For incoming high school seniors, the college application process probably seems either overwhelming or tedious. For some, it happens to be both. It is a hurdle that must be cleared to begin another part of your life. The college you attend is seen as a defining factor, and in some ways, it is. For many students, they think it's dream school or bust. From one college student to another prospective one, let me give you some anxiety saving advice about the whole process.
DO: Start testing, filling out applications, and writing essays as early as you possibly can.
It may sound awful, but starting on those essays early will save you a lot of grief later in the process. Also, doing SAT or ACT tests early in your junior year instead of senior year will allow you time to retake the test if the score isn't quite where you want it to be. In terms of applications, many schools have early applications you can submit so you don't have to do them all at once in October and November. Finishing a few of those in September will help.
DON'T: Apply only to top schools.
Unless you really don’t want to go to college unless it's an Ivy League, you should apply to a wide academic range of schools. My high school named four categories to this effect: safety, likely, realistic reach, and reach schools. Safety and likely schools are important to apply to just in case you don't get into more selective universities. Realistic reach schools are schools that you have a good chance of getting into, but a fair chance that you may not, and reach are just schools you are more likely to be rejected from than accepted, but you'll still take the chance. I would suggest applying to about an equal amount of safety or likely schools and realistic reach and reach schools so you have a backup if your dream school decides you aren't their dream student.
DO: Be creative and put in your best effort on essays.
In many cases, essay quality can be a game changer. For many selective schools, there is a base GPA or test score they want to see, but essays are what really make the difference and push your application over the edge. For example, if your GPA or test scores aren't quite at the level the school wants to see, but your essay is high quality, you may find yourself on their waiting list or you may even get accepted. Good essays aren't a guarantee, but they definitely help, especially if they are creative and memorable.
DON'T: Write an essay similar to what you would write for class.
Certainly make sure your word choice and writing quality is up to par, but most college essays shouldn't be written in the same style as school papers. They are meant to be a reflection of yourself and your creative ability. They will often tell a story, but they will need to be more memorable than an English paper. Often times a "crazy" essay idea is better received than a well written but generic one.
DO: Take advantage of any opportunity to show interest in a school you want.
That means interviews, extra essays, conversations with current students, and even visits if that's a possibility. None of these things will guarantee you admission, but they certainly help. When accepting students, a school wants to have interested students rather than students who applied for the heck of it and don't really care if they get in or not. This concept is called "demonstrated interest."
DON'T: Be crushed if you don’t get into your dream school, or even your top three.
The reality of college applications is that only so many people can be accepted, and the more selective the school, the lower of a possibility that you will be accepted. However, the other reality is that any college you go to will almost certainly become a second home. You will adapt and grow there, like you did for grade school, middle school, and high school. You will likely settle just fine at your safety school, and may learn to love it. There's also the option of applying as a transfer student to your dream school though, if you're dead set on it, or maybe you can apply for graduate school. The biggest thing to take away is that life always throws you curve balls you don't expect, and you have to learn to just go with it. You may get into your dream school, and you may not, and you have to be okay with that. Disappointment is okay, but overthinking it will only sour any experience you may have somewhere else.
