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5 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your College Interview

Friday, March 5th, 2010

The key to a great college interview? Making sure that you come across as a bright, talented, and accomplished student worthy of attending your college of choice! If that sounds just slightly overwhelming – that’s where we come in! Here are tips to help you shine during your college interview!

rustman/Russ Morris

Practice makes Perfect! You might want to have some idea of what you’ll say – without sounding too rehearsed! Go over potential questions and answers with a parent or friend. Think about your response before rushing in and rambling out an answer – your interviewer will appreciate it! Common questions include:

Why do you want to go to our school?
What do you hope to get out of your college experience?
What is your biggest high school accomplishment?
What are your interests and hobbies?
Which five famous people, dead or alive, would you invite to a dinner party? Why?

Oops. Did you receive poor grades during sophomore year because you were dealing with major life events like a serious illness or parents’ divorce? This is the perfect opportunity to explain why your test scores or GPA aren’t as high as they might otherwise be. If any extenuating circumstances have negatively affected your high school performance, explain them! Keep it brief and professional – you don’t need to go into great detail.

Dress for Success. Most college students don’t exactly dress up for class—but you’re not there yet! Dress a cut above so that you can make an excellent first impression. You can probably skip the business suit, but for guys – you may want to break out the khakis and a button-down shirt and girls: think nice top and slacks or a skirt. Stay away from jeans, shorts, baggy or torn pants, and anything too tight or revealing.

Phony Baloney! Students sometimes get so worked up and nervous over college admission interviews that they stick to pre-rehearsed responses to questions – and way too many “yes” and “no” type answers! That makes for a boring interview – for both of you! It’s awesome to be prepared but the admissions officer wants to see who you are. Don’t be afraid to tell an entertaining (and true!) story that reveals your personality and interests. Just, please, don’t share anything you wouldn’t be comfortable telling your grandparents.

How about a little Q & A? Psst! This interview isn’t just for the admissions officer! Shocking, we know. But an interview works both ways. Sure, your interviewer will have questions for you but it’s okay for you to have questions, too. In fact – it’s a wonderful way to show your interest in the school – and learn a little something in the process!

Tags: college admissions, college admissions interview, college admissions panel, college admissions process, college alumni, college decision, College Interview, college interview process, Preparing for College, tips
Posted in College Admissions, College Interview | No Comments »

College Applications Video? Tufts University Tunes In

Friday, February 26th, 2010

ImNotQuiteJack/Jon Collier

You’ve heard about the College Admissions video – well, Tufts University Admissions is giving students the option to post a one minute video supplemental essay about themselves on YouTube! It’s just another way for Tufts University to put a face to a name, and if video is your thing (ahem future filmmakers) — it could be your way in!

What did creative Tufts University applicants dream up? There’s a Tufts hopeful on a unicycle with a ukulele, the rubber duck stop animation video supplement, the what’s currently on my iPod video, Inside the Actor’s Studio spoof, and the pink, blue, or red haired lover of questions…to name a very small, really fun assortment of what’s out there.

There are plenty of videos on YouTube – and a few more still trickling in! It definitely looks as though the College Class of 2014 has played a key role in many new social media trends and innovations in the college applications process – so what’s next?

Marquette University on Twitter had My College Guide wondering when they jokingly tweeted, “What would you say if you had to write a college application essay in 140 characters or less?” At least, we think they were only kidding.

Tags: class of 2014, class of 2014 facebook pages, college acceptance, college acceptance factors, college admissions process, college application, college applications process, college essay, college personal statement, Colleges and Social media, colleges and twitter, colleges and youtube, marquette university, personal essay, personal statement, tufts university, Twitter, twitter list, video
Posted in College Admissions, College Applications | No Comments »

To be or Not to Be: The College Interview

Friday, February 19th, 2010

madabandon

Considering ditching your college interview? DON’T! Your grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations tell admissions a lot about who you are – but many colleges want to know more!

The college interview process, though often optional, is a great way for you to get your questions answered, put a face to a name, and explain any bumps in your high school record face to face. We’ve mentioned before that students who vocalize their desire to attend a particular college increase their college admittance odds – what better way than during a college interview? Show college admissions how much you want that letter of acceptance and it could help you get in!

