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college advice part 2/7 : how to approach a competitive university

→ these are just tips based on what i’ve learned at uni!!

research ruthlessly. don’t just focus on the number of acceptances; look at the field you want to go into as well! look at what the environment is like, what the school does for it’s students, how many of those students go on to be successful in their careers. look at all of these things and more. the list is endless of things to consider depending on your field of study and interests: research opportunities, volunteering, clubs, sports, etc.

tell yourself that state schools are just a good as competitive and selective universities. this is important. because this is true. state schools are just as good as competitive and selective universities. you’ll get a wonderful education no matter where you go. my father has always told me that i should go to a state school for undergrad and a top notch university for grad school, so that’s what i’ve been doing.

ask yourself why you want to go to such a competitive university. is it because you just want it to look good on your resume or are you really looking to be challenged and pushed beyond your limits? state schools are also very challenging. i happen to go to a state school (purdue university in indiana) and i am challenged heavily here. even though it’s not an ivy league, i still feel as though i’m not getting a free pass through all my classes. i still have to work for my grades and i study so much and i still fail sometimes. i think this also relates to what my father has said; if you’re going to go to an ivy league for undergrad, where are you gonna go for grad school that’s gonna look better than your undergrad?

find something that makes you stick out from the rest of the people applying. find something unique about yourself! i am 9235% sure that the only reason that i was able to get into one of the most competitive fields of study at purdue university is because of what i shared during my application process. something that made me stick out. there are loADS of things that you can talk about to make yourself stick out! here are some ideas: talk about your study abroad if you had the opportunity to do so, any special events that you planned or coordinated for your clubs or extracurriculars, if you were the captain of any sports teams, any internships or volunteer opportunities you took, etc. there’s so many things!! there must be something that not everyone in your school has done!!

visit the university!! see some professors if you can, sit in on some classes if you wish. just do something to see exactly what it’s like. i ended up going to a state school (and i’m still here ofc), BUT i’m already in contact with some people at various universities for grad school. make!! connections!! connections are key to advancing your career!! i managed to get into a pretty sweet program over the summer for an internship that wouldn’t otherwise have been possible if i hadn’t had the connections i did!

push yourself. whether you’re in high school or a transfer student. push yourself in terms of academics, but please do not risk your health. get that 4.0 in high school. graduate at the top of your class, in the top 20, the top 10, the top 5. put all the effort you can and want to into your clubs + extracurriculars. break your own personal records in your sport. try to break everyone else’s. but keep in mind that your health is also SO important. do not lose your sanity over trying to get into the #1 university in the country. just be you and continue trying to improve. because that’s what colleges want to see: your improvement, your dedication and loyalty, your leadership. this is what colleges look for.

Because I know a lot of my followers will be leaving home and going to college soon I wanted you all to make sure that you pack something you might not of thought about, safety devices. Unfortunately we still live in a shitty world so we should protect ourselves. These are all methods I have used myself and unfortunately I have had to use all of them at some point. Hopefully you will never need to use any of these but I would rather you all be safe.

All these tips are gender neutral because anyone can be assaulted, friends. (Although we all know you’re more likely to be assaulted if you’re a woman or LGBT+ so please consider these)

There are several different ways to make yourself feels safer while walking home late at night. 

I personally carry a knife with me at all times, make sure yours is legal in your state and you can carry it on campus because some campuses have restrictions on spring or size of the blade. Get familiar with it and how it feels. You don’t want the first time you use it to be the time you need it the most.

Pepper spray, tasers, and alarm keychains. I’ve used this one and I recommend it if you don’t have a ton of experience with pepper spray or tasers. Pick what you’re comfortable with. The personal alarm is super easy to use and loud as fuck. Attach it to your keychain when you carry your keys.

General tips

No headphones when walking in low populated or dark areas alone

Stay aware, walk with purpose.

Lots of colleges offer FREE self defense classes, take one and bring your friends with you.

If you’re on campus late at night ask someone from class to walk with you part of the way. No one will tell you “No” for this.

Stay on guard even when you’re in your Uber home.

Never go clubbing alone

Safety apps. There are several. SafeTrek is a popular one!

I’m reaching the end of my time at university and it’s got me all sentimental. and regretful. There are a number of things that I had learned during my time at university that I wish I’d known during first year. 

