find a way or make one.

Being vulnerable and personal in your statement is absolutely necessary but only do so about topics that you feel comfortable enough to hear someone's criticism about it. Your proofreaders will (as kindly as possible) give you feedback and its important that its not a touchy subject that can evoke and even harsher reaction to getting feedback. Also your interviewers will at times ask stuff about it and it can be uncomfortable.

Dont try to make it perfect from the start. Raw stuff works, also editing will clean and cut it.

Find the questions they give, use them for guidances on what to focus on writing.

Look into the qualities the school you are applying to "values". If you seem like a good fit culturally, they will be more inclined to take you in.

You only need 2 really really good sentences. One to grab their attention in the beginning and one that makes you memorable.

When in doubt, check out others personal statements to give you an idea.

Don't overthink it. At the end a personal statement is about presenting yourself and the easiest way to actually do that is just being you.

The college application process is without a doubt the most stressful time in all four years of high school. Here’s my advice on getting through it:

First of all, if you’re reading this as a freshman or even a sophomore, calm down. You do not need to be worrying about college yet. So many things can change between now and your senior year, any plans you make now likely won’t be the same then. I didn’t even know what schools I was applying to until I applied to them. I thought I knew for sure what school I was attending until I was accepted into the school I actually ended up attending. Just focus on doing well in school and having fun, then cross that bridge when you get there.

Begin researching schools after junior year ends. Junior year is notorious for being the worst one of the four in high school. The work is ridiculously difficult, the pressure is insane, and standardized testing is exhausting. After it’s over, you will have the taken the majority of the classes that will appear on your transcript, you’ll have your ACT/SAT results, and you should now have a good idea of what schools are within your range. Maybe your GPA tanked and you didn’t do as well on the SAT as you thought, so your former match schools are now reaches. Maybe you managed a 3.9 GPA and a 35 on the ACT, so your reaches are well within reason. Summer before my senior year, I (thought I) knew what I wanted to do and began looking for universities that offered me that. 

Be open-minded. I’ve seen lots of students get into the mindset of “these are the schools I want to go to, these are the ones I’m applying to, and that’s final”. Don’t be stubborn. If you find a school you’d never heard of before, but it has a really great program in your field of study and a beautiful campus, add it to your list. It can be scary to venture into the unknown when you’ve had your heart set on going to the same university for your whole life, but you never know what could happen. That school you just discovered could turn out to be your dream school. Your list of prospectives is live, meaning it can change. Welcome those changes with open arms.

Apply to your dream school! Going into senior year, I planned to apply to one school. Yeah, that’s right. One single school. It was a state school with guaranteed admission and I thought that I would save myself the time, stress, and money of getting rejected from other universities. For some reason, I genuinely thought I had no chance of getting into any school with an acceptance rate of less than 50%. Thank god my parents made me apply to Vanderbilt University, which had always been my dream school. One day, completely expecting to get rejected, I got my acceptance email from Vandy, and now I’m starting my second year there in August. All of this to say, again, you literally never know what’s going to happen. “But my grades/extra-curriculars/test scores aren’t good enough!” There were plenty of people in my class with better stats than me in all of those categories that got rejected from Vanderbilt. There’s no rhyme or reason to college admissions. Apply to that reach school, and keep your expectations in check, but you could be pleasantly surprised.

Have multiple safeties. At least two. My safeties were two state schools with guaranteed admission so I knew I’d have somewhere to go in the fall. If you can’t find somewhere with guaranteed admission, find a school with admission averages that you exceed by a lot. I know this seems like obvious advice, but I know of quite a few people, both at my high school and online, who got rejected from literally all the schools they applied to. Those who had a safety went to the safety. Those who didn’t have a safety went no where. Don’t be in that second group. Have safeties, and be prepared to attend them.

Don’t procrastinate. Another piece of advice that might seem obvious, but trust me, you’re going to be tempted. Senioritis is real and you aren’t going to want to do anything, especially if it’s not for a grade. Luckily for me, my AP lit teacher required us to turn in our admissions essay as an assignment in September, so I had mine done way ahead of time. If you don’t have a teacher to hold you accountable, you have to do it yourself. Start your essays as early as possible and edit them over the weeks before the deadline. Ask for your rec letters at the end of junior year before summer break. Make sure you have all your deadlines written down and get all your paperwork in order early. There will be plenty of people spending their Christmas and New Years finishing college apps that are due the next day. Don’t be one of them. You’ll save yourself a lot of stress.

Stay organized. I saw a studyblr post where someone made an excel sheet comparing all their prospective schools, with categories like size of campus, tuition, type of housing, etc. I did that and it was a great way to keep track of everything. I also put all the essays needed for the application as well as when they were due, so I could easily see what I had left to do. I highly recommend doing this: here is a template you can use to get started. Even if you don’t decide to do this, use your own method to keep on top of all your application work. It can easily get lost beneath your schoolwork or other things you have to do. Make sure it doesn’t!

Keep yourself busy. The waiting to hear back from schools after submitting your apps is the worst. It’s torturous. I submitted my applications in October/November, and didn’t start getting decisions until March. That leaves all of winter to be nervous. The only way you’ll get through it is to not think about it. Focus on school, get a job, enjoy your last season of a school sport, just stay busy to keep yourself distracted or else it will be the longest few months of your life. Take a mental break from anything college-related until the good news starts rolling in.

