The Journey
A newsletter for chapter advisors, chapter officers, and
regional officers.
November/
December 2000
Issue
10 Ways To Impress Admissions Officials
The first step in impressing any Admissions Official begins with the application process. Here are a few tips to help you get accepted at the school of your choice.
1. Begin Early - Don’t wait until it is time to transfer to start doing things to get your application noticed. Send applications in early, not the day before the deadline.
2. Be Truthful - Make sure that you are completely honest about your accomplishments and goals. Don’t be dishonest about your test scores, grades or the extent of your extracurricular activities. Eventually, the admissions officials will find out the truth, and you won’t be accepted.
3. Don’t Stretch Yourself Too Thin - Don’t join every club at your college thinking that the volume will look good on your admissions application. Admissions officials are likely to feel that you didn’t devote much time or effort to any organization. Instead, select a few of your favorites, and give them your all.
4. Clarify Contributions - Be sure to explain your contributions and involvement in each organization on your application. Don’t assume that admissions officials are familiar with an organization. Use specific examples to describe your participation.
5. Follow Directions - Read all directions before you begin to write. Failing to read directions can lead to critical errors. Even with a strong GPA, not following directions will leave a bad first impression.
6. Be Neat - Misspellings or poor grammar can be the difference between an admissions interview and a letter of rejection. Applications containing spelling and grammatical errors convey the image that you are not serious about admission into the school. Do yourself a favor by using your spelling and grammar toolbars and also asking others to proofread your work.
7. Use Your Own Ideas - Chances are that if you see something in a book or on the Internet that you think is new or innovative, it’s likely thousands of other people did as well. It’s fine to use others’ ideas to help get your creative juices flowing, but under no circumstances should you plagiarize.
8. Don’t Leave Blanks - Most questions on applications are required. If you leave questions unanswered, your application may be automatically placed in the rejection pile.
9. Keep It Short And Simple - There is a lot to be said for those who get to the point. If the application requires a 200-word essay, don’t write 400 words to impress them with how much you know. Remember yours is not the only application the admissions official must read. Show that you value your reader’s time by keeping things short and simple.
10. Make The Most Of Phi Theta Kappa - Your involvement in Phi Theta Kappa will help you stand out in the crowd. By being an active member, you are able to spotlight not only your academic achievement but also your involvement in service, leadership and scholarly fellowship. A well-rounded student is often a welcomed addition to any senior college campus!
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