Seven Rules For College Admissions Success

Applying to college is a stressful time, filled with details, deadlines, and yes, even a little dread. Just like any complex endeavor, however, having some basic rules to follow can help. Here are seven rules to follow for college application success:

Rule Number One: Build In A Safety Net Every college list needs a back up plan. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that adding more reach schools is a back up plan; it isn’t. A true safety net means having at least two colleges on your list that you would sincerely like to attend and which are highly likely to admit you and be financially possible for your family. That safety net is what will help you sleep well each night between now and next April. If you don't yet have a safety net in place, get one. Pronto.

Rule Number Two: Get and Stay Organized Applying to college is stressful enough as it is. You don’t want to add more stress because you can't find some vital piece of information or suddenly realize at 11 p.m. that an important deadline occurs at midnight. If you haven't already done so, make it a priority to set up a "command central" for all of your application materials and supplies, and be diligent about keeping track of every item that goes in or out. Make a checklist of all important application deadlines, and check it at least once a week. File folders can be a college applicant's best friend. Save yourself stress later: Get organized NOW.

Rule Number Three: Give Yourself Plenty of Time Most students are surprised by how many tasks are involved in completing college applications. As a result, the job almost always takes longer than students expect, especially when the inevitable last minute questions and snafus pop into the picture. A certain amount of procrastination time should also be added into your time estimate. And, let's face it, senior year is busy and demanding in and of itself. The bottomline: don't plan on getting started the week before deadlines are due. Allow as much leeway time as possible.

Rule Number Four: Never Assume Just because one college wants something done a certain way doesn't mean all of the colleges on your list will want it done the same way. Just because your friend or a stranger on an internet discussion forum who seems to know a lot about colleges told you it was OK to do something doesn't mean that it is. Just because your recommendation writers said they'd get your recommendations in the mail by last Friday doesn't mean they did. And, just because you hit "send" on your application, doesn't mean that everything has arrived safely and been put into your admissions folder at a college. Never assume. Verify.

Rule Number Five: Read The Fine Print When it comes to applying to college, the devil is in the details. Before you dive in and begin filling out applications, read ALL of the instructions and information carefully. In your rush to get applications finished, the fine print may seem unimportant, but it's usually where the most unpleasant surprises lurk for applicants who haven't taken the time to read it. Pay attention to the details.

Rule Number Six: Don't Be Shy About Asking For Help Some students seem to feel they need to shoulder everything themselves. Others simply don't want to appear dumb by asking questions when they're confused. You should, of course, make sure that your application is, in the end, your work alone. But, this is a complex task and nearly every student will need help or advice at some point. And, here's an important point to remember: your school counselor, your teachers, your parents, and even college admissions and financial aid people want to see you succeed, and that includes being willing to help you find the answers you need. There is always someone you can ask for help! Ask for help when you need it.

Rule Number Seven: Don't Stress (Too Much)! Everyone applying to college will feel stressed at some point. It's a normal part of the process. However, don’t let college application stress consume your life. Take the process seriously, but also allow time for a little rest and relaxation along the way. Remember: you're not going to be applying to college forever. This too shall pass.

Best of luck with your applications!

Advice for Writing the University of California Personal Statement

If you're planning to apply to one of the University of California campuses this year, be sure to spend a few minutes watching the a new video from the University of California about writing the personal statement.

The video is filled with excellent advice from UC admissions officers and currently UC students on how to write effective personal statements. Some of the highlights:

Don't procrastinate! Writing an effective personal statement takes thought, time and effort. Admissions readers can tell when a student has written the personal statements the night before the deadline.

Focus on "adding clarity, richness and meaning" to the information in the rest of your UC application. Don't just repeat the same list of extracurriculars you have provided elsewhere; add depth.

Review your accomplishments. Think about the accomplishments you're most proud of, and how you can bring them to the forefront in your personal statements

Be true to yourself. It's called a "personal" statement for a reason.

Keep things in perspective. "No student is admitted or denied based on the personal statement alone," says a UC admissions officer in the video.

The University of California application period runs from November 1 to November 30. If you're planning to apply to one or more of the UC's, you should already be working on your personal statements.

