Biggest mistakes ambitious students make

Ambitious students aren’t immune to university application mistakes.

Their mistakes are different than the kind of mistakes lazy students make. But it doesn't make them any easier to swallow. Especially because these mistakes don't usually get caught by parents or counsellors.

Here's why:

Unmotivated students don't do enough. They don't study hard enough. They wait until the last possible second to apply. This doesn't make them a bad student. But it does attract attention from parents and counsellors. They notice this and push, push, and push.

The ambitious student is a different animal. And they make different mistakes. But no one notices them, because they are ambitious. That's why it's a heartbreak.

So how do we change that? I'm going to tell you the mistakes that ambitious students make, so you can avoid them. And if you're a parent or counsellor, you can watch out for them.

Ambitious Mistake #1: Too many activities - spread too thin

To get accepted into a top program, you need a standout extracurricular profile. But ambitious students mistake activity with impact. They try to do too many extracurricular activities, and don't make an impact with any of them. They are everywhere and nowhere. (This isn't good for grades or your social life either). We recommend that students focus on "The Impact Formula". This is a strategic selection of extracurriculars that gives you the focus to create an impact, with enough diversity to still show your breadth.We discovered this formula of 2 "Initiator", 2 "Leadership", and 1 "Member" extracurriculars after studying the most successful students in our programs. Now we guide students towards a similar strategy.

Ambitious Mistake #2: Too many bricks on the academic wagon

You're smart. We get it. But do you want to be smart? Or do you want to get in?

Many students think that doing the most challenging courses in high school is a benefit. As if there's a person in the admissions office who will look at their valiant effort and clap their hands/cheer while granting you admission. When it comes to your grade average, the only thing that matters is your core academic average. Select courses that bring this core academic average up. There are no extra points for valiance when it comes to your grade average. (There might be on your supplementary - but let's leave the bravery for that part of it. Let's not mess around when it comes to your grade average)

Ambitious Mistake #3: Being the hare

Be the tortoise. Not the hare. The hare is overconfident. Rushing to conclusions. Sprinting. Then falling asleep.

The tortoise perseveres despite natural disadvantages. The tortoise wins.

But even ambitious students only apply to university once. No matter how smart, great, or impactful they are, they only know what they know. But they don't know what they don't know. And why would they? They have never done it before.

It's all too common that deadlines that you didn't even know about pass you by.

Opportunities you've never heard of came and went.

And you applied to the complete wrong program because you didn't understand the application.

Not because you aren't smart. But because school websites and applications are like an internet maze.

Applying to university can be nerve-wracking. Truthfully, ALL students should approach this process with care and attention - because it is demanding these days. If you approach with caution and care, you can be successful. But overconfidence won't serve you.

Be the tortoise. Not the hare.

Do you want to avoid these mistakes?

Here's what to do next:

Do the assessment to see if we're a fit to work together. This is an initial screen to see if we can help you. If we are, book a call with our team. They will assess you further to see if we can help guide you and if it makes sense to work together.

Bring your entire family to the call. This is an opportunity to see if you're making any of these mistakes - and learn how to avoid them.

Before the call, we send you a webinar to watch. On it, you learn more about how to avoid common mistakes that ambitious students make. And we also cover our programs that might be helpful to you.

Join us for a call on Zoom. Make sure that Zoom is updated and that you're in a quiet and safe spot. If you're in different locations, you can join on the same Zoom link.

Did you get all that? Here's your first test: Did you click the assessment link? Of course you did. (We love ambitious students - see you soon)‍