The+General+Admissions+Process

=The College Admissions Process = You've got applications. Supplements. Standardized Tests. Letters of Recommendation. Essays. College Visits. Transcripts. Application Fees. Activity Resumés. Grumpy Admissions Officers. __Deadlines__. And all the rest of your bustling school and social life. Between September and May of your senior year, there is a lot of stuff to do that is going to require __a lot__ of your time and attention. But relax. As Avril Lavigne points out "Lay back, it's all been done before". There are plenty of people that have been through this process and have tips and regrets waiting to dole out. So find them and use them and don't be afraid to ask for help.

HOW TO GET THE BEST LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

Respect your teachers as busy people with their own lives and agendas. They don’t have to write you a letter of recommendation or check over your admissions essays, but usually, they do it anyway. However, it’s important to ask them to well in advance. Experience has shown that teachers, while they may seem like superheroes, have a limit too, and will sometimes have a cut-off for the number of kids they can write letters for. Ask them now in the end of your junior year, so you’re guaranteed a recommendation and so they have the whole summer to write. (Emails are just as effective a way of communication too during the summer holiday.)

HOW TO GET THE BEST LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION (part 2)

It’s important too when picking a teacher that you don’t pick them because they are known to write good recommendation letters, but because they known you as a student and as a person and/or know your abilities and strengths especially in the field you want to major in. The more they know and like you, the more they’ll have to write about.

NEED SOMEONE TO S.Y.S.?

USE UP YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOUR! It is their job to serve you and to be here for you to answer all your queries and questions. Just stop by and fill out an appointment slip, or better yet, just ask if they have a couple of minutes to sit down and talk now. They almost always can so don’t be afraid to approach them, even if you think it’s a dumb question Trust me, based on the questions I’ve asked them alone, they have heard it all.

TRANSCRIPTS

Don’t slack off your senior year, especially when you are choosing what classes to take. For colleges, you have to send in your transcripts, which includes a list of classes you are taking senior year. Colleges don’t like to see an honors student suddenly taking two study halls. These transcripts also usually include first marking period grades. In addition, many colleges require a mid-year report (your first and second marking period grades) to help with the admissions decision, so the first half of senior year is not the time to relax.

DEALING WITH DEADLINES

It’s extremely helpful to make a calendar or outline of all the deadlines you have to worry about – applications, scholarships, payments, etc. You can use stickies, iCal, excel. Getting completed applications to the admissions committee (postmarked) on time is half the battle.

EARLY VS REGULAR ADMISSIONS

When it comes to applying to a college early vs regular decision, it is probably always better to apply early. If you know that you definitely want to apply there and your application is completed and edited to perfection, then getting it in early can only help you:
 * 1) You find out your admissions decision in December or January, an average of 4 months earlier then regular decisions applicants. By finding out admissions decisions from some schools earlier, you might find you no longer want to apply to the rest of your (regular decision) schools, or you might find that you should go ahead and apply to some (regular decision) schools. Either way, it helps you gain focus and insight into your future college plans.
 * 2) In addition, by applying early, you are placed in a smaller (although more competitive) pool, letting the schools know you have a strong desire to go there. Even if the school finds your application not exactly up to par, instead of rejecting it, they might “defer” your application or push it back to the regular decision pool, giving you a second chance at being accepted, __which is twice as many chances as regular decision students have.__ (side note: If you applied initially as Early decision and you got defered and then accepted with the regular admissions pool, that acceptance is no longer binding.__)__

EARLY DECISION VS EARLY ACTION

IMPORTANT!: There are two different types of early admission: early action and early decision and it's essential that you know what you are signing up for. Early decision is the binding admission decision where you apply to a school and if they accept, you have to withdraw your application from all your other schools and enroll in just that one. Early action is the non-binding decision where you can find out earlier without having to commit to just that one school. However, there is way to get out of Early decision if you can prove that you can get more financial aid at a different school. More info to come later -

//Don't let that "Ahh Senior Year!!" be a scream of fury. Let it be an sigh of relief and contentment as you stretch out comfortably, relaxing poolside. : ) //