How To Get Into College: The Manual

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
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<p>Hey! </p>

<p>My name is Jay and I'm writing a small manual for everyone on CC comprised of consolidated tips and advice on how to (1) survive high school, (2) succeed during the college admissions process, and (3) get into the college of your choice, as a way to give back to the forum that helped me get into my first choice college.</p>

<p>So I'm just calling on all current Stanford students to take a second of your time and message me a special little tip or trick that helped you when applying to college. Practical advice only please! We all know that you'll make it out alive :P</p>

<p>Anyway, when I finish compiling all the advice, I'll post it here in it's glory. Thanks all!!</p>

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<p>Sounds awesome!</p>

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<p>Here’s my special little tip for success in Stanford’s SEA pool:</p>

<p>Be undeniably awesome, yet disarmingly humble.</p>

<p>Any other questions? ; )</p>

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<p>be a minority</p>

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<p>Well, I’m not a minority–unless of course you count my awesomeness coupled with my disarming humility. It’s a rare combination, I’ll admit. ; )</p>

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<p>^ evidently, a sense of humor</p>

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<p>dont be a jerk who thinks everyone who gets in has some connection, doesnt deserve it, was a minority, or was a recruited athlete :P</p>

<p>and zenkoan is a rare breed for sure :)</p>

<p>but honestly my best advice is the same:</p>

<p>The college admissions process is not the end of a long scheme. Think of it not as a final exam, but simply a presentation. Don’t make everything in high school about getting into college. Use what you learned in high school to show your experiences and explain your personality, passions, and interests to admissions officers. If you have done well in high school and done what you love, then your application is simply like writing a story about the things you love. You shouldn’t need grand plans to get into college if you have followed your passions (while preparing yourself academically). Instead of trying to convince them that you are a good match, show them what you have done for 4 years so they can see themselves.</p>

<p>throughout high school, do your best at everything, but do what you love doing, not what you think is popular among college admissions offices. 1. what you think is popular probably isn’t (e.g. the beliefs that you absolutely must be in NHS, you should always volunteer at a local hospital, you should be a mathlete, etc.) 2. you should spend your time involved in activities because you love doing them 3. i honestly believe most admission officers at stanford would rather have someone who flips burgers with his/her free time because he/she loves it than someone who researches in a lab simply to get into college.</p>

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<p>…but only if he loves flipping burgers with the passion Spongebob shows his crabby patties.</p>