Prepare yourself for disappointment. Rejection is never fun, it’s never easy. You might think you’re going to be fine, but it hits you harder than you think. When I got my first rejection, from Georgia Tech, I cried. I didn’t even want to go to Georgia Tech. But I felt like I wasn’t good enough, and therefore I wouldn’t get into any other school. The whole reason I wanted to apply to just one school was to avoid that feeling. If only I had known that my dream school would accept me just a couple weeks later. It’s going to be tough seeing everyone around you get into their first choice school while you’re receiving rejections, deferrals, or waitlists. What you have to remember is that everything happens for a reason. That rejection means that wasn’t the school for you. You will end up where you are supposed to be. 

The application process is grueling and stressful, but also very rewarding. Stick through it and it will all be worth it. Up next in the University Advice series: choosing/changing your major. If you have any other ideas for topics you want to see covered, please let me know!

Disclaimer: racism towards black ppl but I will try to find some for other minority groups later! Also, I have not read every book on this list but as a future educator, I certainly will.

- We Want to Do More Than Survive by Bettina Love

- Pushout by Monique Morris

- Born Out Of Struggle by David Stovall

- Multiplication is for White People by Lisa Delpit

- For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood by Chris Emdin

- Dreamkeepers by Gloria Ladson Billings

- Everyday Anti-Racism by Mica Pollock

- Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Tatum

- The Trouble with Black Boys by Pedro Noguera

- Black Appetite. White Food. by Jamila Lyiscott

- The Guide for White Women Who Teach Black Boys by Moore, Michel & Penick-Parks

- Ghosts in the Schoolyard by Eve Ewing

- The Mis-Education of the Negro by Dr. Carter G. Woodson (written in 1933 but still relevant today)

Back to school time is coming fast, and for a lot of us that means moving into dorms!! My first year I brought all the wrong things, so here are some tips and a lil packing list to help you guys figure out what you need and what you don’t.

tip #1 You don’t need as much as you think you need. Throw out those bed bath and beyond packing lists because they’re only trying to take all your money. If you don’t use it when you’re at home, you won’t use it at school.

tip #2 Think through a typical school day – what do you do? What do you need?

tip #3 Pack in things that will be staying in your dorm as much as possible – laundry baskets, trunks, those plastic drawers, etc. It’s way easier than carrying down 500 boxes to the recycling bin. 

tip #4 Don’t shove too much into one bin, especially if there’s no elevator. Keep it light!

tip #5 See if there are things you can wait and buy there – snacks, school supplies, etc to save room in your car. But drive an extra half an hour instead of going to the Target right by campus that’s inevitably packed and sold out of everything.

tip #6 Pack cleaning supplies last so you can clean everything (especially your bed!!) before you start unpacking. 

tip #7 Bring some snacks and a bottle of water for moving day, and dress comfy. It will inevitably be 100 degrees and you + your fam will get hangry fast.

what to bring:

bedding 

A comfy mattress pad!! Dorm mattresses are brutal. Mine was around $25 from bed bath and beyond and was just as comfy as the expensive tempuredic ones

An extra set of (cheap) twin xl sheets for laundry day 

An easy to clean duvet/quilt (twin is fine)

Double check on bedding sizes! Twin xl is standard, but it may be different at your school.

Extra blankets for movies nights/when friends stay over

bath

A sturdy shower caddy! I got one for $5 and had to replace it by fall break

A robe for the walk to and from the bathroom

Shower shoes!!!!! Dorm bathrooms are nasty

Towels (3) and bath cloths (however often you use them)

Whatever soaps/shampoos/etc you use

Stock up on pads/tampons/hand soap before your parents leave so you don’t have to walk to the store when you need it

study

Get a good desk lamp!!

Don’t buy notebooks until after the first day of class! Some may be better suited for laptop notes, and for some you may not take notes at all. 

A bulletin board is a lifesaver!!

A small white board (not hung up on the wall) is nice for making notes/working on problems without wasting paper

Find a good planner!!

And a wall calendar 

Have those random things on hand that you never think about until you need them: tape (masking, duct!!!!, scotch), tape measure, etc

Bring lots of lil drawer organizer/pen cups to organize

Pack all of your favorite pens/journals/sticky notes, but leave a few at home for when you’re studying on break

clothes

Research your school’s weather and pack accordingly, ofc

Pack lots that’s easy to layer (old buildings have temperamental heating)

Comfy shoes are so important!! You’ll be walking everywhere 

Leave most winter clothing at home to pick up on break, but bring a coat and sweater in case there’s some early cold weather

Same goes for spring semester! Packing shorts in January seems weird, but you’ll be glad

Pack an outfit or two for nice events/interviews

Bring all the clothes that make you feel great and confident, and leave the rest at home

Some cozy clothes for lazy days/camping out at the library

Rain boots and a rain coat! I never used them before, but rainy days are 10x worse when you have to walk to class

Try not to over pack – you’ll be getting new clothes (especially free t shirts) and dorm storage is limited

misc

Bring a floor lamp! Dorm lighting is so depressing, you’ll want one in addition to your desk lamp. 

Duct tape!! Seriously you’ll use it all the time

A sleeping bag is great to have on hand; you’ll use it more than you think (weekend trips, for friends who stay over, etc)

A trash can!

Some cleaning supplies: clorox wipes, a broom, etc

HDMI cord for watching pirated movies on your tv

Medicine – pain killers, cold/stomach/allergy medicine, cough drops, etc

A small duffle bag, plus a toiletry case for weekend trips

Your insurance card!!! + other important papers in case of emergency

Tupperware for sneaking food out of the dining hall

what not to bring: 

here are a few things commonly listed on packing lists that you’ll never use.

