College Apps are Hard Stuff.
We Get it, and We’ve Been There.
College applications are the next step in your future and are worth spending the extra time on doing your school research and refining those dreaded essays. Here are some tips on applying from current Viterbi students that have successfully gone through the process. We broke up the tips into categories so you can easily find the tips you need!
Involvements
Applying to college is so much more than grades. It’s time to showcase who YOU are!
Learn More!
General
General application tips to help you on the other stuff; all curated from Viterbi’s very own.
Learn More!
Choice
“There are thousands of colleges in the world. How am I supposed to pick some to apply to?” said every single one of us.
Colleges are as different as and as abundant as cereal brands. You walk down the grocery aisle and see everything from the outside, but how do you know what it’s really going to be like? It’s hard and ridiculously overwhelming to figure out where to start. Start with what you know and some of these tips will help guide you though the process.
– Aarya, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
College is so much more than just academics, don’t forget to think about where you’d like to be living for the next four years, what kind of people you’ll be spending time with, and what sorts of activities you’d like to be able to do outside of the classroom!
–Shayna, B.S. Electrical Engineering
– Celeste, B.S. Biomedical Engineering
Academics
- To be ready for college classes, take the most challenging courses that are offered at your high school. If you can succeed in these courses, college courses will be easier to handle. You will be prepared for the academic load and will know how to handle challenging assignments. – Natalie, B.S. Computer Science and Business Administration
- In my opinion, organization and time management skills are really the most essential tools for academic success in college. –Daniel, B.S. Biomedical Engineering
Activities and Interests
Get involved in clubs you love, take risks and work hard; a well-rounded high school experience prepares you so much better for college than just grades and test scores!!
Rhea, B.S. Biomedical Engineering
Pursue your passions! Instead of building your resume, grow personally by understanding what exactly makes you want to study engineering!Shuntaro, B.S. Chemical Engineering
While I did get pretty good grades in high school, I did whatever made me happy. I did a bunch of random stuff that I loved even if it didn’t scream “perfect college applicant.” Bria, B.S. Environmental Engineering
Be Passionate!
Don't force creativity, but rather let your passion flow! Don't try to guess at what the university wants to hear. If you write about something you really care about and are invested in,
that passion will come across and will be much more compelling than writing about something you don't really care about.
-Daniel, B.S. Biomedical EngineeringBe Genuine!
Pursue activities outside of school that you are genuinely interested, not just what you think looks good on a college app. You'll have more fun and the admissions will have a better idea of who you are.
Viterbi is home to so many diverse people, and if you did band instead of robotics, but you're still interested in engineering, that is only a positive!
-Shayna, B.S. Electrical EngineeringBe Prepared!
Do your research and visit the school to get a full perspective and see what really draws you in! Look into what kind of cool clubs and opportunities each college has that you could see yourself joining!
Try to also articulate what specific clubs and organizations you want to be part of on your application!
- Nathan, B.S. Mechanical EngineeringBe Experienced!
Get some leadership and team experience. Not only does it look great on your resume, but it will be super helpful for working on group projects, interviewing for internships, and getting involved in clubs in college.
Essays
Preparation
- Take your time! Writing the essay is a process. It’s all about organic creativity – don’t force it because the final product will suffer as a result. Rather, seek the advice of others and have them proof-read your work along the way. – Daniel, B.S. Biomedical Engineering
- Begin writing your essays early and have everyone and their mom review it before you submit it. I remember having my parents, teachers, and mentor all review my essays before submitting them. Not only did that help me feel confident that there weren’t any errors but I also knew that a variety of people liked the essay which made me more comfortable with it. – Bria, B.S. Environmental Engineering
- Make your essays specific but relatable! Don’t just compliment the school, they get that all the time. One tip I got that helped me really craft a unique application was “if they can find it on the website, don’t put it on your app.” – Rhea, B.S. Biomedical Engineering
- Articulate the specific value you’ll be getting out of the college you’re applying to. – Shana, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Be Yourself
Just be yourself. Don’t try to guess what admissions is looking for or write about what you think an ideal student would sound like. Honestly just write your essays with your own great personality from your heart – it will sound so much better and be easier for you to write.
– Sophie, B.S. Chemical Engineering
Represent yourself in the most authentic and sincere way possible. Showcase the aspects of your life that are important to you and you are passionate about, even if they seem insignificant to you. Be comfortable with who you are and what you bring to the table, don’t stress, and have fun with your application!
– Jose, B.S. Industrial & Systems Engineering
Be yourself! Even if yourself has nothing engineering-related at all. Write about what you’re passionate about, because that’s how your writing will stand out the most. Also, don’t fret about average test scores. They’re called “averages” for a reason.
– Aarya, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Don’t write your essays to please a certain audience. If you write your essays like you’re talking to your best friend or a family member, your personality will shine through. Your essays are a few places where you can stand out among other applicants who may have similar test scores and grades.
– Natalie, B.S. Computer Science and Business Administration, Physics
-
Don’t force your creativity, but rather let your passion flow! It’s evident when your writing is genuine; don’t assume what the university wants to hear – the reality is that your voice is most important of all. – Daniel, B.S. Biomedical Engineering 
Trying to make your application stand out from the crowd can be kind of intimidating, but I promise even if you don’t think you’re the quirkiest person in the world, there are things that make you different and unique. Just try to reflect on what really makes you YOU and highlight that!
–Siena, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Okay, so what do I write about?
Ask yourself when answering a question or responding to an essay: is this really me? Take a step back, seriously, and look at what you’re writing. Is this what you’d say to any other friend who knows you well? If your answer is yes, you’re definitely on the right track! Naish, B.S. Aerospace Engineering
–Michelle, B.S. Electrical Engineering
–Jose, B.S. Industrial and Systems Engineering
–Tim, B.S. Chemical Engineering
General
- Start really early! Each time you go back to your essays and revise them they’ll get better, so its really important to have the time to write multiple drafts. –Siena, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
- Space out your applications – I promise they’re manageable as long as you don’t have to do them all at once. Also, make sure to start early on the applications you want to invest a little more time in. – Vanessa, B.S. Chemical Engineering