Table of Contents

Introduction...................................................................................... 1
Part 1: The High School Guide.............................................................2
Kielahs Story.................................................................................... 4
Persevering....................................................................................... 6
Hollywood High School Movies vs.................................................8
Your High School Movie....................................................................... 8
College is For YOU........................................................................... 11
A Few Myths and Realities About College.....................................11
What Colleges Seek........................................................................ 12
How to Earn Awesome Grades........................................................14
Grade Management.......................................................................... 30
Extracurricular Activities................................................................36
Advanced/Challenging Courses.......................................................41
Study Tips........................................................................................ 44
Teacher Recommendations..............................................................49
Community Service......................................................................... 54
Getting Ahead of the Game............................................................58
Sophomores.................................................................................... 61
Juniors............................................................................................. 65
Senior Year....................................................................................... 67
Talking to Your Parents About College..........................................69
Surround Yourself with Likeminded People....................................71
Wilglorys Story................................................................................. 76
Part 2: The College Application Guide................................................76
Overcoming the Mountain............................................................78
Choosing the Right School for You.................................................80
How to do College Research............................................................87
Creating a College List.................................................................... 88
Visiting Colleges.............................................................................. 89
Applying Early................................................................................. 91
Tackling the Essay Portion...............................................................95
SAT/ACT........................................................................................... 98
Getting the Coveted 1600, 36, or 800...........................................98
Applying to a Military School.........................................................101
Applying to a................................................................................ 103
Visual and/or Performing Arts School............................................103
Once You Hit Submit......................................................................104
Interviews..................................................................................... 104

Paying For College......................................................................... 106

Common Misconceptions about College/Applications..................109
Words of Encouragement..............................................................111
About the Authors......................................................................... 113
Notable College Access/Summer Programs..................................114
Top 10 Colleges in America...........................................................114
Glossary........................................................................................ 115
College Application Process Timeline...........................................118
Student Excerpts...........................................................................123

Part 2: The College Application Guide

Part 2: The College Application Guide
Overcoming the Mountain
Wilglorys Story
Heights. One of my greatest fears in life was one I decided to conquer on August 16 th one year by
climbing Mount Schiester. How did I get here, and why was I in a position to climb a mountain anyway?
Well, I was on a trip with the National Outdoor Leadership School in Wyoming. As part of my fellowship
for Future Global Leaders, the other fellows and I were expected to endure a 20-day hiking trip in the
Wind River Range of Wyoming. It was tough... in fact, it was more than tough. It was incredibly difficult.
We ended up hiking about 65 miles and we gained over 11,000 ft. in elevation, and our 45 pound
backpacks didnt make the journey any less difficult. On this trip, I was encouraged to face my fears.
One day, we were set to climb Mount Schiester. I was terrified. I didnt want to go. I was absolutely
terrified of heights. But my instructor, Darcy Mullen, encouraged me to go. She persuaded me,
actually, with her kind voice and rational thinking. I thought I was going to die, but Darcy thought I
would overcome my fear of heights. And you know what? I did it. We hiked without our backpacks to
the peak of the mountain. Summited Mount Schiester. I broke down twice, and I wouldnt move unless
my friend, Daniela, held my hand. Without the support and love of Dani, Gabe, Ashwini, Tanguy, Bryan,
Wei, and my instructor Amit, I wouldve never summited the peak. But the views from the top were
incredible. I stood at the peak, and I realized that if I could overcome my fear of heights, I could do
anything. I had always felt like the world was my oyster, but when push came to shove, I thrived. I
hiked down the mountain, fearless, and the next day we hiked through another mountain... and I
wasnt scared at all.
Looking back on this experience has made me realize that every obstacle we face in life is a mountain.
And sometimes, reaching the peak isnt always an indicator of our success, but coming back down to
flat ground is. Applying to college is just like that. Hiking up the super steep slope, where you catch
your breath every 30 seconds because its so steep, is rough. And then you go from climbing up a
grassy area to climbing over boulders like youre Spiderman. The hike to the peak is never consistent.
There are so many moving parts to the college application process and every obstacle is unique, but
overcoming it is possible. Reaching the peak means getting admitted to college. Youre at the highest
point in your life, but you still have to find a way to get back down. Getting back down is being
successful in college, navigating life, and getting a job, but thats for another book. In this book, we
want to help you reach the peak. Everything you will need to know about applying to college and how
to do it, youll find here. With perseverance and a will to succeed, you will be successful.
I am a lover of food, an enthusiast of travel, and creator of things. My passion for education equality
and access propelled me to write this guide. When I was a two-year old, my parents immigrated to
America from Cameroon. They had big hopes of acquiring the American Dream. However, the dream
was not so simple to reach. Following my mothers diagnosis and battle with breast cancer, my parents
separated and my father didnt keep in contact with my sisters and me. Seeing how hard my mother