A bed skirt – so many suggested it, but there’s no need

A fan – most dorms have a/c units, and if it turns out to be too hot it’s easier to go out and buy one for $10 than to store one you don’t use

Printer – you’ll most likely get free printing money to use at the library

A laundry drying rack – you have bed posts for a reason

Travel sized toiletries – just bring the full size. You live there, after all

Bed risers – you’ll most likely have an adjustable bed already

Step ladder – I cannot think of a reason you would need this (other than move in day) when a chair would not suffice

Iron/ironing board – I promise ironing will not cross your mind, and if you really need to just throw it in the dryer with a wet bath cloth. The extra space will be worth the fifty cents.

Pots/pans – you’ll rarely be cooking if you have a meal plan, and if you are most schools allow you to rent them for the night

just submitted my last college application! spreads like these have been incredibly helpful in building my list and writing my essays. to all my senior friends, congrats and good luck!

pick your school because you love it, pick it because it has programs you like, pick your school because it has the best food in the country, but don’t pick it because you think other people will be impressed. you won’t be happy there if you don’t love something else about it too, and going through life with the sole purpose of trying to create an image of intelligence and status is no way to live, now is it?

hello!!!!! i recently took the sats on 21 jan and i compiled some tips about the respective papers so i decided to write ‘em up in a post. i hope these help!!!!

paper 1: reading

read carefully. this section is something you can score in.

while answering follow up evidence questions, make sure the quote actually supports the previous answer.

the phrasing and vocab used in the questions themselves are important!! pay attention to them!!

when finding stuff from the passages (esp. science based ones!), be careful. pinpoint exactly what the question is asking you, then choose the most accurate answer.

paper 2: writing + language

make sure to read the previous and the next sentences for contextual clues.

when doing grammar/vocab questions, put the answer back into the passage to see if it makes sense as a replacement.

paper 3: math (no calculator)

this paper has to be done FAST, but don’t compromise accuracy. do it once, but do it well.

simplify whenever possible.

check. one correct answer is better than 3 hastily done questions that turn out to be wrong.

don’t give up. work down to the last second.

paper 4: math (with calculator)

no careless mistakes can be afforded here.

c h e c k. you have a calculator, you have no excuse not to double check the hell out of every calculation you did.

For many students, the beginning of senior year marks the start of the “official” college season. Hopeful applicants are jumping right into the thick of transcripts, extracurricular lists, and essays as deadlines draw near. One of the most anxiety-inducing parts of applying for college is crafting the perfect personal statement!

To aid all of you fledgling essay writers, I’ve compiled a list of helpful sources with tips, tricks, advice, do’s and don’ts, and more below!!! (This will be added to often!)

Good luck babies I believe in you!!

    Let’s get started!

Six Tips for Writing Great Personal Statements

Writing the Personal Statement

What Makes a Great Essay?

A Free Guide to Writing Your Personal Statement

8 Tips for Crafting Your Best College Essay

9 essay writing tips to ‘wow’ college admissions officers

Too Much Information in College Essays

Cliches to Avoid in Essays (by appblrgirl)

What Makes a Strong College Essay

What You Need to Know About College Application Essays

11 Essay Mistakes to Avoid like the Plague

College Essay Mistakes

10 College Applications Mistakes to Avoid

Crafting an Unforgettable College Essay 

How to Write a Winning Ivy League Essay

First Liners of Essays

    Videos

Vital Tips for Writing a Winning College Application Essay

How to Write Your College Essay if You’ve Experienced Significant Challenges

How to Write a College Essay that Stands Out

    Ivy League (and other super competitives)

How to Write a Winning Ivy League Essay 

The Art Of Writing Ivy League Admission Essays

50 Successful Ivy League Essays

Top 19 Successful Stanford Essays

    UC Essays

Describing Your World (Prompt #1)

Personal Quality, Talent, Accomplishment…UC Prompt #2

UC Prompts (a selection of articles)

Conquer the UC Personal Statement

Top 2 UC Application Essay Mistakes

    Common Application

Getting Started (a selection of articles)

Advice on Writing the Common App Essay (by collegeadmissionbook)

19 Common App Essay Mistakes

How to Write Your Common Application Essay

Tips For Answering Common Application Essay Prompts

     Essay Examples

Essays That Worked (Class of 2019) (Johns Hopkins University)

Top 102 Successful College Essays

I just found an amazing scholarship and college research website.  

It is called raise.me and it basically gives you mini scholarships for doing things like getting an A in a course, doing community service, or just taking an AP class in general. 

For example, you can receive up to $6,000 for a school because you completed over 200 hours of community service.

$30 per hour you work.  Guys, that is nearly triple minimum wage. 

Also, a few other schools offer mini scholarships for students who get B’s in a class or are taking a foreign language for more than 2 years. 

This is the scholarship website we’ve been looking for. 

Now you don’t have to spend dozens of nights writing scholarship essays when you can make money throughout your school career. 

Hi guys! Long time no see. I’ve officially graduated high school and thought I’d make a post for all you incoming seniors about some things I’d wish I’d known senior year/some tips and tricks to help make your senior year less stressful because we all need a little less stress in our lives ha. So without further ado,

Make your college list over the summer: The summer before senior year is the time to finalize your college list. Do this by making a list of places you’re interested in and narrow it down based on fit. Try to visit if possible but if you can’t, most schools have virtual tours that you can take online. Make sure to have your list done before September. College apps are expensive and the fees for sending test scores to your respective schools add to the cost. Include at least one safety and two match schools on your list.

