Improve your chances of getting into college,

Show them you are interested. Really! Go visit them, but not to just visit them or stalk them. Go talk to them about things. Ask them good questions. Maybe ask them to give you their assessment of your academic performance. Ask them good questions about activities to be involved in or better yet, ask them what activities they found valuable when they were in school.

Remember your guidance counselor is human. You can be just as comfortable with them as with any adult, unless that is hard for you. But then again, if you do have issues with adults, the guidance counselor is a great place to start. They can give you hints and ideas how to develop skills "relating" to people. These are skills you will need down the road.

Your guidance counselor is a wealth of information, usually under utilized. Remember, you are not the only student they have to work with, be respectful of their time, but go. Also, if you have not met them yet, introduce yourself. Always a good thing to do.

When I was a full time school counselor, I really enjoyed it when kids came to talk to me, ask my advice about things. Though I was busy with other tasks, talking to kids is what I love to do and welcomed the time to get to know students I work with.

I advocate no more than 10 total schools. There is no reason to apply to more to "increase" chances of getting in. In fact, with the work required in the application process, the more schools you apply to the less you will be able to focus on the important attributes schools are looking for - quality work.

If a student has done their research process well - really understand what makes a school standout, they should be able to come up with a short list. My students have 3 Safe/Foundation schools, 3 Core and three reasonable Reach plus one more in any of the categories.

Time becomes an issue when you apply to tons of schools. But lets look at the admission process for a second. While many schools only have one or two essays others have additional supplemental essays. Some of these may be short or long depending on the school. Let's say of the nine, four of the schools require additional essays. That could mean four or more essays the student needs to write. Since the supplemental essays are school specific, they need a great deal of knowledge and attention. They require time and significant effort.

Don't dilute the process. Focus on producing quality work for schools you have targeted. After all you can only attend one school and many students I have worked with find the final one choice the hardest choice to make. Quality not quantity should be rule. Oh, by the way I have searched and searched and still I cannot find the "Just Try" Application.

Pretty much the same way students back in the States approach the college admission process. Expats are at a bit of a disadvantage in that visiting schools is more challenging. But university and college reps do get around. It is important to meet them and their contact information. If you an visit over the holidays or during summer vacation, do so. Visiting schools is important.

Expats bring much to a schools campus. While the Third Culture Kid experience is not what it used to be since there are some many know, it is important to be able to talk about the rich experiences you have had living overseas. How has that impacted you, your family and your education? How has that diverse perspective changed and challenged you? How have you grown as a person? Did you want to live overseas and if not, how have you met that challenge?

You may be limited in the tests you take, the courses your school offers and other challenges. But each of these can add to your experience living overseas and enriched you as a person. Have you learned the local language, what is your community (housing, school, neighborhood) like? How have you dealt with the cultural differences?

Since I have worked overseas for much of my career, I find that a lot of students take for granted what they experience. It becomes "known" yet it is extremely different from what students back home are experiencing. So while the application process is very much the same, you have the ability to expound on the richness of your "expatness".

This is a great question. There has been a lot of press lately that college is not right for everyone. Though the statistics show that students who graduate from college have significantly higher salaries, going to university should be the right choice for you. But further to the question, sometimes students are not really prepared to go off to school immediately after graduating from high school. There are two thoughts on the matter.

1. Most students are going right off to college and will be moving forward in math, science and other subjects. Their brains are engaged. They are mature enough to know what they "think" they want to study and are prepared to become "independent" and take responsibility for the next step of their education. Some just follow along because there is pressure to go. Most students are really ready and they should go off and explore the next phase of their academic pursuits.

2. For some, going off to college is not the right idea. The need some time to sort things out. So taking a gap year could be the right thing to do. While most students are a bit nervous going off to college - new friends, new environment, higher academic expectations etc... (this is common) some students are just not ready.

Data has shown that students who take a gap year AND do something constructive enter university more committed, more prepared, more mature to engage in their education. These students are also more likely to graduate on time and be more successful once in university.

Taking a gap year should be something that will engage you in a new and different way. Staying at home and mowing the lawn, living off your parents is NOT a good idea. Get a job, volunteer, travel, write a book, get an internship or something of the like that will force you to get up every morning and learn about you and your place in the world.

College is a great experience, but you need to be ready. Most likely it may be the first time you have lived away from home. You need to be ready to truly take charge. So if you are going right off, be prepared, as best you can for what is coming. College is not about partying all night and going to sports events. It is about learning who you are while getting an education to prepare you for a career.

Think of the tour like a shopping trip. You want to be able to get the most information you can while you are there, but also to inspect the campus. So, most likely the first stop is the admission office. Since this is a rather important place, the first stop for most families, how have they designed it? Does it feel warm and welcoming? What kinds of materials do they have out to read?

As you go on the tour, have a parent take pictures you can catalog later to remind you of the buildings and what you saw. Schools tend to melt together if you are visiting lots of schools on a trip. Plus this will help you later. Read the message boards and see what things are happening on campus. See what students think is important, check out study abroad opportunities, internships, concerts etc...

Definitely check out the dorms, but make sure they are taking you to the Freshman dorms. What are the living arrangements. Also remember that most dorm rooms are smaller than you room at home. But think about living there.

Be sure to ask your guide good, solid questions. Ask them where else they applied, why did they choose this school over others they were accepted to. What do they like? What would they change?

As you walk around check out what kids are wearing, listen in to their conversations? What are they talking about? Is the content about the class they just took or research project or are the complaining about something?

In the information session, make sure you ask any lingering questions you may have about applying, opportunities, etc... If you are from another state or country, see if you can get an email address of student from your home so you can contact them. Definitely ask for a business card from someone in admissions who represents your region, state or country.

Finally, keep a record of each school and your thoughts about the campus and things you liked and disliked. This will be important later. Can you imagine yourself there? Why?

Have fun with the visit. But keep an open mind. You never know what you will find.

Stand out by doing something different. Too many students see what they think some students did to be successful and try to follow in their foot steps. Follow your interests and passions. Try something new, challenge yourself to do something creative and then reflect on what you have learned. There is no "magic" activity that will get you in, it is what you have learned about your self in the process.

There has been a lot of emphasis on "leadership" and "Community Service". These are both good things. But remember that being a leader does not necessarily mean you are the president of an organization. Many students are leaders just by being committed to a club or organization. Being a responsible member, helping others take charge of activities are both aspects of leadership.

Avoid, by all means, doing activities because they "look good" on your resume. Take a real interest in what you are doing and find ways to b committed. Also, avoid over participating. Students often feel that if they have a long list of activities they look impressive. Keep the number of activities or memberships to a minimum and be a conscientious member.

Quality not quantity is something to remember when engaging in activities. Too often students think that they need to do everything and be great in school. If you are searching for an inspiring activity and nothing seems to match, take some time to evaluate what you have tried. What did you like and what did you not like and why? Even by not finding some activity that suits you is a learning experience as long as you take the time to determine why you did not like it. What is your passion? Take your passion and make it work for you?

Attending school close to home has many benefits. First off, it is cheaper than going out of state or going private. The savvy student could negotiate the offset tuition costs for a down payment on a car. Secondly, bright students might find consolation in honors programs offered at State schools to pique their intellectual curiosity. Many honors programs offer significant challenges and unique programs equivalent to private school programs. Third and finally, being close to home means some home-cooked meals and coin-less laundry machines. Don’t expect mom to clean up after you, but you never know.