{"id":967,"date":"2025-03-19T02:47:32","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T02:47:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/?p=967"},"modified":"2025-03-24T00:23:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T08:23:05","slug":"what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/","title":{"rendered":"What College Admissions Officers Actually Look for (and How to Stand Out)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Applying to college? Admissions officers review <em>thousands<\/em> of applications, and let\u2019s be real\u2014they don\u2019t have time to overanalyze every detail. They want students who will <em>thrive<\/em> academically and bring something unique to campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what <em>really <\/em>matters in your application? Here\u2019s the inside scoop\u2014plus expert-backed tips to boost your chances of getting that <em>yes!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-2-1024x576.png\" alt=\"What College Admissions Officers Actually Look for (and How to Stand Out)\" class=\"wp-image-1220\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-2-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-2.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Strong Academics (It\u2019s More Than Just Your GPA)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, grades matter\u2014a lot. But it\u2019s not just about having a perfect GPA. Admissions officers also look at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Course Rigor<\/strong> \u2013 Taking AP, IB, Honors, or dual-enrollment courses shows you\u2019re willing to challenge yourself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Upward Trend<\/strong> \u2013 If your grades improved over time, highlight that growth. Resilience matters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Class Rank (if available)<\/strong> \u2013 A strong rank in a competitive school can work in your favor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udca1<strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Struggling in a subject? Use your essay or additional info section to explain challenges and how you overcame them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Test Scores (If Required)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With more schools going test-optional, SAT\/ACT scores aren\u2019t always necessary. But if yours are strong, they can boost your application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Check Score Ranges<\/strong> \u2013 Compare your scores to your target school\u2019s middle 50% range.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AP &amp; Subject Tests<\/strong> \u2013 If you have strong AP exam scores, mention them to showcase subject expertise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No Test Scores? No Problem.<\/strong> \u2013 If you\u2019re applying test-optional, focus on a strong essay and extracurriculars. A <strong>digital portfolio<\/strong> (build one for free on <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/u\/0\/d\/19AYWy8tRhqYrprDrKmuYy0wxsyz4xu5yqQGZJ92fArE\/edit\">Cirkled In<\/a>) can also highlight your skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Extracurriculars &amp; Leadership (Depth Over Quantity)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>College admission officers want students who do more than study. But instead of joining <em>every<\/em> club, focus on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Consistency Matters <\/strong>\u2013 Long-term commitment to a few meaningful activities is more impressive than a long list of random ones.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Leadership Roles <\/strong>\u2013 Team captain, club president, or community organizer? Those roles show initiative and impact.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Passion Projects &amp; Internships<\/strong> \u2013 Started a nonprofit, launched a business, or led research? That stands out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udca1<strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Tie your extracurriculars to your intended major or career goals for added impact. YOu can find an internship or a volunteering opportunity from over <a href=\"https:\/\/cirkledin.com\/internship-and-jobs\/search\/\">20,000 opportunities posted&nbsp; on Cirkled In\u2019s Jobs and Internship Portal<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Personal Statement &amp; College Essays (Your Story = Your Superpower)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your essay is where you can <em>truly<\/em> set yourself apart. Numbers don\u2019t make an impact\u2014your story does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Be Real<\/strong> \u2013 Write about what actually matters to you. Authenticity is key.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Show, Don\u2019t Tell<\/strong> \u2013 Instead of saying &#8220;I&#8217;m passionate about science,&#8221; describe the time you built a robot from scratch.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tie It to Your Future<\/strong> \u2013 Show how your experiences connect to your college and career goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Pro Tip: <\/strong>Check out our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/how-to-write-a-college-essay-that-actually-stands-out\/\">How to Write a Winning College Essay that Actually Stands Out.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Letters of Recommendation (Make Them Count)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A strong rec letter can bring your application to life. Pick teachers, mentors, or employers who:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Know you well<\/strong> \u2013 A generic letter won\u2019t help. Choose someone who truly understands your strengths.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Can add new insights<\/strong> \u2013 A great letter highlights qualities that grades and test scores don\u2019t show.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Have seen your growth<\/strong> \u2013 If you\u2019ve improved over time, a recommender can emphasize that progress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1Pro Tip:<\/strong> check out our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/how-to-secure-strong-letters-of-recommendation-for-college\/\">How to Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation for College<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Demonstrated Interest (Show Colleges You Care)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some schools track whether you\u2019ve engaged with them. If they see you\u2019re invested, they\u2019re more likely to invest in <em>you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Attend virtual or in-person campus tours and info sessions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connect with admissions reps\u2014email them, follow them on LinkedIn, or ask thoughtful questions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apply <strong>Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA)<\/strong> if it\u2019s your top choice (but check the commitment policies first). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/early-decision-vs-regular-decision-which-one-is-right-for-you\/\">Check out this article to see which one may be right for you<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Community Impact (Colleges Love Changemakers)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond academics, schools want students who <em>care<\/em> about their communities. If you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Volunteered consistently<\/strong>, that shows dedication to a cause.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Started a project, fundraiser, or advocacy campaign<\/strong>, that\u2019s leadership in action.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Worked with a team to create change<\/strong>, that proves collaboration skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final Thoughts: Be the Student Colleges <\/strong><strong><em>Want<\/em><\/strong><strong> on Campus<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Admissions officers aren\u2019t just looking for <em>top<\/em> students\u2014they want <em>engaged, curious, and driven<\/em> individuals. To stand out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Challenge yourself academically.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tell a compelling, <em>real<\/em> story in your essay.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Show leadership and impact beyond the classroom.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Demonstrate interest in your top schools.