Get a calendar and mark all the deadlines for college apps, scholarships, testing, when test scores have to be sent in, etc. It will keep you organized and on track.

Start your essays over the summer (or at least brainstorm some ideas): You don’t necessarily have to start your college essays over the summer - I didn’t - but at least make a list of ideas, look over the prompts if they’ve been released, and familiarize yourself with common essay structures and how to write a good college essay. You should have a pretty good idea by September of what you want to include in your essays. Start them early so that you’ll get enough time to show them to your English teacher, parents, or anybody whose input you value.

While there are some topics for college essays that are too cliché and aren’t worth writing about (you can find a list here), in general, don’t be afraid of writing about something that you think will be cliché. If you give a topic an original spin and people can hear your voice and tell that it was a unique experience, you’re fine.

DON’T PLAGARIZE OR HAVE A PARENT/TEACHER/FRIEND/OTHER PERSON WRITE YOUR ESSAYS. No matter how tempted you are, just don’t. It will cause you more troubles that is worth and can get you in serious trouble (plus the moral repercussions of it). Be you and write your own essays.

Ask for your teacher recs early. This means to ask teachers by late September at the latest. Teachers need time to write your recs and chances are, you’re not the only one asking said teacher for a rec. Getting your request in early will make sure that you’ll get a letter of rec and that the teacher will have enough time to write a good letter of rec.

Ask for letters of rec from teachers you know will write something good about you. Go for teachers you’ve known for more than a year and/or teachers who know you better.

After they’ve written your letter of rec, it is customary to give your teachers a gift. A gift card, food, or a personalized gift/memento are in order.

Your counselor is your best friend. Seriously. Be prepared to spend significant time in the counselor’s office or emailing your counselor. You’ll likely have a lot of questions about the whole college apps process and that’s ok. Your counselor has done it before and is there to help you. Plus, most colleges require a counselor letter of rec so you’ll need to get to know your counselor and your counselor will have to get to know you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help because it will significantly reduce your stress.

It is also encouraged to get your counselor a gift if you feel they’ve helped you a lot. It’s a nice gesture that shows you care.

Send your test scores in at least 3 weeks before the college’s application deadline. This is super important because some colleges refuse to look at your application if your test scores aren’t in on time *cough* UMich *cough*. Plan ahead. This is why it’s good to have your college apps done early so that you’re not scrambling to send colleges your test scores two days before the deadline. If you’re taking a test in October, make sure to put all the colleges you’re applying to on the list of where you want your scores to be sent to so that the colleges will get the score in time. I had friends who sent their scores in too late and had their application bumped from early action to regular decision at a somewhat selective school where when you applied made all the difference. Seriously, send your scores in early and be done with it.

Most colleges won’t look at an unofficial score report so send the official one at all times. Don’t send paper score reports. We’re not in the 1920s.

If you’ve done all this but your scores will still be late, contact your college’s admissions office and let them know which brings me to my next point.

If you can’t find something on the college’s website or can’t find an answer to a question you have, contact the admissions office! The admissions office can give you the best answers to your questions and can help alleviate any concerns you have. Just make sure not to badger the admissions office because some colleges keep track of how many times you contact them and it can work in your disadvantage.

Don’t have your parents call in because it makes you look bad. You’re old enough to call someone and ask them a few questions.

Start looking for scholarships early. Preferably in the fall. Most of the big and prestigious scholarships have early deadlines and you don’t want to miss them. Finding the scholarships you want to apply to early gives you enough time to write the essays and get the other materials needed. 

Don’t compare yourself to others. There’s no point and it causes unnecessary stress. Be confident in yourself and your application and don’t worry about where others have applied/gotten in to or about what others have put on their applications. 

A list of college interview tips for any seniors that freaked out like I did when I got my interview request! Some advice gets repetitive but it’s all helpful and I found the tips from current interviewers were the most helpful.

From the Interviewers Themselves 

CC: Interview tips from a Brown interviewer

CC: Tips from a Duke alumni interviewer 

The Alumni Interview from Tufts Admissions 

Pre-Interview

How to email an alum about your college interview by encollegement 

Responding to alumni interview requests by genericcrappblrurl

College Interviews: Practice questions and strategies from College Board

How to actually dress for interviews by genericappblrurl

What to Wear: Winter interviews by collegeapp-chick

Spotify playlist to listen to right before: Confidence Boost

General Tips

Advice on how to approach your interview from MIT Admissions

How to ace that college interview by collegemania

My tips for interviews by fuckyeahcollegeboard

Awesome questions to ask your interviewer by genericcappblrurl

The College Interview: The Basics pdf from Rice University

How to ace the phone interview 

Tips for your alumni interview from Vanderbilt Admissions

Post-Interview

A thank you email template by genericcrappblr

The basics: 

To be safe, you should apply to multiple schools. Most people would recommend at least 5, comprising of two safeties, two matches, and one reach. 

Safety: A school you are certain you’ll be accepted to.

Match: A school where most accepted students have similar credentials to you.

Reach: A school where you might not have a GPA or ACT/SAT score as high as most students, but you want to give it a shot anyway.

Where do you find schools to apply to? I recommend Cappex. There, you can put in your GPA and school preferences to find schools you may like. 

Visiting schools before you apply is nice, but not necessary if you lack the time/funds to travel. There is a ton of information online about all schools, so make sure you do your research before deciding on your list of schools to apply to. 

August-November: Early admission 

Most college applications open in August. You can start applying any time after that. Application deadlines vary from school to school, so make sure you’re keeping on top of everything. 

How do I send ACT/SAT scores? - Online. They usually cost $12 to send.