Read everything. The only valid excuse for not reading everything on the reading list is that you didn’t have time, not that you found it boring, or that it wasn’t useful. Because there’s nothing scarier than trying to write an essay on something you studied a month ago, and you have no notes on the topic. 

Revise constantly. I wish I’d revisited everything I did a week after I did it, just as a recap. I tended to focus on what I was doing in the moment because it felt the most important thing at the time. Well, during exams, everything is equal. And it’s so frustrating not quite being able to remember something. So, revise. Even just for ten minutes.

Don’t spend all of your money on impulse. I’ve bought so much rubbish that I really don’t need. And if I’d saved that money, I could have gone on holiday. Save every last penny you can. 

Eat well. I just said that you should save all the money you can, but I think that food is one exception to that rule. Try and save money where you can, obviously, but don’t go for days and days without fresh vegetables because you’re saving money for a holiday. Your mind, as well as your body, needs food.

Go and talk to professors in their student hours. I used to find this so awkward. To be honest, I still do. But if you’re going sending them an email and asking for clarification on a topic, consider maybe popping into their office when it’s open to students. And tell them if you’re struggling! If you don’t let them know, then they can’t help you.

Take hot drinks with you, to your lectures or to the library. Don’t spend all your money in the library cafe. Bring a flask of tea, and loads of study snacks in a packed lunch box. Trust me on this.

Make time to meet up with friends you haven’t seen in ages. Don’t wait for them to ask you. I make sure to socialise with my friends at least twice a week. And by socialise, I don’t mean getting blind drunk and going clubbing. Sit down and have lunch together. Chat. Get to know each other properly. Friendships formed over alcohol never last as long as friendships formed through actual conversation.

Do stuff that the university puts on for students. Join societies. Get involved. One of the best nights I ever had at university was a masquerade ball that my college put on. And for some reason, I’ve never done anything like that since then? And I don’t understand why! University is for making memories, and I don’t really have many!

Travel around your university town. If you’re university is on a campus, don’t let your life revolve around that one place. If you’ve travelled away from home to go to university, then make it worth your while! See the sights, be a tourist, get on a bus and go to a random town and buy ice cream. 

Experiment. This is the time. Dye your hair blue, join a weird and random society and take up a hobby you’d never dreamed of.  If you want to try drugs, make sure it’s a safe environment and do your research before hand. If you don’t want to do that kind of thing, then don’t judge other people for doing so.

Give yourself a day off per week. When you’re at university and you’ve got loads of work, it’s tempting to just work constantly - or at least, to work every day, if not all the time. But it’s so much better for your mental state to take a day off to just relax. 

Keep up with your chores. When you’re stressed about an assignment, you don’t want to be also stressed about that pile of washing up accumulating by the sink. Keep your room tidy too - clear space, clear mind.

Be kind to everyone. You’re going to meet a lot of people at university, some you’re going to hit it off with immediately. But there will be some who really rub you up the wrong way. Don’t worry about it, it’s completely fine to not like someone. But don’t be mean to them. This isn’t high school, you’re all here to learn and there’s just no need to make them feel bad about themselves. It’s just petty and childish.

Think about the future. I know that you’re completely wrapped up in your university life right now, but you’re going to have to venture out into the real world at some point. Do things that might help your future career: volunteer, get a job, join a sports club, make connections. University isn’t, sadly, forever.

The Basics

- The Common App: What it is & How to Make Yours Amazing

- The Common Application

- Common App FAQs

- Five Things Applicants Need to Know About the 2016-2017 Common App

- Complete Guide: Which Schools Use the Common Application?

- Virtual Counselor

- How to Apply

The Essay

- 5 Common App Essay Tips That Will Actually Help You

- The Common App Essay: What Matters and What Doesn’t

- The 2016-17 Common Application Essay Prompts

Examples of the Essay

- Background and Identity

- Failure and Success

- Challenging Beliefs

- Accomplishment or Event

Wear jeans/pants that “breathe” and bring a sweater, even if it’s scorching hot out, until you know which building blasts the AC to 60 degrees F and which feels like a sauna

Backpacks with thick straps are your friend!  Messenger bags are cool and all but if you’re commuting with a lot of stuff, symmetrically styled backpacks are better for your back

You are your own person and you can walk out whenever you need to or want to, so long as you’re not disrupting the class.  Meaning you can go to the bathroom without permission, take a breather if you’re anxious, answer an important phone call, etc.

