College admissions is competitive,

Here are some of the things you can do before senior year to help prepare for the college admissions process:

1. Take (or retake) standardized tests such as ACT or SAT.

2. Continue to refine your list of potential schools.

3. This is a great time to take college tours, if possible. If you can't visit in-person, you can take full advantage of the college website and also call the office of admissions if you have questions the site doesn't answer.

4. Line up letters of recommendation from teachers and other sources.

5. Work on those college application essays! Have someone (a writing coach like myself for example) read them over for you. Keep in mind that your English teacher and parents don't read essays the same way that admissions officers read essays. Your essays need to stand out from the crowd- the standard 3-point essay from English class will not do!

With the help of the Internet, you can still do a lot to "get to know" those schools! I'd advise doing a personal inventory. What do you enjoy? Which school subjects fascinate you? What extracurriculars are you currently involved in, that you plan to continue at college? Then, do research on those areas and try to make personal connections at the universities. For example, if you know you want to continue studying Spanish and plan to become involved in the Latin Students Association, look up the current student president and shoot him/her an email. Most students are happy to talk to prospective freshmen about campus life. Talk to as many current students there as possible to get the scoop on whether that school is a good match for you. I always advise students to go "beyond" the canned tour, anyway!

One huge mistake I noticed students made while I worked in admissions was the failure to distinguish themselves in any meaningful way. Students didn't seem to understand their audience. Admissions officers want to understand why that student is a great candidate for their school, what he/she will contribute. The essay plays a large role in influencing the outcome, and is the part of the app a student has the most control over. Tests scores and grades are pretty much decided. The essay is the personal part of your essay which allows the admissions officer to really get to know you. As the EssayLady (essaylady.com) I now help students wth this crucial part of their college app.

Another mistake was not seeking out the best fit school in the first place. Too often, I saw students motivated by pressure from parents, or other influences. They chose a school based on where their friends were going as opposed to the best choice for their intended course of study.

With the help of the Internet, you can still do a lot to "get to know" those schools! I'd advise doing a personal inventory. What do you enjoy? Which school subjects fascinate you? What extracurriculars are you currently involved in, that you plan to continue at college? Then, do research on those areas and try to make personal connections at the universities. For example, if you know you want to continue studying Spanish and plan to become involved in the Latin Students Association, look up the current student president and shoot him/her an email. Most students are happy to talk to prospective freshmen about campus life. Talk to as many current students there as possible to get the scoop on whether that school is a good match for you. I always advise students to go "beyond" the canned tour, anyway!

This varies from university to university, but most make this information readily available on their website. A key rubric is the freshman class profile. What is the average (or median, depending upon which stat the school makes available) incoming freshman high school GPA, and SAT or ACT scores for last year? How do you compare to that profile?

You should also feel free to call the admisisons office and ask:

1. How many applications do you expect to receive, and how many students will be offered admission?

2. How much weight is given to the essay as part of the whole application?

3. How much weight is given to grades, test scores, and the resume?

4. How many people evaluate each application? What kind of rubrics are used?

Admissions officers should have no problem answering these questions for you. It always shocks me as I work with students, how little they take advantage of this resource.

You should definitely feel free to contact the admissions office! I know we were happy to answer questions from students or their parents. Just be polite, and don't call every day! You don't want to be "that" student.

Ask early! Don't put this off until the last moment. It's a great idea to "prep" your teacher. For example:

Dear Ms. Martinez,

I really appreciate you writing this letter of recommendation to Duke for me. I thought you might mention:

- How you've known me for 3 years, first as my AP British Literature teacher, then as the NHS sponsor, and again as my AP Composition teacher.

- Remember last year you told me you appreciated my work ethic and how I always completed assignments on time and thoroughly?

-The NHS food drive I coordinated last year with your help. We collected over 300 cans of food for the Suncoast Harvest Food Center.

- My award-winning entry in the school writing contest last year.

And whatever else you might think pertinent. Thanks, Mrs. Martinez!

Sam Student

Or whatnot. Make his/her job easier by giving specific details they might share in their letter. And following up with a thank you card and $5 Starbuck's gift certificate is always a great idea!

The best way is to select colleges wisely in the first place. If you want merit aid from a school (and not just grants or loans which must be repaid) you need to be in the top 25% of their incoming class. So apply smart! Evaluate their freshman profile (usually available on school website, if not- call the admissions office and ask.) Apply to schools where you'll be a strong candidate from the get-go.

It doesn't hurt if you have an attractive offer from one school (School A) but not another comparable school (School B,) to contact School B and ask them if they can do better. They may not be able to offer you more merit aid, but it never hurts to ask!