struggled to give my sisters and I everything, despite still fighting cancer, was the fuel that kept my
flame shining bright. I will never forget the day my mother told me something that changed my life
forever, way back when I was in elementary school. She was lying in bed, so sick. Her head was bald,
her skin was gray, and the joy in her eyes was gone. She held my hand, and with my sisters next to
me, she said, The only thing you guys can give me in this world is a good education. That pushed me
to be my best self. If I was going to be a straight-A student, it would be for my mother. To see her
smile, just even for a little bit, would make me happy. Ive faced a lot of adversity in my life, but its
only made me stronger. Just like hiking up a mountain made me mentally and physically stronger.

Before
Apply

You

In 2013, degree-granting higher education institutions in the U.S. enrolled 17.5 million students,
which is an increase of more than 45 percent over the last 25 years, and there is a good reason why.
A college degree outweighs what it actually costs and will allow you to live a comfortable lifestyle. A
study by the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce revealed that high school graduates
make around $1.3 million in their lifetimes, in comparison to college graduates who earn nearly $2.3
million. Furthermore, by 2018, 63% of U.S. jobs will require some sort of post-secondary education or
training.
And despite the scary amounts of debt we often hear about college graduates having, a study done by
Beth Akers and Matthew Chingos found that the average household with student debt had a
household income of $71,681 and was making a monthly payment toward their loan of $242. That
monthly payment is about what those same households spent each month on entertainment ($217)
and apparel ($145). Its good not to go into debt any further than you absolutely have to, but its
reassuring to know that it is possible to repay these loans when the time comes.
In college, you learn what interests you and you gain valuable work and life skills that you will need
when your time comes to conquer the real world. College is undoubtedly expensive, but if you play
your cards right by getting scholarships, taking out loans the smart way, and applying to and attending
a school that you can afford, your college degree will eventually pay you back.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/brookings-now/posts/2015/08/what-to-think-about-when-applyingto college?
hs_u=maxine@buildabear.com&utm_campaign=Brookings+Brief&utm_source=hs_email&utm_me
dium=email&utm_content=21664068&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--nf7xzFKaQ9hEDzXzP3jeCeCJa4C510anNAbOjqQ2nPAOXWBi7idIS9N0S-LZIErOd6JRSXeOwR7s1mGX6p63PQHFnw&_hsmi=21664068

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/08/college-gradutates-pay.html

Every individual has a place to fill in the world and is important in some respect whether
he/she chooses to be so or not.
Nathaniel Hawthorne

Choosing the Right School for You

With over 2,700 colleges in America, youre probably wondering, How do I find the right school for
me? Well, this section breaks down all of the different types of schools that make up that 2,700, and
the things you should consider before applying.

Types of Schools

Co-ed: Most colleges are co-ed, serving the needs of men, women, and gender nonconforming
students.

Single-Sex: These schools are either all-male or all-female. Schools that are not co-ed
typically have a sister/brother college they have close ties to. They have dances, hold events
together, etc.

Liberal Arts: Liberal arts colleges and universities place an emphasis on undergraduate study
in the liberal arts and sciences. Also, these schools typically have smaller populations.

