Weak application Answered
I’m going to be a senior in a few months and realized that my application is very weak. Unfortunately I moved here from another country so I had no idea of college apps until last year and now I have 0 honors classes and 1 AP class (for which I haven’t taken the test for) and will have 2 Dual Enrollment classes by the end of next year. Is there any way I can make my application stronger?
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3 answers
Since you have already selected your courses for the fall, there isn't much you can do to change the academic rigor in your highschool transcript (like taking AP, Honors, and Dual Enrollment classes). However, that doesn't mean there isn't still space to improve your application!
First, ensure you are successful in the classes that you are taking. Lots of applications are due in January and early spring, so colleges will see your first semester grades. Second, focus on the 'soft side' of your application materials - extracurriculars (ECs) and essays. This is your opportunity to tell an admissions officer who you are—not just as a student, but as a person too! Ensure you have crafted a rich application narrative, centered on one concept or idea (a theme!, check out this blog post: https://blog.collegevine.com/what-is-an-application-theme/) that ties together your interests and activities both inside and outside the classroom. You can also explain any extenuating circumstances that have impacted your transcript here as well, like moving.
You are the perfect candidate to either stay behind a repeat another year of high school to improve your transcript for course rigor, clubs, ECS, and other factors or apply to a boarding school that has good scholarship aid.
You can apply of course to college in a few months but most likely you will not end up at a great school. It might be easier to stay at home for 1 or 2 years and go to community college and get better grades and course rigor. Then apply as a transfer student to a better 4-year college.
You have run out of runway to make your application strong and compelling. It's not your fault but think carefully about what your next move is because you stay back and fix things but once you commit to a college, you can't go back in time and fix your HS transcript. But you can always do an extra year of HS. It's very common and called a post-graduate year.
I was in the same situation 2 years ago... Now as your are a senior, it might be hard to make your application stronger, but you can still try by doing some extracurriculars. Don't worry about AP courses, extracurriculars are way more important in my opinion. Also, you can always mention this in your application of what you didn't know. Good luck!
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