If you don’t like the class on the first day, if you can- DROP THAT CLASS AND TAKE ANOTHER ONE!  It’ll only get worse from there!

If you can, take a class outside your major; it’s a good break from your expected studies.

You are in charge of your schedule.  Your adviser and guidance counselor is there to ‘advise and guide’ but if you don’t like certain classes and you can substitute for others, that’s your choice.

Consequently, if you are changing anything drastic in your plan, talk with your adviser and instructors.

Pay attention to your credit hours and grades.  Never leave this to the last week of school, you will be sorry and stressed beyond belief!

Unless it’s a lab book or otherwise specified, go to the class for a week or so before buying an expensive textbook.  Some classes, while having it on their required list, do not actually use the textbook a whole lot and you might find some of it scanned online.  Rent if you can or buy used online (schools actually don’t give discounts).  Use your best judgement on what you think you need.

Tell the people who go up to you selling or advertising things you are not interested in that you are in a rush to class and don’t have time to listen to them.  It’s less rude and they’ll leave you alone.

The smaller the class, the better it is to have some sort of acquaintanceship with a couple classmates.  They might save your ass if you are absent one day or need to study.  And talking with them makes the time go by faster without it being so insufferable.

You don’t need to join a club or sport, but internships are cool and useful!

If you can afford it, take a day off once or twice each semester if you’re too exhausted.  Just be aware of what you missed and if it was worth missing!

Your health is the most important, this goes for mental health too!!  Note: College-age/upper teens is when mental disorders like depression and anxiety are most commonly diagnosed.  Most schools have therapy services, especially during exam time.  Look into it if you need to!

Communicate with your professor if you are having trouble with something.  Anything.

Eat and stay hydrated.  Bring a water bottle and snack to class.

All-nighters will happen but never go over 36 hours without sleep.

ADDITIONAL ADVICE

Don’t let a mental health day turn into a mental health week because you will be so screwed.

Pay attention to the syllabus and do not lose it. A lot of professors put all of the assignment due dates in there and ONLY in there.

If your school has blackboard or moodle etc. CHECK IT. a lot of professors will only post certain info there and not talk about it in class

READINGS ARE NOT OPTIONAL.

I REPEAT. READINGS. ARE. NOT. OPTIONAL.

Put them in your schedule, read BEFORE class. And summarise it. For bonus points, come up with some questions about the text and go introduce yourself to your professor either after class or during office hours, and ask them about it. This will make them much more likely to remember you in a positive light (and possibly bump your grade up if you hit a hard patch.)

Your library will have a copy of your textbook. If you cannot afford to rent it, you can go to the library and borrow it from the front desk for a few hours whenever you need it. It is there for you, okay? 

1. AP scores aren’t really that important as far as admissions go. (So don’t stress about them too much.)

2. DO NOT take the ACT/SAT for the first time in September. If you haven’t taken it in the spring of your junior year, take it over the summer. That way if you don’t do as well as you’d like, you’ll have time to retake it without stressing over the fact that you only have one shot. Plus, you don’t want to be worrying about tests when you should be writing essays:)

3. You don’t need a 36 or 2400. Lots of people think those scores mean you can get into any school you want, but they guarantee literally nothing except for automatic scholarships at state schools (which are great, but a 35 or 2390 will get you exactly the same thing).

4. But if you think you can get a perfect score, and you want to take the time to try, then go for it. Not gonna lie, the 36 feels pretty good (can’t speak for the 2400, but I’d imagine it’s similar). Don’t let anyone shame you for wanting to do your best, even if you don’t have to.

5. Look at the rubric for the writing sections before taking the test! A well-written essay can score pretty badly just because it doesn’t follow the rubric exactly (full disclosure: I made this mistake on both tests, and my scores show it).

6. If you need help with test prep, ask for it. Ask someone that you know did well, a counselor, a teacher, or anyone you know. (Ask me! I’d love to help y'all out.)

