College Preparation Handbook - Alliance For Affordable Services

After searching for and comparing colleges, you should narrow your list to between five and eight colleges.

That list traditionally includes:

Two or three schools you feel sure will admit you
Two or three schools that are a good match for you, but there’s no guarantee you can get in
Two or three schools that you would love to attend, but you may not meet their admission requirements

Why not apply to more colleges?

Cost is one reason. Application fees can range from $25 to $100.

Time is another reason. The application process requires careful attention to multiple items – from essays and letters of recommendations to high school transcripts and the college application itself. Go for quality applications, not quantity.

The College Application
Every college application is different. But, they include similar parts. Here’s what you usually find on every application.

Part 1: General information
This part includes your personal information such as name, Social Security number, high school you attend, etc. You’ll also be asked for your scores on college admission tests, like the SAT.
Part 2: Introduce Yourself
This part asks for your personal statement or essay, letters of recommendations, a listing of your extracurricular activities, work experience, achievements and high school transcripts.

The second part of the application is where you need to shine. You want to impress upon the admission officer your genuine interest in attending the college. And you want give the school a good look at who you are.

Application Shortcuts
Instead of completing multiple college applications, you might be able to complete a single application and submit it to several of colleges you’re interested in attending.

The Common Application for Undergraduate College Admission can be completed online or on paper. About 340 public and private colleges, including the University of Chicago, Notre Dame and University of Virginia, accept the application. They treat the Common Application just as they do their own applications. You can get more information and see the participating schools at www.commonapp.org.

With the Universal College Application (UCA), you can complete an application online and then send it to colleges that accept the application. The participating colleges treat the UCA just as they would any other application. You can learn more about the UCA at www.universalcollegeapp.com. About 60 colleges, including Duke, Harvard and Johns Hopkins, currently accept the UCA. You can find a full list of the colleges at the UCA Web site.

8 Rules For A Winning Application
Want your application to stand out from the crowd? Follow these simple but important rules.

1. Meet the deadlines
Colleges generally don’t accept late applications. And even if they do, how does missing a deadline reflect on you? Be aware that different parts of the same college application might have different deadlines. Be sure you know those deadlines. If you’re mailing your application via snail mail, allow plenty of time for the application to arrive at the college before the deadline.

2. Read all of the directions on the application
And follow those directions. If an essay requires a certain number of words, meet the requirement. If a section asks for three references, don’t just provide two.

3. Be thorough
Whether you’re filling out a paper or electronic application, be sure you complete every section. On electronic applications, be especially careful that you make the right selections from pulldown menus. Some applications have supplements. Be sure you complete those too before submitting your application.

4. Be accurate
This holds true for all sections of the application, not just your essay. Proof your answers to avoid misspellings and typos. Check and recheck your grammar and punctuation. If a question asks for the number of years you participated in a school organization or the dates you worked a part-time job, be as accurate as possible.

5. Be a neat freak
If you’re submitting a paper application, write legibly or use a typewriter. Follow instructions for correctly organizing all the pieces of your application. Make sure your papers aren’t crumpled or dog-eared.

6. Start collecting information early
Don’t wait until the last minute to ask people for their letters of recommendation. Give employers, teachers and advisors at least a month to complete their letters for you.

7. List extracurricular activities carefully
College admissions officers don’t want to see a laundry list of your extracurricular activities. They want to see those in which you participated regularly, those you showed a commitment to. Include the activities that showcase your leadership skills, long-term participation and diversity of interests.

8. Watch your e-mail address
Most college applications will ask for your e-mail address. Use a decent one. What is funny or cute for your high school buddies might not be appropriate for your college application. Choose a simple address that won’t offend or cause admissions officers to roll their eyes.

Create An Outstanding Essay: 6 Tips
All college applications require that you write an essay in answer to a question. Some questions ask simply, “What can you tell us about yourself?” Others might ask you to describe why you’re choosing a particular college. Still others get more creative and ask you to write about a national issue that’s important to you.

No matter what the topic, you can produce an essay that will bring a smile to the face of an admissions officer – and a college offer to you. Follow these tips.

1. Answer the question
This might seem obvious, but many student essays go off on tangents that don’t answer the question. Read the question carefully. Think about your response and make notes before you begin writing. Review your notes and decide which of your responses answer the question most clearly. After you’ve written you answer, make sure it relates directly to the question.

2. Get real
There is never a right or wrong answer to an essay question. Your job is to make sure your essay expresses your opinions and reveals your experiences. Be honest and authentic.

3. Don’t repeat yourself
Avoid repeating information in your essay that was provided in your application. For example, if you provided a list of extracurricular activities on your application, don’t repeat that in your essay.

4. Don’t plagiarize
Some students use the Internet to find pre-written essays. Some go to Web sites that will write an essay for them. Some students use little bits from lots of different essays to create what they think is their own. Don’t do any of those. It’s academic fraud. The colleges are on to it and they’re checking for it. If you’re caught plagiarizing, your application will be thrown in the trash.

5. Polish your writing skills
Avoid slang. Watch your grammar. Check and recheck your punctuation. Write short, clear sentences. If you’re making an argument in your essay, use facts to back it up.

6. Proofread and proofread again
Don’t depend on spell-check to catch all of your errors. Proofread your essay. Then proofread it again.