Applying for schools, whether a secondary school or a university, can be a daunting prospect. 

For many students, the application process is the culmination of all their efforts in their academic life up until that point, so the stakes are high. Getting accepted into your target school can seem like luck or fate, but there are particular strategies you can employ to increase your chances to make yourself look better in the eyes of a school recruiter. 

If you have applications coming up, don’t worry too much. This article will give you 5 excellent tips for getting accepted into your dream school. If you’d like further assistance, feel free to contact our expert team of tutors — we’re available any time of the year.

5 Things You Can Do to Increase Your Chances of Getting in.

Academics are Important, But Not Everything

We all know that academics are the crux of every application for all children, and we can’t deny that it’s extremely important to have good scores. But school recruiters, now more than ever, are looking beyond your scores and more at other factors such as character development and community involvement.

The process of looking beyond academics is called a “holistic review”, where admissions officers review an applicant as a whole individual rather than just tunnel vision on test scores. Would you fit into the campus or culture of the school? Or would you be a nuisance and cause trouble? Would you graduate from the school as a remarkable alumnus? These are aspects that the admissions officer would try to extrapolate from your application and/or interview to see if you would be a good fit for the school.

Sell Yourself - Creatively

Knowing how to write a good cover letter is an important skill no matter how old you are or what stage you are in life.

Before you get to the interview stage of an application, the admissions officer or school recruiter will read your cover letter to determine if you’re outstanding enough to be considered. Although this judgment is entirely subjective, it’s essential to understand the school or university’s culture you’re applying for. 

When writing your cover letter, you want to include a balance of academic accomplishments and extracurricular activities. You might be a bright student, but do you show the potential to be a proactive member of society as well? Do your interests and hobbies say anything about you as a person? What life lessons did you learn from certain experiences? Answering these questions may help bolster your cover letter.

If you struggle with writing cover letters or essays in general, Keybridge can help you out with our mentoring service. We’ll help you apply to your dream schools from beginning to end and much more.

Stand Out From the Crowd

What makes you, you? Everyone on this planet is unique, but not everyone is extravagant enough to be picked up by the top schools like Eton, Wycombe Abbey, Harrow, etc. As the quality of life increases in much of the developed world, private education has seen a higher priority amongst many families.

Thus, schools are seeing a bigger influx of applications, meaning there’s more competition. Additionally, the UK government encourages private schools and prestigious universities to accept more students from public schools, causing acceptance rates from traditionally elite private schools to plummet.

It’s important that you curate a resume and personality that allows you to shine through the piece of paper you are initially confined to in an application. If you are then invited to an interview, you can show the recruiter who you are in person by having a conversation with them!

Get Involved

Getting involved doesn’t necessarily mean you have to volunteer at charities year-long. Participating in sports, musical achievements, relevant extracurricular activities, and other noteworthy aspects of your life all count.

Although it can seem rather facetious, you can build a lot of character through the activities you participate in. If you truly enjoy what you do, it will show in your application and your interview as you’re talking about your extracurricular activities.

Many children believe that getting good scores in school will suffice and that they can glide through school by being clever, but that is not the case. There are many bright and promising children in both the private and public education system, and there are students who are hungry and determined to get into their school of choice. If you don’t display this same determination, complacency could hinder you.

Dream Beyond Your School

School can seem all-encompassing for many children and young adults. Everything children have worked towards during this period of their life has been for school. Universities, in particular, like it when an applicant is ambitious and has a clear plan of what they wish to achieve post-education. Knowing yourself and your goals after school will give you bonus points in the eye of the admissions officer.

Get Into Your Dream School and Succeed!

Before submitting your application, a lot can be running through your head, and stress levels can be at an all-time high. This is understandable and natural. It can be hard to heed this advice, but try to take it in your stride and accept that being stressed is part of the process and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, regardless of the outcome of your application. 

If you followed the tips above, even if you don’t get into your dream school, you’ll surely be accepted into an excellent school as you are indeed a bright individual. If you need any help whatsoever with your education and school life, don’t be afraid to contact Keybridge Education on our website.