by Joanne Levy-Prewitt
What You Should Know Before Completing College Applications
The deadline for most applications is approaching. Colleges want to learn as much as they can about an applicant, which means that students must scrutinize every aspect of the application to ensure that everything written -- and implied -- is the best possible representation of themselves. Seniors, this is the time to get out the magnifying glass to look for any errors, omissions or potentially embarrassing blunders that could create a poor impression.
For starters, be sure to actually read the directions of each application. The directions contain important information such as deadlines, advice about completing the application and tips for avoiding common mistakes.
Once the application is complete, start at the beginning and double-check that all personal information is correct. This includes names and numbers, which need to match those on the transcript and test score reports. Since most applications are electronic, it's a good idea to submit them at least several days before the deadline. You would be wise to heed Murphy's Law -- servers crash, electricity fails, computers freeze. Any number of things could go wrong and impair your ability to deliver the application on time. Don't save it for the last minute.
Common Errors: Selecting the wrong admissions program (early action, early decision, regular decision), or selecting the wrong state or country on a pull-down box. In the era of text- and instant-messaging, be sure to use uppercase letters where appropriate.
Common Omissions: Sadly, some students undervalue their activities and think that baby-sitting, caring for an elderly or sick relative, or working in a family business does not count as extracurricular. Students also omit courses they have taken because they did not know where to put them on the application. If the directions do not explain how to handle unusual courses you have taken, use the section for special information.
When using the Common Application (
www.commonapp.org
), students sometimes do not realize that many colleges also require supplements. These are posted on the Common App Web site. Don't forget to have transcripts, test scores and letters of recommendation sent, too. The worst omission is forgetting to sign (even online applications have a place for an electronic signature), pay for or actually "submit" an application.
Common Blunders: Be sure to check for simple typographical or grammatical errors, and don't use acronyms for activities that colleges couldn't possibly decipher. Colleges in other states do not know the acronyms for course titles, activities, athletic leagues or local charities. Spell everything out, or use obvious, longer abbreviations. Send the correct essay to each college. If an essay asks the reasons for wanting to attend College A, be sure to not to send that essay to College B. Be sure to print a hard copy of everything sent via mail or electronically to the college.
Most colleges have a way of communicating with students about missing documents (usually through e-mail or a secure Web site), but if students do not hear from colleges within 10 business days of submission, they should call the admission office to confirm that their application is complete.
A final word about spell-check: I think it is particularly sneaky that many colleges do not include spell-check in their online applications. Nearly every student applying to college was raised in a home and educated in a classroom with a computer that had spell-check. As a former teacher, I'd love to be able to say that every college applicant is a perfect speller; however, I also know that is a ridiculous wish. Some diehard spelling-freaks think that poor spellers should just use a dictionary, but high school students learned to use spell-check in lieu of a dictionary, and intentionally omitting that valuable tool from college applications, when students have learned to rely on it, is just plain mean. Unfortunately, until colleges accept this, students who know they have spelling issues need to dust off the old-fashioned dictionary and get busy.
COPYRIGHT 2007 JOANNE LEVY-PREWITT
Copyright 2007 © Get Going College Admissions Workshops. All Rights Reserved.