Not every college or university has the staff (or the time) to conduct college interviews but for those that do (or if you happen to snag one) – it can be a great way to get a little one on one with someone whom the college trusts, especially if you aren’t sure yet which college would suit you the best. Some colleges ask you to hit up the campus (not a bad way to make a second campus visit), interview by phone, or, at some schools – they come to you.

Many colleges and universities (think Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Connecticut College, and Vassar College) utilize their college alumni, reaching out to students who live far from the college. There may be just one – or a panel.

Colleges do value what these volunteers have to say so they should still be treated with the same respect you would show the admissions counselors themselves – and they can still give you the information you are looking for – and from the point of view of a student which could prove invaluable!

While colleges and universities like to say that the college interview isn’t a major deciding factor (the rates for college acceptance are roughly the same with or without the interview) – it’s still not something to be taken lightly and, if at all possible – go for it! Standing out from the crowd (in a good way), can only help you get in!

Tags: alumni, campus visit, college admission terms, college admissions interview, college admissions panel, college alumni, college campus visit, College Interview, college interview process, college visit, connecticut college, letter of acceptance, massachusetts institute of technology, mit, schedule a college interview, vassar college
Posted in College Admissions, College Interview | 3 Comments »

Early Action: Non-Binding and Contract-Free!

Friday, February 5th, 2010

mag3737/Tom Magliery

College jargon scrambling your brain? We know. We’ve already covered early decision (you know, that binding contract with a prospective college) so it only makes sense to talk a bit more about early action.

Early action, or EA, is non-binding. You turn your college app in early, just like you would with early decision, somewhere around November or December, and receive an answer a few months earlier than regular admission students, like December or January (instead of March or April) but with a major difference -– no contracts!

There are two types of early action:

Restrictive – If you apply to a school with a restrictive early action plan, you can’t apply for any other early action or early decision plan at any other college – in other words: choose wisely, young Padawan. You can only apply to that one college or university but you aren’t required to accept an offer of admission (like you are with early decision).

Non-restrictive - Colleges with a non-restrictive early action plan let you apply to whatever colleges you are interested in, provided, of course, that they are also non-restrictive early action colleges (or you’ve applied for regular admission). You can also apply to one early decision college in addition to multiple non-restrictive early action colleges.

If you receive early action acceptance, you have a chance to play around with the numbers, like compare how your financial aid packages measure up, maybe make another campus visit or two, and really finalize where you can see yourself spending the next four years of your life.

Your application can be deferred, meaning the admissions office could sit on your college application until the regular admissions process begins. Your application will be looked at one last time and you will receive the verdict with the rest of the regular admissions bunch.

Early action denied? It can happen to the best of us, and, if it does, at least you know sooner, rather than later, right? Also, you still have the other schools you applied to (at least you should have applied to other schools, including some “safety” schools).

If you love the college and are mostly sure you would like to attend but you don’t want the binding factor as with early decision (or your college of choice doesn’t even offer early decision), early action may be a great alternative!

Tags: binding contract, college admissions, college application, college application terms, denied college admission, early acceptance, early action, early decision, early decision acceptance, how to apply for college, non-binding contract, non-restrictive early action, reapplying for college admission, restrictive early action
Posted in College Admissions, College Applications | No Comments »

How to Apply to College without Paying a Fee

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

You’ll probably find lots of schools that sound appealing, but even though you may want to, you won’t be able to apply to all of them unless your family is ultra-loaded: most schools have hefty application fees of $35 or $45, which can really add up when you try to stack the odds in your favor. As a result, students are generally encouraged to apply to no more than 5 or 6 colleges.

But as it turns out, some schools are making it easy for students to apply by getting rid of the application fee, and in some cases, even abolishing the essay requirement. While some of the colleges offering free applications are on the lower tiers, many well-known and highly regarded universities have begun getting in on the act: universities including Marquette, Rensselaer Polytechnic, and the University of Minnesota all offer “fast-track” applications, which are free and promise an admissions decision within just three weeks.

Other schools offer free applications during certain times of the year, to certain people, or to applicants who perform particular actions. Here are a few ways you may be able to waive a school application fee:

If your family is low-income, send in an application fee waiver or a note from your school guidance counselor. In any case where it’s clear that paying a school application fee would be a hardship for your family, you should be eligible for free applications. Many schools provide their own waiver forms, and others use those available from the College Board or other services. If no waiver form is available, a note on school stationary from your guidance counselor should be an acceptable substitute. As a general rule, low-income refers to families with an annual income of less than $40,000, though this can vary depending on the number of children in the family or other circumstances. If you have questions about your eligibility, call the school admissions office.

