The college application process is complex, and it’s common to see students stressing about application mistakes. Fortunately, admission officers understand that small errors happen and likely won’t bin your application essays for one or two such mistakes. However, there are still several more serious college application red flags that can limit your admission chances! Look out for these red flags and address them before they hold you back. Here are five of the most common college application red flags and how to proactively address them.
1. Incomplete material or information
It’s common to see students who skip certain sections of their application process in order to come back later and complete them. However, there are situations where students click on submit without remembering to fill out those omitted sections. Apart from showing that you ignore details, an incomplete application also means that admission officers won’t have enough information about you.
How to address:
Create a different list and write down every section you’ll skip on the list. Before clicking “submit,” come back to your list and check each number in the list one by one to ensure you’ve filled them correctly. This way, you will get all of the parts of the application that you’ve skipped before. This applies to collecting forms, scanning documents, and attaching any necessary files.
2. Not following directions
The complexity of the process can make it overwhelming for anybody. So, many students unconsciously neglect certain directions and basic requirements in a bid to submit quickly. For example, some students may not abide by the word count requirements for their main essays. Some may not send the required documents in the correct format. These details may seem minor to you, but there’s a reason for the rules, and admission readers pay attention to how you follow them.
How to address:
Before starting your application, make a note of what’s required and expected. Ensure you’re explicitly following the note throughout your application process and avoid skipping any points you’ve written.
3. Disciplinary infractions
Most colleges will only care about your tardies if they are a concerning amount (significantly more than average). However, disciplinary actions like suspensions, expulsions, and academic probations will put the admissions committee on high alert. These actions generally show that you need more time to be ready for the responsibility of taking care of yourself in a rigorous academic environment. After all, the consequences of unethical actions in college and beyond become increasingly serious.
How to address:
If you have any discipline incident on your record, don’t try to cover it up. Use the “additional information” section on your application to explain why you served any disciplinary punishment. Own up to your mistakes and signify what you’ve done to show that you’ve grown pastthat level.
4. Extended leaves of absence
It’s common for students to experience issues that may force them to take a leave of absence from school. A few absences won’t significantly affect your college chances. But it becomes a cause of concern when the absences become regular, and/or with no explanation. In these cases, the college admissions committee may consider it a red flag, irrespective of your grades.
How to address:
This is one of the areas where a strong relationship with your college counselors may help. College admission counselors have the right experience you’ll need to address your unique case. While it’s a good idea to write about it in the additional information section, your college counselor can provide additional context in your recommendation.
5. Inappropriate social media posts
It’s not strange to see colleges denying admissions and rescinding acceptance offers from candidates because of past and current social media posts. Even top universities do this all the time, especially when they find posts relating to racism, sexual abuse, or promoting discrimination.
How to address:
It’s simple: don’t post anything racist, sexist, bigoted, or threatening on social media. Instead, use your social media platforms to create a digital portfolio highlighting your skills. If you made posts you regret in the past, try to clean up your current internet footprint so you can move forward.
Conclusion
No matter how we avoid them, we often still make common college application mistakes. But not all of these mistakes will be overlooked by the college admissions committee. Some mistakes are seen as red flags that mean you’ll struggle in a college environment where you must be mature and independent.
In this article, we’ve discussed some of these college application red flags and how to go about them. However, you can always contact us to discuss other red flags and how to address them.
