<p>does anyone have any advice or anything to share with us seniors who are gonna be applying this fall</p>
<p>Start early--check the deadlines, both for financial aid and admissions--and get your recommendations written and sent early (since there will be a rush later on as the deadlines approach and the teachers and counselors get busy). Also, there are many schools that will increase the financial aid if you apply earlier than the other applicants.</p>
<p>And thank the people who write your recommendations by doing something nice for them (a box of chocolates wouldn't hurt if you can afford it). If not, write them a nice letter on special stationery.</p>
<p>Study for your last second SATs and ACTs starting now--and make sure you know which SAT sitting is the last one your school will accept. </p>
<p>Lastly, realize that by starting early you are making it easier for the most important person--you. No rushes during test weeks, no stress, no concerns that the schools won't get your stuff on time.</p>
<p>Oh, and here's some advice for writing your essay. Write it, then put it aside for two days, then look at it again and rewrite it, then put it aside for two days, then look at it and make corrects and write it over.</p>
<p>Then, have one or two other people look it over and make suggestions. Do your rewrite again--and then have it reviewed one last time.</p>
<p>This constant writing and rewriting will seem kind of stupid--but at the end you will be glad that your paper has been through it--and the quality difference will show--both to you and to the college adcoms.</p>
<ol>
<li>Start early on your applications - same goes with essays.
0.5 Anticipate delays, server malfunctions, computer errors. Leaving everything to the last minute might turn into a gamble. You don't want to be sitting all night on New Year's Eve frantically clicking "submit" - along with 10,000 other people in the country.</li>
<li>Think about your life so far. Isolate some "important experiences" and make them the focus of your essay.</li>
<li>Don't leave standarized testing until the very last minute.</li>
<li>Don't slack in your senior year - first sem grades are still important.</li>
<li>Get your recommendation forms out ASAP.</li>
<li>Know your application deadlines!</li>
<li>Use the online system colleges provide to keep track of whether they received your transcripts and apps.</li>
<li>I actually don't agree with getting a teacher to read over essays (teachers tend to change the meaning to fit THEIR interpretation, not your own original idea) but proofread extensively (min 20 times) before submitting your essays. Do a backwards read for mechanics.</li>
<li>Proofread your application form min 10 times before submitting. There should be no excuse for a typo on an application form.</li>
<li>Be honest on your application. The straight-out, no-hiding kind. Don't try to make your activities sound pompous or exaggerated. For example: "AIME qualifier - AMC 12 score: 117" would suffice, rather than "National Qualifier to the selective American Invitational Mathematics Examination through the American Mathematics Competition 12 with a score of 117".
9.5 Don't editorize your activities. Take out words like "selective," "competitive," or "intensive" when you are describing your ECs. If it's truly selective or competitive, the adcoms will get the picture.</li>
<li>Don't get other people to write your essay.</li>
<li>Browse brochures, but try to find current undergrads (if possible) of your dream college and talk about the school with them.</li>
<li>If applying for finaid, keep track of deadlines and the forms necessary.</li>
<li>Be creative with your application. You don't have to sound like the typical Asian/Caucasian/smart student.</li>
<li>Dare to risk when you're applying to colleges. You might just get into your dream school that you thought you had no chance at.
14.5 Dream big.
14.7 Be practical.</li>
<li>Take your school counselor's advice with a grain of salt (unless you're in a very competitive school with many, many HYPMSC admittances).</li>
<li>Contact your interviewer (if necessary, like MIT) early. Give them ample warning.
16.1 Be polite to your interviewer.
16.2 Shake their hand firmly when you meet.
16.3 Don't dress up for the location (no need to wear a suit in McDonald's), but definitely do not dress down. Go for "casual smart."
16.4 Have some questions ready for the interviewer.
16.5 Arrive early (~5 to 10 minutes). I think it always makes a better impression when you're early.
16.6 Write a thank you note/email/call after the interview to show your appreciation of the interview.
16.7 Bring some visual aids (like a yearbook, if you work on the yearbook - or some photos you took, if you're big with photography) to help your interviewer understand your activities, if applicable.
16.8 Keep your points concise and to the point. Don't go on long-winded rants of your activities.</li>
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