Each year I take a moment to look back and evaluate what worked. This past year was no exception with plenty of takeaways. Here are the key ones I, and my students now, would stress:
Start early
One of the most important that continues to take the lead is STARTING EARLY! To my seniors who followed this directive, it paid off each of them with plenty of acceptances by the time the holidays arrived. These were accompanied by family’s sighs of relief and much to celebrate, not to mention easy gift ideas in next year’s college/university colors for the soon-to-be graduate. You may think you are busy the summer before your senior year and that October sounds far away, but once your senior year starts, you have less time, and you will wish you had a bigger head start.
Build your resume with a purpose
Be serious and diligent towards your goal. Begin by building your resume with quality activities and coursework. Seek leadership roles and co-sponsoring clubs. Take the AP or DE courses, YOU ARE CAPABLE, and those courses could spark future college majors and/or minors and potential career choices.
Your essay is YOUR chance to let the school know you – take the time
Give the necessary time to ALL your essays, not months but weeks, your resume provides you with the information to pull from for well-written essays. It is important to get the ideas on paper and form a story, quality editing can be the determining factor for acceptance. Starting and stopping essays leads to frustration, stick with your story and tell it, with confidence!
The Common App takes time to complete
Complete the Common App with plenty of time to review before submission! There are several pieces to the CA including additional pieces for each college/university to which you are applying. I remind my clients yearly that their applications will not be considered complete until every piece is finished. These include the obvious – grades, letters of recommendation, test scores – and the additional college-specific required items that include family stories, dissecting resume information, SRAR, etc. Each piece is an important part of the puzzle that gives the Admission Officers a total picture of YOU!
The amount of work during the application process may seem endless but starting EARLY and moving at a STEADY pace, will guarantee a win (or a few) in the college application race!
