I’m a 2015er, who as if last night, is committed to a school and officially through with the crazy, hectic process that is college admissions (if you are interested, you can find my results here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18333250/#Comment_18333250)! Because of all the help that CC has been, I’ve decided to try and give back with my own list of tips (loosely arranged in chronological order).
General Tips
- Do things that make you happy. This includes taking classes and ECs that you truly enjoy. It’s not worth it wasting hundreds of hours on something you think colleges will like. If you do what you love, you will have spent four fulfilling years in high school regardless of your admissions decisions. In any case, you would probably be able to accomplish more in something you are passionate about and stand out more. Remember that not all of your opportunities/EC have to come from your school. School doesn’t offer many clubs? Start your own or look for other opportunities to demonstrate your passions!
- Quality > Quantity. Colleges are looking to build a well-rounded class, not necessarily well-rounded individuals. If you are able to truly excel in what you do, you will stand out more than someone who is okay across a smattering of activities.
- Treat everything as a learning experience. It might be hard to stomach your first rejection or bad grade, but don't let it get you down. Use it as motivation to do better next time! As a related comment, don't be scared of failure. Try out for things that you are interested. The worst that can happen is that you don't get in. I really regret not trying out for some things, such as debating, because I was too self-conscious.
- Remember the important things in life. You might get caught up in the stresses of school, but never neglect your health or your family/support network. Appreciate all the people who love you, because they won't always be there. Take care of your health; you only have one body.
The Approach
- Take the PSAT/SAT early. You really do want to give yourself ample time to take, and retake tests if necessary. I took my first SAT in January sophomore year, which WAS a bit excessive looking back. However, when I realized that because of various conflicts, I was unable to take any SATs in January, March, or May of junior year, I thanked my lucky stars that I had decided to start testing early. I still ended up with a subject test in October of senior year, but ideally, you don’t want any testing hanging over your head after the end of junior year.
- Come up with a list of what you want in a school and sort your criteria into how important everything is. Based on that, start looking for schools. Don't get too drawn into the hype of rankings/prestige or college mailings. Focus on choosing some safety/match schools that you really love - not just reach schools. Honestly, finding a safety school you would love to attend (and can afford to) is probably the most important part.
- Don't pick a "dream" school. It's better to only become emotionally attached to a school after you've been accepted. Personally, I'm VERY glad that I did this.
The Process
- Start early. Speak to your teachers about references at the start of the year, especially if many people will also ask that teacher. Start drafting your essays during the summer break. They matter a lot and can truly make an impact.
- Think about how many supplements etc. you have to write and block up your time accordingly. Set your own deadlines for when each one should be completed. I had a bunch of essays left to be completed over winter break, which was not fun, and many of them were rushed. Looking back, I should have stuck to my deadlines more firmly. Related to this: be realistic about how many schools you apply to and how many supplements you can write without compromising quality.
- Call the shots. Some people might look over your essays and give you edits. Never go against your gut instinct when deciding whether or not to incorporate their suggestions. You don't want to lose your voice in the essay, and you also don't want "what-ifs" and regrets hanging over your head if you don't get in.
- Don't stress the interview! It's just a conversation, and honestly, the more relaxed you are, the better it will be.
- After you submit your applications, stop thinking about them. Don't agonize over the little ways you could have improved your essay, and don't stress about them to your friends.
The Finale
- As each acceptance rolls in, celebrate! You deserved it
- When all the decisions have come in, take a step back and evaluate your choices based on your criteria. There will be many people from parents to friends to teachers who may try to sway you one way or another, but ultimately, YOU are the one who will be attending the school for 4 years. Pick your dream school, and get really excited about it! :D
So that’s the end of my collection of tips, which I hope helped you at least a little bit. Best of luck!