7. Take 2/3 SAT Subject tests if you’re planning to apply to any competitive schools. The numbers don’t need to be stellar, but some schools require or highly recommend them. Look at practice tests to decide if you’ll do well. (Speaking from experience, don’t take the physics test unless you’ve taken AP Physics 2 because it’s fucking hard and a one-year non-AP physics class will not cut it.)

8. Chill the fuck out. This is super stressful for almost everyone, and it’s going to be okay.

9. You don’t have to know what you want to major in yet. But do have a list of a few (or many) subjects that you find interesting. Most schools don’t really care if you’re undecided–they just want to see that you’re passionate about learning something.

10. In the same vein, it’s totally fine to put a major you’re not 100% sure you’ll end up pursuing. Most people change their majors anyway, and colleges know that.

11. Over the summer start compiling a list of schools you might want to apply to. Make this list as long as you want.

12. Take that list of schools and (yes, over the summer) start skimming their websites. You can eliminate a few here because some probably won’t have the program/major you want.

13. If you can, visit as many of these schools as you can (or just whatever schools are close to you, even if you don’t necessarily want to go to them). Going on as many of these tours as possible does get boring pretty quickly, but it helps you figure out what you want in a school.

14. It’s okay if you don’t immediately fall in love with a school while walking on campus. Deep down, you’re still freaking out about the whole application process, which is fine–once second semester senior year hits, you calm down and it’s so much easier to think about what the right school for you is.

15. Also over the summer, start getting organized.  I recommend an Excel spreadsheet, with each school getting its own row. Potential columns include whether or not the school is on the common app, if it has supplements (be careful with this one–some will say they don’t have essays and will require you to do “short answer” questions which sometimes turn into small essays, so make sure to check all parts of the common app once it becomes available), deadlines, honors deadlines/application details, scholarship deadlines/application details (some schools require you to apply by November to be considered for merit awards even if the admission deadline isn’t until January or February), your login information (!!!!! you will end up with dozens of usernames and passwords), test scores they require, if you need a teacher rec (and how many), if interviews are offered, and when decisions are released. This information can get pretty overwhelming once you have more than three schools, so this helps you stay organized. If you listen to anything I say, DO THIS. I didn’t and it took me almost two months to get organized (since I was dealing with school at the same time) and I ended up very stressed from October-December because I hadn’t had time to really write rough drafts until a week before my deadlines. Don’t waste the time you have after prompts are released getting organized. Even creating an empty Excel sheet with all of your headings is better than nothing.

16. Make a resume before you start applications. (Ideally, do this over the summer.) It doesn’t have to look amazing; this is mostly for you to use later. Good headings include test scores, honors/awards, activities/clubs, volunteer work, work experiences, and miscellaneous (like any presentations/seminars/conferences you’ve gone to). List everything, no matter how insignificant you think it may be, because you can make a lot of this stuff sound way more impressive than it actually was without even lying at all. Then, briefly describe each activity (ex. Library volunteer-responsible for assisting patrons and shelving and organizing library materials) because most applications will make you write descriptions, so you might as well do them all now. You’ll thank yourself later. 

17. You don’t have to write any essays over the summer. (Most of the prompts haven’t even been released yet, and you’d probably want to rewrite it before you submit it later in the fall anyway.) Don’t feel bad if people start sooner than you.

18. Once school starts, get transcripts sent and rec letters dealt with as soon as possible, so you don’t have to worry about them later.

19. Two teacher recs + a counselor rec will probably be enough. For scholarships later in the year that require  recs, just ask your teacher to submit the one they already wrote.

20. When you finally do have essay prompts, put each one in its own word doc and title it by school (ex. oklahoma_scholarship, emory). You can also put the deadline after the school name (emory_nov15) to help you prioritize. Put these word docs in a folder labeled College App Essays or something like that. These docs are where you’ll brainstorm and ultimately write your essays.

21. Use google drive. Do it. I left my flash drive at school more than once and had to rewrite completed essays; it was not fun. Don’t be like me. Access your files from anywhere with google drive. Google drive.

22. Write what you’re passionate about. Admissions officers can tell if you’re sincere and it’s really obvious if you try to pander and guess what they want you to say. If they don’t like your essay, fuck them, you don’t need them anyway. They can sit in their stuffy little room shitting on teenagers’ essays while you go out and live your life because you’re a goddamn superstar and you didn’t sell your soul to get into that snobby elitist place.