One last tip: It's not uncommon for the UC application system to experience "technical difficulties" on November 29 and November 30 due to the volume of applications students are trying to cram through the system at the last minute. Take this into account, and, if possible, plan to submit your UC applications a few days before the deadline. After all, you really don't want to spend Thanksgiving weekend writing your UC personal statements do you?

Best of luck!

Link: Video: Writing the University of California Personal Statement

How To Answer "Why This College?" Essay Prompts On College Applications

One of the most perplexing essays for many students is the one that asks the most important question of all: Why do you want to attend this college? Here are some tips for handling this essay.

First, let’s talk a bit about why colleges ask this question in the first place. These days most colleges, especially highly selective ones, get many more applications than they have places for in their freshman class. Obviously, the admissions office does not want to waste an admittance on an applicant who is not likely to attend – and they also want to make sure that every student who does attend next fall has thought through their reasons for wanting to be there. In short, they are looking for evidence that you didn’t just toss in an extra application on a whim, but that you truly are interested enough to have thought through your decision to apply.

They’re also looking for clues to your personality, interests, and goals, and how you will contribute to or participate in all that the college has to offer. So, this question isn’t just about why the college is a fit for you, but why you’re a fit for the college. It’s a subtle but important difference to keep in mind as you work on this sort of essay. Don’t just tell the college why they are right for you – also tell them why you are right for them.

Here are some tips to help you tackle “Why This College?” essays:

1. Brainstorm before you start writing. Make a list of the five or ten most important things you are looking for in any college, not just this one. Next, write a list of your most important goals and interests. Then, brainstorm how this particular college might meet those needs, desires, and interests.

2. Do your homework. Learn everything you can about the college and its programs. If you’ve visited, think back over your visit and jot down anything that particularly struck you during the visit. Try to remember conversations you had with faculty or students, and places on campus that particularly resonated with you. What made you decide that this college was worth considering during your visit?

College websites are also loaded with information. Use them! Ignore the pretty pictures and catchy slogans in the admissions section this time around. Read the descriptions of departments you’re interested in, explore a few faculty bios, find out the details of graduation requirements and advising for freshmen, examine the school’s mission statement, read the online archives of the student newspaper, and scroll through recent press releases issues by the college news office.

Then, refer back to your list of what you are looking for in a college and match up the data points you’ve uncovered in your research with the most important things you’re seeking in any college. What makes this school a particularly good match?

3. Make it personal. Don’t write about things that any applicant can say about the school. Tell the admissions committee why everything you mention relates specifically to you. Instead of “I like University XYZ because it has a wonderful science program” say “I have a lifelong interest in zoology and the opportunity to work in University XYZ’s on campus primate research center in Professor Smith’s undergraduate research program will allow me to get hands on experience working with chimpanzees."

4. Don’t comment on the obvious. The admissions office already knows they have a beautiful campus, a world-renowned faculty, rank high in U.S. News & World Reports, and are located in an exciting city. If you keep it personal, and focus on why this college or university and you truly are a match, your essay will stand out.

5. Be specific. Don’t just say, “I was impressed with your library when I visited.” Look up the name of the library, and tell them exactly what impressed you (beyond, of course, the coffee bar in the lobby.) Sometimes little details can speak loudly. I once read an excellent essay from a student which began, “When I entered the drawing and painting studio on the third floor of Smith Hall, felt the warm sun streaming through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, and smelled the pungent aroma of fresh turpentine, I knew that I had found a place where I could not only create art, but live it.” Here's the litmus test to know if you've been specific enough: Try changing the name of the college in your "Why this college?" essay. If you can drop in the name of a different college, and the essay still makes perfect sense, it's a sign that you've written too generic of an essay.

Finally, if you find yourself struggling with explaining why this school is a unique match for you, it may be time to sit down and consider whether this college or university is truly a good match for you. If, after doing some additional research and thinking about your college expectations and dreams, you still can't explain why you want to attend this particular college, you might want to think twice about applying.

College Admissions Scams To Avoid

U.S. News & World Reports' education blog has a great article today about 6 scams that target college students. Actually, four of the six don't just target students who are already in college, but also students (and parents) who are still in high school.

