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Senior year is full of memorable moments, like picking out the nicest dress for prom, reminiscing with friends that you have known for practically your whole life and of course walking the stage. High school for me was a blast and full of moments that I would never want to take back. However, college is a completely different arena, full of different people from different parts of the country and sometimes world. Its experiences will change your life and most importantly, attending college answers a question asked my whole life: What will I be when I grow up?
Applying to college is an important yet drawn out process, so here are some tips to you help you with your journey of applying to college. Narrow down your college choices. There are thousands of different colleges around the United States. Some focus on a particular area. For example, there are a lot of colleges that focus on liberal arts, like Amherst College in Western Massachusetts. However some students base their decisions on location or college national rankings. Narrowing down your choices helps you decide on a college that will truly make you happy. Start early. Waiting until the last minute is the wrong way to go. Starting early allows you to meet the deadlines and of course gives you the opportunity to get your application in tip-top shape. There are so many things that make an application complete (SAT/ACT scores, essays, etc.), so starting early gives you a chance to revise your items and make them the best they can be. According to an article in Career World Magazine, Deborah Donley, a college counselor at New Trier High School in Winnetka Illinois, said that is a major mistake to wait for college deadlines to approach. “You have to work ahead and get it all out early, because the rules are changing,” said Donley in the article. “The pool of college applicants is bigger and even schools that offer rolling admissions have been getting hard to get into the process.” Starting early also means making sure you know when every deadline is and also knowing what the requirements are to be reviewed. Be unique. When it comes to essays, recommendation letters and resumes, being unique is the best way to go. It sets you apart from the other applicants. Most colleges rate "character and personal qualities" as extremely important in their admissions decisions. Your character shows up in three places on the application: the interview, if you have one, your involvement in extracurricular activities and your essay. Of the three, the essay weighs heavily. If you are a borderline student regarding grades, then the extra materials like resumes, recommendation letters and essays can really help your application file. If the college recommends extra materials, submit them! The University of Texas recommends students to send in an expanded resume and recommendation letters but it is not required. Sending in the extra requirements not only shows you are working extra hard but it also gives the college a better understanding of who you are as a person. The more material you turn in the more the school knows about you.
Applying to college is stressful to say the least. There are applications, SAT/ACT scores, essays and sometimes extra items depending on the colleges you decide to apply to. However, it is extremely rewarding when you receive a letter starting with “We are pleased to inform you…” It shows that all the hard work you put into high school grades and the application process was worth every minute.
October 2009
* Photo on magazine cover is courtesy of Flickr.com/Jooanfossi
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