What about transcripts? - Depending on your high school, you may send these online as well, or you may have to go to the school registrar to send scores. 

What are early decision and early action? Are they different? - Yes; Early decision is a binding agreement that means that if you are accepted to a university, you will enroll. Early action is simply when you apply early to receive an earlier answer about your admission status. Early application dates are usually due between November 15th and December 1st.

October 1st: File FAFSA

Starting in 2016, students can begin to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid on October 1st. This form ensures that you will be considered for financial aid including state and/or federal grants, as well as federal loans. Make sure you file FAFSA as soon as possible. 

How to File FAFSA

What is work study? Do I qualify? - Work study is a program for eligible students to work a campus job and receive a grant for participating in work study. 

Work Study: A guide

Which schools do I list on the FAFSA? I don’t know where I’m going yet. - When you file FAFSA, you will list every school that you applied to. 

I don’t understand how paying for college works. - Here’s a guide about all the different grants, loans, and scholarships available to college students. 

December-March: Regular admission 

Depending on the university, regular applications are due sometime around March 1st. Make sure you have submitted all of your applications and supplemental materials. Decisions will be out soon! 

When applying, you may find that you are waitlisted or deferred. If you are deferred, it doesn’t mean that you have been denied! It just means that the school needs more time to consider your application for one reason or another. 

What does it mean to be waitlisted? 

April-May: Accept your offer

Hopefully by April you have a good idea of which school you’re going to choose. The deadline for accepting your offer of admission for most schools is May 1st, so make sure you do this by the deadline! 

Some other guides that may be helpful during this process: 

Apply for scholarships. Here is a guide. 

“Should I retake the ACT/SAT before applying to college?”

college app season is coming up! since i’ve had some experience with interviews, i thought i would throw together a post about college interviews to give all you seniors a hand and alleviate some stress

🌿 t h e   b a s i c s

many colleges offer interviews

can be required or optional

can be conducted at the school with a student/admissions rep, or near your home with an alumni

a word of advice: if an interview is optional and you are contacted to have an interview, TAKE THE INTERVIEW–it can only help

types of interviews

individual

most common type (95% of the time it will be this one)

one-on-one with a school representative

informational

short

more of a Q&A about the school

not personal; can have multiple interviewees

most interviews run from 20-60 mins

however, leave ample time around your interview. all of my interviews went at least 20 mins over. but remember: length of the interview doesn’t mean anything

📑 i n i t i a l   s e t - u p

first of all, if you can’t secure an interview or are not offered one, DON’T FREAK OUT. that just means the school doesn’t have enough resources to give you an interview

it will NOT count against you or your application at all

for interviews conducted on-campus, you will have to sign up for a time slot to have an interview or email the admissions office to set one up

for alumni interviews, they will contact you

via email or phone

respond within 24 hours if you can, and absolutely by 48 hours

respond using “Dear Mr./Ms. ______”, thank them for contacting you, tell them you look forward to the interview, schedule a time that works for both of you, and make sure you are clear on the interview location

you’ll get an email of confirmation back from them

then mark it in your calendar

💭 h o w   t o   p r e p

research your interviewer !!! seriously, this is important

make sure to know…

where they’re from

which schools they’ve gone to (undergrad & grad)

what they majored in

what profession they have now

anything of significance about their relationship with the school you are applying to. for example, during my Princeton interview, I brought up my interviewer’s senior thesis topic, and he said no one had brought that up to him in like 20+ years. we had a great 20 min conversation about that, plus it made me memorable

research the school

specifics! whether it be clubs, resources, traditions, classes, etc.

especially know classes, research, professors, and resources that relate to the major you intend to study

create a list of questions to ask

these should not be questions you can look up the answer to (shouldn’t be factually/statistically based)

run over your résumé or topics that could come up

research what previous interviewees have said about the format of the interview

use tumblr, college confidential, etc. BUT take everything said with a grain of salt

make sure to know the transportation route to your interview location

optional: create an elevator pitch

👔 w h a t   t o   w e a r

business casual is best

gals: a nice skirt and cardigan, dress with tights, nice jeans/slacks with a blouse, etc.

keep your hair out of your face!

stay away from noisy/clunky jewelry, or anything you might fidget with

guys: button-down shirt or polos with khakis or a nice pair of jeans, suit jacket and tie/bowtie, etc.

wear nice shoes (no sneakers) AND SOCKS

nonbinary/non-gender-conforming: do whatever you think is best for you! just remember to look professional and well put-together (although this rule applies to everyone)

weather

summer/spring: lighter clothes. most likely you will be interviewing indoors, so don’t forget to bring an extra layer if necessary

fall/winter: add outerwear like tights, stockings, sweaters, etc. check the weather and bring an umbrella, hats and gloves, or snow boots if necessary

general tips

better to be overdressed than underdressed

avoid logos, graphics, and anything noisy (and please don’t wear apparel from the school–it seems “sweaty”)

use accessories sparingly

wear something classic but comfortable, that enhances your personality but doesn’t override it

📓 w h a t   t o   b r i n g

notebook/looseleaf paper

pens/pencils

any notes you may need

a list of questions to ask the rep

résumé

phone/money/keys/bus card

***make sure you know the interviewer’s contact info and directions to the interview!

💬 d u r i n g   t h e   i n t e r v i e w

arrive 5-10 mins early to get comfortable with your surroundings

location will most likely be either a workplace (like a law/business office) or a casual setting (like a cafe)

the interviewer will meet you

make sure to shake their hand

if you are at a place like a cafe or coffee shop, you don’t need to offer to buy them anything !!! you can get yourself something if you want

they will most likely start with an open-ended question like “tell me a bit about yourself”

