Hey everyone,
First off, I’m a recent HS graduate on my way to the University of California, Berkeley this fall and I will be a midshipman in its NROTC program.
College- in previous high school years I had been consumed by studying what colleges had to offer in the large spectrum, which included looking into cities that had acceptable weather, campuses that had the best looking women, universities that had admirable faculty in their respected fields of study, desirable college atmospheres, the field of study I desired and plenty more! But as it got to be the end of my junior year, my eyes were off the picture; I was looking too broad and I needed to zero in on fewer schools. Eventually, I chose the US Naval Academy as my desired university and I went all for it, I mean, I went out 2 times (from San Diego to Maryland is a large commitment) and made a pen pal out of my admission officer. So when I started hearing back from colleges and was accepted practically everywhere I applied, I was confident I would be accepted to the USNA. However, that would turn out to be false. Through rage and discouragement I felt my world had dropped and as infuriating as it was for me, I knew the money I spent (correction, my parents money spent) on many college applications would be insurance well invested. Spending extra on those college applications gave me an opportunity to choose, not be thrown into a university because I wasn’t brave enough to “waist” $500 on applications.
So as you begin your college applications, some of the best advice I can give you is: 1, have a goal and fight for it. 2, leave the tv remote, your daily routine playing LOL, and the dramatic magnets of high school alone and focus on your future by reflecting on how amazing you are. 3, apply to many places carefully picked out by you, and finally, dramatize your experience with passion in the extra curricular activities section.
1: having a clear goal is a starting point to success and it could lead you in other, more impressive/appropriate directions in life.
2: though other things in life may seem important or relevant, this is crucially the time where you get to offer the best you have to a place you’ll spend the next few years at.
3: I know of people in my graduating class that I thought were MIT material, but because I was wrong and they aggressively applied to 3, 4, or 5 schools, they ended up committing to places far below their ability level.
4: Don’t lie about you taking mission trips to Africa or you starting a business that is now funded by top notch venture capitalists, because you’ll probably be admitted but your first semester will reflect your true ability. What I mean by “dramatize your experiences with passion” is to be all about what you did. Don’t just say that you helped tutor some kids after class, show on the application how you helped that one boy who had a learning disability overcome his struggles as you offered him all that you can give! Make the admission officers feel your side of the story!
If you wish to be accepted to some of your dream universities, think about taking this advise and MAKE YOUR APPLICATION BLEED WITH PASSION! Be confident in yourself and work smart. Comment if you need help with anything; happy early applying!