There is a lot of misinformation about applying to colleges and universities. Here, we are going to debunk some of the most common ones you might hear.
Myth: Highly ranked colleges like Ivy Leagues are the best colleges. For some, this myth is true, but this depends on more than just the social status or prestige of the institution. There is no blanket “best college” to attend, but there will be a best college for you to attend. Consider factors like the major you want to study and the faculty who teach it, the clubs and organizations offered on campus, the location of the campus, and the cost of attending to find your best fit.
Myth: You must decide on a major before you apply to college. You are allowed to be “undecided,” sometimes called “open-enrolled,” when you apply to college. This means you don’t know what you want to major in, and you will not be penalized if you apply as an undecided major. An estimated 20-50% of incoming first-year college students are undecided, and about 75% of students change their major at least once before they graduate, according to Best Colleges. College is about exploring options that could lead to a fulfilling career, and gen-eds allow you to explore many different areas of study. You might find that you really enjoy something you didn’t think you would—or didn’t even know existed.
Myth: Doing more extracurriculars will look better on college applications. The general guide is quality over quantity. What are you passionate about? Are you an athlete who competes in fall and spring sports? Or maybe you’re an athlete who only competes in a club sport. Are you in band, orchestra, or choir, and do you take private lessons for your instrument? Maybe you enjoy volunteering your time walking dogs at a local animal shelter or reading books to children at the library. Show colleges that you have a track record of committing your time to just a few dedicated activities across your high school years instead of trying a new activity every month. A multi-year commitment, whether on a team or volunteer work, will likely demonstrate your passion and leadership abilities.
Myth: Personal responsibilities don’t matter. If you take on family duties like watching your siblings or caring for a sick family member or someone with a disability, include them in your application. These responsibilities highlight your commitment to the people you love, which will help make you stand out from other applicants, especially if you sacrificed being able to participate in extracurriculars to maintain these responsibilities.
Myth: You must have experienced something remarkable or traumatic to write a good college essay. Admission offices want to know what makes you stand out from your classmates. Each person is unique and has personal experiences and reflections to share—but they need not be life-changing events. No matter what you choose to write about, make sure it’s about what you care about, why you care about it, and what you’re doing about it.
Myth: You can use ChatGPT to write your application materials. Using ChatGPT or other AI tools to complete aspects of your college application can have very serious consequences. It’s very easy for colleges to run an AI detector on your application materials, and admission staff are well-attuned to the syntax of AI writing. Colleges admit students, so even if you don’t think your writing skills are the strongest, they will always outdo the writing skills of AI.
Ready to apply to college? Check out this article that explains what you need to know as you start the college application process.
