<p>When you look back, what do you think you should've done over the summer before becoming a HS senior to make senior year less stressful?</p>
<p>Work on apps. Actually, learn about the whole application process at least.</p>
<p>^ Agreed. Or, found a better paying job. :)</p>
<p>I definitely wished that I had learned more about the application process (what a common app is, what a supplement is, how recommendation letter forms work). Because once I started applying to colleges, I was very disorganized. I wouldn't have been if I had known who the forms go to, etc.</p>
<p>Also, see if you can find an old financial aid form. My family situation was very complicated (mom lives here in U.S., dad lives overseas), and in Seattle there's a free resource called NELA, which was a big help in filling out financial aid forms. I should have been more aware of how much work it took (for me) to fill them out. They took longer than the college apps themselves!</p>
<p>But I had a pretty good summer before senior year. I volunteered a lot and got good summer reading done. I wish I had gotten a job, though, but I think back then I just wasn't really comfortable with the idea of being in the work world, so to speak. My recommendation is to find a job that pays quite well for a first job, that doesn't require that you do too much.</p>
<p>hrm. will do. i'll look into the common apps. anything else?</p>
<p>I wish that I'd gotten a job for at least part of the summer so that my savings account would be a little more padded. On the other hand, I traveled the US with some of my best friends and had experience that will last me a lifetime. That's worth skimping on expensive clothing. </p>
<p>My advice for you in terms of college applications is to get some sample questions and start writing personal essays. Even if those questions don't pertain to the colleges that you apply to, you will have practice with the style of writing they want. If you can get someone experienced to review your essays (Even here at CC. I'm usually willing to look some over, and I'm through applications so I'm certainly not going to copy), then you can grab a feel for what colleges are looking for. </p>
<p>Also, read! It's fun, entertaining, engaging, and will help you become a more articulate person.</p>
<p>I also worked on my interview skills junior year and the summer following. I used to be a shy person, and I had to accustom myself to speaking with strangers. You also need to learn how to delicately word things.</p>
<p>gotten laid. definitely would've relieved some stress.</p>
<p>curry: how did you practice interviewing skills? </p>
<p>I was also wondering if colleges prefer the common app to a particular university's app? Which would be better?</p>
<p>I read that it's better to do the university's app based on the reasoning, why wouldn't you do their own special app?</p>
<p>But I think that's garbage--I mean, really, I don't think they care which one you do, and it just makes more sense to do the Common App, because you're probably going to use the Common App for other colleges too.</p>
<p>i'm going to take the risk that if the college allows a common app, then they must not have much against it, since they had to meet requirements to use the common app anyway.</p>
<p>i talked with my friend who applied to a top LAC on common app, and she got in, so can't be that bad.</p>