6 Ways to Make Your Teens More Competitive in College Admissions

Navigating the college admissions process today can feel like aiming at a moving target. Many top universities are seeing record-breaking application volumes, and the return of standardized testing requirements at prestigious universities across the U.S. has shifted the goalposts once again. Standing out in a sea of high-achieving applicants requires a blend of academic rigor, strategic summer planning, and authentic storytelling. In this guide, we’ll discuss proven strategies to make your child a powerhouse candidate in today’s college admissions environment.

Here is a quick overview of six ways to make your teen more competitive in college admissions:

• Tip #1: Make the most of summer break (the extra semester).
• Tip #2: Cultivate authentic demonstrated interest.
• Tip #3: Master the narrative in the personal statement.
• Tip #4: Secure strategic letters of recommendation.
• Tip #5 Help your teen be a leader, not a follower.
• Tip #6: Encourage your teen to be true to themselves.

Keep reading for a more detailed discussion of these expert college admissions strategies.

College Admissions Tip #1: Make the most of summer break.

High school summers are the extra semester that can help give your student an edge in college admissions. This time can be used to get a jumpstart on college applications and prepare for the SAT and ACT. With many test-optional schools returning to test-required, summer is the ideal time for intensive prep. Consider investing in SAT or ACT prep courses to improve exam scores or enrolling your student in a high school summer program that offers exam prep and expert college admissions guidance. 

When selecting a summer program or activity, consider how it will improve your student’s college application—whether through expert test prep, college advising, or enhancing their application through volunteer work or summer jobs. Remember: Summer break is the secret weapon of the competitive applicant. Use this three-month window to gain a massive head start.

Competitive edge: The Common Application typically opens August 1st. Students who draft their Personal Statement and fill out their activity lists in July avoid the senior year burnout that leads to rushed, mediocre essays in October.

College Admissions Tip #2: Cultivate authentic demonstrated interest.

Many colleges track how much a student actually wants to attend. In a world of one-click applications, showing you care matters to college admissions officers. To that end, your teen should engage with the schools on their list early and often. Beyond just campus tours, students should attend virtual webinars, sign up for department-specific newsletters, and reach out to local admissions representatives with thoughtful questions.

Competitive edge: Most elite institutions use the “Why This College?” essay prompt as a litmus test for genuine interest. The secret to winning this essay is hyper-specificity. An applicant who can mention a specific professor’s research or a unique campus tradition shows they’ve done their homework and are genuinely interested in earning a place on campus.

College Admissions Tip #3: Master the narrative in the personal statement.

An application is not just a resume; it’s a narrative. Your student’s personal statement (and any supplemental or optional essay) is a great way to set them apart from the pack. Don’t focus on following a set structure of what you think admissions committees want. Instead, encourage your student to show a clear and vibrant picture of who they are—the feeling of crisp autumn air that inspired their choice to pursue an ecology major or the sound of the buzzer at a swim meet where they learned the value of hard work. Use vivid detail to paint the masterpiece of their journey thus far and how they envision their future. In the age of AI-generated content, a raw, vulnerable, and human essay stands out.

Competitive edge: Avoid resume dumping or just relisting achievements in the personal essay. Instead, your teen should focus on a specific moment of growth, a unique perspective, or a quirky obsession to help them stand out from other applicants and make a human connection with the reader.

College Admissions Tip #4: Secure strategic letters of recommendation.

Just because a teacher gave your teen an A doesn’t mean they should ask them for a letter of recommendation. In fact, it would be more effective to choose a letter writer who saw them struggle at first but really show determination in fighting for that B. Life lessons and character building experiences work on an entirely different grading system. Encourage your teen to choose teachers they feel are personally invested in their long-term success. 

Competitive applicants secure letters of recommendation that provide anecdotal evidence of their character. Students should build relationships with their teachers early in the school year. They should participate in class, visit during office hours, and—most importantly—provide their recommenders with a “brag sheet” when requesting recommendations. 

Competitive edge: Encourage your teen to record a detailed list of achievements from the class or program overseen by the person who will be writing their letter of recommendation. This brag sheet reminds the recommender of specific projects your student excelled in, making it easier for them to write a detailed, high-impact recommendation for college.

College Admissions Tip #5: Help your teen be a leader, not a follower.

With your teen’s extracurriculars, focus on quality, not quantity. It’s better to be highly involved in two organizations than loosely affiliated with a dozen. Admissions officers are looking for initiative and impact—the difference between following a pre-set path and carving a new one. Start by encouraging them to volunteer and work their way up in the organization, run for leadership roles in clubs, or add management responsibilities to their summer job. Your teen can really stand out among college admissions officers by showing entrepreneurial projects or other ventures they created.

Competitive edge: Leadership is most impressive when it’s quantifiable. Did your student grow a club’s membership by 50%? Did their fundraiser provide over 2,000 meals? Your teen should track and report these impressive metrics on their college application.

College Admissions Tip #6: Encourage your teen to be true to themselves.

With the rise of AI-assisted applications, admissions committees are craving humanity and vulnerability. A student who tries to act like a perfect applicant often ends up sounding like everyone else. Remember: Colleges want a wide variety of students to create a rich and diverse campus. Again, tell your student to avoid finding a formula for acceptance, and instead capitalize on what they bring to the table. Plus, a teen who pursues activities they actually love will naturally work harder and achieve more than one who is simply checking boxes for a resume. Focus less on fitting a pre-college formula and learn how to demonstrate skills that will allow your teen to break the mold.

Competitive edge: When an admissions officer reads your student’s application, they should feel like they’ve just had a conversation with a real person, not a curated brand. Authenticity creates a likability factor that data points simply can’t replicate.