Preparing For College

Select the colleges you most want to attend

Applying to colleges is time consuming and can get expensive so don't get carried away applying to too many schools. Pick a few Colleges or Universities that you would most like to attend and prepare your best effort for them.

Complete the actual application carefully and thoughtfully

Your application is your marketing tool to prospective colleges. Whether you are using the Common Application or an application unique to the school to which you are applying, read it carefully all the way through first in order to organize your thoughts. Answer all of the questions clearly and concisely. Check your spelling and punctuation. Include academic achievements, sports, clubs, awards and honors, and extracurricular activities including volunteerism.

Don't under-sell but don't exaggerate

Make sure you include all of the information that makes you a strong candidate for the school(s) of your choice. That monthly meal you serve with your family at the homeless center can make a difference on your application, don't forget to include it. Employment history matters, especially if you can demonstrate consistent work history. However, bagging groceries is not a management position. Don't try to make it sound like it was. As always, honesty is the best policy.

Your essay does what your application can't

Once you have put the bulk of your information on your application, use the essay to share something you haven't told them yet. What part of the story-of-you will best illustrate the kind of student you will be in the campus community? Admissions counselors are looking to your essay for the spark that allows them to get to know you. Let your personality, your hopes and your dreams shine through in your writing.

Letters of reference

Some institutions have very specific guidelines for the number of reference letters they will accept and even from whom they will accept them - usually a guidance counselor and a teacher. Other institutions will allow additional letters from an adult that knows something special about you. Regardless of the policies of your school of choice, don't go overboard on reference letters. A few judiciously selected letters are better than burdening an admissions counselor with piles of paper.

Test scores are your responsibility.

It is your job to make sure that your best college entrance test scores (usually SAT and ACT) are provided by the testing entity to the school to which you are applying. Make sure it happens. You want the admissions counselor to have your complete information packet - including test scores - so that they can make a decision in your favor and not set the application aside because they are awaiting additional information.

On time is not soon enough.

Colleges and universities publish dates for regular admissions deadlines and early decision admissions deadlines. And everybody seems to submit their information on exactly those dates. Admissions offices are inundated, sometimes to the extent that their computer systems freeze up. Want to stand out from the crowd and avoid the deluge? Get your information in early.