College can be incredibly scary, and the applications can be even scarier! Here are some tips that have been incredibly useful for me:
- The best thing to do is to start the common app during the summer, or even earlier. There are many essays and short responses that must be thoughtfully written so it is best to start as soon as possible. The earlier you start, the less daunting the whole process is. It can take a long time to brainstorm personal essay topics. Keep in mind that it is important to brainstorm thoughtfully, do not just pick the first idea that comes to mind and settle on it. Think about how you want your personal essay to reflect YOU: not just as a student, but also as a person.
- Go to as many college tours as possible. It is hard to truly get a feel for a school without actually visiting the campus. Try to visit a variety of campuses in order to understand what you actually like. Exploring which dorm or classroom you can picture yourself in is crucial to the decision-making process. Also, college tours can be so useful in acquiring important information about the school that would not otherwise be offered to you.
Image courtesy of shsthelegend.com - Meet with your college counselor regularly. College counselors are there to support you every step of the way, ready to help with any questions or worries you may have. College counselors are the best people to go for because they are the most knowledgeable people when it comes to the college process. It is good to frequently check in and make sure you are taking the right steps and in good time.
- Get the little detailed questions out of the way first on Common App. Common App has several questions about every detail about you. Where you live, where you grew up, age, family information, ethnicity, etc. These questions can be tedious and time-consuming, but they are easy to complete and get out of the way.
Image courtesy of Istock (Getty Images/iStockphoto) - Be honest in your applications. Colleges do not want to read a perfectly crafted essay that says nothing about your character. All of the essays should be authentic and written in your voice. Tell a story that is unique to you and something that no one else could write about because you experienced it. Be genuine and true to yourself because that is who they want to see.
