The toughest part of filling out your college applications may be in getting started. But it’s time to grab your pen, head to the computer and tackle that important, time-consuming rite-of-passage. The process of being admitted to college can seem esoteric and shrouded in mystery. Here’s some insider advice and behind-the-scenes information about how to apply. Once you clear this hurdle, you will be a step closer to realizing college dreams. Using our expert tips will make your admission process less stressful.
1. Understand the purpose of the application. Colleges want an overall picture of your academic skills and a specific picture of who you are. College admission personnel use the application and essay to gauge your potential for success. They also use it to determine if you will fit into their collegiate community.
2. Stay on schedule. “Start early. Even when you are on vacation, drive through college campuses to get a feel for the different types,” advises Michael Sexton, dean of admissions at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. The summer before your senior year, ask your top five colleges for their next year’s essay topics. Then, start to write essays when your schedule is lighter, advises Barbara Henry, director of admission at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA. Organize your senior year. “Students don’t realize how busy their senior year is going to be,” Sexton says.
“College applications are every bit as important as school assignments and should be given the same attention.” Dennis Nicholson, director of admission at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY, agrees that timing is important.
“It is important to understand the significance of deadlines, particularly at the most selective colleges and universities,” Nicholson says. “Leave ample time to gather appropriate information before the application is submitted.”
3. Avoid procrastinating. Clarify exactly what you must do. Verify the exact date the college must receive the completed application, and check to see if you can apply on-line. Many students assume that they can zip through the application. However, the time-consuming paperwork involved can be frustrating and overwhelming. Procrastinating just intensifies your frustration. Don’t stuff the folder under your bed until the night before its due date. Organize and make sure you have included all relevant information, and mail the application early to avoid last-minute deadlines.
4. Research all options before making final decisions. Part of the anxiety about applying is the decision-making process. Make lists of your top choices and include some alternates. “Use the Web to start early research and to complement advice from parents, teachers, friends, counselors and guidebooks,” suggests Sexton. Choosing a college is an individual, personal choice, and careful research helps streamline the process.
5. Demystify the process. Be familiar with each step. Decide which type of admission best fits your objective. Weigh the benefits and ramifications of each type; early decision, early action, regular admission and rolling admission have both advantages and disadvantages, depending on your personal objective and time frame. Then, check admission figures.
“Many students assume that enrolling a freshman college of 1,000 students means 1,000 students were admitted. This is not the case,” notes Nicholson. To get a better idea about the school’s selectivity, ask how many students were admitted to enroll in a class.
6. Keep the human factor in mind. Neatness counts; don’t write the essay or application in hieroglyphics. Don’t assume the college can read your mind. Clarify anything that might be obscure to someone outside your world.
7. Consider the college’s angle. There is no magic formula. “All selective schools are choosing from qualified candidates,” says Sexton. “Once we’ve answered the question of whether you can succeed academically, we look at what you are going to contribute to college, both academically and co-curricularly. We look for spark in a student as evidenced by involvements and verified in recommendations, interviews and essays. SATS/ACTS alone don’t tell us this.”
Nicholson says eight factors are used by admissions committees in the selection process: strength of high school program; high school GPA; class rank, if available; SAT or ACT scores; the application essay; letters of recommendation; activities (with an emphasis on examples of leadership) and interviews.
8. Pay special attention to the essay. An effective essay is a good indicator of educational skills and provides insight into a student’s potential and goals. “Colleges are impressed by an essay that gives the admission officer a glimpse of how that student values the learning process,” Henry says. “Students should answer the essay question, but also go beyond that and offer personal information. This often gives the reader insight and can help the admission committee identify students who will best match their educational mission.” Getting started on an essay is often the most difficult part.
“Begin by taking little steps. Don’t think of writing your application essays as some huge undertaking that you must accomplish in a single agonizing session,” suggests Dr. Stephen Wilbers, a syndicated columnist and writing expert based in Minneapolis, MN. “Spend five minutes today reading and thinking over the questions, 10 minutes tomorrow jotting down ideas and outlining thoughts and 30 minutes the next day drafting. Wait two days and spend 20 to 30 minutes revising. Get feedback from others including friends and teachers, and spend another 10 to 15 minutes revising.”
Wilbers says that it’s important to demonstrate you know something about the university or college to which you are applying. “Because of the Internet, it has never been easier to get information about what makes a place special,” he says. “If you are unsure about a major, explain why that particular institution would provide a good environment for you to explore possible fields of study.”
Nicholson suggests making yourself stand out. “Spend a considerable amount of time writing the essay. College admission offices like to see strong writing samples and encourage candidates to be unique,” he says. “Writing something creative will separate the candidate from others in the candidate pool.” An effective essay makes a favorable impression. However, some essays leave the wrong kind of lasting impression.
“It is very important that students have someone proof their work,” says Henry. Adds Sexton: “It is disheartening to have a top student send an essay that has glaring errors. Proof, proof, proof. We read essays with pen in hand. Spell check isn’t enough.”
9. Have several options in mind. Even the best dreams need backup plans. If your first choice doesn’t work out, figure out alternate routes to achieving your dream. “If you are rejected, as opposed to being offered a spot on the wait list, it’s best to move on to considering other options. You should have contingency plans when applying to selective colleges,” Sexton says.
10. Remember the objective. “We are called the Offices of Admissions, not to be confused with Offices of Denial,” Nicholson says. “College admission offices look for every possible way to admit a candidate. In addition to the academic review, we spend time reading every essay and letter of recommendation in the candidate’s file. Many colleges/universities encourage candidates to visit campus for an interview with a counselor. For many schools, the interview becomes a determining factor as final decisions are made by admission committees.”
Applications serve two basic purposes. Their primary objective is to help students find colleges where they will be happy, successful and productive. The application also helps college admission committees attract skilled high school students. Completing the application sets in motion the process of leaving high school and moving toward college. This step also leads to an important milestone in your senior year — the arrival of that coveted acceptance letter, which paves the way for an exciting, promising collegiate experience.
