The college application is the gateway for students to get into the college of their choice. There are a lot of moving parts that go into applying to college – the application, tests, transcripts, recommendation letters and essays – all key elements of the process. What do college admissions officers look for in an applicant? How can a student standout? Where to start?
Participating West Geauga incoming seniors had the opportunity to learn first-hand in August during Kickstart App Day 2019! While most of the application process requires students to complete basic paperwork, knowing tips on what will capture an admissions counselor’s attention and how to write an essay that will set them apart from other applicants is paramount.
App Day 2019 began with a review of college application examples– students were divided into small groups to review and discuss the differences between standard and stand-out submissions. Students were then able to meet one-on-one with admissions officers to get feedback on their draft essays. And finally, mock interviews were available for interested students.
Theresa Kulp, West Geauga Educational Foundation Board Member and App Day organizer stated, “This is a wonderful opportunity for West Geauga’s rising seniors to have an actual college admissions counselor provide feedback on their entrance essay as well as learn about what types of activities and achievements stand out in a college application.”
The West Geauga Educational Foundation (WGEF), an independent non-profit group that funds innovative approaches to teaching and learning in the West Geauga School System has organized this event for the past six years. In addition to putting on App Day each year, WGEF organized and sponsored the inaugural Kickstart College Fair and has offered College Prep practice tests over the past few years.
Events like this and our annual pancake breakfast help us raise the funds needed to support the new and innovative programs in our district Mark your calendar for breakfast at the Chesterland McDonalds, where once again the West Geauga Educational Foundation, is serving breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Visit wgef.org to learn more.