Public: Public schools receive funding from the government and usually have larger
populations.

Private: These schools do not receive funding from the government and their student body
size is usually smaller.

Arts: These schools have a focus on fine and performing arts, and offer degrees in specialized
fields.

Military Academies: These include educational institutions that prepare candidates for
service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, marine corps, air force, or coast guard. There
is no tuition or room/board for these schools so students attend for free, but must serve in the
military after they graduate.

Religiously Affiliated: There are a good number of schools that have a religious affiliation.
However some of these schools may just have religion rooted in their history but you dont
really see it in daily life, while others affect students day-to-day life with religious-based rules
they must follow.

HBCU: These include historically black colleges or universities that focus on educating black
students. Non-black students can still apply and are eligible for minority scholarships.

And Other Things

Academics
Look into the majors offered at a school and see if the school offers what you are interested in. Some
schools even allow self-designed majors. If you know what department you want to study in, you
should also browse that departments website. Some departments are more well-known than others
because they are considered leaders in their field. And if you are looking to receive college credit for
AP classes, check whether the schools youre applying to will accept the credits. Some schools allow
students to enter college as a sophomore because they have a lot of AP credits, but other schools have
different policies and may allow you to only use a high AP score to not test out of a class, but instead
be promoted to the more advanced level of that course.

Size
Can you thrive as a small fish in a big pond, or a big fish in a small pond? Some schools are small, with
fewer than 2,500 students, like Swarthmore College. Medium-sized schools range from 5,000 to 6,000
students, including institutions such as Stanford, and large schools have an undergraduate population
of 10,000 or more, like UCLA.

Programs
Does the school offer special programs that spark your interest? Does the school have resources you
would take advantage of? These programs and resources may include:

Study abroad

For-credit internships

Lab research opportunities

Independent-study courses

Combined-degree tracks

Funding for student groups

Scholarships and funding opportunities for individuals

Tip: Writing about these specific programs in your application will show admission officers that youre
seriously interested in their school.

Cost
How much can your parents afford to put towards your education, assuming theyre willing to help? To
figure out how youre going to pay for college, you can check using a financial aid calculator, a tool
many colleges have on their websites. These calculators provide an estimate for the financial aid

amount you will most likely receive. Colleges determine these financial aid packages based on many
factors: your parents income, family size, the number of siblings currently attending college, business
assets, investments, and college savings. Colleges will require that you submit the FAFSA, CSS Profile,
IDOC, and/or some other type of financial form that will help them create a financial aid package for
you. Keep in mind that your financial aid package may change if the scholarships your college provides
are not renewable on a yearly basis. Additionally, because you have to reapply for financial aid, your
financial aid package will change each year, depending on your parents tax returns and income for
that year.
With all this said, the most selective schools in the country with large endowments give very generous
financial aid packages, so most students at these schools are not paying the sticker price. More
incentive to reach higher!

Distance
How far do you want to be from home? Long distances can lead to homesickness, but it can also
promote growth and independence, as youll be forced to become self-reliant and make decisions
alone. Being further away from home also means itll cost more to travel home. So, if you or your
parents can only afford to bring you home for Christmas break, you may have to spend fall break,
Thanksgiving break, and/or Spring break on campus, or perhaps at a friends house who lives nearby.
But know that there are cheaper traveling alternatives, as opposed to taking a plane or using an
Amtrak train, such as Mega bus, Bolt Bus, or Greyhound.

Campus Culture
What is the campus vibe like? You can find out about campus life on a colleges website, or at
http://colleges.niche.com/ and Collegeboard.com. These sites will provide you with information on the
college, reviews from students, and rankings based on academics, weather, diversity, nightlife,
hotness of students, etc. But honestly, you will never know what its like to be a student on campus X
until you are a student there. No visitation weekend or even a plethora of review reading can totally
describe what being a student is like, but it can paint a portrait though, sometimes an abstract one.