Fill out the application online. Hundreds of schools waive application fees when you complete the form online, including Smith College, Lewis & Clark College, Kenyon College, and Hampshire College. Check out this list to find out if any of the schools you want to apply to are on it.

If a parent or sibling attended the school, get a legacy waiver. Many colleges offer free applications for students with parents or siblings who have gone to the school. Colleges including University of Chicago, New York University, and Denison University are known to offer such waivers, along with the other schools on this list. If a relative of yours has attended a school that you want to apply to, it doesn’t hurt to ask if they’ll waive your application fee, too.

Visit the school campus. Some schools offer free application fees only to students who have visited the campus, or to students who turn in their applications during a campus visit or open house. These include Hollins University, Huntington College, and Wells College. For more, check out this list.

If you’re a particularly highly qualified applicant or have other special criteria, you may also be eligible for a waiver. At Ivy League and other top-tier schools, your qualifications won’t get you anywhere, since most students are also from the top of their classes, but at some colleges, you may be eligible for a free application based on your GPA, test scores, or other factors. Some schools offering waivers to highly qualified applicants are listed here, but you may also receive a free application offer by signing up to a college’s mailing list and letting them know about your qualifications.

Tags: college admissions, college application fees, fee waiver, free college application, how to apply to college for free
Posted in College Admissions, College Applications | 1 Comment »

College Admissions Tips for Parents: How to Help Your Kids without Driving Them Crazy

Friday, January 15th, 2010

Sure, your kid’s the one who’ll be going away to college—but let’s be honest: if you’re a parent, you’re probably more invested in the process than your son or daughter is. So, whether you’re researching schools to start visiting, or eagerly awaiting admission decisions, it’s important to make sure that your excitement about your child’s college decision doesn’t have a negative impact on your relationship. Here are some tips for how you can help your child through this stressful time.

Let him choose the schools to apply to. It’s true that financial concerns can be valid reasons for choosing one school over another, but that doesn’t mean you should limit your child’s choices to cheap state schools. Most elite private universities offer generous financial aid and merit scholarships, so it’s well worth letting your child apply to schools he seems qualified for to see what they’ll offer. Likewise, even if you’d love your daughter to attend Smith College like you did, if the idea doesn’t appeal to her, don’t force it.

Combine a college tour with a vacation. Even though your daughter is curious to see where she may end up spending the next four years, don’t go overboard on the college tours. Before applying to schools, you might be best off to limit the tours to your child’s top choice, or to schools in a specific region that you can combine with a fun family vacation. After your child finds out where she’s been accepted, you’ll be able to visit the schools she hasn’t seen up close yet, so there’s no need to spend thousands of dollars on jetting around the country now.

Shell out for SAT prep courses, or at least some test prep books. If you’re still early in the college application process, your teen may not have even taken the SAT yet. No matter how he did on the PSAT, you can help him boost his college prospects by investing in an online or in-person SAT prep course, or, if that’s unaffordable, buying some test prep books and committing to spending a few hours a week quizzing him.

Don’t compare your child to other teens you know. So what if Hannah down the road just got in to Princeton? Bringing up other students’ college success stories, especially if they’re unrealistic for your son or daughter, is likely to make your child resentful. Follow your teen’s lead, and only discuss other students’ admissions decisions when your child specifically brings the subject up.

Keep track of admissions deadlines, but don’t nag. It’s important to know when all of your child’s admissions materials are due at their prospective schools, and marking deadlines on your teen’s calendar can be a helpful reminder for your child. While it’s okay to ask every once in a while to make sure things are on track, try not to nag your teen too much—as long as she gets everything in on time, there’s no cause for concern.

Remember – it’s not about you. Many parents get emotionally invested in their child’s college decision, which can often cause a lot of friction in the relationship. While of course you want your child to go to a good school, the best college for your teen is going to be the one that’s the right fit for him or her—which isn’t always the one that you might like the most. Whenever you find yourself getting judgemental, take a deep breath and think about whether it’s really worth picking a fight over. After all, your child doesn’t have too much time left at home. Enjoy it while you can.

