Improve your chances of getting into college,

Finding an entry point into the overwhelming and often confusing college search process can daunting. The extensive selection of books and how-to guides can leave you completely bewildered, however. While they can offer some helpful advice, the truth of the matter is that these books cannot do the real hard work that awaits you. Getting started with the college process means doing something that you might be unfamiliar with: introspection. How far do you want to go? What kind of climate do you want? What sort of learning environment would be most conducive to your success; seminars around a table or a large lecture hall? Do you want to be around people of a similar background as you or in a more diverse population? These are only a sample of the dozens of questions you should be mulling over. This exercise in “checking in” with yourself will make college decisions much clearer.

College rankings should be taken with a LARGE grain of salt. These rankings are based on things that you likely wouldn't care about as an incoming freshman: for instance what the president's annual salary is and what percentage of alumni are donors. These rankings do not in any way assess the *quality* of the education you would receive or how happy and successful you would be at any given school.

Some colleges, typically more selective schools, will have supplemental essays to help get a better sense of a student's writing as well as often his/her intellectual prowess. Other schools will have supplements but without essays to ask basic questions about financial aid, legacy status, intended college major, housing requirements, etc. The supplements very simple give the colleges a clearer picture of the applicant.

It isn't so much the *application* that should be tailored, as each application should represent you honestly, but if a school has supplemental essays asking you to describe why you are interested in that school or why you are a *good fit* you should strive to answer those questions as specifically as possible. If you have visited the school, try to cite instances on your tour that made the school stand out for you. Failing that, do some research about the school on their website to be able to discuss the uniqueness of that school and why it appeals to you.

At this point in time, MOST colleges are accepting applications online. About 500 schools can be applied to with a single application using the common application (www.commmonapp.org) whereas you can find online applications for most large universities and state schools on their individual websites (usually under the "admissions" section.)

At this point in time, since MOST colleges are accepting applications online that is now the preferred method. Many schools will no longer even accept paper applications. With the rise of the common application (where you can apply to about 500 schools using a single application (www.commmonapp.org), it is simply easier for students to apply online. This also cuts down on a great deal of paper work as more and more schools are even reviewing applications online.

I would encourage students to include supplemental materials only if they would be essential in giving an admissions officer a better sense of you (pertinent photographs or drawings, for instance) or to explain circumstances that might have affected your school performance (severe illness, death of a relative, etc.)

With a school that has a strict admissions deadline, they do not read applications as they are received so when you send it in will have no impact. You could send in your application in September, but they do not look at anything until after the deadline as passed. As for schools with rolling admissions, and no deadlines until the spring or summer, it might be helpful to get your materials in sooner, but if your profile meets their admissions requirements you are just as likely to be accepted in December as you are in April.

Some basic red flags that could impact how an admissions officer views you is your academic record and involvement in extra-curricular activities. If for instance, you did not take 3 or 4 years of the core subjects they might raise an eyebrow. If your academic performance is very inconsistent, they might wonder why. Also, if you have not participated in anything outside of school (including jobs, volunteer work, clubs, sports, etc) they might wonder how you have been using your time. After all, they do not want to admit a student who is going to stay in his room all the time and not be an active member of the campus community.

The common application (or common app, as it is often referred) is a universal application that allows you to apply to 500 some odd different schools using a single application. This means that you only have to fill out your personal information, parental information, activities, academic record, etc once and it can be sent to as many schools as you'd like. Most of these schools, however, will have their own supplemental information and/or essays for you to complete as well.

Your guidance counselor, or an independent educational consultant can be invaluable in helping you to keep on top of everything. In lieu of those, try making a spreadsheet that tables all of the schools you are applying to as well as all of the components they require with their application (essays, recommendations, test scores, transcripts) and then check off each one as it has been completed.

While it's probably a good idea to get a recommendation from a teacher whose class you've done well in, it should be an even higher priority to get one from a teacher who you really feel *knows* you and can speak highly about your character. Even if you struggled in that class and maybe didn't do as well in it as others, if that teacher saw how hard you worked and got a real sense of you from out of class interactions (perhaps you went for extra help which showed how much you cared about the class) he/she will be able to speak more candidly (and less generically) about your character.

Quite simply, the sooner you ask a teacher, the better chances you have at getting a great recommendation. Firstly, every student needs recommendations and often certain teachers who are very popular can get bogged down with these requests. If you ask at the very beginning of your senior year, you have better odds of getting your desired teacher to write a recommendation for you. Also, asking early on gives the teacher plenty of time to think about and write the letter, which will likely lead to a more thoughtful product.

When approaching the personal statement, the cardinal rule students should keep in mind is: if any other person on the planet could have written the same essay, trash it and start over again. The essay at its very core should be PERSONAL. It should reveal positive qualities about the applicant (maturity, responsibility, compassion, commitment, etc) through the lens of an engaging narrative. That being said, many admissions officers have been cited saying that topics to steer clear of are dead grandmas, dead dogs, and “how I won the big game”. Again, not only are these hackneyed, but they are experiences that could happen to anyone. Another way to avoid inappropriate topics is to imagine your readership as your grandparents; don't write anything you wouldn't want them to read.

The personal statement is arguably one of the most important components of a student’s college application. It is the student’s chance to lend his application a third dimension, to transcend his grades and test scores, and figuratively speak to the admissions officers. This opportunity should not be taken lightly. When approaching the personal statement, the cardinal rule students should keep in mind is: if any other person on the planet could have written the same essay, trash it and start over again. The essay at its very core should be PERSONAL. It should reveal positive qualities about the applicant (maturity, responsibility, compassion, commitment, etc) through the lens of an engaging narrative. Tell a story about your life that an admissions officer would find compelling and/or amusing that is a vehicle for showcasing your strength of character.

