The Necessary Steps

Developing Your List of Schools

You need to assess your interests, strengths, and future goals, as well as your grades, test scores and past accomplishments.  Many factors must be considered, and we can help you as you create a realistic list of "safe" "target" and "reach" schools.

The Common Application, the University of California System Applications, School-Specific Applications

Many schools use The Common Application, where you can complete basic information and prepare a main essay which can then be distributed to multiple institutions.  However, many of these schools also require completion of supplemental essays and/or additional questions.

Portions of these applications can be accessed at earlier stages, and it is beneficial for students to begin work early. This will reduce the stress during the fall of senior year.

Other schools still only use their own applications, or the UC System has their own application, and while you can begin writing essays earlier, the actual application cannot usually be started early.

The Common App Personal Statement a/k/a Essay

While we provide brainstorming ideas and review essays for message and grammar, there are some important things to know about the main essay. First, this essay must be the work of the applicant. College admissions officers are highly experienced in reviewing these essays and can readily tell when it has not been written by the student. Often, parents fall prey to the competition and feel the need to hire “essay specialists” for this piece. We will refuse to work with any families who utilize such an individual. We also have the right to terminate our agreement if anyone other than the student is involved in editing or “polishing” the essay. This includes family, friends, and others. Often, these individuals have no contact with admissions officers, and the tend to take the ideas from the students to craft essays that end up sounding—while poetic, creative and beautiful—disconnected from the actual student.

Second, the essay serves as a great opportunity for the student to highlight what matters to him/her. While grades, test scores (if used) and lists of activities are part of the application, this is the strongest place for the student to ‘take the mic’ and show the admissions committee why this student should be the one selected.

Resume

Whether you are uploading an actual document, or completing a pre-set form, it is important to maintain an accurate list and description of activities throughout high school, particularly leadership positions.

Test Scores

Some schools require ACT or SAT (or now, CLT) scores to be part of the application. Some schools are Test Blind—meaning that you are not able to have scores considered at all for admission. The vast majority of schools are Test Optional, meaning that if the test score is not enhancing your application, it should not be included in the application. After you have finished your testing, we have to decide on a school-by-school basis whether the scores will or will not be included. If you are sharing scores, sometimes you can self report them, other times you must pay to send the official ones. If needed, you will be responsible for ordering reports containing your SAT, ACT (and AP scores after you decide where you’re attending) to be sent to the colleges. This is in addition to many instances of "self-reporting" on the application.

Letters of Recommendation

While the actual letters are likely sent electronically, depending upon practices and procedures at your high school, the human factor is still vital! It is still important to focus on teachers who can best describe you to the admissions committee and remember to ask them -- in person -- early.

Self Reported Academic Record

Many schools now require students to complete SRAR/SSAR. This is a platform outside the application, where students are required to fill in all high school courses and grades. This is basically data entry literally copying the transcript. For schools requiring this, it is a necessary part of the application file and must be done by the deadline.