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How Building a Student Brand Can Boost Your College Admissions Success
Stop letting admissions officers decide—create your student brand.
Dr. Agnia Grigas
September 6th, 2024
The idea of being "boxed in" by your college application scares a lot of students. Many wonder how their student brand will be perceived by college admissions officers and whether it will truly capture their full personality.
Why Building a Student Brand Matters in College Admissions
Just the other day, one Admissions Academy student said she was afraid that by building her student brand, she’d end up stuck in a box. She felt like her personality and all her hard work couldn’t be summed up in one label—a common fear among high schoolers preparing for the college admissions process.
Many students feel uncertain about the student brand process, but here’s what they don’t realize: building their student brand gives them more freedom and control. It lets them decide how admissions officers will see them. In a world where the college admissions process is competitive, this is your opportunity to stand out.
A Student Brand Gives You Control Over Your Narrative
By creating a strong student brand, students can shape their own stories. They’re less likely to blend in when they have a clear narrative. When admissions officers have to piece together your story, they rely on assumptions—and that’s the last thing you want.
If I could define the worst college admissions strategy in one sentence, it would be this: Let a complete stranger figure out who you are based on assumptions. That’s why students must take control of their student brand and narrative.
Common Misconceptions About the Student Brand
After our last coaching call on the first lesson of the Student Brand Masterclass, I saw things click for a lot of students. One student shared her thoughts right after the call:
“First of all, I thought our last Zoom meeting about the student brand was informative and engaging. I appreciated the care you took in answering each student’s questions, even if it didn’t adhere to the lesson plan.
I am currently completing the ‘5-Day Crash Course: How To Create A Student Brand’ and I want to commend your clear explanation of each aspect of the student brand. I now understand that the student brand isn’t a way of reducing yourself to a few traits—it’s about making sure admissions officers see you as you want to be seen.
Once I had a chance to view more of the videos and worksheets, the CAA methodology makes much more sense. It seems less like just feeding into the college machine and more like approaching the college admissions process in a realistic manner.”
This is exactly the kind of feedback I love to hear. The college admissions process can feel overwhelming, but when you approach it strategically, building a student brand becomes empowering.
Resources for Building Your Student Brand
So, if you or your child is still unsure about this whole “personal branding” thing, I get it. The student brand process can be confusing at first. But a good place to start is Chapter 1 of my book, How to Win the Million Dollar Admissions Game. It’s the perfect introduction to personal branding and its role in the college admissions process.
You can grab your copy by clicking the link below:
To your child’s success,
Dr. Agnia Grigas
Founder - College Admissions Secrets
Author - ‘‘How to Win the Million Dollar College Admissions Game’’
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