One of the ways colleges get to know you is through your personal statement — a 650-word essay that shows who you are, what you value, what you could bring to the college community, and in some ways, whether you and the school fit together. 

Since writing a list is so simple, some students rush ahead with the task without really thinking it through. You only get a limited number of characters. How do you make the most of them? 

The first hurdle often is just finding the right colleges to apply to, and the sheer range of educational institutions in the US can make it really difficult to be aware of the options available.

Exploring new and existing interests, developing new skills, and learning more about yourself are critical to college application down-the-road.