Tags: Choosing a College, college admissions and parents, college decision, helicopter parents, parenting, tips for parents
Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Campus, Preparing for College, SAT Scores | 2 Comments »

Early Decision: Is it the Right Decision for You?

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Twitter, Facebook, really, the whole internet is buzzing with two words: early decision. Who got in, who didn’t get in, and who is still waiting to hear from their school of choice is all anyone can talk about – even our Admissions Guru has been bombarded with questions. Early decision confusion? That’s what we’re here for!

katrinalopez

You can only choose one school in which to apply for early decision because it is a binding contract (not to be confused with early action which is non-binding). Apply by the November early decision deadline (which can vary slightly between schools) to receive “the answer” somewhere between December and January.

Even if you don’t receive early decision acceptance, most colleges and universities will defer your application, giving you a chance to gain regular decision admittance. Simply put, this deferment means that, while you still have a shot at getting into that school, you are no longer bound by the early decision contract. You should definitely apply to multiple colleges, just know that you will have to withdraw the applications to those schools if you’re accepted early decision

When considering whether or not to send in an early decision college app for a particular school, try to imagine paying for that school without any financial help. If that thought makes you uncomfortable (or just downright nervous), you should check to make sure that your application is subject to your receiving the minimum amount of financial aid you’ll need. Otherwise, you might end up getting bound to attend that school regardless of the amount of financial aid offered!

Again, this is a binding contract. Colleges and universities mean business so read that contract carefully! If you do try to walk away, you will most likely be black-listed not only at that school, but at other schools as well, which can severely hamper your future plans. Also, if you then decide to attend a different school, that school might just revoke their acceptance of you if they find out that you broke your early decision contract. Colleges value personal integrity – do you really want to take a chance at severely damaging yours?

But, if you have done the campus visit, taken the college tour, have completely fallen in love with a particular school, and know that it’s your top pick, you might want to consider early decision. Why draw out the agony of waiting if you can receive your acceptance (or not) early?

ambrown

Better yet — Class of 2014 Facebook Pages are popping up daily so new students can get acquainted, network, and form friendships with one another before ever setting foot on campus (keep watch for our Class of 2014 Facebook list, coming soon!). That would go a long way in helping to calm first day jitters!

Early decision = fewer applicants. However, even with a smaller pool of college applications to wade through, the applicants tend to be pretty strong (we’re talking top of their class and super involved) so it doesn’t mean you’ll have a better chance of getting in. Early decision is a huge responsibility. It’s definitely not something to walk into blindly.

So, would you/have you/are you considering applying for early decision? Why or why not? Share you thoughts in the comments section below.

Tags: admission guru, admissions, admissions guru, class of 2014, class of 2014 facebook pages, college acceptance, college admission, college admission terms, college admissions, college guide, colleges and facebook, colleges and twitter, contracts, early action, early decision, facebook, Financial Aid, financial aid packages, financial aid policies, my college guide, social media, Twitter
Posted in College Admissions, College Applications | 3 Comments »

How to Increase Your Odds After Sending in Your Application

Monday, January 11th, 2010

Once you’ve sent in your college applications, you might think that there’s nothing else you can do to sway an admissions counselor in your favor. But that’s not always true. Here are a few ways to help your odds in the college admissions game.

While you’re waiting, visit the school and get involved. Schools like to know that they’re more than just a back-up option, so if you take the time to sign up for a school tour, talk with faculty members, take part in campus activities, and participate in an interview, admissions counselors will appreciate the fact that you’re eager to become a part of their community.

Interact with the college community online. In some cases, admissions officers manage their colleges’ profiles on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Become a fan of the school, and start corresponding by asking relevant questions about the academic programs you’re interested in, or sending a note of congratulations for a recent award the school may have won. Don’t use this method to check on the status of your application, or to promote yourself as a candidate—but by engaging with the school community, you may be more likely to leave an impression on the admission officer who makes a decision on your application.

Send updates of recent awards or important activities. While you don’t want to get in your admissions officer’s face too often, if there’s something buzz-worthy going on in your life that didn’t make it onto your college application, by all means, let the school know about it. If the officers haven’t made a decision about you yet, finding out that your school science project just won a national prize might sway the odds in your favor.

