HELPFUL HINTS
- Be visible in the guidance office: two or three times in the junior year, once every two or three weeks in the senior year.
- Save everything—if you throw it away we can almost guarantee you will need it sometime in the future.
- Copy everything: applications, essays, financial aid forms.
- Fill out your applications for SAT I/SAT II test the same way every time—inserting a middle initial can confuse a computer and cause you grief.
- The school code is 460-495. Put this number on every SAT I/SAT II application.
- If you have a special talent—music, drama, athletics, physics, creative writing—pursue that interest with each college. This is not the time to be modest. If the admissions committee doesn’t know about your talent, they can’t possibly react to it.
- Make appointments for interviews early. (June is a good time, even for an October interview). By mid-September some schools are booked completely for on-campus interviews. Missing school for college visits and interviews is considered an excused absence, let your teachers and counselor know about where you are visiting, they may have additional information for you.
- Develop a filing system for each college you are pursuing; create check-lists with deadlines, things to be done, etc.
- Read the application requirements for each college thoroughly. Some have very specific requirements such as a required language or science SAT II, three years of science or a recommendation from a science or math teacher. Knowing about and adhering to these specific requirements is your responsibility.
- Treat each application as if that school were your first choice. Many schools are paying heed to a student’s level of interest. They want to admit students who want them.
- Meet all deadlines. In this business, deadlines are a serious matter. In fact, where possible, we encourage you to submit applications early.