<p>Okay so like everyone here I am nervous, but in these past weeks leading up to admission season I've felt like I don't know ANYTHING about the college admissions process, even though I've researched the crap out of it. I still have questions and I'm kind of, well, scared that I probably won't get in anywhere (it's not like I have a 2.0 range GPA but you know I could've had a 4.0 or at least a 3.7 GPA).</p>
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<li><p>If you apply ED at a college, is it required that you attend it if you get accepted? My mom said that if you apply ED to a college and get accepted you HAVE to attend it.</p></li>
<li><p>Also, what is commonapp.org? Am I required to use it or is it just a tool to fill out the common app of college applications faster and save me from filling out the same form 4 or 5 times? (Not counting the supplemental app.)</p></li>
<li><p>I didn't do so hot Sophomore year and I came out a lot better Junior year. Should I explain my grades on my common app essay or on the college-specific essay, like FSU's, who's essay topic is ""? If neither where do I explain it to the best of my abilities?</p></li>
<li><p>Also are essays about overcoming self-imposed adversity good? I mean well because I've learned a lot in high school but I wasn't very organized which caused a slip in my grades. And also another big reason is that I spent time doing other things like learning HTML, CSS, PHP, PhotoShop, Russian, all about T.E. Lawrence, Marco Polo and a lot of other things that kind of distracted me from school itself. I mean I love learning it's just kind of weird when it comes to schoolwork itself. I didn't party or waste my time or anything -- really. Then a couple of things happened -- my mom got in a car accident and almost lost her life and some other things that happened that then snapped me back o reality and you can get the rest.</p></li>
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<p>I'm pretty sure I have more questions but right now my head isn't really focused at the moment so I'll have to come back, haha. Sorry if the reading seemed to rushed!</p>
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<li><p>Yes, you have to attend it if you apply ED. If you would like to apply early but you do not want the binding decision then you can apply EA (early action). Only apply ED if: A) you are sure you would like to attend the college, and B) you are sure that you can afford it financially. </p></li>
<li><p>Yes, pretty much what you described.</p></li>
<li><p>I wouldn’t waste one of your essays on your slip in grades unless it was a huge slip. If you had some kind of medical/accident/family emergency/etc. issue that can explain your slip in grades, then you can talk to your counselor to see if s/he can address it in his/her letter.</p></li>
<li><p>Any essay topic can be good if you are a good writer. I think overcoming adversities is one of the more common essay topics, but it’s still a good one. Also note that you can probably put down your knowledge of HTML, CSS, PHP, and PhotoShop down as an extracurricular activity.</p></li>
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<ol>
<li>You won’t be forced to attend if you can’t pay for it, i.e. if FA is not enough.
2… all essays and forms go from here. get used to it soon.
3.No. Ask your teacher to write in the rec letter what you want to say here. Colleges want to know the whole story, not hear excuses.
4.Sure. that can work, if (as stated above) you can write well, and not whine about it. Write a number of rough drafts on different topics, and see which one sounds like you the most. All colleges say that essay is supposed to show something that they can’t see from other parts of the application. Like a friend wrote about his hair. Another wrote about what doodling meant to her, someone wrote about moving schools and how different it was and stuff and how he had to adapt. Nothing extraordinary. Just good voice. After you read their essays, you feel like you know them…that’s what they want.</li>
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<p>Rob1995, you do not have to attend if accepted ED. You can back out of the agreement if the financial aid package is not enough (and it is quite simple to do so).</p>
<p>Oops, you guys are very right about ED - I didn’t mention that you can break the ED agreement if the FA is insufficient. </p>
<p>But I also know that applying to several different schools RD gives you the chance to compare all of your financial aid packages between colleges, so I think that applying RD is still the way to go if you are looking for a good amount of FA. At least that’s my opinion, anyway.</p>
<p>Also as a side note FSU doesn’t take recommendation letters into consideration and don’t care about them very much (or not at all). </p>
<p>Also the question was never answered directly: So I have to use commonapp.org? I think it’s yes because University of Chicago’s site said to go there (I think it was UC). </p>
<p>Well for the record guys I have a 3.14 UW GPA that might be a 3.25 UW by the time I start applications, so I want to apply to FSU ED for the summer start to increase my chances of getting in (because honestly I don’t think applying RD for the fall or summer or even ED for the fall will give me a decent chance even with a killer essay).</p>
<p>So should I use an essay topic like the one I described in my common app essay or FSU’s essay (PROMPT: Florida State University is more than just a world-class academic institution preparing you for a future career. We are a caring community of well-rounded individuals who embrace leadership, learning, service, and global awareness. With this in mind, which of these characteristics appeal most to you, and why?).</p>
<p>Okay, nevermind I had the prompt wrong in my mind, guess I’ll be writing this on the Common App Essay.</p>
<p>Oh and I should correct myself the actually topic wouldn’t be about overcoming adversity but the importance of education (that I found the most important lesson of all was what my mother told me – I can’t really describe it I just know what I’ll write, sorry)!</p>
<p>Sorry again for the rushed message. I just feel like there’s his whole pressure now because my whole family is made up of doctors + lawyers literally and my mom went to the University of Michigan + Yale so I kind of don’t want to be the failure in the family (Lol even though I’ll be majoring in Journalism / IR / PR / Communications or something else. I’m leaning more towards Journalism.)</p>
<p>P.S. I’m an excellent writer, I just take a long time for creativity to kick in when writing an essay. If I rush through it without time to think it turns out like crap.</p>
<p>The University of Chicago is a Common App-only school. So if you want to apply, you will have to use the Common App. </p>
<p>Not a lot of schools are Common App-only, but many schools will take it. All Common App members will consider a submitted Common App as equal to their own. If many of the schools you want to apply to are on the Common App, it can save you a lot of time and effort. </p>
<p>Now, Florida State (random: they have a beautifully-designed website) says that letters won’t be used in an admission decision. In that case, do not send them. However, if a college says that the letters aren’t required but they will be used if received, absolutely send in letters.</p>