With more students applying to college than ever — and many with top GPAs and impressive resumes — families often ask, “What will really make my child stand out?”

The good news is that standing out doesn’t require curing cancer or launching a startup. It requires authenticity, clarity, and purpose.

What Helps Applicants Stand Out?

• A Clear Narrative
  Colleges look for coherence. A student who demonstrates a consistent interest in a subject area or cause — through classes, extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations — makes a stronger impression than one with a scattered profile.
• Impact Over Involvement
  Depth matters more than breadth. It’s better to go deep in a few meaningful activities than to be superficially involved in many.
• Strong Essays
  Essays that reflect self-awareness, personal growth, and originality help humanize the application.
• Major preparedness
  This can show up through challenging coursework, research, independent projects, or enthusiasm for the subject matter that comes through in recommendations and interviews.
• Character and Values
  Top colleges care about integrity, resilience, and empathy. These traits often emerge in teacher recommendations, essays, or how a student has contributed to their community.

Final Thought

Standing out is less about strategy and more about being intentional. When students lean into who they are — rather than who they think colleges want them to be — admissions officers take notice.

When it comes to highly selective colleges, the essay can be a deciding factor. But what are admissions officers actually looking for?

It’s about authenticity, reflection, and storytelling.

Core Qualities Top Colleges Look For in Essays

1. Personal Voice
   The best essays sound like a real student wrote them — not a parent, tutor, or AI. Admissions readers want to hear your teen’s voice.
2. A Unique Perspective
   Colleges value essays that offer insight into how a student sees the world. Even a common topic can feel fresh if it’s deeply personal.
3. Alignment With the Student’s Application
   Strong essays often reinforce or expand on a student’s academic interests, character, or values. 
4. Strong Writing and Structure
   While creativity is welcome, the essay should still be clear, well-organized, and free of grammatical issues.

Encourage your student to be real, thoughtful, and honest — that’s what stands out most.

In the Bay Area’s high-pressure admissions environment, it’s easy to feel like “more is better.” But when it comes to college applications, quality matters more than quantity.

There’s no universal number, but most students apply to 10–15 colleges, depending on their goals and resources.

Key Factors to Consider

• College List Balance
  Ensure your teen’s list includes:
  • 2–3 safety schools (very likely admits)
  • 4–6 match schools (good chance of admission)
  • 2–4 reach schools (more competitive)
• Application Bandwidth
  Each college application takes time — especially with supplemental essays. Applying to more colleges can lead to burnout or lower-quality submissions.
• Specific Interests
  Students applying to programs with limited spots (e.g., nursing, business, or performing arts) may apply to more colleges to increase options.

When to Cut Back

If your student is overwhelmed or disengaged, trimming the list may be a smart choice. A focused application strategy leads to better essays, stronger interviews, and a more positive experience overall.

In the Bay Area, where students often attend competitive high schools, families may wonder whether their teen needs more college admissions support than what the school provides.

While many school counselors are dedicated professionals doing their best with limited resources, a private college counselor offers a level of personalization and strategic planning that can make a meaningful difference — especially for students with specific goals or concerns.

The Role of a School Counselor

Most high school counselors help with:

• Academic course planning

   

• General college information

   

• Letters of recommendation

   

• Some support with applications

   

However, the average student-to-counselor ratio in California is over 500 to 1. This means limited time for in-depth college planning or personalized advice.

What a Private College Counselor Offers

A private counselor works closely with students and families to:

• Build a tailored college list

   

• Provide one-on-one essay brainstorming and editing

   

• Create a detailed timeline for applications, testing, and financial aid

   

• Help shape extracurricular and academic strategies over several years

   

• Offer individualized attention throughout the entire process

   

Private counselors can also advise on less obvious aspects of the process, such as summer planning, major selection, or navigating admissions for special circumstances.

Do You Need Both?

Ideally, yes. A private counselor can work in tandem with your school counselor, not replace them. While your school counselor submits important documents and knows your child in the school setting, a private counselor brings the bandwidth to focus on the big picture.