I will applying to: Indiana University, Purdue University, University of Missouri, University of Iowa, and University of Arizona.
I’m not sure on all of them, but most of them, I know are rolling and hold admissions starting in August. What things do I need to get done before the end of the school year?
Thanks
<p>In order to apply?</p>
<p>Umm..........SAT, SATII...</p>
<p>I need to get my recommendations now, right?</p>
<p>help us help you. Give us your stats, your ec's, your reasons behind the college choices, etc. Then we can tell you you what to do, what tests to take, what essays to write, and what recs to get. PM me if you want one-on-one help. I got a lot when I was applying, and I like to help other people out.</p>
<p>There are several things you can be doing now to make the fall easier and also increase your chances.</p>
<p>(1) Spend some time thinking about what makes you unique, your hook, what you will use to "sell" yourself to these schools. Try this question: if each of those schools received 40,000 applications next fall from people with the exact same stats as you, what would you tell them about why they should accept YOU and not the others? Make a list of your interests, your accomplishments, your activities. Then give that same question to your best friend, a trusted teacher and your parents. </p>
<p>(2) start developing a "resume" of your activities - be as detailed as possible at this point. Why have you chosen these activities, what have you accomplished, how would you describe them to someone who doesn't know your school or these activities? Put this all down on paper with details about how many hours you've spent on each.</p>
<p>(3) Get a transcript from your school. Check to make sure that all of the courses and grades listed are correct. Find out where you rank in your class (if your school doesn't rank, ask your guidance counselor if he/she can give you an approximate idea). Getting a transcript now is a good idea because it will let you see where you need to go to get it and how long it might take to get. While you're requesting the transcript, ask if there's anything specific the department that prepares transcripts for colleges likes -- a special form to fill out, etc.</p>
<p>(4) Go online to each of the school websites and really dig down into the information about each school. Why do you want to go to each school? What do they look for in candidates (do a search for "common data set" or "freshman profile") How do you compare? What do each of the departments you're interested in offer? </p>
<p>(5) While online, download a complete application package from each of the schools. Make a note of the application deadlines for each school (remember, the best laid plans can and do go wrong so it's best to have a firm calendar set up). What tests do they require? What are the deadlines for taking those tests? Check each application to see what types of essays are required. What do they ask the teacher and counselor in the recommendation forms? Create a file for each school with all of this information --- and buy a daily planner type calendar to mark down all of the dates. You can use the calendar next year to make sure you get everything done on time AND to keep track of the dates you send out your apps, when your rec's go out, etc.</p>
<p>(5) Now IS a good time to start thinking about which teachers you might ask for recommendations. It's probably too early to ask them to write those recommendations BUT it's not to early to start thinking about how you will make it easier for them to write BETTER recommendations in the fall. Write up a paragraph or two on each school and what they look for and then prepare your resume (see above) to give to each teacher. Remember, you may think they know you well but they probably don't know some great things about you. Make it easy for them. Have everything in neat packages for them first thing in the fall.</p>
<p>(6) Now is also a good time to make an appointment with your guidance counselor. Even if you don't think your GC is going to be too much help, talking to them early on will give you important insights into how the GC department is going to handle your apps. You might ask for a copy of the school's profile and see how your school describes itself.