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>\ud83d\udca1Pro Tip:<\/strong><\/strong> Want to build a standout profile? Start a <strong>free<\/strong> portfolio on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/\"><strong>Cirkled In<\/strong><\/a> to showcase your achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Applying to college? Admissions officers review thousands of applications, and let\u2019s be real\u2014they don\u2019t have time to overanalyze every detail. They want students who will thrive academically and bring something unique to campus. So, what really matters in your application? Here\u2019s the inside scoop\u2014plus expert-backed tips to boost your chances [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":1058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48,49,53],"tags":[17,18,70,81],"class_list":["post-967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-resume-and-portfolio-building","category-college-applications-and-admissions","category-extracurricular-activities-and-leadership","tag-college-applications","tag-college-admissions","tag-college-admissions-process","tag-college-admission-officers"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>7 Things College Admissions Officers Look For in Applications - Cirkled In<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondering what college admissions officers really want? Learn how to craft a standout application with expert tips on essays, extracurriculars, and more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 Things College Admissions Officers Look For in Applications - Cirkled In\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wondering what college admissions officers really want? Learn how to craft a standout application with expert tips on essays, extracurriculars, and more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Cirkled In\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cirkledin\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-19T02:47:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-24T08:23:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Reetu Gupta\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@cirkledin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@cirkledin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Reetu Gupta\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Reetu Gupta\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/0631acdddfd3d63ab2f04803bd62336e\"},\"headline\":\"What College Admissions Officers Actually Look for (and How to Stand Out)\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-19T02:47:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-24T08:23:05+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/\"},\"wordCount\":751,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-1.png\",\"keywords\":[\"College Applications\",\"College Admissions\",\"college admissions process\",\"college Admission officers\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Resume and Portfolio Building\",\"College Applications and Admissions\",\"Extracurricular Activities and Leadership\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/\",\"name\":\"7 Things College Admissions Officers Look For in Applications - Cirkled In\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-19T02:47:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-24T08:23:05+00:00\",\"description\":\"Wondering what college admissions officers really want? Learn how to craft a standout application with expert tips on essays, extracurriculars, and more.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-1.png\",\"width\":300,\"height\":300,\"caption\":\"What College Admissions Officers Actually Look for (and How to Stand Out)\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What College Admissions Officers Actually Look for (and How to Stand Out)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/\",\"name\":\"Cirkled In\",\"description\":\"Student Portfolio, College admissions, Internships, jobs,  scholarships\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Cirkled In\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cirkled-in-logo-1000.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cirkled-in-logo-1000.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":204,\"caption\":\"Cirkled In\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cirkledin\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/cirkledin\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/cirkled-in\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/cirkledin\/\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cirkledin\/\",\"https:\/\/tiktok.com\/@cirkledin\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/Cirkledin\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/0631acdddfd3d63ab2f04803bd62336e\",\"name\":\"Reetu Gupta\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fa9820fe6c4cd796c8ea842b6cff67bf?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fa9820fe6c4cd796c8ea842b6cff67bf?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Reetu Gupta\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/author\/reetu\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"7 Things College Admissions Officers Look For in Applications - Cirkled In","description":"Wondering what college admissions officers really want? Learn how to craft a standout application with expert tips on essays, extracurriculars, and more.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"7 Things College Admissions Officers Look For in Applications - Cirkled In","og_description":"Wondering what college admissions officers really want? Learn how to craft a standout application with expert tips on essays, extracurriculars, and more.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/","og_site_name":"Cirkled In","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cirkledin","article_published_time":"2025-03-19T02:47:32+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-03-24T08:23:05+00:00","og_image":[{"width":300,"height":300,"url":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Reetu Gupta","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@cirkledin","twitter_site":"@cirkledin","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Reetu Gupta","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/"},"author":{"name":"Reetu Gupta","@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/0631acdddfd3d63ab2f04803bd62336e"},"headline":"What College Admissions Officers Actually Look for (and How to Stand Out)","datePublished":"2025-03-19T02:47:32+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-24T08:23:05+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/"},"wordCount":751,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-1.png","keywords":["College Applications","College Admissions","college admissions process","college Admission officers"],"articleSection":["Resume and Portfolio Building","College Applications and Admissions","Extracurricular Activities and Leadership"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/","url":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/","name":"7 Things College Admissions Officers Look For in Applications - Cirkled In","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-1.png","datePublished":"2025-03-19T02:47:32+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-24T08:23:05+00:00","description":"Wondering what college admissions officers really want? Learn how to craft a standout application with expert tips on essays, extracurriculars, and more.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/What-College-Admissions-Officers-Actually-Look-for-and-How-to-Stand-Out-1.png","width":300,"height":300,"caption":"What College Admissions Officers Actually Look for (and How to Stand Out)"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/what-college-admissions-officers-actually-look-for-and-how-to-stand-out\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What College Admissions Officers Actually Look for (and How to Stand Out)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/","name":"Cirkled In","description":"Student Portfolio, College admissions, Internships, jobs,  scholarships","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#organization","name":"Cirkled In","url":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cirkled-in-logo-1000.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cirkled-in-logo-1000.png","width":1000,"height":204,"caption":"Cirkled In"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cirkledin","https:\/\/x.com\/cirkledin","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/cirkled-in","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/cirkledin\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cirkledin\/","https:\/\/tiktok.com\/@cirkledin","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/Cirkledin"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/0631acdddfd3d63ab2f04803bd62336e","name":"Reetu Gupta","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fa9820fe6c4cd796c8ea842b6cff67bf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fa9820fe6c4cd796c8ea842b6cff67bf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Reetu Gupta"},"url":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/author\/reetu\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=967"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/967\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1221,"href":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/967\/revisions\/1221"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}