The College Process: Hints

Filling out your college applications

Common Terms for Admissions:

Do's

  1. Find something that the admissions committee can
    remember you by, and be consistent in the presentation
    of yourself.
  2. Find out everything you can about the schools you choose
    to apply to (preferably 5-6 schools).
  3. Show interest in the school by contacting them for
    information and visitation days.
  4. Make sure your counselor knows about you and your
    accomplishments... this will come in handy when they are
    writing your recommendations.
  5. Write your essays early and show them to people for
    feedback
  6. ASK lots of questions to the admissions representative at
    the colleges you are applying to (you will be living there
    for the next few years of your life).
  7. If you are sending in the Common Application, submit ALL necessary supplements.
  8. Make Photocopies of all applications and essays sent out
    in case something gets "lost in the mail".

Dont's

  1. Don't ever be boring
  2. Don't ever try to "put one over" on the admissions
    committee. Don't exaggerate or take credit for things that
    are not yours.
  3. Don't overload your folder. Send only the best examples
    of your work if you're including supplementary materials,
    and ask for the best, most in depth recommendations.
    Remember what counts is quality NOT quantity.
  4. Don't ask to have access to your recommendations. (You
    do have this right under Buckley Amendment, but we
    suggest you waive it). Admissions officers will take you
    teachers comments more seriously.
  5. Don't telephone admissions offices between January and
    April unless you have an urgent problem or question.
  6. Don't telephone about additions to your folder. Mail them,
    this way they can go right into your folder.
  7. Don't forget to write a thank you note after each
    interview. You want to show interest and make an
    impression.

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Secrets to the College Essay

Here are a few tips for developing an essay that conveys your personal qualities.

Plan your essays during the summer, before your senior year
if you can, or early in your senior year. Allow yourself enough
time for all the following steps.
  • Be sure you understand the college's topics, directions and deadlines, and look in its catalog or guidebooks for descriptions of the personal qualities it is looking for.
  • One selective college, for example seeks "candidates whose qualities of intellect, initiative, and energy demonstrate desire for both intellectual and personal fulfillment."
  • An essay for that college should demonstrate and persuade the institution that you have those qualities.
Before you start your essay, jot down your aspirations and how you think the college will help you meet them. Then develop a personal inventory. Make lists of your civic and school activities, your travels, awards, honors, other accomplishments, work experiences, and any academic or personal shortcoming about yourself. To focus your essay, develop a
one-sentence theme from your inventory.
Think about the form you might use to convey your information. Straight prose is fine, but if your theme leads itself to another approach, try it.
Now write a draft. Set the draft aside for 24 hours, then read it to spot cliches, triteness, vagueness, dullness, grammatical errors and misspellings. Is your essay focused on your theme, or does it ramble?
Is it confusing of boring? Does the introduction "grab" the reader?

Rewrite your essay based on this evaluation and repeat step 5 as often as necessary to sharpen your essay.

Ask someone whose opinion you respect to read your essay and to give you his/her candid impressions. Ask for specifics:

  • Tell me what you think I'm trying to say
  • How do I come across as a person?
  • What parts confuse you?
  • Where do I need more details?
  • What parts bore you?
  • What parts did you like the best?

However! Do not let this person rewrite your essay!!!

If necessary, go back to steps 3, 4, or 5. If this draft is the best you can do, polish it by checking again for spelling errors, awkward phrasing, inaccurate use age, unnecessary words, or anything else that does not sound right to you. Read your essay out loud to locate the rough spots.
Type or word process your essay - unless the college requires a handwritten version - and proofread it to catch typographical errors and any other errors you may have missed.
Mail your essay in on time and relax. If you have done all of the above, you can be relatively sure your efforts will be noted with appreciation.

Some Practical Considerations:
1. Type your essay or use the computer
2. Double space your essay
3. Check for misspellings
4. Leave space for margins
5. Keep the essay at a moderate length (check with the application)
6. Put your full name and social security number/birth date on all pages
7. You CAN use the same essay for different colleges and universities
8. Start early. Summer before senior year is ideal.

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Hints to a Successful Interview

The Interview Process:

  1. Interviews are not required at most college campuses. You can request one at most schools and it may help your admissions chances in some cases.
  2. If you are a borderline candidate or if you consider the college a "reach", you may be able to sell yourself in an interview situation.
  3. Learn as much as possible about the college before your visit. Be prepared to both answer and and ask questions.
  4. In order to have the best choices of interview times, it will be necessary to call and set up an appointment FAR IN ADVANCE for fall visits, for some schools as much as three of four months ahead.
  5. Some colleges require an interview as part of the admissions process, but most do not.
  6. If you visit before you make an application, or before your school reports arrive, you should take a copy of your transcript. A copy of an unofficial transcript can be obtained in the main guidance office with sufficient notice.
  7. Give some advance thought to the things you want to look for and ask about. Having a list of questions with you is acceptable.
  8. Arrive on time or a few minutes early
  9. Be yourself at all times... be honest, sincere, interested.
  10. RELAX! Interviews are meant to be informative to both parties. Try to get as much out of the interview as you put into it.

Questions You May Be Asked:

  1. What kinds of things do you do outside of school?
  2. What are you academic strengths and weaknesses?
  3. Which one of your activities has given you the MOST satisfaction?
  4. Describe the community of which you live and you participation in it (work, sports, church, etc).
  5. What are some of the fine qualities that may set you apart from the other ten people I spoke to today?
  6. Name three adjectives that describe yourself.
  7. Do you have any part time jobs? What do you do?
  8. How did you choose this college?
  9. What major do you intend to follow?
  10. If your SAT's are low, why do you think they are?
  11. What are the career areas you've considered throughout high school?
  12. What magazines do you read? Newspapers? Last book?

Questions You Could Ask:

  1. What separates this college from its peers?
  2. Will I have easy access to computers? What kind? Where are the terminals located? Can I access the library directly from my dorm room?
  3. What are the strengths of the college's advising system?
  4. What kind of campus jobs can I get if I qualify for Financial Aid?
  5. Are there new programs or facilities that will be available in the next few years?
  6. Does social life revolve around the campus, or do most students leave on weekends?
  7. How important are fraternities/sororities to social life? (make sure they have these organizations before asking this question).
  8. What are the living arrangements for first year students? Co-ed/Single sex dorms? Singles/Doubles/triples/quads? Small rooms/ Large rooms?
  9. What is the system for housing allocation after freshman year?
  10. Are upper classman guaranteed space on campus?
  11. How do I compare academically with students already attending this school?
  12. Is it likely I'll be admitted?

After The Interview

Send a Thank you note to the interviewer
Try to trigger the interviewer's memory of you in a personal way

YOU MUST MAKE YOURSELF STAND OUT!

IF YOU CAN NOT VISIT...

Sometimes it's impossible to visit a campus. You can still get the feel of a
college by talking to recent graduates or current students who are from your area.
Many colleges have produced videos or CD-ROMs of their campuses as well.

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Refer to the following for additional help with the College Application Process:

| College Timelines |
Additional College Help Sites |


 

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