<p>So a lot of you seem very involved in the process and I'm wondering what advice you would give someone who will be applying soon. My parents both went to big state schools and I really want something different (like Carleton is probably my #1 now, if the college fairy showed up and said no money or ACT score worries). My school is not competitive (bad for advice but good for teachers who love me because I read even when it's not for school). So what should I do now and on the applications?</p>
<p>Now:
-Relax! Have some fun and enjoy the summer before things get crazy during senior year. It goes by SO FAST, before you know it it'll be June and you and your friends will be asking each other, "Where did the time go?"
-At the same time, be thinking about schools (which it seems like you already have). I cannot stress this enough: LOVE YOUR SAFETIES. You should love each school on your list so much that when you get your acceptances it should be PAINFUL to choose. In fact, I am going to a safety because I love it so much! :)</p>
<p>On your apps:
-DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. Get them done as soon as possible...I turned mine in the day they became available (but then I only applied to my safety schools because I loved them so much, so they didn't take long ^_^).
-Ask for recommendations early, and ask for them 5 days before you actually need them.
-Take standardized tests as early as possible senior year...you don't want to be worrying about SATs over Christmas Break!
-Go to Target ASAP and get a Dry-Erase Board and several different colored markers. Make a category for each school month on the board, and then cross them off or erase them as the month finishes. That way when you need to know a deadline, you can just glance at the board! (This made things much less stressful for me.)
-Check your college's web site OFTEN once you get accepted. Deadlines are subject to change suddenly and without any notice, and you need to be on top of things in case this happens.
-If you are going to live on campus, GET YOUR DEPOSITS AND FORMS IN EARLY. Spots fill up fast, and you don't want to be stuck without somewhere to live.
-As a sidenote: Make sure you get all of your necessary immunizations. I have to call my doctor's office tomorrow and make an appointment to get tetanus, meningitis and HPV vaccines. Most dorms either strongly suggest or require meningitis, and tetanus is always a good idea. :) Better safe than sorry!
-Make copies of EVERYTHING...that way, if the school loses it or it gets lost in the mail or something, you have a back-up copy. (I always keep the originals and send the photocopies.) This will SAVE you.
-To that end, start a "Professional Portfolio". My school required me to do this, and I'm very thankful they did. It has everything we need in it, from resumes to a sample college app to examples of student work to awards to...you get the idea. That way when we were applying to college, anytime we needed anything it was RIGHT THERE at our fingertips. None of the "Crap, I can't find my resume!"</p>
<p>Last but not least: ENJOY YOUR SENIOR YEAR. Your whole life changes after senior year...you will never see some of these people again, and the whole year is a bittersweet experience. Get back in touch with those friends you haven't talked to since freshman year and see how they are. Go see all your old teachers (even the ones you didn't like...they'll be happy to see you. ^_^). Cut back on the ECs you don't really like. Make as much time as possible to just hang out with your friends and enjoy the time you have left. And remember: SENIORITIS IS A GOOD THING. Don't slack off too much, but realize that all it means is that you're ready to move on to bigger and better things.</p>
<p>Hope I helped! Good luck in your senior year! <3</p>
<p>Do you know what you want to major in? Have you done a career search? How is your counselor? I'm gathering not so great by the "bad advice" comment...</p>
<p>Make a list of what you want (location, size, merit $. tuition etc) then do a simple search to start. This will give you a starting point. Then read everything you can about the schools that interest you on the list. That list will shrink. Ask your teachers for input if you don't like your counselor. read, read, read. I actually like the US News and Report on-line subscription for basic info. Well worth the $14.95 or so.</p>
<p>If you want an idea on what applications are like, try looking at the common application. <a href="http://www.commonapp.org%5B/url%5D">www.commonapp.org</a>. This is a good example of what to expect from many private schools and a few publics. Read the common app site over, look at the colleges who use it (over 300) and read the essay questions. </p>
<p>Work on practice test. The books are cheap and practice will get you a better score. Make a spreadsheet and keep track of EVERYTHING...application deadlines, letters of rec, fees paid, scores sent, login names and passwords...You will not be able to keep it straight in your head.</p>
<p>Try and not fret and enjoy your senior year...Good luck!</p>
<p>Hound the guidance counselors starting September of senior year to find out about local scholarships that become available. Apply for all of them that you are eligible as you're doing your college apps. The extra time and effort can reward you with a sizable amount of scholarship money outside of what your college offers, and sometimes local scholarships write a check to you personally, which is basically spending money. The upshot is that if you get several of those, you might be able to afford a college you otherwise couldn't.</p>
<p>My local scholarships from high school ended up being enough that I didn't have to take out loans for the first year and a half of college.</p>
<p>First research, research, research. Then diversify, diversify, diversify. (What they say about stock portfolios.)</p>
<p>Talk to your parents about finances - sit down and ask what they will actually pay per year. Many students get accepted to their dream school and only then find out it is not financially viable. </p>
<p>Be realistic about financial aid - read through some threads here and you will find so many post where a student assumes that because their EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) is 5000 and their school COA (Cost Of Attendance) is $30,000 they will automatically get $30,000 in aid - mostly this is not the case. Many schools gap (don't meet full need) and many consider $20,000 in loans meeting need. Also the EFC is often much much higher than students or parents expect it to be. So include financial safeties (ones you can afford) as well as academic safeties on your list. The very top schools do not give merit awards - only need based aid. If money is an issue and you may not qualify for much need based aid include some schools where you are in the top few % points Stats wise to help secure merit aid.</p>
<p>Include academic safeties and be realistic about what a safety is. There are threads where Students with very high Stats have applied to no safeties because they assumed they would get in - John Hopkins and University of Chicago are not safeties.</p>
<p>If money is an issue start researching financial aid. On the financial aid forum there is a pinned post by thumper that has good tips.
