Applying to College From Rural High Schools

College Applications from a Rural School 

Applying to college is significant no matter where you’re coming from. It’s exciting, nerve wracking, and can be filled with as much anticipation as dread, but it’s an important step in the grand scheme of your future. However, for students applying to college from rural high schools, which are often less equipt to guide students through the process and its complexity, it can be especially daunting.

The good news is that regardless of your school’s size or location, you can still successfully go through the college application process and gain acceptance to top universities with the right approach. Here are our best tips on how to make your college applications stand out when applying from rural high schools.  If you’re still unsure what the best approach is to reaching your college goals, contact a Marks Education advisor for more information. We’d love to chat about your college goals!

1. Self Awareness and Goal Setting

The first step in any college application process is self reflection. 

Make time to understand your academic strengths, interests, and career aspirations. Consider the type of college experience you desire and what you hope to achieve academically and personally. Do you hope to create your own app, write a book, or travel the world? There is a program somewhere calling your name to help you gain the experiences you’re hoping for.

Your self-awareness will guide you in making informed decisions about where to research, apply, and eventually attend. We encourage you to make decisions based on your goals and interests– which means getting to know your goals and interests! It’s not a bad thing to try different things and see what sticks.

2. Make the Most of your Curriculum

Rural high schools may not offer as many advanced classes or extracurriculars, but that doesn’t mean you can’t excel in and out of the classroom. Challenge yourself by taking the most advanced courses available to you and giving them your all! Colleges will be reviewing your transcript within the context of what was available to you. They’re not going to penalize you for not taking advanced physics if advanced physics wasn’t available to you. They’re also not going to be comparing you to students at bigger schools with greater opportunities available to them. They just want to see that you’re making the most of what was offered to you.

If you feel you could be doing more, ask your teachers for additional work. Doing this  prepares you for your future academic endeavors and looks great on a letter of recommendation.  

If your school offers dual enrollment programs with nearby colleges, you could also consider enrolling to earn college credits. This will give you an edge when applying to college from a rural high school and helps combat a college’s potential fear of grade inflation. Independent study and online courses can also help expand your knowledge base and truly shine on college applications. 

3. Make Sure to Highlight your Background

Coming from a rural high school can be an advantage, as it sets you apart from other applications. Colleges are looking to build a diverse student body, and while it may seem boring and everyday to you, to someone who is used to sitting in a stuffy admissions office, the most interesting thing they read that day could be the time you and your friends drove your tractors to school. Don’t be afraid to tell your rural story!

Try to emphasize the skills and qualities you’ve developed as a result of your rural upbringing, such as resilience, self-reliance, and a strong work ethic. We promise that while you might not have had access to the same opportunities as if you’d attended a more urban high school, you’ve still likely collected many meaningful experiences that contribute to your vision of the world and your future. Try to view your life from an outside lens. Admissions officers value diversity, and your perspective can enrich their college community.

4. Seek Guidance

At rural high schools, guidance counselors often wear many hats, which can impact the time and resources they have available for college counseling support. Meaning, as a student, it’s important to proactively collaborate with your counselor to give yourself the best chance at support possible. To achieve this, you’ll want to practice clear communication— find your deadlines early and make sure all relevant parties know of them, set clear expectations, and as always— be respectful! 

Make sure that you:

• Identify Deadlines Early: There is nothing worse than underestimating how long you have to work on something. Colleges have tight deadlines, meaning you should try to communicate this information well in advance to your counselor. We recommend that you try to schedule a meeting at the beginning of 11th grade. This helps to make sure that your counselor is aware of your timeline and can provide timely assistance. If you need help, please contact a Marks Education advisor for help.

• Prepare Documents and Requirements: Each school that you apply to might ask for the information in slightly different formats. We recommend that you request any necessary information to prepare these documents as soon as possible to prevent delays. You should also make sure that you inform your counselor of anything they need to know.  

• Set Expectations: Schedule a time to have a respectful conversation with your counselor about your aspirations, target schools, and what you need from them in terms of support. Clear expectations can lead to more focused and effective guidance and can limit disappointments.

• Set Expectations: Have a respectful conversation with your counselor about your aspirations, the colleges you’re targeting, and what you need from them in terms of support. Clear expectations can lead to more focused and effective guidance.
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• Maintain Regular Check-Ins: The easiest way for things to go off the rails is to neglect checking. Consistent communication keeps both you and your counselor aligned on your college application process.

Even with your guidance counselor’s support, students applying to college from a rural school still might benefit from additional support. In addition to your school counselor, consider other adults who you can consult with to help you make the right college choice and learn about the process. Talk to your teachers, trusted adults who attended college, or local alumni who recently attended college. Find out what they liked and disliked about their college experience, ask them what was missing, or if they could go back and do anything differently, what would it be?

If all of that fails, check the internet! There are so many blogs out there which can help you apply to college, write fantastic “Why Us?” essays, jumpstart your college essay, or learn some quirky tips to help your application stand out. Don’t forget that there are also Youtube videos, podcasts, and books out there if you’re still hungry for more ways to maximize your chances at elite colleges from rural schools.