<p>Hmm...I wish I knew I'd get in. Then I'd've been able to take bets.</p>
<p>These might have been mentioned before, but...</p>
<ol>
<li>Make a rigorous schedule, but DON'T overdo it. It's not worth it.</li>
<li>Apply EA/ED, but don't assume you'll get in. You can hope, but keep working on your other applications and understand that even if you're a FANTASTIC student you might not get in. Realize that if that happens, you'll be okay and life will go on and you'll end up at some school where you're going to be really happy. Try to have all of your applications in before you get your EA/ED decision. On a similar note, when you apply EA/ED its very easy to make all of your college thoughts be about that specific school. DON'T DO THAT. Make a list of colleges where you know you'll be happy and look forward to attending. Pick your favorite schools after you know where you got in, not before.</li>
</ol>
<p>Try to start on your college apps in the summer, if possible(that's what I did for some of my colleges). That way, you will have plenty more time to fine tune the details later on, and catch any tiny errors. Keep all your teacher/counselor recs in neatly organized folders. Include the list of schools that you need recommendations to, highlight the deadlines, your ECs, and perhaps even your personal statement(whatever works). Hand the folder to your counselor/teacher within the 1st or 2nd week of school (I didn't ask my counselor for a recommendation letter until the second wk 'cause it was a chaos in the office the 1st wk). When you hand the folder to your teacher/counselor, do a quick overview just to make sure they are aware of the deadlines and where everything is. That way, they don't just put it away immediately. </p>
<p>Basically, the main point is, DON'T PROCRASTINATE! I pretty much finished everything by the time school started, so I relaxed while my friends sat in front of their computers at 3AM trying to finish up their apps/essays. NOT A GOOD IDEA.</p>
<p>Don't smoke weed and get caught. Man break sucks.</p>
<p>I got my SAT and ACT tests out of the way by sophomore year, with no desire to retake, and SAT IIs right at the end of junior year. It's been kinda depressing to watch a few of my friends scramble around to get their tests done in November. One in particular did not do as well as she wanted to, and now she has no time to retake... she's applied to UPenn ED, got deferred and has been absolutely torn up for a month.</p>
<p>Get them out of the way early!!</p>
<p>don't overlook what leggomyeggo said. It's very true. I was sad to see some of my classmates expelled.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>When asking teachers to write you a letter of recommendation, include a formal letter explaining why you think their letter would be benificial to your application. Include all resources (pre-addressed and stamped envelopes, ect.). Give them the request early in the year, at least a month before the deadline. And, finally, when they are finished, give them a thank you card. It will show your appreciation and they will be much more willing to help you out in the future.</p></li>
<li><p>I tend to disagree with most people on the fall testing. For me it was very beneficial. I took the SAT three times, end of sophomore year, end of junior year, and fall of my senior year. If I could do it again I would have taken it twice during my junior year and probably once during my senior year. After a summer of nothing (no studying, just relaxing) I took the test at the start of my junior year. I ended up with score that was 80 points higher than my last test. The break helped me, even though I had done nothing highly intellectual for three months. I also recommend taking the May test instead of the June test. I took the SAT after a full week of exams and I was pooped. Don't do that.</p></li>
<li><p>Do the majority of your college visits in the summer. You can go back during the year, but it may keep you from missing school to visit a college you don't even like.</p></li>
<li><p>Don't procrastinate. I finished all of my college application by the end of October. It was so nice to go into Thanksgiving and Christmas break without having to worry about college stuff. It also gives you more time for scholarship applications.</p></li>
<li><p>Most importantly, HAVE FUN! It is easy to get stressed. Just think, when you look back at your senior year do you want to remember a year of stressful college applications or a great time with your friends?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Sorry, I forgot something! </p>
<ol>
<li> Make a copy of all of your college applications and scholarship forms. Keep them filed. This way, if a college says they are missing something it will be easy to send it to them. Make hard copies of all of your college essays just in case your computer crashes. Finally, it helps to make a seperate file for each college. Everytime you get a letter from them, file it so it doesn't get lost.</li>
</ol>
<p>The important thing about #2, chelsea, is that the senior year fall test not be your first hack at it, because then you obviously have no chance to try again.</p>
<p>My one regret from last year is the SAT II's. I really should have taken them in May along with my AP tests. After all, its all the same material. I was afraid of overloading because of all the tests I'd have to take. Big mistake. When I took them in the fall this year, I forgot everything and did horrible on them. I know I would have aced them if I took them in May.</p>
<p>start looking at schools, applications, scholarships, reccomendations, etc etc during the summer so that you wont be overwhelmed with school work as well as applications. try to start ur essays soon so u can have it proofread. try to come up with some BS about stuff if u have nothing to put. like ECs, try to think of what uve done that cna possibly qualify as EC.
oh yea and i dont think that school sucks after uve been accepted. in fact i think its great, u walk around school laughin at those who are still applying (not literally) and ur not as pressured to make straight As anymore.</p>
<p>i agree birdofprey. i just think that you should take it one last time during the fall of your senior year when you are not as sick of school! :)</p>
<p>1) Take SAT IIs immediately after finishing the respective course
2) Start studying new vocab NOW
3) Really participate and impress a couple teachers (if not all) so you have good recommendation possibilities
4) Don't take the SAT 1 until you've done some sort of prep (related to #2)
5) Make plans to visit colleges over the summer
6) Do community service on the weekends or during vacation
7) Join meaningful clubs and run for office in as many of them as possible
8) Look at what kind of GPA your college choices usually accept and what kinds of merit scholarships you can get based on your current/likely GPA</p>
<p>1.) Visit and research schools during your junior year.</p>
<p>2.) Form a final list during the SUMMER, not December 27th</p>
<p>3.) Get yourself a huge binder with dividers/folders/labels and make sections with all of your passwords for each of the schools and an area to record what you've done with each of them. I applied to 9 schools and it got very confusing what I had done for each school. Without that binder, I would have been lost. ... also good place to put receipt letters, important stuff you'll receive in the mail from each school(incl acceptance letters!!!)</p>
<p>4.) Talk to your guidence counselor NOW and make an appointment, don't just barge in. Let them know your expectations and where you're thinking of applying. If you go to a large public school like I do, guidence counselors don't contact you until the second quarter which is way too late!</p>
<p>5.) Be open with your parents. If your don't want to apply to some school they want you to, tell them to fill out the app and you'll sign it. My parents had no clue where I was applying until I had completed nearly all of my applications-- I was massively p*ssed when they told me that I HAD to apply to two more schools which I didn't want to. </p>
<p>6.) <strong><em>Most Importantly</em></strong> TAKE YOUR SATS NOW AND NOT IN THE FALL<br>
I'm not sure why schools tell you to take them in the fall as it is the dumbest thing I was ever told. Also, check on SAT IIs and see what you'll need.</p>
<p>Talk with your parents about finances what they reastically can afford or will pay. Know in advance if they are willing to sign on for massive debt, if you are not eligible for financial aid or don't have the grades fro merit.</p>
<p>If your parents tell you that you need to compare offers, believe it. Don't apply ED knowing that if you may live/die by the financial aid package and then think that magically the money is going to come.</p>
<p>wish i knew that i was gonna get into CMU and therefore not apply 2 other places and just focus on my stupid english essay.</p>
<p>I would like to bump this up since it is about time juniors started their college hunts...</p>
<p>I wish i had tried much harder on my math SAT... my word of advice for engineers who want to go to UVA.. just get ur math score in 720+... dont worry about english unless its below 520.</p>