Getting Into College: The Real Deal

The first step in applying to college is finding out what colleges interest you. With the advent of the Internet this has become as simple as point and click. One of my favorite and most helpful web sites is Embark.com (http://www.embark.com). They offer a college matchmaker tool that allows you to choose schools based on seven specific categories (location, program type, student body, admissions, academics, cost, special programs and campus life). So whether you're headed to a two or four year school, you can find your match.

Once you get that initial list of colleges down, plan visits. Check out the college's own web site or call the admissions office to find out visitor information. You should have your list almost done by the end of your junior year and the summer following it is a perfect time to start visiting. Seeing the campus first hand is the best way to determine whether or not a school is for you. Take my own example. From what I heard and saw in a view book, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh was my number one choice college, since they had a killer computer science program. However actually visiting the campus changed my mind completely. It was the #2 computer science school in the nation, but I couldn't picture spending the next four years of my life there. It wasn't big enough for me and I didn't like the feel of being in the city. The next day I visited the University of Maryland, College Park. It only had the #10 computer science program in the country but the campus was gorgeous and the atmosphere was much more comfortable. It was amazing at how just seeing the campus and taking the tour changed my whole outlook.

Applying to the colleges is the next step. Pick a couple of your favorite schools that you know you can get into, a couple that are maybes, and one or two reach schools. Make sure you get those applications in on time. Starting early in your senior year isn't a bad idea, and by end of junior year you should have your list of ones you want to visit. It is useful to keep a spreadsheet (if you're computer literate) or just a simple chart on a piece of paper with the following information: name of the school, application deadline, application fee, essay question and whether it is a safe, maybe or reach school. Your senior year flies by fast, so getting your apps done early will give you time to relax.

Most schools offer three choices for admission: early action, early decision and regular decision. Early action allows you to apply early and find out if you are accepted earlier than usual. Early decision is the same, except that you are required to attend that school. It is a binding contract between you and the school stating that they are your number one choice and if admitted you will definitely go there. Regular decision just means that you will find out sometime in the spring and you have no obligation to attend. Another thing that colleges do is accept applications on a "rolling" basis. This means that you can send your application in at any point during the year and they will usual notify you of your admission in a matter of weeks. If a college you are applying to does accept on a rolling basis it is critical that you get that application in as early as possible, since spaces fill up quick.

Another new option that colleges are just starting to incorporate is the Common Application. If two or more of the colleges you're applying to accept the Common App, you're in luck, because you will only have to fill out one of them. The best part, there are no duplicate forms to fill out. All you have to do is photocopy the completed one. To download the Common App and see a list of schools that accept it, visit http://www.commonapp.org. Most colleges also require you to take some sort of standardized test. Check with each individual school to see whether you need SAT I's, SAT II's or ACT test results. It's important to start testing early, so take the PSAT's sophomore and junior year. For more information on testing visit the College Board (http://www.collegeboard.org) and ACT (http://www.act.org) web sites.

Once you've done your part, you should notify your guidance counselor of what they need to do next. It's nice to make up a sheet of what you'd like them to do for you, an easy to follow checklist. List the schools and what they require from your high school counselor, like transcripts, letters of recommendation, schedule, etc. You might also need to get a letter of recommendation from one or more of your teachers. It's important to ask them politely, and then talk to them about what you'd like them to put on your recommendation. After all, you wouldn't want something bad going to your colleges. Make sure that you give everyone addressed and stamped envelopes. It's a nice gesture and just makes everything easier.

Writing the essay is probably the most stressful part of an application. Most colleges allow you to write on a topic of your choice, however there are some out there that assign a topic. Make sure you check each individual application and try to consolidate all the requirements. Write one or two essays that can be used on all your applications. If that's not possible, don't worry about it. If you really want to get into that college it's worth the extra work. For more information and tips from actual college admissions counselors, check out these College Essay Tips.

Once you've got all your apps sent in, you're almost ready to relax. You will probably want to check out scholarship information and apply for as many of those as you can. It is easy to want to slack off, but don't. Make sure to keep those grades up and challenge your mind; Colleges will be sent your mid-year report. Above all, remember to enjoy your senior year of high school. It's the last one you will ever get.