Colleges and universities take the application process very seriously, which means you should too! The process should be exciting but can be stressful. Here are a few tips for you to consider before you seal the envelope (or click “Submit”).
The Application
Make it count! — You have to be confident and highlight your strengths, activities, diversity of experiences, honors, leadership, etc. This is your one shot to tell us who you are…make it count!
Write neatly or type — Many colleges evaluate applications on a very individual basis, so it is critical to put forth a great first impression by submitting a clean, neat application.
Complete your application — Take time to thoroughly complete your application. Incomplete applications demonstrate laziness…not a characteristic admission officers are seeking!
Timing — Submit an application for admission in a timely manner in order to put yourself in the best possible position for acceptance. Colleges and universities vary in regards to application processing - some have deadlines, others have a rolling-admission policy (accepting a qualified student on a first-come, first-served basis).
A note about on-line applications — Most colleges have on-line applications available. Make sure you treat the on-line version with the same level of care that you would a paper application. On-line applicants often submit incomplete applications with numerous typos and grammatical errors.
Essays
Be Yourself — Most colleges hope to find students who are a good fit. Be honest and avoid textbook answers. Use the essay to give a college a glimpse of who you are.
Answer the question — You wouldn’t believe how many students don’t answer the question posed in the application! Make sure you thoroughly understand what is being asked of you…then simply answer the question.
Be organized — This may be a bit basic, but one of the biggest frustrations of colleges and university admission officers is a poorly organized essay. Write down the three to five points you want to communicate, create an outline of those points, add sub-points, then write the essay.
Discuss the past, present, and future — Don’t spend too much ink talking about your past. Make sure you discuss what you are currently involved with and how you see yourself contributing to the college of your choice.
Don’t forget to follow-up on your application. Make sure that your transcripts have been sent by your high school and that your letters of recommendation have been submitted in a timely manner.
http://www.thehighschoolgraduate.com/editorial/USapplying.htm
