Recruitment Director Provides Advice
Keith Gehres is the Director of Outreach and Recruitment at The Ohio State University.
Q: What is your biggest piece of advice to seniors applying to college?
My biggest piece of advice is to take your time when filling out the application and be intentional with the information you include. Too often, I see applications that are submitted at the last minute in a hurried fashion where information is missing or responses are rushed. If a student is not able to fully articulate all their activities or spend extra time proofreading their essay to ensure it answers the question being asked, it may mean that I don’t have as much information as possible when reading the application. I always recommend students include information in their application if they feel it is important. It is better for that information to be included, even if it may not be needed versus leaving something out that would have been helpful to have included.
Q: What are some of the best ways to stand out in a positive way on an application?
Be authentic and comprehensive. Don’t try to fill out the application by trying to guess what I want to see, instead fill it out based on what you want to share about yourself. It may seem simple, but don’t use acronyms or list something without an explanation.
Q: How important are tests scores in the admissions process?
Test scores, like any factors in the admissions process, are important. However, it’s important to remember they are only one factor used in this process. We value so many different factors in our admissions process and while test scores are part of this, we are not saying yes or no to any application simply based on test scores alone.
Q: What’s one thing students should keep in mind while filling out applications?
Be sure to pay attention to deadlines. Colleges use deadlines for important reasons. While we all try to be as flexible and understanding as possible, it’s important to give yourself plenty of time to submit your application and make sure everything else needed for your application is submitted on time. Each deadline can mean something different, which is why it’s important to pay close attention. Don’t just ignore these and hope or expect everything will work out. If you have questions or don’t understand something, just ask. That is why we are here, to help you in this process.
