Ah yes, the actual application. The good news: a lot of it is already done for you. The bad news: not all of it is done for you. Your transcript, as a cumulative process, is basically finished. Your recommendations, which you should ask teachers that know you best, but not necessarily that you received the best grade from, are out of your hands. Also keep in mind additional people that can portray different sides of you- coaches, mentors. You want to show as many dimensions as you can. Your standardized test scores should be completed. All that leaves now is the paperwork and the essays.

One bright side about filling out form after form is that you will quickly memorize your social security number, not to mention your parents’ educational history and other fun family facts. That is easy- it just takes time. The essay is a bigger challenge. I know you want to pour your soul out to college “A”, and 500 words does not seem like quite enough space. Essays are about portraying a special aspect or experience that sets you apart, but in a way that does not bore the person reading your application. Pick something in your life that means something to you. Something that has defined you, changed your thinking. Writing from your heart will show and it will make an impact.

Setting aside the big essay, the little ones (tell us about yourself, why do you want to come here, etc.) are probably even harder. 50 words? Really? Do not let this trip you up. Be brief and be specific. Use college websites as resources to get a feel for the school and to cite things about the university that pertain to you.

All in all, the application can only do so much. Being smart about where you apply is also very important. Apply to schools that are a reach, but also be conservative and realistic. This process is not fun and at the same time it is based on luck. Just know that you will be happy even if you do not end up at your first choice school. College is what you make of your experience and what attitude you have. Be excited about the future and good luck.

Summers of lounging about and wasting time are far behind you now. Universities want to see time well spent in the summer. This could mean traveling, working, studying, volunteering, doing research- anything that can help you better understand who you are and what you want to do with your time and your life.

I did a combination of these things- working in an office the summer before my sophomore year, doing a summer program before junior year and shadowing a doctor before senior year. I have seen that summer programs in which students take classes or learn other skills are beneficial. Most colleges offer some sort of program for high school students- take advantage of these options! Once again, go further into your interests.

Do you think you like economics? Take a course over the summer or try to contact someone in this field and see if they can set you up with an internship. Tap into internships offered through your high school, talk to family friends- there are many ways to learn about possible career paths and colleges like when focus begins early.

By putting yourself into a professional environment you are showing the university that you are ready for the next step. Who knows, you might even get a letter of recommendation out of it!

From personal experience, I was lucky to shadow a doctor last summer and solidified my belief that I want to go into medicine. This gave greater focus to my studies, application and overall college process. This is not to say if you are unsure about what you want to do that have no hope. Any experience in any field is valuable and will help you grow and better understand your future and the world around you.

Three dreaded letters that do not even stand for anything. Stand for nothing you say, then why is so much emphasis placed on them? The SATs (or ACTs if you prefer) are certainly one of life’s larger enigmas, but nonetheless significant. Granted, they are becoming less and less important with some colleges not even looking at the writing section, but they are still necessary.

My best advice: study. Take the time to do practice tests, learn vocab, and try to understand what the testers are asking you. The SATs are sometimes more of a mind game than a knowledge game, so be prepared for the tricks and its marathon length. More importantly, be aware that they are not everything. Colleges know that three numbers do not define you and three numbers will not get you in or kick you out.

Although weighty, SATs, classes and academics are not everything. Activities outside the classroom should also be an intricate part of your life. Participate in things that make you happy and from which you learn. You do not need to do everything, but the things that you choose to do should be things that you put time into and in which you find success. Instead of playing three sports in high school, I dedicated a number of seasons of the year to only swimming. I made it a huge part of my life, and I made sure that I excelled at it because it was my chosen pastime. This is not the philosophy for everyone, but finding something that you love and giving yourself to it is always a fabulous way to show off your dedication, abilities and passions.

It is so easy to get sucked into the belief that you have to do things just because you need to fill space on your resume. Colleges can easily spot someone who does things for their resume and someone who does things for themselves. Participate in activities because you love them and they will become so much more meaningful. Colleges will see how much you care and will understand the personality and depth you bring to the table.

Although it is almost self-explanatory to say, being grade conscious is always very important. Universities are first and foremost educational institutions and they care about your abilities in the classroom. On that note, the classes that you do well in should be ones that you enjoy and that challenge you. I recognize that this is difficult to do in a high school setting, but take advantage of any freedom you are given in choosing your classes. If you like a certain subject then pursue that by taking an extra course. Do what you like to do, and at the same time challenge yourself. AP or IB classes are obviously a good idea and highly recommended.

Additionally, if you are academically interested in something- take an initiative and delve further into that topic! This means independent studies, submitting papers, etc. I wrote a research paper for my AP World History course sophomore year and decided, on a bit of a whim, to submit it to the Concord Review, a quarterly which publishes history papers of students from around the world. To my surprise I was published the fall of my senior year, and I believe this was one of the strongest parts of my application. Colleges like to see this level of interest and more importantly, independent motivation. Academics in college are all about working hard and being on your own so show your universities that you are a step ahead of the average student and are working on a college level in high school. Moral of the story: take chances with your academic interests and do not forget to push and challenge yourself. Try to take it one step further.

College. One little word that has come to embody a whole new experience defined by independence, education, enjoyment and growth. One little word that has come to plague many high school students due to its seemingly daunting demands and application process.

It seems like these days, the build up to applying to college is even larger than the build up to going to college. Yes, the whole process is a lot to take in- how can you do enough or even sum up four years?

Step one: calm down!

Yes, I know, the college process can seem like the potential end of your life, especially if college “A” does not accept you, but trust me, it is not. I was one of those- stressed about applications, about essays, worried about where I would end up. These were just wasted emotions and I am now unbelievably happy.

Needless to say, with an open mind and positive attitude, you can be happy at any college. These blog posts will try to give you some thoughts about getting accepted at college “A”, while at the same time making the most of your high school experience, the college process, and where you ultimately end up.

Please let me know if you have any comments or suggestions! I would love to hear your thoughts!