Those four are:
- Fake scholarship scams
- Dodgy student loan offers
- Untrustworthy counselors
- Diploma mills

The article is worth reading, but here are three more scams that wise high school students and their parents need to be on the look out for during the college admissions season:

Essay writing services. You're busy. You're stressed. You have no idea where to begin when it comes to writing your college application essays. While searching the Internet for ideas, you stumble across a company that promises to write your college application essay for you, for a fee of course. Sounds great - no more stress, no effort on your part. But, if there's one piece of advice I can give you it's this: don't let anyone else write your college application essays for you. No matter how busy, stressed or clueless you feel, YOU are the only person who should write your college application essays. By reading your essays, colleges are hoping to get a clearer picture of who you are, what matters to you, and why you are a good match for them. If you buy an essay, the "you" part of the personal essay will be lost. Worse, there's a good chance that the essay you buy will be very familiar to college admissions people. Several admissions officers have mentioned to me that it's not all that uncommon for them to not only easily pick out the essay-writing service essays, but also that they often get several applications from different students with the same essay from a service. So, while you might be busy, stressed, and clueless, don't waste your money buying someone else's essay. Write your own.

Misleading test prep firms. Some test prep firms serve a very real purpose: they can give you a good overview of the test and some strategies for preparing. But, not all test prep firms are cut from the same cloth. If a test prep firm promises you a 100+ point increase on your SATs with a minimum amount of effort on your part, be very cautious. Preparing for any exam - not just the SAT or ACT - can't be done for you; YOU have to put time and effort into preparation. And, no test prep company or tutor can guarantee a specific point increase on the day of the exam. Period.

College 'advice' from Internet discussion forums. If you've spent much time looking for college admissions information on the Internet, you've undoubtably stumbled upon a college admissions discussion forum or two (or more!). On the surface, these forums seem like a great place to get advice and information --after all, here's a whole group of people who are just as panicky and scared about college admissions as you are! What could be better? The trouble is that very few college discussion forums are moderated for accuracy, so mis-information and misconceptions abound. More importantly, in cyberspace, no one really has to tell the truth about their (or their children's) grades, test scores, and extracurricular accomplishments, so it's easy to get a very skewed perception of what it takes to get into college from reading these boards. That only serves to ramp up student and parent anxiety at a time when stress levels are already high. Finally, would you trust a stranger on the Internet to give you advice about what to wear, which house to buy, or whether you'll be a good candidate for a job opening? Then, why trust strangers who don't know you and who don't have your application in front of you to "estimate" your chances of admission? While crumbs of good information can be found here and there on college admissions discussion forums, they should be visited sparringly. And, don't let the information and "advice" on discussion forums replace doing your own research, talking to colleges directly, and seeking advice from your school counselor and other adults who know you personally in "the real world."

Help! My Parents Are Driving Me Crazy About College Applications!

A few years back, at just around this time of year, I received an email from a young woman asking a very important question: What is the best way to go about the college application process without getting into huge arguments with my Mom? I know that it is a very stressful time for both of us and especially me, but the fighting is not helping my stress level at all.

Since I know that other students (and parents) are probably asking themselves the same question again this year, I thought I'd re-post the response I wrote to her here in this blog. By the way, all turned out well for this young woman. She was admitted to almost all of the colleges she applied to (and yes, she DID get her applications in on time). Here is my reply to her question:

I laughed out loud when I read your email just from imagining how hard my daughter will laugh when I tell her someone asked me for advice on getting along with your parents during the college application process. My daughter and I have always had a great relationship, but I would be lying if I didn't admit that at this time in her senior year, we were both really annoyed with each other a lot of the time. There was an evil word lurking between us, the "A word": Applications. I was convinced she was doomed to a life of failure if she didn't get them done right this minute, and she was convinced she was doomed to hear me nagging about them for the rest of her life. And, it wasn't even October yet!

A very strange thing happens to a lot of parents - especially mothers - when the time comes for their children to apply to college. Maybe it's that we can see the door closing on our being needed as our kids prepare to leave the nest, or maybe it's that we have this burning Mom (and sometimes Dad) drive to want to protect our babies from the sting of rejection, or maybe it's just our menopausal hormones going wacky at the same time our babies are applying to go. But a lot of us go plumb crazy for a while.