Double-check with your high school that all necessary information has been filed. When an entire grade is going through the college admissions process, it’s easy for important materials to get lost in the shuffle—and just because you did your part doesn’t mean that your application is complete. To make sure that the colleges you’ve selected have all the right information on file, ask your high school’s college advisor to make sure that transcripts, recommendations, and other important details have been sent off.

Be creative. Don’t go overboard, but sometimes sending an original postcard or newsletter can help you stand out. Just keep it fun and friendly—resorting to bribery or doing anything that reeks of desperation is bound to turn admissions counselors off.

Do nothing. At many ultra-selective schools, admissions officers are sorting through mountains of applications, and don’t want to be bothered with more information after the stated deadline. Depending on the school, going overboard can actually hurt your chances of getting in—so, before sending in additional materials or a letter, have a look at your top school’s admissions guidelines, and see if it says anything about their perspective on materials sent after the deadline. In most cases, following up won’t cause problems, but it would be a shame if your hand-decorated letter went straight into the trash bin.

Tags: applying to college, campus visit, college, college acceptance factors, college admissions, college campus visit, college visit, colleges and facebook, colleges and twitter, facebook, getting into college, getting into first choice college, high school transcripts, Twitter
Posted in College Admissions, College Applications | 2 Comments »

Rejected from Your Dream College? You Can Still Get In.

Saturday, January 9th, 2010

Door of Opportunity If you applied early decision to your top school, you’ll have received the news by now. If it’s a yes, then congratulations are certainly in order—but if you’ve been placed on the waiting list or rejected outright, you may be feeling a bit dejected. If you’ve been dreaming about attending this particular school ever since you started kindergarten, you might even be in the midst of an existential crisis. So how can you reverse this tragic admissions decision?

Chances are, you’ll be happy wherever you end up. But if you’re really set on making it to your fantasy college, you can still find a way. Here are some tips to help you get there.

Only appeal the decision if you really have grounds to do so. All students who didn’t get into their top choice schools think that the colleges made a mistake—so if we all appealed, the poor admissions officers would never get a break. If your best friend has similar credentials and got into Dartmouth University while you didn’t, don’t bug the school about it. But if you have a legitimate reason for appealing a decision, such as discovering that the school had incorrect information about your test scores, you might stand a chance. Some schools don’t allow appeals at all; check the school’s policies before doing anything, and think carefully about it—bugging the admissions office with an unwarranted appeal could kill your chances of ever getting in.

Start somewhere else and transfer. For most students who don’t get into their first-choice school, it makes the most sense to simply attend another school, with the goal of transferring at a later date. After you start, you may not even want to switch schools anymore—but if you’re still pining away for your dream school, then research the transfer application process for your school of choice to see when you can reapply and make sure that all of the course credits you plan to take at your first school will transfer. Be sure to ace all your classes at your first school, and get to know your professors so that they can provide great recommendations for you. Though transfer admissions are more competitive than regular admissions, if you have a killer app, you’ll stand a good shot.

Consider doing a postgraduate year. Some private and boarding schools around the country offer a “13^th grade” to give students the chance to improve their academic records and take more challenging courses, become more involved in athletics, and make a smoother transition to the college atmosphere. Maine’s North Bridgton Academy for boys is the only school exclusively dedicated to the postgraduate year, but it is also an option at these boarding schools. By completing this transition year, you’ll have the chance to beef up your application and get another shot at your top school.

Do a “gap year” with a purpose. It’s been a tradition in the U.K. and Australia for many years for students to take a year off before starting college, and it’s catching on here as well. If you aren’t enthusiastic about starting at another school next year, this could be a great option to gain new experiences and another shot at the college application process next year—just make sure you use your gap year well. Simply hanging out at home, working a low-wage job, or traveling abroad isn’t likely to impress colleges. But if you decide to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary in Thailand, undergo a fascinating research project, or start your own successful business from scratch, the experience could change your life—and might help you win over the admissions officers next time around.

Tags: appeal admissions decision, boarding school, college acceptance, college admissions, college rejection, College Transfer, dartmouth university, early decision, gap year, getting into college, letter of acceptance, north bridgton academy, postgraduate year, private school, rejected from college, transfer
Posted in College Admissions, College Transfer, Gap Year, Preparing for College | No Comments »