Features: A Message from Claes Nobel Advisory Board Highlight - Tyra Banks High School Highlight Partner News College-Bound Advice A Senior's Words of Wisdom for the College Application Process Internships from a Student's Perspective Learn to Earn ABCs on the SAT Spotlight on Service Tsunami Relief: How You Can Help Red Cross: Give the Gift of Life--Every Drop Counts Students Follow Their Passion -- Taking Advantage of Special Opportunities People to People: An Adventure of a Lifetime The Joy of Journalism Adventure in the Alps: Summer in Switzerland Overcoming Challenges Coping with Change: Coming to America Struggling with Scoliosis: Obstacles into Opportunities Overcoming Personal Affliction A Senior's Words of Wisdom for the College Application Process by Steven I. Garte-Wolf Pompano Beach High School, Class of 2005 Pompano Beach, Florida My college application process was nothing less than tedious. I have to admit it is something I did not look forward to as a junior, but now that it is nearly complete, I feel it has strengthened me in some way. It certainly has helped with my persuasive essay writing, and my ability to fill out long forms that seem to never end. My secret, which gained me acceptance into each school to which I applied so far, was promptness. In December, I had already been accepted into four schools that I applied to and accepted into Outstanding Students of America, Who's Who, and of course, The National Society of High School Scholars. I started filling out my college apps as soon as I got them in the mail. After trial and error, and a lot of frustration I ended up throwing them all out! I filled out the online applications instead. Nearly every college has an online application, and these save time, money (in some cases), and trees! There are other benefits to applying online: the only mailed papers are the supplements (i.e. teacher recommendations, school reports, and mid-year reports). Those can amount to very little or a lot even if you aren't filling out the paper apps (but if you were, there would likely be twice the paperwork). Immediately following the end of my college application process (which took a little over 2 months), I started to receive some acceptance letters, and some time off! Some acceptance letters came with scholarships, some with scholarship applications, some wanted me to reply within the month, and some wanted a deposit if I did. To each college their own! It is true that all colleges want very different things in a student, so if or when I receive a letter that doesn't say "Congratulations!" on it, I won't feel disheartened. I'll merely feel relieved that they don't think I will do well at their school (it saves me the trouble of finding out for myself). However, if you do think you'll do well at a school, show them what you're made of; tell them everything about yourself, maybe even add an academic resume. You know what they say, if you've got it, flaunt it!" Ok, so I was finished with most of my college applications around late October, early November. I had one early decision to an Ivy League university, one regular admission to another Ivy, two easy, and then two moderately hard schools to get into offered me a spot. I had some sent in early October, some sent out by mid November. I was able to track the Ivies and some state schools via the Internet. Concurrently, I found the time to apply for two scholarships. After this time it is time to relax a bit, you laid the bait, now you can wait and see what you have snagged. Of course, while you are keeping up the grades, you are also filling out scholarship apps at the same time, and in that order! My greatest words of wisdom are: sell yourself! You need to look attractive to colleges; you have to present clean, neat, and outstanding applications. Add a resume, maybe an extra recommendation, and revise and proof your essays carefully. I may not have done everything I just mentioned, but that is why you can learn from my mistakes. Why not get into that college of your dreams? Remember, make the application reflect who you are, and don't get overwhelmed by the amount of work you need to put into all these applications. They are your future after all; get them done carefully, but quickly. << Back to Journal Home page