Tips help students stand out

One big piece of advice: Take your time when doing your application.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Each fall, high school students are faced with the daunting task of preparing college applications.
With competition fierce and students setting their hearts on their No. 1 picks, the editors of The Next Step Magazine, a college, career and life-planning magazine for high school students, offer the following tips on how students can get the process moving and make their applications truly stand out.
UParticipate in community service/school activities. College admission decisions are not based solely on grades, but life experiences and extracurricular activities as well. Join in as many activities as your schedule permits to show you are well rounded and will be an asset to the rest of the class.
UBegin application process early. The college application requires a great deal of information: essays, activities, grades, life experiences, financial aid, etc. Be sure to start the process early so you don't miss any deadlines or are forced to rush, which could lead to mistakes or forgetting material.
UFocus on your strengths. Highlighting strengths isn't bragging, it will help you come across as a strong candidate, excited to learn and willing to take chances.
UTake your time with the essay. Be original and plan the topic for the essay carefully. Remember to stick to the application's length requirements and leave plenty of time before the deadline to review it with a critical eye. This will also leave time in case you decide to completely rewrite it.
UApply online. You do so much online already, you might as well fill out your college applications online. It may be easier and some colleges waive online application fees.
XThe Next Step Magazine is distributed in more than 21,140 high schools and read by more than 869,000 students in 50 states and Ontario, Canada. The magazine is headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., where the first issue was published in May 1995.