College walkthrough

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm a high school junior, and I want to begin preparing for college applications next year. I'm asking for the best way to get advice on each individual school and their different essays, as well as my application "plan." What is the best way to inform myself? Is it worth the money to hire a college applications counselor, or would I be better off with the internet/older classmates/library?</p>

<p>Is there a basic guide I should read first? </p>

<p>I am aiming for the very best schools, as in the top 5. My SAT and GPA are perfect, so just for this question, assume that I stand a decent shot. </p>

<p>Here are some specific questions, please answer any you know with the number of the question next to your answer.</p>

<ol>
<li>What additional essays do Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Yale require in addition to the Common App? </li>
<li>How much do these change every year? </li>
<li>Does the main personal statement still stay the same? </li>
<li>Do they even use the Common App?</li>
<li>Which top schools have unrestricted Early Action?</li>
<li>Which top schools do not have Early Action?</li>
<li>Please post any application deadlines/acceptance release dates that you know of for any top schools.</li>
</ol>

<p>I know this is a lot of information! Thank you! And I'm sorry if I sound arrogant...=( If it bothers you, please tell me where I sound arrogant so I can change it in the future.</p>

2

<p>As a high school senior who’s just gone through this process, I’ll answer some of the questions in regards to Yale (though I’m pretty sure all schools you listed use Common App):</p>

<ol>
<li>Yale had 1 500 word essay in addition to the general personal statement required by Common App. It also had a few other short answer questions like “Why Yale?” and some more random ones like “What would you do with a free afternoon tomorrow?” </li>
<li>There’s so many options for the main personal statement, one of them being “Subject of your choice.” So if you’re getting a head start on apps, whatever you write will probably be fine.</li>
<li>I think they all have at least some sort of restriction on early action (I know for a fact that Yale does, as I applied SCEA). That info is easy to find on each university’s website. </li>
<li>There’s some kind of EA/ED for all top schools, I believe.</li>
<li>Most early deadlines are beginning of November and for RD, early Jan. </li>
</ol>

<p>Hope I could help and good luck. (I was Rejected by Yale but it sounds like you have a better shot than I did.)</p>

3

<p>My tip would be to expand your options.</p>

4

<p>^ I agree.</p>