How to Get into a Great College or University

You will spend four years in college (at the least!) so it is important to choose an institution of higher learning that fits your needs, budget and desired lifestyle. If you hate the cold, for example, it does not make sense to apply to University of Alaska.

Although a degree from a prestigious university does not guarantee success in business or life, it can give you the social contacts and experience necessary to get ahead in a number of highly competitive fields. (Ultimately, however, most of success comes down to ability -- the name on your degree will only get you so far. So keep this in mind if you are stuck between a good school offering you a great financial aid package and an amazing school offering no assistance at all.)

Here is how to get into the best possible school:

If financial aid is not something you are looking for, apply Early Decision or Early Action. Binding "early decision" programs where you apply to the university in the Fall of your senior year (typically) ahead of regular applications in the Spring are wonderful options for students who have enough family or personal wealth to not worry about tuition costs. Early decision applicant pools tend to be smaller than regular app pools, so you stand a better chance of getting into a highly selective university this way. Also, early applicants sometimes receive "first come, first served" benefits such as first choice of dorm or academic program.

Either way, assemble a fabulous admissions package, and include great teacher recommendations. Be careful when you solicit your teacher recommendations. You don't want "average" or "good" recommendation letters. You want a recommendation letter that will quite literally take the admissions officer's breath away. You want to ask the teachers who were your greatest advocates throughout high school. Ask a teacher who consistently gave you good grades or commented on the high quality of your work/creativity. Such a teacher is more likely to take the time to write an amazing letter.

Milk any alumni connections you may have. If a parent, uncle, aunt, family friend or someone else you knew graduated from the school, ask them for help or a recommendation. If a parent or sibling attended a prestigious university, definitely mention this on your application to that university -- legacy still counts for something. (Whether you think this is a good thing is another story altogether. But legacy privilege still exists to some extent, even in the twenty-first century.)

Provide explanations for poor grades. If you were sick one semester with mono or the flu, and your grades took a hit as a result, definitely mention this in your application as the reason for your grade decline.

Do extracurriculars you actually care about, and that enrich life for others. While it is great to volunteer at a soup kitchen or nursing home, if your heart is not in it you will not stick with the activity. You'll grow bored or sick of it. Find an extracurricular activity and stick with it. Four years as a snowboarding instructor on the weekends is far more impressive to most admissions officers than two months working at Tiny Tim's Soup Kitchen. Selective schools are looking for those who are compassionate, sure, but they are also looking for authenticity -- for real leadership. Do what you love. Don't live your life for a resume or application form.

Don't let your school become your life. Even if you don't get your first-choice school, make sure the entire list of schools you apply to are good universities you would be thrilled to attend. If a university doesn't excite you at all, it should be a last resort.

If your SAT score is not what you would like it to be, take a preparation class and re-take the exam. Many teachers will tell you there is "no point" to re-taking the SAT, or that the SAT cannot be studied for effectively. Both are total lies. I boosted my score by 150 points (and ended up getting into NYU) when I retook the exam after taking a prep class. Preparation companies like Princeton Review and Kaplan actually do help. The SAT doesn't test your "intelligence" -- it only tests your ability to take very specific standardized tests. (If you don't have the money for a prep class, simply buy a test/prep book at Barnes & Noble and take a few full-length practice exams before re-taking the SAT.)

Happy hunting! This is an exciting stage of your life. Once you're in, nobody will ever ask you about your SAT scores or high school GPA again, so don't obsess too much over these things. In adult life, they truly don't matter. They are just "hoops" you need to jump through in order to get accepted to the college of your choosing.