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/377143-preparing-finaid-applications.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/377143-preparing-finaid-applications.html</a>
You can also find excellent information at finaid.org
FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans
including EFC calculators that will give you an idea of your EFC.
FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid</p>
<p>MEET FINANCIAL AID DEADLINES. If you miss them you may not receive as much aid. The schools do not deny you aid to be mean - but certain aid is limited and runs out so missing deadlines is bad.</p>
<p>Complete the correct years forms. If you complete 2008-2009 FAFSA for the 2009-2010 school year - you will not be considered to have completed FAFSA - and you will have missed the deadlines even if it is done January 1st.</p>
<p>Do not go into this thinking it is ok to take on $100,000 in debt. It is not.</p>
<p>I know I am harping on about money - but there are a lot of really sad stories right now of students who seemed to think money would magically rain down from the sky to pay for them to go to school - really sad to read when they have got to the stage of being accepted and suddenly realise they cannot attend.</p>
<p>-Find 2 or 3 safety schools that you would enjoy being at.
-Don't use the first essay you write for the common app. (i wrote 4 before i had a really worthwhile essay)
-Interview at your prospective colleges
-Start your commonapp in the summer because the beginning of senior year is really hectic.
-Trust your gut when visiting campuses
-College admissions is CRAZY nowadays so apply to nine schools (a guideline)...
3 safety schools
3 target schools
3 reach schools</p>
<p>-MOST IMPORTANTLY::::
Get over the Ivy League hype and pick a college that feels the best, no matter what its U.S. News and World Reports "status" is. keep in mind that all of the college rankings are just opinions, not fact.
pick a school that feels right to you, otherwise, you will be unhappy for four years.</p>
<p>When your parents say "We will not pay more than $Xk per year for your college!" you should believe them.</p>
<p>Start compiling activity lists/resumes and consider some essay rough drafts. Think about what teachers will write your recommendation letters and when you'll take SAT/ACT. </p>
<p>Get organized. File folders, binders, whatever you want--but pick a method and stick to it. I liked captio's AppliCase, which I got online.</p>
<p>Don't waste your time or money applying to a school you wouldn't realistically go to. Don't apply somewhere "just to see" or "because all your friends do" (unless, of course, you seriously intend on going to school with them).</p>
<p>Do something unique this summer that you can write about. Go see the new movie 21 for inspiration (just kidding--you probably shouldn't become a card counter!!). If something particularly meaningful happens or you have an aha! moment, write it down in detail so you can re-tell the story later.</p>
<p>ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!!!</p>
<p>Craft your list of colleges to go to carefully. My S isn't there yet with college admissions -- he's a freshman -- but from what I've read here, looking at your list of colleges strategically seems to be the way to go. Don't apply only to colleges that allll the other kids like you in your area are applying to. Do look for ways to provide colleges with something they don't get a lot of. If you are female, look for a campus that has fewer than 50% women in its student body (or 100%). If you're male, find a college that has more women on it. If you're an athlete but not at an elite level, find a college that needs your particular skill. Be open to other locations -- don't stick to 400 miles in a circle around your house. You might do better at a college that wants geographic diversity and will provide aid to get someone who fits into their 2000-mile-away slot. Don't have one "first choice." Better to have a bunch of "first" choices. Love every school you apply to. Have more than one "safety."</p>
<p>And don't forget to breathe and have fun!</p>
<p>TAKE SAT IIs EARLY, RIGHT AFTER YOU HAVE THE CLASS!</p>
<p>Apply in September to a safe rolling admissions school that you would be happy to attend.</p>
<p>Receive acceptance in October/November.</p>
<p>Breathe a little bit easier for the remainder of the school year.</p>
<p>^ here, here</p>
<p>Emory and U Michigan offer an early notification that doesn't count as an "official" EA submission. Their applications also require a lot of essays, which helps get the juices flowing early in the season.</p>
