How To Survive the College Admission Process

Every year, high school students begin that frantic search for a college, and hundreds of questions go through their minds. Do I apply where my boyfriend is going? What exactly do they want to know in my personal statement? Do they actually look at the personal statement? Should I stay close to home? Why do the admission's offices keep calling me? Do I actually need to visit campus? How important is it to know my major? I'm busy, can't I wait until the end of senior year to apply?

Here you will find some tips to help make the admission process easier and will also learn what makes you a student that colleges want.

APPLY EARLY! Colleges have early acceptance for a reason - do not wait until the last minute. One student waited until after he graduated from high school to apply for college, assuming that he wouldn't have any trouble getting accepted. Unfortunately, his GPA was too low, and he was missing some courses that he needed - and it was too late to do anything about it. Had he applied in October, he could have taken the necessary courses the following semester, and still been accepted. Instead, he had to go to the community college to make up the work - something that could have been avoided had he made his college search a top priority.

Get to know the admissions requirements. Admission requirements vary greatly by school. Make sure you know what each school is looking for. This is very simple, and the information can be accessed online or by contacting the admission department.

Your counselor is your friend! Remember those people that keep calling to ask why you haven't applied or why they haven't received your transcript? Those are admission counselors, and they can be your greatest ally. Think about it - their job is to know the ins and outs of the school, work with financial aid, and most importantly, help high school students find the right college. Don't be afraid to ask them questions! Why did they decide to work at that school? What are the best/worst aspects of the school? How rigorous are the academics? What is the teacher/student ratio? Remember the more information you have, the better decision you will make. Oh, and if you have decided not to attend a school, let the counselor know. It saves you both a lot of phone calls, and don't worry you aren't hurting their feelings - they just want you to be happy.

Visit, Visit, Visit! Admissions Departments hold events all year long to help prospective students get to know their campus - personal tours, group tours, campus visit days, open houses, scholarship events and on and on. The more you see of the school, the easier it will be to determine if it is the right fit for you.

Sell Yourself! Let the school know why they should want you. Most schools require some kind of essay or personal statement, and even if it is optional, make sure you use it to your advantage. Think about it, the school is giving you a forum to say what makes you great, and to tell them why they should want you. Your transcripts will tell them about your academics - use the personal statement to let the rest of you shine. Tell them about your extracurricular activities, community service, part - time jobs, etc. But remember, you don't want to come across as someone who is full of themselves - that can be a real turn-off.

Remember that you are the one applying. It's not your mom's job to call to find out the application deadline or to set up your campus tour. Get involved - this decision is going to affect your life. And if you are ready to go off to college, then you are ready to take on the responsibilities that go along with it. So, if you have a question - you send the email, if you need to set up an appointment - you can make the phone call. This is the perfect opportunity to show your parents that you are responsible and involved.

Give it some thought. College should be the greatest time of your life. You will make friends that will last a lifetime, and you will learn more than you can imagine - inside and outside of the classroom. Make sure you choose a college that fits you. If you don't feel comfortable with the admissions staff or if you feel out of place when you visit, you may want to consider your other options. And don't let others pressure you into a decision - ultimately it is up to you.

You can afford any school, if you are willing to work. Don't discount a school solely based on price. Check with the financial aid office to see what kinds of scholarships, grants and loans you are qualified for. And don't forget to search the Internet - you will be amazed by the number of scholarships that are available out there! So make sure you apply for anything that you are qualified for!This is an exciting time - enjoy it and good luck with this very important decision!