|
|
|
Apply Early, Apply Often
|
|
To ease the stress of your senior year,
get started on your applications early in the season. Most schools offer
both an online application and a paper application. Apply online, and make
the process easier on yourself! Regardless
of if you're applying with a paper application or online, the following are
some things to keep in mind so you complete your applications correctly.
Try to apply early admission on your
applications. It will lower your
competition and make you look more responsible.
Know your deadlines! Keep a list of
deadlines beside your bed, in your binder, on the refrigerator--anywhere
that you will see it often. Missing an application deadline automatically
means that you've missed your chance to apply.
|
|
Choosing Schools
|
|
When compiling your list of schools to
apply to, you want to choose roughly 7.
2 schools that are
unlikely for you to get into.
3 schools that are about right for your academic
range.
2 schools that are your safety schools and
you know you’ll get into no matter what.
Should you apply to less
schools? Sure, if you like to
gamble.
Should you apply to more schools? If you want, but college application fees
are expensive and can add up quickly (remember though, there are a variety
of schools and programs that will allow you to waive your application fee).
|
|
Letters of recommendation
|
|
Start early: Approach your
potential letter-writers about two months prior to the actual due-date of
the letters with your request. Teachers and guidance counselors are usually
swamped with term papers and other college application requests toward the
end of the fall semester, so allow them plenty of time to address your
needs.
Choose carefully: When requesting a
letter of recommendation, pick someone whom you feel knows you well.
Prepare the recommendation letter
writer:
Give each of your letter-writers one page of
information about yourself. This information will help the letter-writer
compose a thoughtful and accurate recommendation. Make sure to provide your
letter-writers with stamped envelopes addressed to your colleges--don't
count on them to take this responsibility!
Keep track of the deadlines: Do not hesitate
to remind your letter-writers of deadlines. People do forget, and you don't
want the admissions office to be waiting for this last piece of your
application. Most colleges will not review your application until all parts
have been received.
|
|
Be a well rounded person
|
|
College admission has become so competitive
that the most sought-after colleges are turning away 85 percent of their
applicants, most of whom have top GPAs, AP scores and standardized test
scores like you. The most competitive colleges will want to know what made
you stay away from extracurricular activities in high school. And they’ll
see this pattern as an indication that you’ll probably continue to be
inactive in college. (Note that if you were holding an after-school job,
internship, or you were writing a novel, or had major family responsibilities
that filled your non-school time, these may be viewed as even more
impressive than extracurricular school activities.)
|
|
Use Your Essay Wisely
|
|
Many people address their college entrance
essay as a literal task, of talking about who their hero was, what their
most influential moment in their life was, etc. The truth is your essay can be used to
make a point about you. Let’s say
you had few extracurricular activities in school? Or your GPA was average at best? Well, then your essay is your time to
shine.
Use it as a chance to talk about how you
hope to change the world. Talk about
how your commitment to something caring was more important than getting a
4.0 GPA.
|
|
Study... Yes! I said it!
|
|
A combined SAT score under 1100 (math and
verbal) isn’t enough to set you apart from the crowd. The key to obtaining
higher SAT scores is practice — lots of practice. You should plan to devote
at least two hours a day to:
- Practice
tests
- Memorizing
vocabulary words
- Writing
essays while timing yourself
- Trial
math problems
- About
30 minutes per activity should do it.
Just like any activity, test preparation
is an exercise, something you have to practice to get good at. Don’t be
afraid to purchase review books for practice, SAT training software, and a
book of SAT words.
And get your parents to help you. They’re just sitting there,
you might as well make good use of them.
Have them help with flash cards and drill you.
|
|
Don’t get overwhelmed
|
|
Whatever you do, just remember... relax.
The most damage you can do to yourself is
stress. Stress can cause:
- anxiety
- depression
- eating
disorders
- substance
abuse
- Chronic
pain
- Migraines
- Ulcers
- Heartburn
- High
blood pressure
- Heart
disease
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Obesity
- Autoimmune
diseases
- Irritable
bowel syndrome
- And
Skin Problems (and if you’re a 17 year old, your acne is already bad
enough)
Remember, despite what your parents,
teachers, friends, random bums on the street, or your neighbor’s parrot
tells you, your college decisions will not affect the rest of your
life.
23%
of American students transfer to another school while attaining their bachelor’s
degree, and the average student changes their major 3 times over the course
of college. (For more information, go to the Department
of Education website)
Now of course, there’s a big difference between
Yale and Hutchinson Community
College, but on average, no matter what school
you go to, you’ll still wind up on equal footing with your peers 6 years
after you graduate.
|
|
If You Can’t Get Into College
|
|
While college is often the best choice for
many high school graduates, there is still an old saying, “Don’t let
college get in the way of your education.”
Some people find the strict confines of college
too demoralizing, demeaning, and disabling.
They box you in, and can even be more of a waste of money than one needs.
The question is,
what kind of a person are you?
If you are a person who needs structure to
function, then college is the best for you.
However, if you are a restless go-getter
who is determined and a quick learner, then maybe college isn’t the best
place for you. Maybe you need to
spend a few months traveling the world, join the peace corps, or take on a
large task (volunteer or otherwise).
Then, when you go into the workforce (because you will have to work
if you want to eat) you will have real world experience, that some equate
as just as important as a college degree.
Of course, this is always a case by case
basis that is best determined on your own.
The Army can also be an acceptable
alternative, but not when there’s a quagmire of a war going on.
|
|
Submit Your Work
|
|
Got an opinion on the subject?
Upload a video now,
and share your opinion and your take on the subject.
|
|
|
SAT Word of the Day
(We’ve got you
covered from Allopreening to Zygodactyl)
|
|
|
|
Check Friend Requests 
Sign In | Sign Up