ELEVATOR PITCH FO DAYS

tell them your name, your school, some activities you do, etc.

try to tell them stuff that’s not on your application

ex: talk about upcoming internships/events/activities

from there a topic will latch on and they’ll start asking questions and transitioning

at the end, they will ask if you have any questions

DO

sit up straight, use manners and make eye contact

ask questions–even in the middle of the interview

consider the interview a conversation

listen to and learn from your interviewer

take notes

DON’T

interrupt your interviewer or get distracted

hold back/be modest

sound haughty

be quiet. speak. tell stories. talk!

make your answers generic

be nervous! it’s really, really hard to mess up an interview. everyone has nerves, but just remind yourself that this doesn’t really count for anything

🎉 a f t e r w a r d s

whew! you got through it. CONGRATS !!!

within 24 hours, write them a thank you email

thank them for taking the time to interview you

make sure to mention specifics about how they were helpful! it makes you memorable

you may or may not get an email back, but that doesn’t mean anything

breathe a sigh of relief. compile notes. rest.

💡 i m p o r t a n c e

how much does this actually matter?

not much

seriously, stop stressing

interviewers cannot make or break an application. having a superb interview will not boost your application by a huge amount, just like having a not-so-great interview will not doom you for all eternity

what the interview CAN do is…

help the interviewer advocate for you further

give you insight into the school

give you a chance to elaborate among things in your app

show the school you can conduct yourself gracefully in social/professional situations

give your application a boost if they are deciding between you and a similar candidate

for their supplemental writings, a lot of schools have a similar question that always boils down to “why do you want to attend our university?” all the tips i’m going to spell out here are things i’ve heard from various college counselors.

colleges ask this for a simple reason: they receive a SHITLOAD of applications. when they’re trying to decide who to admit, they want to pick people who are actually likely to attend the university if accepted. this question allows colleges to try and figure out if they are your first choice school or not.

what you want to do here, ideally, is game the system and convince EVERY school you’re applying to that they are your first choice. it requires a bit of extra work and a lot of extra googling and research, but if you weren’t willing to do that, i’m sure you wouldn’t have read this far in my post lol

a lot of people write the same essay for every school that asks this question. then, they just change the name of the school and send it off. they usually mention something vague about liking the “location”, “atmosphere”, “people”, “spirit”, etc. an essay like this communicates to an admissions officer that you don’t particularly care about their school. it’s not your first pick. you haven’t thought particularly hard about the decision to apply here.

you want your essay to make you stand out, so even if this school isn’t your first choice, pretend that it is. you can use the same basic framework for every one of these essays, but write them so that they couldn’t possibly apply to another school.

it’s time to namedrop. mention specific professors and classes that interest you within your major. explain that their program is the best program for you, and give reasons. cite facts and statistics. reference specific things about the school’s location (not just “it’s pretty”) and specific school traditions you want to take part in. things like this really convince a school that you care about attending their institution in particular, and you’re not just throwing their name in at the end of filling out your common app or whatever.

Rejection sucks. You can work hard and want something so bad and it feels like you’re coming at this goal with all of your energy just for it to not happen. You may have dreamt of a school for over a decade, and suddenly it all gets pulled out of reach with one email. It can be really heartbreaking, but it doesn’t have to be debilitating. You will find the right school, and your path will be made clear. I promise. Here’s some advice I wish I could give to my 17-year-old self.

1. Give yourself a grieving period. Not getting into your dream school/program is a loss, and you should give yourself time to process it. Obviously, you don’t want to wallow, but don’t feel like you need to choke down your disappointment or act like you never cared. You did care, and it’s 100% acceptable to be upset. Go easy on yourself. 

2. Admissions decisions are not value judgments. No school can truly know everything about your personality, your struggles, your achievements, even if your application included an interview. Not getting into a school says nothing about you as a human being. It has no effect on your future success. You are still capable of great things, and this is just one set back. 

3. Angry? Good. Honestly, being angry about getting waitlisted for a particular school was a huge motivator for me. I realized I needed to work harder, and I did. I eventually transferred into the honors program of the same school that had previously waitlisted me. Of course, you don’t want to have a chip on your shoulder, and you should eventually let go of your disappointment. But if you’re unhappy with your decision, let that be an incentive to change your habits, or adjust your goals. Failure is a great teacher. 

4. Move on. Like I stated above, you eventually have to let go. It’s time to start daydreaming about a new school and getting excited about these fresh and unexpected possibilities. What can you do at your other schools that you couldn’t otherwise? What excites you about your future outside of school? What will you do with this next chapter of your life? Do some brainstorming and consider new paths. Write down pro and con lists, write about where you see yourself in two years. Now’s the time to consider everything, now that you aren’t laser-focused on applications. 

5. Remember that nothing is set in stone. As a transfer student, I know this all too well. You have control of your college experience, and if you don’t end up choosing the school that’s your perfect fit, you can fix that! Transferring is the best decision I’ve made, and I wish it was more talked about in the studyblr community. Thousands of students don’t go to the “right” school until their sophomore or junior year. It doesn’t make them any less worthy or capable. People also take gap years, work, etc. Everyone has their own pace and their own journey. You’re not required to do what everyone else is doing to be successful. 

Hi everyone! With college application season kicking into high-gear again, I’ve gotten lots of essay-writing questions, so I thought I’d share with you the supplemental essays that helped me get into Yale University, as well as commentary on why I think they worked, and how you can stand out.

