When you start searching for colleges, you may think “the bigger the better”—big like a large public university that offers state-of-the-art facilities, hundreds of diverse student organizations, and an alumni network that encompasses the world. Big schools often dominate entire cities with school colors, and on game days you feel the energy of tens of thousands of fellow fans. There are many appealing aspects of large colleges.
However, size can also bring considerable downsides. The largest institutions often have trouble accommodating their enormous student bodies, and it can be easy to fall through the cracks—especially during the application process. I attended the University of Texas at Austin, which is notorious for having an unaccommodating application process. Clocking in at over 30,000 applications every year, this is understandable. Although their admission department does an exceptional job “making a big school feel small,” as they like to say, it’s impossible for them to personally accommodate each applicant of thousands. As a result, applicants can feel left in the dark both before and after they hit the “Submit” button. Here's what I’ve learned by applying to one of the largest schools in the country that can help you with your applications.
The application process isn’t over once you hit “Submit”
Keep an eye out for the applicant page a school will send you a link for after you apply. UT, for example, has a “My Status” page students are required to log in to after submitting their application through Apply Texas. They do this so you can report your high school classes to make sure you’ve completed the courses required. This step is mandatory for admission, but it’s not always clear you have to do it. I had two friends who were unaware of this step and found out after UT’s application deadline. As a result, their applications were rejected. My friends lost out on one of their top college choices because of a miscommunication in the application process. Don’t make the same mistake. After hitting “Submit,” stay on top of your applications. Check the status pages, check for communication from colleges every day, and call your admission representatives if you have any doubts.
Do more than the bare minimum
Admission counselors for large schools deal with tens of thousands of applicants every season. The sad truth is that colleges will not spend much time poring over every nuance of your application, and four years of hard work is often boiled down to minutes. Even large schools that boast of a “holistic review process” use a process designed for efficiency. Because of this, they’re not going to remember the majority of applicants—so you need to do everything you possibly can to stand out.
If a college says something is “optional,” it isn’t. If something is “recommended,” consider it mandatory. For example, UT requires applicants to turn in two essays, but Apply Texas allows applicants to upload essays for all three prompts. When there are extra optional drop boxes to bolster your application with even more information, don’t leave any empty. Take any opportunity to show off more of yourself. I went through an incredibly competitive admission process, and I’m quite sure that going above and beyond by writing all three essays made me stand out as an applicant.
Related: Top 5 Tips for Making Your College Essay Stand Out
Visit more than once
There are many advantages to visiting a school multiple times, and this is especially true for the biggest. Large schools have so many unique facets that it’s impossible to get a feel for them in one visit. Go to informational sessions. Go to games to immerse yourself in the student body. Spend a day in the city to get a feel for the environment. Audit a class if you can. If you know anyone attending the university, ask them if they can show you around and take you through a day as a student. Every student has a different experience at a large university, so the best way to find out what it will be like is to act as one.
Focus on your specific college
While the general informational sessions you’ll be invited to are a good starting point, also attend smaller open houses for the specific school or college you’re applying to. For example, I applied to the Moody College of Communication and the College of Liberal Arts at UT, and I found the sessions tailored to those schools to be more relevant and informative. Additionally, the people who review your application are typically from the specific schools to which you are applying. Getting to know the faculty of your specific college, the actual people who will be reading your application, is much easier than trying to stand out among the whole university’s applicant pool.
This is also why you will want to target your essays and résumé to your specific schools, so you can explain why you will be a good fit for the university as a whole but also that college specifically. I applied as a Journalism and International Relations dual major, so I made sure to put my relevant experience in student media, speech and debate, and the Model UN at the top of my résumé, and I highlighted my involvement in these activities in my application essays.
Related: The Pros and Cons of Declaring a Major on Your College Applications
Hopefully, my real-life experiences will help you navigate the overwhelming maze of applying to large schools. Avoid making the same mistakes that many of my friends did by staying on top of your applications and meeting all your deadlines. Good luck with your applications and the admission season!
If you want to be extra cautious (as you should) with your applications, check out our Essential Step–by–Step Guide to College Applications. And if you’re still looking for colleges to apply to, find and connect with them using our College Search tool.
