Do not live your life in order to get into college. I’ve watched this backfire too many times with my friends and peers doing all the “right” ECs and programs, having a lousy time, and then not being admitted to the schools they desired. Do things you’re passionate about- that passion will serve you well during and long after the college admissions process.
Have a list of really competitive (as in the top ~30) schools you want to attend? Pick only the ones you absolutely love, then go down a “tier” or two from where your stats say you should be and find schools that would fit you but look less competitive numerically. That’s not to say to sell yourself short, but the nation’s top universities are getting WAY more qualified applicants than they can accept, leading to kids who used to be “locks” or have very good chances of admission getting flat-out rejected. Prestigious schools are alluring and are wonderful places, but there are amazing schools out there without the reputation or the huge applicant pool that comes with it. If you want options when selecting a school, this would be the method I wish I would have used.
Okay, you REALLY want in to UChicago/Yale/Stanford/ect. The best way to increase your chances of getting in (caveat: if you are qualified) is to apply early. The applicant pools get huge during regular decision and forces admissions departments to decide between qualified applicants. That means someone’s not getting in due to sheer probability. Applying early demonstrates interest and puts you in a smaller applicant pool, increasing your chances of getting in to your dream school.
Take time to find your voice for your essays. They aren’t research papers; they (ideally) should sound like you speaking…just “tightened up” (no "um"s, slang/colloquialisms, "like"s, ect. And no, “voice” does not include your accent.). This can be difficult for Type As (like me and probably you- you are on CC!), particularly if you struggle with a fear of failure or perfectionism, so start those essays sooner rather than later. Use the summer if you can; college essays plus homework make for a gruelling schedule. Be prepare to edit or completely start over. And, don’t get discouraged. You will get these essays written to the best of your ability- it may just take some time. Just don’t procrastinate. (Remember the whole “get 'em in early” thing?)
If you think and feel strongly about something, stick to your guns. Think you need help in a class when everyone says you’ll be fine? Get the help you think you need. Think you’re overextending yourself in the application process or other areas? Don’t be afraid to back down a little. Don’t think IB/AP is a good idea for you? Don’t do it. Do not let the impressions of others derail your gut feeling. That sensation has been honed by thousands of years of evolution. Listen to it.
This is the toughest piece of advice to follow that I have to give. Ready? College admissions are mysterious and crap shoots after a certain point. Over the past four years, I’ve seen more admission decisions that I can explain than those that I can. No one, save for someone who has been an admission officer recently, knows how this process really works in the age of super-applicants and the Common App, and those who know aren’t really telling. So, no matter what happens, know that the result is not a measure of your self worth, your intelligence, or your potential for success in life. Rejection isn’t going to stop the people who are going to be successful, and acceptance won’t necessarily change a person who only puts in the effort to achieve mediocrity. You make the school, not the other way around.
This is all first-hand experience from a student about to graduate high school who got accepted to Duke and UNC (but got rejected/wait listed indefinitely everywhere else).
Madeofradium, I liked your post so much both for its style and its content! You should try to submit it as a guest post on college based blogs. It is really worthwhile reading for students and parents alike. Duke and UNC are great schools! Best of luck to you!
I wish I’d been less worried about being super involved at school. I thought that my lack of significant involvement in clubs and sports at school meant that I was out of the race for the schools I was looking at, but I was very involved in activities outside of school, which was enough.
Take the SAT / ACT in Spring of Soph year to get a better idea of: a) What level schools you should be looking at b) How much you have to improve scores to be a serious canidate at your preferred schools 2) If interested in applying to selctive colleges, take the most rigorus courses offered at your high school 3) Visit colleges & attend information sessions
NYmom3kids- you’re so kind! I was just hoping that someone would read it and learn from my mistakes. I’ll definitely consider submitting it somewhere with some minor tweaks.
<ol>
<li>In today’s day and age, stats aren’t everything. But don’t be one of “those” kids that applies for Harvard with a 3.0, 1200 SAT which makes people either lie that he has a shot, or be brutally honest.</li>
<li>Don’t go Early Decision unless you are 100% sure about the school. I had doubts maybe once, ever, about my school choice, so ED was perfect, but don’t do it for the higher acceptance rate. </li>
<li>Be unique in your essays, but not weird. Don’t cuss in the essay to try and seem nonchalant, don’t write about your love life, etc. Tell the admissions people about something that you couldn’t in any other part of the application.</li>
<li>Don’t stress. I can’t say this enough, it’s not the end of the world if Harvard doesn’t accept you. Be happy with what you’ve done, and be happy with where you’re going.</li>
<li>Don’t apply to 20 colleges. You don’t actually like all of them, you wouldn’t actually fit at all of them, and it’s really not worth it. </li>
<li>Get everything done early. No excuses, be like Nike, just do it.</li>
</ol>
Wow. So much good advice here. The people who see this thread before applying will be really, really fortunate.
Here are some things I can add:
<ol>
<li>You need to start early: months-before-summer early. I’d start with the basics, like what you want to do with your college years and what you’re looking for. Make outlines and start researching some colleges of interest. The sheer amount of programs out there is overwhelming, but don’t let that make you procrastinate. Find things that you certainly don’t want in a college and move along if the one you’re looking into has those features. For example, if money’s an issue, look into the maximum scholarship amount a college will award; some schools are expensive even with their top scholarships. By summer, you should <em>at least</em> have three reasonable schools that you know you’ll apply to. Start on your essays when summer starts. </li>
<li>Tailor your application to what the admissions committee is looking for. Where would you get that information? Many schools, especially the private ones, have that on their websites. Stanford is a huge example of this. A couple people on this site who were accepted said they used this approach. Worked for me, too. Just be careful not to over do it. </li>
<li>If getting 5’s on the AP exams is within your capability, don’t convince yourself they’re not important. Keep in mind you are competing with the Gods of College Confidential. Where you slip, the competition will gain :-)</li>
<li>Brace yourself mentally for disappointment. Imagine what it will be like it being rejected and having to settle for something else. And keep something like an emergency chocolate bar and an iPod nearby when you’re opening decision letters. </li>
<li>Relax and enjoy your senior year (responsibly). </li>
<li>Once you decide where you want to go, find out how to register for classes ASAP. The best classes fill up in minutes at some places. Dont get caught off-guard. </li>
<li>Be super excited for the beginning of the rest of your life.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Picking a school that has a good program for your major instead of choosing schools based on how many parties they have or fun it is and where your friends are going.
2.Staying on finanacial aid! OMG dont expect much from them unless you are saying on top of your finances such as loans and scholarships.
3.Most importantly do not apply too late. you want to know where you will be attending ASAP. Applying for colleges should not be a drag</li>
</ol>
First and most importantly, do not procrastinate on those essays! At least get started a few weeks or even months in advance because it’s the essays, at least for me, that put the most pressure on you during the application process. Starting them is the hardest part so find a good time to begin, relax, write, and show admissions who you really are and everything from there will be simple and much less stressful.
Also, I would advise you not to do college visits during the winter months… Walking around a campus when its 30 degrees and windy and raining does not make for the best experience. Good luck!
make sure you visit the schools you are planning on attending. especially if you’re looking at schools all across the country, make sure to visit them when they have the worst weather, so you have a realistic view of what living there will be like
As a parent, there is only one thing I wish we/my son had done differently, and I feel strongly about it: DON"T apply to too many Reaches. By definition, your odds are not good, and getting 4 or 5 rejections will feel much worse than getting 1 or 2. It can even change your sense of how strong or talented a student you are, because those 5 skinny envelopes will seem to send a message. On the other hand, 1 or 2 rejections feels like “OK, I took a shot!”
