The Application
By Allen Grove, About.com Guide to College Admissions
Some parts of the college application are more important than others, but they all need to be completed correctly. Here you'll find articles to help you understand the application and make sure your college application is the best it can be.
Application Basics
Learn about important deadlines and the types of information you'll need to present on your college application.
- Application Overview
- The Common Application
- Recommended Book: Admission Matters
- How to Get Good Letters of Recommendation
- 6 Common Applicant Blunders
- Facebook, MySpace and College Admissions
- What is Legacy Status?
- What is Early Action?
- What is Early Decision?
- What is Rolling Admission?
- What is Open Admission?
The Essay
For many selective colleges, the essay is at the heart of the application. This is the place where you can really present your passions and personality. Make sure your essay makes your application rise to the top of the pile, not get tossed in the garbage can. The samples below are all accompanied by a discussion of the essays' strengths and weaknesses.
- 5 Tips for a Winning Essay
- Hints for the Personal Essay Options
- 10 Bad Essay Topics
- 5 Tips for an Essay on a Significant Experience
- Essay on an Ethical Dilemma: "The Job I Should Have Quit"
- Essay on Diversity: "Give Goth a Chance"
- Essay on a Fictional Character: "Porkopolis"
- Essay on an Influential Person: "Student Teacher"
- Essay for the Open Topic: "Eating Eyeballs"
- Essay on a Local Issue: "The Allegany County Youth Board"
Supplemental Essays
Many students put a lot of effort into the personal essay and short-change the supplemental essay. These articles and samples help you avoid this mistake.
- 5 Common Supplemental Essay Mistakes
- Sample Supplemental Essay (Duke)
- Sample Supplemental Essay (Oberlin)
- Discussion of a Weak Supplemental Essay
Short Answer
The Common Application as well as many individual college applications ask students to elaborate on one of their activities. Although brief, this part of the application needs to shine.
- Sample (Weak) Short Answer on Soccer
- Sample (Weak) Short Answer on Entrepreneurship
- What's the Ideal Short Answer Length?
ACT and SAT Scores
Like it or not, those standardized test scores usually carry a lot of weight. Here you'll learn the ins and outs of the SAT and ACT.
- These Schools Don't Require Test Scores
- What's a Good SAT Score?
- What's a Good ACT Score?
- SAT Scores for the Ivy League
- SAT Scores for Top Private Universities (non-Ivy)
- SAT Scores for Top Public Universities
- SAT Scores for Top Liberal Arts Colleges
- SAT Score Choice - Pros and Cons
- ACT Scores for the Ivy League
- ACT Scores for Top Colleges
- ACT Scores for Top Public Universities
- Converting SAT Scores to ACT Scores
The Interview
A college interview is not the most important part of your application, but it can make a difference. These articles will help you prepare for the interview and avoid common interviewing mistakes.
Financial Aid
Choosing a college and getting accepted are the first big challenges in the admissions process. Now you need to figure out how to pay for school.
- Can You Afford College?
- Scholarship Tips
- What is the FAFSA?
- Documents You'll Need for the FAFSA
- Can You Claim Independent Status?
- Marital Status and Financial Aid
- Loss of Income - What Now?
- What is a Pell Grant?
- Save $1,000s - Graduate Early
What To Do If Deferred, Waitlisted or Rejected
Being deferred or waitlisted isn't the end of the admissions process, and in some cases you can even appeal a letter of rejection. These articles will help guide you when you don't get the acceptance letter that you were hoping for.