Make a budget, and stick to it! Seriously, it is helpful to keep track of your expenses over several weeks- using an online tool such as Mint.com or other app or even old-fashioned pen and notebook. When you know where the money is going, you can control the outflow better. (Those $4 Starbucks add up!) Also, share expenses whenever possible, for example consider adding another roommate to divvy up those living expenses (not only rent, but utilities, groceries, etc.) Finally, I think that students need to be very wary of overusing their credit cards. According to a recent article in Time magazine, although 70% of undergrads and 96% of graduate students have credit cards, fewer than 10% pay their balance in full every month. Ouch!

Don't stop searching for scholarships once you get there! Many students make this mistake and quit their scholarship search once they start attending college. Check regularly with your Student Financial Services department and online for merit-based scholarships awarded by your school (many of these are on the college or major level.) Another "best kept secret" is coop dorms. Look into your Department of Housing for on-campus coops. In exchange for light upkeep you can save substantially on your room and board. There may also be off-campus or independently-run coop houses near campus. You can save 1/2 or more on room and board!

Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are designed to allow college admissions officers to judge all students by a common measurement. Scores on these tests can compensate for differences in high school curriculum, grade inflation, and quality of teaching.

Many students ask me, "Is it a good idea to take both the SAT and ACT at least once?" I'd say, "yes- depending on your particular strengths and weaknesses, you may perform much better on one test than the other."

Try taking free practice tests online or through your school. Think about how you felt about taking each test. Did you understand the format? Was one more stressful than the other for you? Many students find they do much better on one than the other- use this to your advantage by taking the tests early (junior year) so you can re-take if necessary.

Which test to take? I tell students to take both the SAT and the ACT. Depending upon your particular strengths and weaknesses, you may perform much better on one test than the other. Think about how you felt about taking each test. Did you understand the format? Was one more stressful than the other for you? Once you've figured out a preference you can focus on prepping for that test.

When to take? Take the practice predictive tests sophomore year, then the real one junior year. Use the summer between to prep for the tests. Take a class, do an online prep course, use a workbook- whichever method fits well within your budget and learning style. Following this timeline gives you plenty of time to retake the tests and removes some of the stress from the equation. For students who’ve had a semester each of Algebra and Geometry by the end of sophomore year, the summer before junior year and/or the fall of junior year are usually the best times to take.

How many times? Many schools take your composite score, so retaking the test can help you provided you feel your score will improve. This can be expensive and stressful, which is why I recommend taking advantage of the predictive tests early and preparing in advance!

Students ask me this all of the time. The answer? A great college essay is PERSONAL.

It doesn’t need to be earth-shattering. We haven’t all pulled babies from burning buildings or sailed around the world in a catamaran. That’s okay. Tell a story from your own life that shows something unique about you. Be honest and even a little vulnerable.

The story that your friends perk up to listen to- that’s the stuff that makes for great app essays.

More than anything, officers want to get to know you through your essay. There is no room for stuffiness. You will end up sounding like every other applicant.

DON'T try to sound "academic" or give the "what they want to hear."

DO write what only you can write.

DON'T be being. ("I am... I was... I have been...")

DO use active, interesting details.

DON'T just talk about why the school is a good fit for you.

DO talk about what you plan to contribute to the school, and why you are the perfect candidate for it!

DON'T tell.

DO show.

DON'T send it off without having someone else read it first! I read and review essays for a living and my students tell me the insight is invaluable.

More students are applying to more colleges. The result? It just keeps getting harder to get in, even to “back up” schools. Application essays also play a greater role in determining the strength or weakness of an application. Admissions officers and scholarship review committees understand that grades and scores are limiting, and cannot adequately show the complete picture of a student.Your essay is your opportunity to tell your story, to rise above the competition, and to convince admissions officers that their university is not only the perfect fit for you, but that you are the perfect fit for it.

I tell the students I work with as a college essay writing coach (www.EssayLady.com) that it is very important to "connect the dots." Your essay and the other parts of your application must create one seamless picture for the admissions officer.

For example, if you write an essay about your dream of becoming a doctor, does the rest of your application support this? Does your transcript reflect advanced math and science courses with high grades? Does your resume show that you've volunteered or had an internship at a hospital? All of the parts of your application should work in harmony- discrepancies will raise red flags for the admissions officers.

This varies from university to university. It's perfectly acceptable to call the school you're interested in and ask them! You might want to ask:

1. How many applications do you expect to receive, and how many students will be offered admission?

2. How much weight is given to the essay as part of the whole application?

3. How many people evaluate each application?

4. What kind of rubrics are used?

Admissions officers should have no problem answering these questions for you. It always shocks me as I work with students how little they take advantage of this resource.

I'm biased, because that is what I do for a living! But I talk to admissions officers as well, and they always inists that students should have SOMEONE ELSE read their essays! Another set of eyes helps catch errors and not just the grammatical kinds. My theme as the Essay Lady is, “Your words, only better.” I don’t write essays for students. Not only is this plagiarism, it’s actually very unfair to both you and your prospective college(s). They want to get to know you, not me! I try to help students take their own essays and make them more clear, concise, and compelling. Whenever I make suggestions for changes or revisions, I always keep that student’s own voice in mind. I would not advise sending in an essay without having someone proof it first.

