College Application Tips

College Application Tips

Essay Writing

• Write Essays in the Summer: Start writing college essays during the summer before your senior year to avoid stress during the school year.
• Supplemental Essays: Look up supplemental essays for colleges early. Begin with basic essays like "Why Major" and "Why This College".
• Common App Essay: Start working on your main Common App essay during the summer as well.

College List Management

• Google Spreadsheet: Create a Google spreadsheet to organize and rank colleges.
  • Ranking Criteria: Rank colleges based on:
    • Location
    • Academic Ranking
    • Personal preference (how much you see yourself attending)

Safety Schools

• Include Safety Schools: Add safety schools to your college list to boost morale.
  • Rationale: Even if you don't plan to attend them, getting accepted into safety schools can prevent demoralization from rejections.
• Avoid Only Applying to Reach Schools: Applying only to reach and far-reach schools can lead to multiple rejections, which is discouraging.

Senior Year Experience

• Focus on Enjoyment: Aim for a senior year where you can focus on spending time with friends rather than constantly working on college applications.