The question: Why do the majors you selected appeal to you? 

For reference, the majors I chose were Comparative Literature and Statistics & Data Science.

My response:

Why did this work? When universities ask you about the major you’d like to study, they want to see that you have a clear goal in mind. I’m interested in foreign languages, literature, and algorithmic sciences, which is why I selected the majors I did; however, I also knew that I wanted to implement those interests in a tangible way in the edu-tech sector. Of course, no need to stress about the major you choose on your app; you can totally change your mind once you get to your university!

The question: Why does Yale appeal to you?

My response:

Why did this work? The first “Why Yale” draft I wrote was pretty bland – I listed out some classes and clubs I’d like to participate in. One of my friends gave me this advice that, no joke, changed my life: she said, “You’re listing things that every college has. Try to zero in on what is unique about Yale’s spirit, and prove that your choice to apply is 100% purposeful.” So I thought very carefully about why I was applying to Yale, and realized that Yale had a culture of collaboration and camaraderie that I really loved. All the same, I wanted to use the opportunity to reveal more about myself, so I decided to center my essay around food, and how cooking gives me the opportunity to engage meaningfully with the spaces I occupy.

The question: Reflect on your engagement with a community to which you belong. How do you feel you have contributed to this community?

My response:

Why did this work? Colleges want to know how you think. They’re interested in people who will bring new perspectives to the classroom, and although some guidebooks may say that writing about politics is risky, I think it’s totally fine, even if you have opinions that may be controversial or unorthodox. In addition, I wanted to write about something that was less run-of-the-mill – I could have written about my teaching experiences or grant-writing experiences, but instead I went with canvassing and being elected to the Massachusetts state convention as a delegate.

But the most essential thing of all is to be yourself! It’s so cliche, but it’s true. Write about the things you find important, not about whatever is trendy or got your friend/classmate/sibling into an Ivy League. It’s also okay to be weird; for MIT, I wrote an essay about K-pop and got in. 

a guide by a former applicant who never received a single rejection letter!

table of contents

where to begin

essays

transcripts + test scores

letters of recommendation

interviews

before we begin, please remember that while the process of applying to college may seem like it will never end, in just a few short months it will. yes, it is a stressful time full of uncertainty, and you may start to think that college isn’t even worth it, but this is the time where all the hard work you’ve been putting in for the past four years really comes to fruition. you know how hard you’ve worked to get where you are, and let your applications accurately reflect that.

where to begin

figure out where you want to apply. have a backup, somewhere you can get in for sure, at least two schools you’d be happy to attend including one you know you can for sure afford, and then of course your dream/reach school. some people do more than this (I applied to 8 in total), but this is a good starting point.

set up your common app account. the common app application usually launches on august 1, but go in before that and get your account set up so you can get a head start. the first thing I would do is fill out the application part itself, sans essays. it’s a ton of information, and it’ll be overwhelming at first, but if you can get it done, especially before you go back to school, then you won’t have to worry about it.

get organized! go through the requirements of every school you’re applying to. figure out what you need to submit and when. be aware of your deadlines from the beginning and make a checklist to mark everything off as you go.

essays

to be perfectly honest, the essays are the most time-consuming and most daunting part of this process. here’s how to tackle them:

first of all, start early. in august it may seem like you have plenty of time, but then you’ll blink, and it’ll be november. I spent a first week and a half of my christmas break trying to finish a 2000-word essay because I didn’t really start my essays until october. please save yourself that stress and aim to finish at least a first draft of all your essays by halloween.

KNOW. YOUR. SCHOOL. I cannot stress this enough. this is the one thing I can tell you that will make or break your entire application. certain schools and even programs value certain qualities in their applicants, and knowing what they’re looking for can help you cater your essay to their specific tastes. for example, NYU values the diversity of their student body and their reputation as a global institution. express why you also value diversity and how you would contribute to or take advantage of that globality. don’t go into your essay writing without some semblance of what the schools you’re applying to stand for. if you can demonstrate that you understand their missions and their vision, you can turn your borderline acceptance into a much more solid one.

on a similar note, get familiar with your school or program’s website. for one thing, it will help you get to know your school better and understand what they’re looking for (point above). you can also prove just how interested you are by naming specific programs or opportunities available that you’re interested in or even a professor you’d like to study under. do outside research too: watch youtube videos, talk to current students, and read student publications. a deeper understanding not only strengthens your essays but also helps you to know what’s available to you.

show some enthusiasm, even if an essay is for a school that’s lower on your list. admissions officers want students who want to be there. you may think you’re above gushing, but you’re not. gush, even if it’s your backup and you’re a shoo-in. apathy is not impressive to an admissions officer.

really focus on what makes you unique. I know that sounds cliche, but admissions officers read thousands of essays every application cycle, so you really need to find what can make you, and thus your essay, stand out. I promise you, you can find some unique experience to write about, even if it’s some obscure anecdote. spin it to be a thoughtful, profound experience. talk about something that has seriously impacted you or your trajectory. if you’re having a hard time writing about yourself (I know I did) ask a parent or a friend, someone who knows you well, what they think makes you different. I promise you there’s something there you can use.

work smarter. reuse material from similar prompts. reuse old graded essays. I even reused a book review I had already written for my english class. writing these essays is not your full-time job (though it may feel like it), so be smart about it where you can.

