<p>Having finished my application process and being happy with the result, I wanted to share my experiences with other people. I hope this helps. This was just the way I approached it and it worked for me. Feel free to ask me question, correct me, add to my statements, or disagree with them, these are just my opinions, either through message and in this thread.</p>
<p>FRESHMEN YEAR
I recommend that during Freshmen year, you use it as a time to experiment. Try out different extracurricular activities, particularly volunteer work, as colleges love seeing them on the applications. It is important to figure out which activities are right for you; don't pick them just to impress the colleges or to comply with your parents. It is important to realize that a few bad grade during Freshmen year does not mean the end of you going to Ivies or wherever else it is that you wish to attend. Freshmen year records are the least considered part of college process. That being said, it is no excuse for not doing your best. </p>
<p>SOPHOMORE YEAR
Now that you have tried numerous activities, try to narrow it down to the ones you enjoy and focus on them. Try taking honor classes and even one or two AP if you are able to handle the workload, as they tend to be considerably larger than in the regular classes. It is better to get an A in a regular class than a C in an honor or AP class. Begin to THINK about colleges. I don't mean research or focus your mind on one university; I mean start to consider what you might want to study and what you value in a college. Take the SAT I once to see what level you are at. I also recommend that you talk to your college counselors few times throughout the year. No matter what you talk about regarding college, they will appreciate that you are talking to them about it already. You will have to get a recommendation letter from them.</p>
<p>JUNIOR YEAR
Now that you have experienced many different activities, narrow it down to about three to five that you are most passionate about and go for leadership positions. This is the time to take challenging AP classes, as most AP classes tend to be offered junior year and as colleges ARE looking at your application for challenging classes. Study for and take the SAT I at least twice, to achieve the highest score you are able. In addition, take SAT II, at least two of them, in areas that you are best at, but that also matches what you want to study in college. Take the SAT II whenever you have finished the course. Junior year is the time to start actually researching colleges. Things you should consider is how strong their program that you are interested in are, the location, the student faculty ratio, the physical environment, the social environment, and anything that you value in the college you wish to attend. Things you should not put too much influence on is their ranking, where your friends are going, and,although you should take into consideration, but not make it the deciding factor, your parents' opinions. I have too many friends who applied to colleges just because of their ranking and ended up miserable at their school. I also have friends makes the same mistake regarding following their best friends/siblings to college. I am not denying that your parents opinions are important, as they are, in most cases, paying for your education. However, in the end, its your decision. Advice for parents: whether it is because you are an alumni of a certain university, you always wanted your children to go to ivies or a certain university, or you feel that you know where your child would be most happy, you have to let them make their own decision. Give them your opinion; give them information they need to make a smart decision. But please respect that the FINAL decision should be left to them, as it is THEM who will be attending come fall or winter. Finally, think about which teachers you are going to get your recommendation letter from and see them quickly, as the best teachers tend to be full quickly. Talk to your counselors few more time to show them that you are taking this process seriously</p>
<p>SENIOR YEAR
PICKING COLLEGES
You should have some idea on what colleges you want to apply to. If you aren't sure still, talk to counselors, the college center at your school, your parents, and alumnis of universities; also visit the college websites. I suggest you pick approximately eight to twelve colleges to apply to, depending on how much workload you have besides colleges and how sure you are about your choices. Make sure that most of your colleges are target schools, schools where you have 50/50 chance of getting in, and pick few reach schools, schools that are hard for you to get into. HOWEVER, make sure you have at least two safety colleges, colleges where you are 90% sure you can get into, in order to make sure that you will at least end up somewhere. Make sure even the safety colleges are schools you would ACTUALLY consider attending. Take the SAT I or SAT II again if you are not satisfied, but no later than November</p>
<p>APPLICATION
Finish the straightforward part of your application first; your scores, your information, your parents information, etc.</p>
<p>ESSAY
People freak out about the essay the most. They think it has to be intelligent, funny, impressive, etc. The important thing is to right your essay honestly and to not try to blatantly impress the graders, as they can see right through it. Right about what you care about, such as an issue, a class, or an extracurricular activity. Try to have at least two people read your essays and give their opinions.</p>
<p>RECOMMENDATION LETTER
You typically need one recommendation letter from your counselor and two from your teachers. I would recommend that you pick teachers that teach opposite subjects, such as one from an English teacher and one from a Math teacher. Ask for the letter as early as you can to give them time to give your letters focused attention.</p>
<p>INTERVIEW
It is good to do interviews if possible, but remember that they are not going to be the primary factor in the application process. In the interview, answer all questions honestly. Also, try and find something that you and your interviewer have in common such as an activity, a book, or even a famous figure. Having that familiar topic will make the whole unnerving process much more comfortable.</p>
<p>AFTERWORDS
Relax! Don't freak out about your application from the moment you send it to the moment they send their decision. It is over and there is nothing you can do. Worrying about it is going to make that time painful. It is your last year in high school; try and enjoy it. As you start to get your letters from colleges, keep a list to keep track of where you were accepted, where you were rejected, and where you have not heard back from. I suppose that goes without saying.</p>
<p>SCHOOL
While people tend to relax during senior year, its important not to relax too much. Your midterm grades still go into the application process and the colleges can revoke their acceptance for poor grades during second semester, at which point you end up in community or junior college. But still, its your last year in high school; enjoy.</p>
<p>DEALING WITH REJECTION</p>
<p>WAITLIST
The thing that no one wants. However, it is usually the case that you will receive at least one, or in one of my friend's case, five. Take a little time to celebrate the fact that you were not outright rejected. Now, take action. The worst thing you can do in this case is to wait and do nothing. No matter how small you think your chances are, fight! Send them two letters. One detailing what you have done since initial application, which should be sent as soon as you can, and the second, closer to the date, telling them how much you wish to attend the university. When it comes down to waitlist, most of the time there is no ranking and its about how much interest you show toward the college. This is another reason to keep active senior year, to have something to update with if you are waitlisted. If you are able to, visit the college and send them a third letter about how much you loved the visit and how it enhanced your commitment to that school. No matter the decision, while you wait for a decision, get excited about and commit to another college or university.</p>
<p>COMMITTING
The part that students often stress over: choosing their final pick. I am unfortunately able to offer little advice on this matter, as in the end, it comes down to you. One thing I do recommend is that you visit all the schools to make sure that you like it. Narrow down the list of colleges by visiting and eliminating ones where you didn't like the school. Also talk to current students and alumini of the colleges.</p>
<p>I really hope that this helps some people for 2012 application. Best of luck to the future generation of applicants.</p>