Physical Environment

What location do you think would be most suitable for you sunny California or snowy Boston? Do you
want to attend school in a rural, urban, or suburban area? Schools near big cities can be more
appealing because of the part-time job opportunities, internships and the great entertainment options
they provide. Schools in rural areas are great for people who enjoy outdoor activities, such as hiking,
biking, running through the woods, or just enjoying nature. Colleges in suburban areas provide a
tranquil environment, with most activities typically occurring on-campus rather than off-campus.

Some Specific Examples in Comparing Colleges

New York University vs. Columbia They have very different campuses, but are both in the
middle of NYC. NYU has an open campus, whereas Columbias campus is more closed.

Smith College vs. Amherst They are both small liberal arts colleges near Boston, but Smith is
a womens college.

Cornell vs. Penn rural (-ish) vs. urban schools

Stanford vs. Harvard a West Coast vs. East Coast school

Duke vs. UChicago a Southern vs. a Midwestern school

Brown vs. Pepperdine They are similar in size, but very different in their locations and in the
religious, ethnic, political, and LGBTQ diversity of their students.

Important Questions to Find Answers To

What is the retention rate of the school? A retention rate is the percentage of students who go
on to continue to their next year. Retention rates can indicate whether students like the school
enough to spend their next three years there. They can also indicate how affordable the
college is. Some students drop out of school because theyre unable to continue paying tuition
and they have no other choice. Make sure to carefully consider where you decide to attend
college so that you complete your 4 years and receive your degree.

What special opportunities does the college offer?

Does the school offer discounted events/food in the community so that you can really explore
your environment?

Does the school have study abroad programs to destinations that interest you? How are they
paid for?

Does the school offer music festivals or other fun events for students?

Does the school have sports team with games youd want to go to? For instance, if youre
really into football and a school doesnt have a football team, then thats awkward...

What support system does the school have for students (counselors, academic centers)?

Some schools have a very structured academic curriculum (such as MIT); others have a very free-form
one (such as Brown University). Some schools are better equipped than others to address the concerns
of ethnic minorities, low-income students, LGBTQ students, international students, women, students
with physical and/or mental disabilities, or etc. Check whether the school has places and groups where
students can find support, including:

Ethnic/Diversity Centers

LGBTQ Centers

Womens Centers

Employment Centers

Housing Centers

Counseling Centers

These systems of support are so necessary because in college, many students become more aware of
who they are and the way society views them. So, if a college has a safe space for you to freely
express yourself and be your truest self, that is a precious bonus!

Lastly...
Dont be deterred from attending a certain college because you do not know what you want to major
in. Most students do not know what they want to do when they enroll, but your college will help you
discover your calling. They often do so by requiring students to take a few classes in various disciplines
so that students are exposed to a wide range of subjects and are placed outside of their comfort zone,
and into classes they would never take otherwise. Of those students who do think they know what they
want to do, many will change their minds once they begin college often many times. But if you do
know what you want to do, thats great, too! Its easier to find what youre looking for when you know
what that is.

The choices you make now, the people you surround yourself with, they all have the
potential to affect your life, even who you are, forever.
Sarah Dessen

How to do College Research

Part of the college research process is in figuring out how well your own profile aligns with the profiles
of students they typically admit. Here is an example of Boston Colleges average admit for the
academic year of XXX.

Boston College
Undergraduate Population

9,100

Student Body

52% male, 48% female

Acceptance Rate

32%

SAT average

2032

Percent of freshmen in top 10% of high school class

Faculty: Student Ratio

1:14

Tuition

$44,870

Average Financial Aid Package

$35,000

82%

http://www.bc.edu/offices/pubaf/about/facts.html

Most schools have this information available on their website. For others, you may have to dig deeper.
If youre a senior, you need to be aware of how well you match up with the colleges average admit
because, by senior year, most of the information you submit to colleges will not change very much
(GPA, course rigor, SAT/ACT, etc.). Do not be discouraged from applying to a school because your
profile may not align perfectly with what the school typically admits. If you really love the school, go
for it! Allow your desire to be a part of the student body to shine in your application. Some schools see
students as more than just numbers, so you never really know. Take a chance. Take the risk. The worst
they can say is no, and youve been told no before.