Let your guidance counselor know which schools you're thinking of and ask if he/she has any other recommendations. By the time fall comes, GC's tend to get busy so talking to them know will give you a head start.</p>
<p>(7) If at all possible, try to visit each of the schools over the next few months. While there, try to attend either a group presentation or a one-on-one appointment with the admissions officer who will be handling your state (you can find this online). Ask lots and lots of questions about the typical accepted student and what you can do to improve your application.</p>
<p>(8) Talk to your parents about financial matters. If money is going to be an issue, add all filing dates for scholarships or financial aid forms to your calendar and make sure your parents understand the process now.</p>
<p>(9) As Varsity suggests, CC can be a good place to get suggestions on how to handle the process. Tell us a bit about yourself and people will let you know if you seem on track for the schools on your list. But do not take anything you hear here too seriously - we are not the admissions counselors who will be reviewing your application. However, CC can be a great place for feedback and information not found elsewhere.</p>
<p>(10) Relax!!! Try not to stress too much over the process and remember that things can and will go wrong but for the most part things tend to work out for the best.</p>
<p>if you haven't tested already, absolutely get on the testing schedule for spring SAT's and/or ACT. ACT is offered next month and in mid-June. SAT is in May & June.</p>
<p>I just happen to see kinglin's post and I was wondering if someone would help me also.</p>
<p>what are my chances of getting into a good college (emory? duke?, etc...) do i need to do independent research? what do i need to get on the SATs in order to get into good colleges?</p>
<p>stats: chinese, female, junior in high school
old SATs: 1360 (i just took the new March SATs)
haven't taken SAT IIs yet</p>
<p>4.0 gpa
rank 1/508 in class
taking 5 AP classes</p>
<p>EC's are junior class vice president
jazz choir & treasurer of choir officers
SADD vp
national honors society
latin club president
student council
math club
play the piano for 8 years</p>
<p>rcyuirresist: that belongs in "what are my chances"</p>
<p>kinglin, one thing not to forget is having fun with your occupation search as well as college search. </p>
<p>I loved my time spending 14 hours a day during weekends in a molecular biology lab and 3 months a year on Biology Olympiad prep camps. So, now I am quite convinced what I want to study in college. I have been talking with doctors, professors, medical students and graduate students so that I have a view of what to do. </p>
<p>If you don't know yet what to become, do fit the "finding-out" activities in your junior year schedule. Colleges are also interested in if you are ready to make a decision and if you have strong passion.</p>
<p>WRITE ESSAYS EARLY! for me, that was the hardest part of the application process.</p>
<p>Do state colleges even accept at recommendations?</p>
<p>I agree with superstar since I finished all other parts of my application in October, but kept pondering about essays until the last minute (11.59 PM on January 1).</p>
<p>The one thing I wish I had done more of: COLLEGE VISITS! Now I have to visit all of my prospects in one shot, and missing so much consecutive school is going to be hard. Other stuff, like taking the SAT/ACT, should be obvious...</p>
<p>Kinglin,</p>
<p>First thing, go to the web pages of the schools and follow the admissions links. You mentioned University of Iowa. That is one school that is open and transparent about what will get you in. None of the smoke filled back room stuff you will mostly read about in this forum. No need to write essays about how you live in pain every waking hour due to concern for your fellow man. Your actions are all that count. They tell you up front "if you have this then you will get in." It is mostly ACT score and class rank as I recall. The web page and downloadable application will tell you what you need and when you need it.</p>
<p>My son didn't look at the others on your list, so I don't know if they are straight shooters also or not. If they are, you can forget all the posturing and check your stats against the requirements and decide where to go. </p>
<p>If the others are not straight shooters don't take all the advice on how to make yourself appear to bleed as a necessity. It probably does help, but my son didn't play that game and got into William and Mary. He was also accepted at University of Illinois C/U and University of Iowa. Ultimately we were torn between Iowa and W&M and it was tough to decide between the two. One good thing about Iowa is their openness about admissions speaks of an honesty missing from many universities that feel a need to hide their decision process.</p>
<p>I didn't come across this forum until after my son had been accepted, so we didn't know we were supposed to be trying to appear a certain way to the schools. I'm glad of that. Our ignorance let us avoid a lot of pressure.</p>
<p>I also need help in determining if I'm qualitfied to get into certain schools. Like Wharton, Yale, Southern Cal, and Rice.</p>
<p>Stats.
School
GPA: 4.0 unweighted
APs: 8 by the end of my senior year, right now I have taken 3
the rest all honors and required electives
Top 10% and probably 1 of the top 10 in my class of over 200 kids
Test Scores: N/A and what is a good ACT score
Leadership:
President: DECA, Race Unity Club
Officer: NHS, JSA, Women Aware Club
Community Service:
Special Olympics Coach
Hospital Volunteer
Work: Plan to work this summer
Athletics:
Varsity Track and Field 5 years- I started in 7th grade
Varsity Soccer 4 years Jv soccer in 7th, Varsity in 8th
Varsity Basketball 2 years
VArsity Bowling 1 year
Varsity Rifle 1 year
Awards:
Scholar Athlete every year
Who's Who every year
All-League teams every year
etc....
Demographics:
Female
African-American
Other Activities
Violin-10 years
Oboe 2 years</p>
<p>Can I ask for an interview? Im just wanting to get into Indiana so bad, that I want to get interviewed, and write an essay. Can I get an interview and write an essay?</p>
<p>What are some long term strategies for Ivy admissions?</p>
<p>abike11: make a new post in "what are my chances"</p>