23. Don’t just give up after five minutes if you can’t think of an essay topic. These are supposed to be fairly reflective, so sometimes the most productive thing you can do is sit and think for twenty minutes.

24. Print off your essays at least once and edit them. If you can, have other people edit yours (and edit your friends’ essays–it helps them out and it helps you learn what to do/what not to do in your own essays). Don’t be shy about asking people to help you; by December it was as common for me as asking whether there was math homework or not.

25. While I’d definitely recommend editing your essays, sometimes you end up writing them on the day of the deadline and submitting them five minutes before they’re due. It’s fine. We all did it. (If anyone says they didn’t, they’re either lying or superhuman.)

26. After a certain point there’s nothing you can do about your previous grades, test scores, and activities. So stop worrying about them and write your essays.

27. Don’t be that person who applies to only Ivy League schools and no safeties. Just don’t. Unless you’re a complete genius and Harvard has already personally sent the president to your house to beg you to apply, have at least one safety–one that you’d be happy at if you end up attending. 

28. Right now you might think you need to go to a prestigious school in order to feel adequate, and you’ll probably feel like this for a while, but sometimes it’s better to take the big scholarship and be the star student at a state school. Nobody will think any less of you.

29. To reiterate, NOBODY WILL THINK ANY LESS OF YOU IF YOU GO TO A STATE SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

30. Read #29 again.

31. If you know you don’t want to go to X school, don’t apply. First, if they require essays, you won’t have to do them, and second, you’ll save about $100. But only do this if you know that you’d be absolutely miserable there and have some concrete reasons why.

32. Once you’ve applied, don’t write off any schools (again, unless you have specific reasons why you don’t want to go there). I had almost forgotten about the college I’m probably going to attend in the fall after applying because I figured I wouldn’t get into their top program (I did, and I’m in love now).

33. It’s okay if you don’t have a top choice or dream school. (This phenomenon often ends in heartbreak, so you’re escaping that whole side of the issue.)

34. On the other hand, it’s totally okay to have a dream school. Just don’t get too obsessed and keep and open mind:)

35.  Yeah, technically you’re competing with all of your peers, but you can’t do anything about how awesome they are. Be happy for them, recognize that same awesomeness in yourself, and show that to the admissions officers. 

36. I’ll leave you with some advice my mom gave me right before I went into an interview.

Hi! I’ve actually had this blog for more than one year (or two??? three?????? I have no idea) and I’ve recently gotten back into studyblring-slash-appblring (is that even a word? the red squiggly line on my laptop says no). Since I’ve never actually introduced myself formally, here’s my attempt at doing so:

- I’m Khloe! (I also go by Klo, and yes, I’ve gotten a lot of Kardashian jokes on my expense) - I’m from Hong Kong. - I’m 17 years old and a junior in high school. - I’ll be taking my HKDSEs in April’18 and under the curriculum, I’m taking four core subjects (Chinese, English, Math, Liberal Studies) and five electives (Economics, Business Management, English Literature, Spanish and extra math - Calculus and Statistics). - If everything goes smoothly, I’ll be applying to US colleges as a senior next year. (fingers crossed) - I speak English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and rudimentary Spanish.

Oh and: - Slytherclaw!! (mostly slytherin though) - I’m chill about most things but I stress over the tiniest things. (a habit I’m trying to break) - I drink my tea black. Usually it’s Earl Grey, but sometimes it’s English Breakfast, Genmaicha or Lipton Yellow Label Tea. - In the process of weaning myself off kdramas. And kpop. And naps. AND PARENTHESES SEND HELP PLEASE. - The only condiment I can stand on salads (barring s&p) is balsamic vinegar. - I LOVE MESSAGES PLEASE MESSAGE ME I AM A LONELY SOUL.

Some of my favourite studyblrs/appblrs: @universitiesnprep @loving-appblr @studyign @studyblr @studyquill @study-inspirati0n @jiyeonstudies @babyfangirlstudies @studylikeaslytherin @studyblr2019 @yume-studies @probablystudying @mylittlestudyspo @optomstudies @revisicn @emmastudies @bookmrk @eintsein @studywithinspo @studyplants @h2ostudies and more! (If I didn’t tag you but we’re mutuals, there is a 300% chance that I still love your blog)