“November College Planning Tips: Application Preparation” 11/7/12
As deadlines for college applications approach, it is important to be both organized and purposeful in your preparations. The following tips will help you avoid common mistakes as you put the finishing touches on your applications.
1. Focus on a short list of no more than eight colleges. The greater the number of applications you submit, the more likely it is you appear (to the colleges) to be applying whimsically—and the greater the likelihood that “application fatigue” will begin to effect your ability to do a good job with each application. Stay focused on the core group of schools that represent good fits for you. In most cases, eight is more than enough.
2. Know the college application rules/procedures of your school. Your college advisor will be an important partner with you in the submission of application materials. Make sure you are aware of deadlines and requirements imposed by your high school and communicate well so everyone is “on the same page” with regard to key messages you need to convey on your application.
3. Be organized. The application process involves the management of many moving parts (score reports, letters of recommendations, essays, supplemental forms, etc.). Each of these parts will end up in data files that are created by the colleges to which you apply when your part of the application (with fee) is received. To make sure everything gets to where it needs to be in a timely fashion, create a spreadsheet on which you can list/track all the information you need to submit to each college. If you can, submit your part of the application two weeks in advance of the college’s deadline in order to beat the rush.
4. Don’t assume—anything! At a time when deadlines and requirements are critical, it would be a mistake to assume that someone else has taken care of something for you! It is your job to make sure your application is complete and that it carries the key messages that help to define your life experience—and distinguish your candidacy.
5. Save copies. It might seem like a hassle, but take the time to save copies (hard copy or electronic) of the application materials you submit. You never know when you might need to refer to them.
6. “Connect the dots”—tell your story! Be purposeful in your presentation—eliminate the randomness of your submissions. Establish a theme and use every part of the application to connect the dots (various data points) of to create a clear picture of who you are and what the college gets by admitting you.
7. Answer the “why” question thoughtfully. Colleges that ask you to write about “why you want to attend” are really trying to discern the synergy that exists between your goals, needs and learning style and their respective learning environments. Don’t tell them things they already know about themselves and, for your sake, save the platitudes! (They don’t reflect well on you!) Admission officers don’t want to hear about their highly ranked programs, great faculty or beautiful facilities—at least, not in this essay! Instead, reveal to them how, where and why you have found meaningful connections. Prove to the reader that you “get it”—that you understand how the learning environment in question makes the most sense for you.
8. Take pride in your presentation. Your application is like a personal statement that needs to state the case for your admission. Proofread it carefully. Read it out loud. Resist the temptation to repurpose information from one application to another—to do what is “good enough.” Make sure each application you submit is a positive reflection of who you are and what you have to offer.
9. Stay on their radar screens! One of the biggest mistakes students make at this point in the process is they fail to stay engaged with the schools to which they are applying! The assumption seems to be: “They have my application, so they know I’m interested.” Guess again! One of the biggest reasons bright and talented students do not get into target schools has to do with questions about the sincerity of the candidate’s interest. Answer emails that might come your way from those schools. Visit the campus. Direct important questions to the staff person at the university who recruits in your area. Don’t allow the decision-makers to regard you as a “ghost applicant.”
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