transcripts + test scores

(combining these since really at this point all you have to do is submit them)

in terms of test scores: so it’s the beginning of your senior year and you’re still not happy with your standardized test scores. take them again! you still have time! you should doublecheck to be sure, but most schools will take your test scores all the way up to the application deadline, and sometimes even after, which gives you at least two or three more opportunities to take the SAT/ACT. also, sending scores to multiple schools can get really expensive really fast (roughly $15 per school, so you do the math), so see if you’re eligible for fee waivers before you submit.

in terms of transcripts: request them early. it took my guidance counselor at my smallish public school almost 6 weeks to submit my transcripts after I requested them to be sent. the longer you wait, the more time it’s going to take them, because they’ll be doing the same for hundreds of other kids. also, double check and see if your schools require mid-year transcripts; most don’t unless you’re actually going there, but some do. make sure your guidance counselor knows you need those in by a certain date; mine almost didn’t make it in time because it took the school district almost two months to get them done. you’ve already done the hard work to make the grades on your transcript; don’t let a lack of action create an issue with it.

letters of recommendation

(this is one area that can actually really help you if you take the time and put in some effort)

teacher recs: most schools require at least one teacher recommendation. start thinking about whom you want to write your recs once school starts, and then ask those teachers as soon as possible. chances are, they’ll have other students asking as well. it takes time to write a really good recommendation, and you have to remember your teacher is doing all of this on top of their other work. so be courteous and don’t wait until three weeks before the deadline to ask.

counselor recs: pretty much every school requires a counselor recommendation. this process probably varies from high school to high school, but at least for mine, we had to print an online form and fill it out to give to them. I had no idea, however, that that was a thing until one of my friends told me. so get on your school’s website as soon as possible and see if your guidance office has a section posted about the college application process. then, as with teacher recs, make the request as soon as possible. counselor recs may take even longer (again, hundreds of students), and you don’t want to wait until the last minute to get something so simple done.

other recs: recommendations from someone associated with the college you’re applying to—a prominent alumnus (the more money they’ve donated, the better) or a well-respected staff member are your best options—can really tip the scale in favor of a borderline application. we all know that in the real world it’s not always what you know but whom you know. yeah, it’s unfair, but work that system anyways. ask your parents if they know anyone with some kind of connection to your school. if you live nearby, get in contact with a professor in your field. even if you don’t, go on facebook and find your local alumni chapter. contact someone involved and ask them to meet you for lunch. express how important that school is to you, and I’m sure they’d be more than happy to help. make the system work for you!

interviews

*a total sidenote: interviewing was actually really helpful for me personally. my interview at my former top choice made me realize what I really wanted for myself in college and totally changed the trajectory of my college experience*

let me just say, interviewing is not for everyone. some people come off better in person than they do on paper, and some people don’t. so do not feel like you need to interview at every single one of your schools if that really isn’t your thing.

again, know your school. most schools offer interviews, but it’s rarely a requirement. if your school strongly recommends you interview (ex. wake forest), you should probably do it. if not, it’s really up to you.

just putting in the effort of interviewing, especially if you have to travel to get there, shows your interest in the school and can help you in the long run. an interview is typically weighted equally with all the other aspects of your application, so unless you really bomb it, it won’t make a big difference.

prioritize. some schools offer skype or local alumni interviews to make things more accessible if you farther away, but not all do. if you have to travel for an interview, especially if it involves getting on a plane, pick your top two or three choices to focus on, especially if you think you’ll be more of a borderline applicant.

every school does interviews differently. some treat it more like a conversation, others like a Q&A. you may be interviewed by an alumnus, a current student, or an admissions director. it all varies. do your research ahead of time so you’ll know what to expect. some schools even have sample questions you can practice answering.

prepare, prepare, prepare. the more prep you do, the more confident you’ll feel, and the better you’ll do. talk through the questions you’ll be answering. have a mock interview with someone you trust, preferably who has interview experience and can give you pointers. if you know ahead of time who will be interviewing you, do a little research on that person so you know something about them and what to expect. and again, know your school and what they value in their students so you can exemplify those qualities. 

random bonus tips

get in touch with the admissions director for your region. most schools have multiple admissions officers that read applications for a certain area of the country (ex. pacific northwest). most likely, they’ll be the one reading your application. so email them with your questions or issues (although, please, please don’t ever ask anything that can be found on the website, and for the love of god, don’t have your mom call or email for you). if you happen to be on campus, stop by admissions and make an effort to introduce yourself. by the time that person gets to your application, the hope is that even if they don’t recognize your name right off that bat, it at least seems familiar enough that they know you’ve made an effort and demonstrated your interest.

thank you notes! if you interview or have someone besides your teacher or counselor write a letter of rec for you, don’t forget to send a handwritten thank you note. it’s just a little adult thing to start doing that goes that extra mile. plus, if you mail a thank you note to your interviewer via the admissions office, it may get put in your file, which will reflect well on your personal professionalism.

more helpful tips & resources

if you have any questions, please feel free to send an ask. also, if you’d like more specific advice here are the schools I applied to: emerson college, univ of central florida, colgate univ, wake forest univ, college of william & mary, middlebury college, new york univ, and univ of st andrews.

essays

“those different essays that keep popping up tips” by @thisnerdsadventures 

“college essay masterpost” by @studyfandom 

“would you admit you?” by @genericappblrurl

“college essays” by @sootudying 

“college essay edits” by @intellectys

letters of recommendation

“teacher recs” by @etudiance

interviews

“15 questions to know for college interviews” by @solustudies

“college interviews” by @cyberstudies 

general

“massive college masterpost” by @heyiwantyoutostay

“college application websites masterlist” by @cyberstudies 

“smol college app tips” by @365text