Sunday, January 2, 2011

Applying for College

Choosing which college might be hard but applying for a particular college can be even harder. Not only do you know exactly what college you want to attend but now you are so devoted into it that you feel like not getting into it you won't know what to do. Thankfully there are a few things you can do to make sure that you still will get a great education in addition to taking a little pressure off your shoulders.

 Applying to a University
  • Always have a back up school. - If you don't get into your first choice of school apply for another. In fact I would apply to at least 4 schools if your not guaranteed into any of them. For instance if your backup is a state school and you already meet the requirements for automatic enrollment then don't worry about another backup. 
  • proOf rEaD - Almost every college application duals as a application for scholarships offered by the school. Have a friend, parent or anyone else willing to help you, read it over entirely and check for any mistakes they may see. Not only have them check it for grammar and English but also to make sure that you answered the question correctly and well. 
  • Don't lye, be yourself - It doesn't help you at all to lye on a application. People can see through your sad story and will instead throw it away. There is no reason for them to pick you then other than your sad pathetic untruthful story. Instead tell the truth and it won't come back later to bite you. Even if you get away with it, you'll be taking money or the position away from someone who truly does deserve it.
  • Letters of recommendation - Get letters of recommendation from people who have known you for years and see you on a regular basis. A good example of this are Boy/Girl Scout Leaders, Teachers, priests, etc.  The more they know you the better. This way they will have something to write worth while about you. Afterwords, make sure you write a thank you note or gift to the person who does this for you. There is no reason why this person had to do it for you and it is taking time out of their schedule and life. 
  • Guaranteed backup school - Always apply for a school that you know you will get into. This way you won't be scared and lost when the unfortunately get denied. Plus you can compare the amount the different schools are willing to give you in financial aid and see how much each one will cost you side by side.
After you have completed all of your applications, forget about it. You know that you have already created a guaranteed backup school. Instead, sit back and relax during your last year of high school. You'll be a lot more excited and happier when you see your acceptance letter. Also, you won't be to stressed out during your last and final year of high school.