Of course, this is totally unfair to you kids. You're facing what is the first major step in your adult life. It's normal to feel scared and excited and just a little doubtful about how it will all turn out. The last thing you need is this crazy woman (or sometimes crazy man) hovering over you as you try to stretch your wings and find the courage to fly. It's no wonder that a lot of kids go plumb crazy for a while too.

What helped at our house was that, in early October, my daughter sent in her first application, to a rolling admissions "safe bet" college. Seven days later, she was admitted. Now that we knew that she could definitely go somewhere the following year, she made me swear - and I am not making this up! - that if I mentioned the "A word" again, I would eat nothing but Cheerio's for a week. I hate Cheerio's, so this was no idle threat. With the threat of the Cheerio's diet hanging heavy, I gradually learned to keep my mouth sh...uh...thoughts to myself. It wasn't easy. The large carton of duct tape I bought for my mouth helped a bit though.

Seriously, the best advice - aside from invoking the Cheerio's diet yourself - is to try to separate out the fear, anxiety, and unhappiness of the application process itself from the feelings you have towards your mother. Sure, your Mom may be trying to help too much, and no one likes to be nagged, but she isn't the source of your true anxiety, and realizing that might make it easier to step back and respond calmly when she is keyed up herself.

Moms also need LOTS of reassurance when they're half-insane. Keep her in the loop, let her know that you are working on your applications (assuming you are), and tell her that you definitely will need her help for some things. One thing my daughter assigned to me is addressing and stamping all of the recommendation envelopes. She even had me write out postage paid cards from the post office with her name and address on them for the schools to send back when the recommendations arrived. It was a very simple thing but it made me feel like I was contributing in some way and that got me off her back for a few weeks at least. So, try to find some simple things like this to make your Mom feel like she is helping you out and relieve some of her anxiety about letting you control the process. We parents really do need to feel needed, so the more "dumb" tasks like that you can give us, the better we'll behave. (Making copies at Kinko's can burn up time too!)

And, try to find some time to do something fun together that doesn't involve the "A word." Go to the movies, go shopping, go out to lunch. Feel free to invoke the Cheerio's diet if necessary.

Anyhow, hope this helps with your question, even if just a bit. Just remember, this too will pass. If you and your Mom generally get along, you will get along just as well once the applications are in the mail. Just take deep breaths when she's really driving you nuts, try to keep your sense of humor intact, and feel free to tell her to email me if she needs to vent some anxiety. I've been there. I understand. I will stock up on the Cheerio's.

Now, I need to go call my daughter. It will be great to hear her laugh.

Haverford makes "small change" to its standardized test policy

Jess Lord, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, has announced that Haverford is making what Lord referred to as a "small change" to its standardize test score requirements. All candidates will now have the option of submitting the results of the SAT Reasoning test and two SAT Subject exams OR the ACT with writing. Students who choose the ACT option will no longer be required to submit two Subject exams. A few other colleges have made similar changes to their policies in recent years.

Are You Ready To Apply Early Decision?

Yesterday, I answeredsome of the most common questions students and parents have about how the Early Decision admissions process works. However, since Early Decision is a binding commitment to attend if admitted, it's important to make sure that you also answer the most important question of all, namely:
Is applying Early Decision the right choice for me?

Here’s a self-quiz to help you decide if you’re ready to apply Early Decision.

Answer Yes, No or Not Sure to the following questions:

1. Is your main reason for applying Early Decision that you have decided that one particular college is your clear first choice?

2. If the college you're considering for Early Decision suddenly became less prestigious, or its ranking dropped 50 points, would you still want to apply Early to this particular college?

3. Would you still want to apply Early Decision to this college if your chances of being admitted Early Decision were the same as if you applied Regular Decision?

4. Have you visited your prospective Early Decision college at least once, and did your visit include taking a formal admissions tour rather than just walking around on your own?

5. Have you visited several other colleges, including taking their formal admissions tour rather than just walking around on your own?

6. Have you had some form of personal contact with the admissions office at your prospective Early Decision college?

7. Have you had some form of personal contact with a current student at your prospective Early Decision college?

8. Have you done an overnight stay at your prospective Early Decision college?

9. Have you sat in on at least one class at the Early Decision college, or had some form of personal contact with at least one faculty member there?

