College applications might not be due for months, but it's never too early to start thinking about how to make yours shine. You already know you need top grades and strong test scores, participation in extracurricular activities, a terrific essay, and great recommendations. But what else can you do to make your application really stand out? What, exactly, are admissions officers looking for?
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To find out, we spoke with admissions officers at colleges across the country. Here's what they had to say.
The Holistic Approach
Most admissions professionals agree that every piece of your application is important. In fact, many schools have adopted the "holistic" admissions theory; that is, taking an all-encompassing look at a student's file. "By taking any one factor separately, [we risk] not being able to interpret the application correctly," explains Tom Hassett, director of admissions at La Roche College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
So take heart: one poor grade or less-than-stellar test score doesn't mean admissions …
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