I do not believe that parents make good essay editors because they are not admissions officers. They do not know what admissions officers are looking for. Audience is key with these essays.

For the same reason, I do not think English teachers make great admissions essay readers. Your English teacher reads your essay as 1 out of 30. The admissions officers reads as 1 out of 1000’s and possibly even 10,000 or more. Your English teacher reads your essay to assign one grade out of many. The admissions officer reads to determine if they should offer you one spot out of probably relatively very few.

Many applicants will have high GPA's and SAT scores, volunteer in a local organization, or be the president of a club or captain of a sports team. Admissions officers are looking for something, anything, to distinguish your essay from the pile.

The most important tip for the college interview is- plan 3 things in advance that you want to touch on. What are 3 things you want the interviewer to know about you? These may be accomplishments, activities, unusual facts, etc. Thinking of these in advance will help you steer the interview, and you want to be in the driver's seat. This also helps if the interviewer asks generic questions like, "Tell me about yourself," or "What would you like for Yale admissions to know about you?" Select three strong qualities or accomplishments and emphasize them so that after the interview, your interviewer will remember you by them. "That was the girl who spent the summer volunteering at a clinic in the Philippines." Or, "That was the guy who's been swimming competitively since he was nine." Or whatnot. Planning your 3 things in advance will also help you fight off nerves about the interview. You got this.

Yes, but maybe not in the way you'd imagine. The college interview is only one piece of the whole big picture as admissions counselors weigh your application. A prospective college also considers your high school transcript, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, admissions essay, and other parts of your application in order to make their decision. How they weigh each component varies from university to university. The interview is only one piece of the puzzle.

What if you are nervous, arrive late, or spill your water all over the lap of the interviewer? Rest assured, a bad interview will not ruin your chance of gaining admission, when the other pieces of your application reflect a strong candidacy. However, a good interview can help tip the balance in your favor. It offers a university the opportunity to get to know you in a personal way and sheds light on areas that standardized tests cannot.

Do your homework! During the interview, you want to demonstrate that you've selected that school for a specific reason. Many students select schools on name basis alone, but you're not like many students. Differentiate yourself! Be as specific as possible. Make the case not for why the school is a great fit for you, but why you are the perfect candidate for it. Discuss how you plan to contribute and why you would make a fabulous addition to the school.

And after the interview, be sure to send a thank-you note. Handwritten on a small card is best. Do this immediately, and get it into the mail as soon as possible. Very few students make the time or effort to write a thank-you and this alone will set you apart as a positive candidate.

Definitely! When you first meet the interviewer, give him/her a firm handshake and a warm smile. Make direct eye contact. If you feel nervous, take a deep breath and then admit it. "I'm sorry, these interviews always make me feel nervous!" Laugh with the interviewer over it. If he or she is a college alumn in your area conducting interviewers, he/she may also feel nervous! Clearing the air will help dispel your nerves and create a more comfortable atmosphere for the rest of the interview.

Visit the dorm and ask, “Could I see myself living here?”

Visit the library. “Could I see myself studying here?”

Visit the football stadium. “Could I see myself cheering here?”

Visit the cafeteria. “Could I see myself eating here?”

Visit the Student Union. “Could I see myself hanging out here with friends?”

Visit a class. “Could I see myself learning here?”

Walk across the quad. “Could I see myself calling this place ‘home?’”

Ask an admissions officer:

"What percentage of students in my major graduate in 4 years?"

"Will be teachers be professors, or T.A.'s/grad students?"

"What is the average class size for general studies courses? What about major-specific courses?"

Ask a financial aid officer:

"What expenses are not included in the total cost of attendance?"

"What merit scholarships are available?"

"What is the average % of financial aid met with scholarships/grants?"

"What is the average debt incurred by students here by the time they graduate?"

"What are the most important admissions criteria?"

You should definitely try to network with students and professors in your intended field of study. Contact the admissions office in advance and ask if you can shadow a student for a day and night (including staying in a dorm, if possible.) Try to sit in on a class or two, perhaps a general freshman-level course, and also a major-specific course. In addition, if you plan to become involved in campus activities (such as Student Government, for example) see if you can attend an event or meeting. The goal is to ask yourself, "Can I envision myself here? Is this a good fit for me?"

Most roommate problems pop up because the lines of communication break down (or weren't opened up in the first place.)

Here are some good questions to discuss with your roomie from the get-go, before problems arise:

1. How will we handle joint monthly bills?

2. Are there other expenses we might want to divvy up?

3. What food will we share, and which food is "Hands off?"

4. When is it okay to have visitors?

5. How much messiness is too much? Whose turn is it to clean the bathroom?

6. What can we sleep through, and what keeps us awake?

Best friends don't always make great roommates! Great roommates don't always make best friends, either. Learn to work through conflict now and you'll have experiences to draw on for the rest of your life.