This is a tough question to answer as there is no way to know for sure. At a smaller school, it is more likely that the admissions officers will have the time to look at each essay, whereas at huge universities it would seem less likely. In terms of how many officers read each essay, that also varies from school to school. Some read regionally which means that one officer reads all the applications from all the high schools in a certain geographic region. Often they are read in committee where several officers might look at one essay. If you want to know how you will be assessed at any given school, you should feel free to ask the admissions office.

Not only is it OK to have someone proofread your essay, it is *highly* recommended. You should feel encouraged to have friends, family members, and teachers proofread your essay but be sure that your voice is not altered. Your essay should be grammatically correct with no spelling errors, but it should sound like *you*. Be open to suggestions that others might have, but be mindful of retaining your viewpoint and style.

Your college essay should hopefully serve to further emphasize your passion or skills as represented on your application. For instance, if your application states that you have been actively involved in theatre during your four years in high school and that is what you love most, your essay should reflect that. Take the opportunity to delve even deeper into *why* you love what it is you do, what sparked that interest and how it developed, and perhaps how it drives your future goals. This will guide an admissions officer's perspective of you as someone who is passionate and motivated.

The personal statement is arguably one of the most important components of a student’s college application. This is especially true if you are applying to a smaller school which has the resources to view your application “holistically”. This is your chance to lend your application a third dimension, to transcend your grades and test scores, and figuratively speak to the admissions officers. This opportunity should not be taken lightly. Likely, your essay won't make or break your admission at a certain school, but if you really let an admissions officer "get to know" you, and he likes what he sees, this could carry huge sway in whether he wants to admit you.

You must schedule an interview at the admissions office in advance. You will then speak to an admissions officer for about half an hour. He or she will ask you questions about your experiences in school and with extra-curricular activities. You will also have a chance to ask any questions you have about the school and its admissions process. Then the officer will come out and speak with your parents and answer any questions they might have.

College interviews are most often conducted by admissions officers. Often times though, the admissions office will have student admissions fellows who are seniors who will interview prospective students. You also could have an interview scheduled with an alumni interviewer in your area (these can be useful if the school you are applying to is far away.)

Focus first on how you look. There's no need to put on a suit and tie or dress (unless you really want to), but you should look neat and clean. How you look can have an immediate impact on how an admissions officer will perceive you. Answer all questions as honestly and articulately as you can (and keep the language clean!) Also, make sure to bring some questions of your own for your interviewer to show that you have a real interest in the school.

The most simple way to generalize the differences between a dance conservatory program (Bachelor of Fine Arts) and a dance major within a liberal arts college (Bachelor of Arts) is the amount of time you will spend in dance classes. Typically, with any conservatory program, 2/3 of your classes will be in the arts while only the remaining 1/3 will be general education; as a major within a liberal arts program, that ratio is reversed. Conservatory programs tend to be more competitive and rigorous, while taking an arts major leaves you more time to dabble in other academic areas and develop other skills.

While college visits early on in the process are to help you get a sense of what you're looking for, approaching a college visit when trying to make a college decision is very different. If possible, the best way to assess a college to which you've been accepted is to plan an overnight visit. This will give you a chance to "immerse" yourself to the fullest into that college's environment. Attend classes, speak to professors and students, eat in the dining halls, go to a club meeting if possible, etc. This is the best way to get a deeper sense of a school that you are seriously considering.

If you are really torn between a couple of schools and don't know which to choose, the best way to decide is to fully experience each school. You can do this by scheduling an overnight at each school. While you are there, attend classes that interest you, speak with professors, get a sense of the student body, eat in the dining halls, and really try to envision yourself as a part of the community. Your choice will become clear.

Freshman retention rates are, quite simply, the percentage of students who continue on to their sophomore year at the college at which they began. This figure can be useful when assessing schools because there is an undeniable correlation between this figure and the overall happiness of students on campus. If a school has a retention rate of higher than 90%, it's likely that most freshman are pleased with their experience on campus. I would probably not recommend a school to my students that had a rate lower than 75%, because it would make me wonder why so many students are leaving.

The answer to this question might involve a discussion with your parents as they may have their own ideas about how near or far they'd like you to be. But for yourself, it might take some real consideration. For instance, if you get sick, would you like to be near enough for parents to pick you up and take you home? Do you want to be able to come home for holidays, birthdays, etc? If these things are important to you, you might want to stay within a 3 hour or so radius. On the other hand, is it important to you to be adventurous? Do you want to be in an environment very different from the one in which you were raised? Among people who are different from those with whom you grew up? If so, you might need to go to a school that you would have to fly to. All in all, there are pluses and minuses to both, so it's all about what your priorities are.

If you are deferred or wait-listed by a school and it is still your top choice there are a few things you can do which might affect your acceptance. Firstly, if your application was early decision, you still have some time to bring your grades up, and you can certainly have your updated transcript sent to the school. Additionally, you should write a letter (coming from you, and not your parents) to the admissions office stating that that school is still your top choice, and if accepted you would attend. You can also use this letter as an opportunity to update the school on what you have been up to for the last couple of months and any accomplishments you have made both in and out of school.

The key aspect of creating a college list is not the "magic number" of schools to apply to, but rather that you have a well-balanced list that is appropriate for your academic abilities. I tend to recommend that my students apply to 10 to 12 schools, but this list should comprise mostly schools that would be viewed as "targets" (i.e. the student's test scores and GPA fall within the median for that school). From there, students should have at least 2 or 3 "safety" schools (where their stats are above the mid-range) where they would actually be happy attending, and as many "reach" schools as they want (though 2 to 4 is more than enough.) Ultimately, you want to ensure you have *enough* choices, but not *too* many.