If you have your heart set on studying at a particular university or college, you’re going to want to do everything you can to get in. So how do you make your application stand out from your competition?

Applying to college is a competitive business. And for the most sought-after institutions, getting the required grades is nowhere near enough to secure your entry. Ivy League universities such as Cornell can get around 50,000 applications each and every year, which naturally makes the Cornell acceptance rate lower than less prestigious institutions. So what exactly should you be doing to make sure you get into your top college of choice?

Here are 7 ways how you can make your college application hit the mark with university admissions teams.

1. Research The Course Content

Before you write your college application, you need to hunt around for clues about your college major. Research what exactly is taught on the course, then read into some of the topics for yourself. If you can only find out a minimal amount from the website, hit social media instead. Can you find anyone describing themselves as a student or alumnus of your major, and do they post anything about the course? You might find some valuable information about the assignments they are working on. Look into the topics in more depth so you can demonstrate your interest in these subjects in your application.

2. Read Around The Subject

Not only do you want to have a full understanding of what a university course entails, you will also want to demonstrate that you are totally engaged in your subject of choice. This means reading books, relevant publications and the latest quality media articles about the topic. You could even look into events or seminars you could attend to get a fuller understanding. These are all things you can include in your college application to show you are serious about the course.

3. Get Work Experience

Another step towards showing your commitment to your future course is to organize some work experience in the field. This will show you are proactive and willing to get stuck into your topic of choice. Even if you cannot find work experience in the exact profession you would like to go onto do, do something related. It’s good to see all sides of an industry, and you can tell the admissions panel what you have learned through your experiences in your application and interview.

4. Be A Volunteer

A college wants to know that you’re a good person who is committed to society as well as the particular course you want to study. A great way of showing you are a well-rounded individual is to do some voluntary work. Helping out a charity or NGO is a good way of becoming part of something bigger than yourself, and it will help your college application stand out. Ideally you will start volunteering at least a year or two before you make your application. You don’t want an admissions team to think you only started volunteering to make your college application look good!

5. Work Hard At School

Although your grades are just one part of your college application, you do not want to let your grades slip because you are concentrating too hard on all the other parts of your application. Admissions teams will look at your grades first, so work hard to make sure they at least meet the minimum entry criteria for the course. It’s even better if they’re a little higher. If you have any concerns about meeting the grades, get some help with plenty of time to spare. A tutor who specializes in any of the areas you feel are your weakest could make a true difference to the outcome.

6. Do Other Extracurriculars

Once you’re sure your grades are on track, put a little time into some extracurricular activities too. Again, these should really be things you have been doing for a number of years. College admission tutors like to see well-rounded people who are multi-dimensional with a number of different interests. So make sure you keep up with a sport you’ve always loved, or playing a musical instrument. Even if you feel like you are not super talented in a particular area, go along to rock choir or frisbee sessions if you enjoy them. Showing you have interests and stick to things you commit to is what admissions teams want to see.

7. Put Effort Into Your Application

Get hold of the college application form early so you know exactly what you will need to do to complete it. Start working on it as early as possible and get it in well before the deadline if possible. College admissions teams will look at applications as they come in, so you want yours to fall on their desk at an earlier stage of the process