<p>Having just gone thru the process and with 2 kids right behind her the best advice is be careful where you apply. If you love a school, try to apply ED. If you don't know then make a list of at least 2 or 3 safeties. I have a feeling with what happened this year with alot of rejections, higher waitlists, unpredictability in even your "match" schools, kids will now have to apply to more schools making it even worse. I am no expert but I think the most important decisions are made by Dec. 31st in the final list. Many kids this year went in way too confident with their "match" schools but the decisions were way too unpredictable. First, find a safety that you love!!!! I mean it. Then reach for the other schools and be pleasantly surprised and thankful if you get in because it may and does happen but if it doesn't learn to be happy with your safeties. It makes the whole process more digestible! Also try to visit schools that you think fit what you want, big, small, urban, rural,etc. as this will help you focus on the final list and what is important to you. People are shocked my daughter didn't apply to "all the ivies", but for what reason, ?ego stroking?. That gets you nowhere. If you hate being in a city, why apply to UPenn and Columbia or even Yale and Harvard? So be true to yourself. There are alot of great schools. Some of the brightest and best people I know went to our state school and had much less debt. Make the best of yourself wherever you go and transfer if you feel you made a mistake. Just do your best in choosing where you apply, and presenting yourself well on the essay and applications. Then the rest is out of your hands. A Mom.</p>
<p>Try to go a bit against the grain of where all the students from your area usually apply. For example, a student from the northeast might have a bit of an easier time in admissions applying to a school in the south or midwest, for example, to a school like Grinnell or Lake Forest or Earlham or College of Wooster or Marquette instead of Hamilton or Trinity or Wesleyan or Villanova or BC. Applicants from our area of central Ohio might be a little luckier at Trinity or Bard.</p>
<p>Start early. Besure your ducks are in line. Get a copy of the commom app, and any secondary apps from the schools you are remotely curious about and see what they are asking for essay, early!! Be sure all SAT2 tests are taken shortly afteryou have finish the course, not a year later. Start with AP study course book a long with any subjects test you are planning to take. If you start early, you will be able to enjoy the time you have left, because you will be on a timely manner. Buy portable filing cases, (cheap) and start files on the schools you would like to apply to, school you kinda like to apply to etc... get organzie about it. Keep copies of applications sent. Find out when the earliest you can send the schools your app. Watch carefully the dates of SAT and ACT given for you can get caught up in that mess as well. Hope some of this helps, for I can not tell you, the earlier you start the better you sr year will be, for it comes on fast. I did did not do any of this until sr year.. huge mistake for 3 months all I did was breath college 24/7 with only one break in between until acceptances started to roll in. Burn out plus!!! Oh ask for rec from teachers soon and give any resume info to them along with essay when completed. Also just start to jot things down in a folder about yourself, and who you are.. it will come in handly for essay, ans what you have been doing for when it comes time to make up a resume you willhave things to reflex on. Learn how to "show" your essay.</p>
<p>Gosh, after reading all the post after I wrote mine... Are you kinda sorry you asked??? LOL!!!!</p>
<p>-a lot of colleges have the same essay prompt every year; Common App is always the same so you should definitely check them out during the summer-- Some of my friends actually wrote their essays before school started and they were the envy of all our classmates (whoever coined senior year as the "slackoff year" should be shot). You could get a head start on writing them or at least brainstorm ideas.</p>
<p>-Also, I cannot stress enough importance on finding a safety that you actually like and could see yourself attending next year; Trying not to echo previous posts but I would also advise you to apply to some schools EA, non-binding that release decisions earlier. Your nerves will thank you.</p>
<p>Check in with your counselor once in a while, especially when they are sending recs, scores, transcripts. My friend will tell you there is nothing more painful than receiving an email stating that the school had not received your SAT score or the likes of, AFTER the deadline.</p>
<p>re #13, don't apply ED unless you don't need financial aid and you are 100% sure you want to attend. Alot can change between Oct. and April. Do apply to EA and rolling admissions schools which aren't binding. With any luck, you'll have an acceptance in the bag early - which is a huge relief.</p>
<p>Try to finish all standardized tests at the end of your junior year. Senior year is stressful enough without them.</p>
<p>If your GPA is high, but tests scores are low, look into SAT-optional schools. There are some very good ones out there.</p>
<p>If you like Carlton, but don't think you can get in, look at less selective LACs - there are many of them, and you will surely find some you'll love.</p>
<p>Keep track of deadlines, talk to your counselor often, choose several schools you would be happy with and read all the good advice posted above.
Then, to quote the white-haired pundit B. Clinton: "Just chill out".</p>