10. Do you understand the academic distribution requirements for graduation at your prospective Early Decision college?

11. Do you understand any entry requirements for your prospective major at this college?

12. Do you understand the graduation requirements for your prospective major at the Early Decision college?

13. Can you describe this college's academic mission and approach to education?

14. Do you know what the average class size of introductory courses is at this college?

15. Do you know what the average class size of courses in your prospective major is at this college, and how many majors typically graduate in that department each year?

16. Can you explain what some of the strengths and weaknesses of this college's academic approach or curriculum requirements might be for you personally?

17. Can you explain what some of the strengths and weaknesses of the department where you hope to major might be for you personally?

18. Do you strongly believe that this college will be an academic fit for you?

19. Have you read back issues of the Early Decision college’s student newspaper (often available online), and could you summarize some of the key "hot button" issues for students from your reading?

20. Do you feel that you will fit in socially at the Early Decision college?

21. Can you list both five potential strengths and five potential weaknesses of the Early Decision college?

22. Do you know what the average GPA, class rank, and test scores of students admitted students to your prospective Early Decision college were last year?

23. In comparing your grades through the end of junior year and your current test scores to those of last year’s admitted class, do you believe you are a solid candidate for admission, regardless of whether you apply Early Decision or not?

24. Do you know how the percentage of students admitted last year through Early Decision at this college compares with the percentage of students who were admitted in the regular decision round?

25. Do you feel confident that you will be able to effectively complete all of the elements of an admissions application (essays, recommendation letters, standardized testing, etc.) before the Early Decision deadline?

26. If asked, could you describe in detail why the Early Decision school is right for you and why it is your top choice over other colleges?

27. If asked, could you describe in detail why you are right for the Early Decision college?

28. Do you already have a list of other colleges that you plan to apply to and would be happy to attend if you are not admitted to your Early Decision choice?

29. Have you begun your applications to other colleges besides your Early Decision choice?

30. Do you know if your Early Decision college is need-blind in admissions and guarantees to meet the demonstrated financial need of all admitted students?

31. Have you and your parents used an online EFC calculator to determine what your family’s Estimated Financial Contribution is likely to be?

32. If you need financial aid, have you researched the financial aid policies and application procedures of your Early Decision college to get an idea of what the college might expect your family to pay?

33. If you need financial aid, have you researched what the average amount of student debt students at your Early Decision college typically graduate with, and would you and your parents be comfortable if you ended up with a similar amount of student loans?

34. If you need financial aid, are you and your parents fully comfortable with the idea of not being able to compare other financial aid offers if you’re admitted Early Decision?

35. Regardless of whether or not you need financial aid, have you researched merit scholarship opportunities at both your Early Decision and other colleges?

36. Regardless of whether or not you need financial aid, are you and your parents willing to forgo any merit scholarship opportunities that you might have at other colleges if you're admitted Early Decision?

37. Regardless of whether you need financial aid or not, have you and your parents considered all financial implications of applying Early Decision -- not just whether you can afford the school, but the opportunity cost of giving up the chance to compare financial aid and merit scholarship offers from other schools?

38. Have you reviewed the Early Decision contract with your parents and school counselor?

39. Do you and your parents understand that Early Decision is a binding commitment, meaning you are promising to attend if admitted, except in the case that the college is unable to meet your demonstrated need as determined by the college’s financial aid policies?

40. If you are accepted Early Decision, will you feel any jealousy or doubts when your friends are receiving multiple acceptances next spring?

41. If you are accepted Early Decision, will you have any regrets about your choice of college?

42. Are you 100% certain that you will attend this college if you are admitted through Early Decision?


Give yourself:

1 points for every "Yes" answer
0 points for every "No" or "Not sure" answer

Are you ready to apply Early Decision? If your score is…

Over 35 points: you appear to have done your research about both the Early Decision college and other college options, and have made a well-thought-out decision. You are ready to proceed with an Early Decision application.

Between 25 and 34 points: Early Decision may be right for you, but you need to do more research and thinking. Over the next few weeks, carefully weigh whether Early Decision is right for you and your family’s circumstances.

If you scored below 25 points: You are not ready to apply Early Decision, or may be applying Early Decision for the wrong reasons. You should do more research on both the Early Decision process and your college options, and only then consider whether a particular college is a good Early Decision choice.