Mythbusting the "Perfect" College App

The college application is surrounded by stereotypes. The grades you need, the classes you should take, the activities you should do… the list goes on. Well, I’m here to tell you that many of them are false, or at least not entirely true.

While my advice is somewhat subjective, I have gone through the arduous application process alongside countless individuals, and if you couldn’t believe it before, I did get into college. So I must’ve done something right.

Please reach out to me with any questions, comments, or concerns. There is certain information regarding my college apps that I have withheld from this article, but I am generally willing to share anything in person.

Myth: If I take a difficult class and receive a low grade, it will only hurt my transcript.

Busted: The very act of avoiding difficult classes reflects low effort and a lack of intellectual curiosity. When colleges review your transcript, they look for rigor because they want people who will ask hard questions, tackle difficult problems, and rise to face challenges instead of running away from them. Avoiding hard classes will also stunt your growth, as challenging courses push you to learn and improve more than any easy A, setting you up for greater success in future courses. I’ve also noticed that many Bush students define a “low grade” as anything below the A-range, but that’s just your own expectations talking. If you view a B+ as “failing,” I have a question for you: what sounds more impressive, an A in Introductory Robotics or a B+ in Advanced Aerospace Engineering?

My experience: I took Advanced Chemistry because I enjoyed Chemistry enough, and I thought it would be a difficult challenge. It was the most I’ve ever struggled in a class. Alas, I did not get an A, but I’m glad I did it.

Myth: Rigor is the most important factor in course selection.

Busted: Take difficult courses that you find interesting. There is a balance to be found between rigor and interest. If you take a hard class on a topic that you dislike, you will just be miserable. You may lack proper motivation and effort, and your performance will reflect it. You don’t want to take a class that you hate, and your teachers don’t want you to either. If you must take an advanced science course, pick the one that sounds the most interesting. If you like two electives equally, consider taking the more advanced one. Find the balance.

Also, the question of rigor does not apply to English and History electives, as they are all advanced. College admissions won’t know the difference.

My experience: Although I made it to Spanish III in my junior year, I did not find language classes interesting or enjoyable enough to dedicate the increased time and effort required for a decent grade in Spanish IV. I took Data Science instead because it sounded more interesting, and I loved it.

Myth: The purpose of extracurriculars is to demonstrate my physical and intellectual abilities, my achievements, and my leadership roles.

Busted: Yes and no. College admissions want to see you dive deep into something you love. Do not sign up for an activity just because you think it will look good on your application. If you do not find it interesting, it likely won’t look interesting on your application. Furthermore, the term “extracurricular” includes more activities than you might think. Sports and theater. Extra math or art lessons. Weekly therapy sessions. Baking cookies with younger siblings. The official ACT website defines extracurriculars as “all the ongoing things you do outside your regular classes.” It truly can be anything. I  believe that if you invest time into something you’re truly passionate about, you will achieve great things, because you’ll show up every day and give it your best effort. 

My experience: My activities section was a blend of standard and personal. I had sports and clubs, but also eating dinner with my family and doing art as a hobby. I actually almost put “sleeping” (which was going to be a joke because it’s a shockingly low number of hours), but replaced it with volunteering because it felt a little too laid back, even for me.

Myth: GPA, standardized tests, AP credits… I need to stack my stats.

Busted: Every college counselor and admissions officer I have ever spoken to has said that the statistics are the most boring part of the application. They briefly glance at your GPA and test scores before moving on to your course selection and essays. You also do not need to worry about “making up for” Bush’s lack of AP classes and 5.0s—college counseling makes sure that every admissions officer is well-versed in our school system. Yes, your stats are important, especially at highly competitive colleges—nobody is denying this. Just remember that they are not the only factor. High stats are great to have, but that shouldn’t be your only focus.

My experience: I have never in my life had a 4.0—including when I applied to colleges. I did have a high ACT score after many hours of studying and multiple attempts. I have never taken an AP test, and therefore have no AP credits. My stats were good, but by no means the best.

Side note: If you find yourself frustrated with your SAT score, take a mock ACT. You might prove to be astronomically better at it. Having taken both tests, I can assure you that they are fundamentally different tests designed for different brains.

Myth: My personal statement should be about something profound or life-changing.

Busted: The main issue here is the connotation of the wording—you underestimate what qualifies as “profound” or “life-changing.” Solving world hunger is certainly a life-changing feat, but so is visiting your grandmother on weekends to chat and play board games, or practicing self-care each night to look after yourself. Remember that it is not just a college reading your essay, but a real, live person who has thoughts and feelings of their own. Touch them with your emotions and your passions—things that are important to you. I read many of my friends’ personal statements, and the best ones felt like having a normal conversation with them, because their voice came through authentically without a filter.

My experience: I spent two months writing a very passionate personal statement on a topic that I thought other people found intriguing, but held little importance to me. I received feedback that it was very generic and lacked personality. I scrapped that statement five days before the application deadline and wrote a new one with random little anecdotes from my everyday life. My college counselor said it was infinitely better.

If there’s one takeaway I hope you have here, it’s that you are the captain of your ship. Your peers are the crewmates, your parents and teachers are the assistant navigators, and your college counselor is the first mate. After receiving their advice and support, you make the final decision.