College Admissions: 3 Tips for After You Submit
Over New Year’s weekend, I visited a friend’s home for dinner one evening. Another guest, a high school senior had filed her college applications well in advance of the January first deadlines, but took advantage of our host’s secure internet connection to check the status of each and every application on the eve of the final deadlines. She wasn’t among the thousands of students who were, according to The Common Application, submitting forms at the rate of 13.6 forms per second in the last 10 minutes of January 1. Today, however, she, like many other high school seniors, waits.
It’s a combination of relief and letdown when the final application has been submitted. So many of my students are exhausted. They are tired of writing, frustrated with second and third guessing themselves, and done with clarifying their reasons for applying to College X or University Y. At the same time, with that final “submit” comes the realization that it isn’t a process they have control of any longer. They wait.
In the time between January and late March, while admissions officers read and debate thousands of files, there are a few things that applicants can do.
1) Complete financial aid forms. The FAFSA forms and the CSS profile are based upon income tax data that is now available. Work with your parents to complete these forms and meet financial aid deadlines.
2) Update colleges on any change of status. Were you named an Intel Semifinalist this week? Did you win an academic award or receive all-state orchestra recognition? A quick email will allow you to share these updates. When first semester grades (or even second trimester, depending on your school calendar) are available, your counselor should be sharing them with the colleges.
3) Avoid having to share the bad news with colleges. The only way to do this is to avoid bad news. Don’t drop your AP classes for a collection of non-academic electives. Don’t blow off your first semester exams this month and confront a sub-par report card. Resist the temptation to skip class, play pranks or participate in any activity that could result in school or judicial disciplinary action. Pay attention to your online profile on social networking sites. I promise, this is not the update letter you want to write to your college choices.
Enjoy the “lasts” as they happen this year. It won’t be long before the “fat envelopes” and colorful web graphics welcome you to the class of 2021!
5-Step Checklist Before Submitting Your Applications
Give your application a final check!
Whether you’re applying to b-school, law school, med school, grad school, or college, this checklist will be the same. Don’t hit that “submit” button until you’ve completed the following 5 steps:
1. You’ve made sure that your application presents a holistic, multi-dimensional picture of you.
Each section of your application should not just present you as a strong candidate on its own, but should complement the other application components as well. When the admissions readers have finished reading your entire application, they should have a clear picture of who you are as a well-rounded and unique individual.
2. You’ve demonstrated fit with the program.
To demonstrate that tight fit that admissions committees are seeking, you’ll need to have done some serious thinking about who you are and about how that person is compatible with the school’s mission, ideals, and culture.
3. You have selected the best recommenders.
The best recommenders are those people who really know you well and who will be able to draw from their unique experiences with you in composing their LOR. If your recommender doesn’t know you well, then his or her assessment of you may end up sounding generic and superficial. Plus, it may not be accurate.
4. Proofread, edit, and then proof some more!
Read your essay, as well as all other application components, aloud to make sure that you hear mistakes that your eyes may have glossed over. You may also want to recruit a friend, colleague or family member, or hire an admissions consultant, to help you edit your essays to perfection.
5. You’ve given yourself some time.
Don’t submit your app at the last minute. Rushing your application will create more room for error, the schools’ servers may be overloaded just before the buzzer, and you may lose your chance to apply on time if you wait until the last minute.
Think you’re ready to submit? Why not run your application by the experts for a final stamp of approval? Our admissions consultants and editors are standing by, ready to help you construct an application that shines, one that shows off your greatest achievements and talents, one that you’re truly excited and ready to submit. Contact us now for more details on how we can help.