It makes sense that students want to impress college admissions officers. But we've heard horror stories from admission representatives about some of the things students have done to try to stand out: everything from following them into the bathroom to ask questions, to handing out resumes the length of a short novel. 

This lack of critical thinking and sound judgment about the situation likely stems from some of the myths that students have heard about the college admission process. Here are three myths that we want to clear up.

Myth 1: The more involved, the better

Yes, colleges want to see that a student was involved in high school, but the more important piece is engagement. Admissions offers have seen thousands of applications: they can easily tell when a student has added extracurricular activities just to beef up their resume.

The more organic and focused a student's activities are, the more likely an admissions officer is to value their efforts.

What to do instead: Students should find activities and subject areas that spark their interest—not what people have told them admissions officers want to see. Activities that are more connected to student aptitudes, skills, and motivations will lead to the involvement and impact that admissions counselors do love to see. 

Myth 2: Admissions officers are looking for specific answers

Admissions reps understand that college admissions can be highly stressful and that students are trying to do everything they can to make a good impression. But they meet with hundreds of students and family members every year, and they can tell when a student isn't being their authentic self.

Admissions officers aren't looking for specific answers—they're looking for authenticity. The more genuine a student can be, the more memorable their conversations with admissions officers will be.

What to do instead: When a student has the opportunity to engage with a representative—either in an informal conversation or in an interview—they should make sure their personality shines through. The goal is to leave the admissions officer with the impression that a personality like that student's would be a great addition to their campus community. Being the best version of yourself is always the way to go.

Myth 3: Tons of contact is the gateway to a favorable admission result

When it comes to demonstrating interest during the college admissions process, it's definitely possible to have too much of a good thing. 

Admissions representatives love getting to know their students—many of them find it to be the highlight of their work. But they also have the challenge of working with hundreds of students and bringing in a diverse class. If a student sends an email every week asking questions that could easily be answered via a quick search on their website, any admiration for that student can quickly turn into frustration.

What to do instead: Students should absolutely introduce themselves to their admissions officer early in the process: it allows them to begin creating a bond, so that they can feel comfortable asking the tough questions. It's also good for a student to reach out if they've experienced changes that would add value to their application. But communications should always be relevant and brief—that not only helps the counselor do their job well, but it also shows them that the student would be a respectful and productive member of their community.