Tips on the College Application Process 2014

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While others were hiring admissions consultants, we just read College Confidential. The parent section is very helpful.

I still use CC but like Unigo also.

http://www.unigo.com/

This is AWESOME!

THANKS!

I've never heard of this before but have been browsing from the minute I clicked the link.

Thanks again~

Wish I'd heard of this sooner.

[Anonymous]

CC is a double edged sword. I know about it but didn't tell my DC about it early in HS, and steered DC away affirmatively once he found out about it until deep into junior year. At that point - as I saw hopes about admission to the most selective schools starting to turn to overly rosy expectations -- I shared some of what I learned form it. The insane admissions threads actually helped keep things in perspective and dampen expectations a bit which was helpful at that point - and motivated him a bit to push that extra mile the summer before senior year, in writing essays, etc. As it turned out, our DC also got into his first choice school and is thrilled. I agree lots of other useful parent info on cc, but I would keep kids away from it unless and until there is a reason to use it (as was our situation I think) b/c of the added stress it can cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also...I don't think freshman or sophomore years are too early to go on college visits. In fact, I wish I had, as my son would've benefitted from that motivation early on. Hearing the academic requirements to get into some of those schools would've been good for him to hear before it was 'too late'.

I have a son entering high school next year so I really appreciate this bit of advice. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While others were hiring admissions consultants, we just read College Confidential. The parent section is very helpful.

I still use CC but like Unigo also.

http://www.unigo.com/

This is AWESOME!

THANKS!

I've never heard of this before but have been browsing from the minute I clicked the link.

Thanks again~

Wish I'd heard of this sooner.

Unigo is a hidden jewel. I like the top ten hipster schools!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also...I don't think freshman or sophomore years are too early to go on college visits. In fact, I wish I had, as my son would've benefitted from that motivation early on. Hearing the academic requirements to get into some of those schools would've been good for him to hear before it was 'too late'.

I have a son entering high school next year so I really appreciate this bit of advice. Thanks!

Be careful with this. For many kids starting too early just ramps up the stress and also makes their high school years too transactional. It sounds like PP's DS needed the motivation. Not all kids are like this and focusing too much too soon can create problems.

[Anonymous]

OP or others on the board did your DC visit all schools prior to applying? DD wants to look at some schools in north and south and TX for the program she wants to study. I am thinking we visit those within driving distance and wait to see if she gets in at the schools farther away and then visit?? Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP or others on the board did your DC visit all schools prior to applying? DD wants to look at some schools in north and south and TX for the program she wants to study. I am thinking we visit those within driving distance and wait to see if she gets in at the schools farther away and then visit?? Thoughts?

We did not visit all of the schools to which DC applied. We did visit a few of the more selective ones, including the one to which DC was accepted (DC's first choice!). We wanted to visit more but it became too much due to distance. So we decided that if DC was accepted at a school we were seriously considering, we could simply visit afterwards.

While visiting DC's 1st choice school we met a student who'd already been accepted. So it's not at all unusual for prospective students to visit after acceptance. In fact, most schools have visitation days/tours/special days for accepted students for this very reason. We received a similar invitation from DC's 1st choice. Although we visited prior, we're going to again, this time viewing the school through a different lense, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also...I don't think freshman or sophomore years are too early to go on college visits. In fact, I wish I had, as my son would've benefitted from that motivation early on. Hearing the academic requirements to get into some of those schools would've been good for him to hear before it was 'too late'.

I have a son entering high school next year so I really appreciate this bit of advice. Thanks!

Be careful with this. For many kids starting too early just ramps up the stress and also makes their high school years too transactional. It sounds like PP's DS needed the motivation. Not all kids are like this and focusing too much too soon can create problems.

Tours are/can be very low-key low-stress affairs, and as long as the parents keep it that way, a younger child should be fine--whether they need the motivation or not. My DS did not need the motivation to do well in school and he always knew he was going to college, but I couldn't help but think that he could've benefitted greatly by visiting schools sooner. I remember going on college visits with my older brother when I was just 13. I didn't need the motivation, but as a result of that experience I was inspired! There was something awesome about eating in a college cafeteria (all the ice cream you could eat! and good food--compared to my MS cafeteria), visiting dorms, and realizing I could live away from home in a paradise like that! While my parents focused on the important stuff, that's what resonated with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now that it's (practically) over, what lessons did you learn from the college admissions process that you'd like to share with parents who will be going through that slow painful exhausting process soon?

This was my first year, and if only I knew then what I know now. It is NOT the same process we went through in high school.


My tips:

1. If you wait until your child's senior year in HS to begin, you're already behind the 8-ball. However, all is not lost. My family was silly enough to wait until senior year. NOT SMART! My DC was accepted at the first school choice, but we were lucky. Fortunately, we started the summer after junior year and were able to get in a few rising-senior interviews.

2. Fortunately, we knew to have our child take the SAT for the first time in the spring or June of junior year. Then again during senior.

2. VISIT as many schools as you can during the school year. It's best to see the schools in full swing with the students on campus. Again, waiting until senior year sucked because DC really did NOT need to miss any school days, but she did for those college visits.

3. A few schools gave us app fee waivers for visiting. (The first choice school to which she was accepted was one.) Wasn't expecting it, but it was a WONDERFUL surprise! Almost worth that day or two out of school.

4. Summer after junior year is NOT too early to start crafting your essay.

5. Begin filling out the common app almost as soon as it goes live. At least fill out the preliminary questions part. Then you can take your time with the rest.

6. Create a calendar with college deadlines on it. Then complete applications in that order. That's a huge DUH, but you'll be surprised at how random some were with completing their apps. Some submitted them in order of preference.

7. Pace yourselves. Having five apps due on the same day is no problem....UNLESS you wait until the last minute to complete said applications.

8. Be sure to pay close attention to the deadlines. I had one app due on the very last day of the month. I'm so glad I turned the calendar to the next page to see that 5 were due the next day--on the 1st.

9. GET YOUR TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORMS INTO YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR ASAP. They really will take the entire 2 weeks to mail them.

10. Reread No. 9, keeping in mind that snow days can shut school down for an entire week in this area. So do NOT plan on playing that last minute game with those requests. I'd rather have the transcripts arrive before my app then to run the risk of missing a deadline and praying it won't count against me.

Your Tips?

11. Unless your child absolutely cannot handle it, schedule a college interview. Chances are the interviewer will be a college senior and not an actual admissions officer, but having that positive note in your favor can't hurt (provided DC makes a good impression). Colleges will let you know if the interview is evaluative (=notes from the interview will be included in your admissions file) or not. Most are.

[Anonymous]

1. Do the first interview at a school low on your list or that the child does not plan to apply to. Get practice before the ones that count.

2. Ask the guidance counselor whether each college tracks contacts. If applying to some small LACs, for instance, your odds of admission slightly improve by showing enough interest to interview.

3. I would NOT do interviews at every school when doing tours -- they take time, can be stressful, and you really want to know a lot about a school and prepare to make a good impression. Doesn't always happen in advance of your first visit to every school.

4. A few schools offer "ask a student" group sessions in addition to the admin officer sessions and student tours. My DC did that at one school and found it most informative.

5. Once you have a rough list of most of the schools you know the student will apply to, check the application forms and see how many require supplemental essays, short answers, word limits, etc. More selective schools all have supplements to the common app, and they can take a lot of thought.