 

 

• University Visits - Too many people go to or apply to a university just because of the name. That is the wrong reason to attend a university. You want to go to a school because it is the best that you could attend that focuses on your interests. It does not help you in the long run to attend Harvard for Hotel Administration, even though Harvard is the best University in the world. If your interest lies in Hotel Administration, then you would be better off applying to Cornell or even University of Las Vegas. They are the best in this particular field. Additionally, it is important to get a feel for the campus and the surrounding area. Students are going to spend four years of their lives attending the school, so they had better like the feel of it. Visiting universities is vital to get to know the area and make the best choice regarding your education. This is one of the most overlooked parts of applying to university, DO NOT ignore this.

 

• Be Organized!!  University application for early decision is due on November 1st for most students. If students plan on applying to a university via early decision, then they had better meet these deadlines. This will probably require working on applications over the summer, but it is for university, so it's worth it. It is immensely important that students start to work on their university apps in all cases over the summer. Once school starts again in the fall, time just flies by and it will be December in what seemed like a few weeks. Stay on top of your applications!!  Missing deadlines is the WORST thing that you could do for universities. Universities have so many other applicants that they will not fret over one lost potential student; there are 5 others who can just as easily fill that space (and who applied on time). Senior year is tough because many students choose to take multiple AP classes and are leaders in their classes and sports. This is all the more reason to be organized and get applications done piece by piece, whenever possible. There will be plenty of time for students to party and relax come March, when acceptance letters are mailed. Although I do NOT recommend it, from March on, seniors could basically just show up to class and twiddle their thumbs the rest of the year. This would get kind of boring, but you get the idea. The important thing is that students get all of their paperwork in on time and have the time to put into it. So, all that I can say is BE ORGANIZED!

 

• Show some interest in the universities that you want to attend. Although, in the grand scheme of applications interest is not as important as grades, tests, or extra-curricular, it is something that can make the difference between 2 students. University obviously wants students who are interested in what the school has to offer, because above all else, they want students to enjoy their experience. They prefer to have students who will absolutely love the campus than students who will settle for it.  So how does a student show interest in university? The answer is actually pretty simple; sign up for their information. The universities will email students information, and soon they will start to send snail mail. University visits help a lot too. Different universities have different methods, so it is up to students to figure out the best way to show interest. You can find out how to have the university contact you on their official websites. Try to get their attention somehow.