Do not look for appraisal except for the consciousness of doing your best.
Andrew Carnegie

Creating a College List

This section will help you compile all the schools youre considering into one of three categories:
Reach, Challenge, and Likely.

Reach

Challenge/Target

Challenge schools
Reaches are your
have profiles that
dream schools. They
have stats at or above match yours regarding
the types of students
yours. You should
they accept. You meet
have two or three of
their expectations,
these.
and while thats a
good indicator of
being accepted,
youre not always
guaranteed
admission. You should
have four of these.

Likely
Likely schools are ones
that, nearly without a
doubt, you will get into.
Your grades, test scores,
etc., surpass or match
the types of students
they typically admit.
These schools are your
back-up plan. They
ensure that you will
attend college. You
should have at least two
or three of these.

You have to use your own judgment and figure out where your profile fits in. A healthy college list has
8-10 schools in it. Avoid applying to too many schools because its really all about either quality or
quantity. Its better to focus on only 10 applications than on an additional 5 to schools you are not even
that interested in. You also do not want to apply to too few schools because you want to give yourself
the opportunity to get into a really good school. Just make sure that, when you add a school to your
list, regardless of whether its a reach, challenge, or likely, you would still say yes to the school if given
the opportunity to attend. If you dont want to go there, spend that application money on a college you
actually do want to attend. Set yourself up for success and happiness in college!

Dont bother to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than
yourself.
William Faulkner

Visiting Colleges
Once youve created a solid list of schools that you want to apply to, you should try your best to visit
them. Good times to do this would be over the summer and during breaks (Thanksgiving, winter,
spring); however, the downside to this is that many college students are not on campus during breaks,
so you wont get to experience the campus vibe. Visiting during the school year is also good, but you
will be missing your high school classes. See if your high school allows for excused absence days for
students making college visits. Also, college calendars are often different from high schools ones, so
you might be able to visit a live and thriving college campus at the end of August, before your high
school year starts in September, or at the end of June, after your high school classes finish. Be alert to
college academic schedules.
If youre going to visit the school, you should check in with their Admissions Office to see if they
conduct on-campus interviews. Definitely go on a tour of the campus. This way, you get to see the
campus while hearing fun facts and cool things the school offers from your tour guide. Some colleges
also do a session prior to each tour, where students and parents are allowed to ask questions about
the school, how financial aid works, etc., so ask the Admissions Office if they offer such an opportunity.
Some schools also offer fly-in visits, where you visit the campus for a weekend and learn about college
life there. Some fly-ins are only available to minorities and/or low-income students, but others are open
to everyone. The applications for these are quite simple. They ask you to submit your transcript,
SAT/ACT scores, and a maybe a short written statement. If you need financial assistance, the colleges
might provide it. Some schools will even pay for every students travel expenses, regardless of their
financial situation.
During these visit days, the prospective student is hosted by a current student for two-three days, and
also provided with meals. The visiting student attends classes, explores the school, and learns about
the financial aid process. The weekend stays are typically held from September through December. You
should begin applying for these visits during August and September.
Many schools also have admitted student days, and will fly admitted students out to visit the school.
For the school, these are attempts to woo you to study there after theyve accepted you. Definitely
take advantage of these opportunities once youre admitted. Youll get to meet future classmates who
you might quickly realize also got into a lot of the same schools you did, so its likely youll see them
on another fly-in. During these visits, keep in mind that the glitz and glam of admit days arent like
what happens during the academic school year. Colleges always put their best foot forward during
these days to attract you, and it will probably work.
Because not all colleges offer fly-in visits or admit student days, I highly recommend that you contact
the schools Admissions Office to inquire about open house visits/fly-ins/interviews. Also, reach out to
current students. If you have a friend that has a friend at a school youre interested in, he/she may be
willing to talk to you about the school.
Pro Tip:
I did a lot of fly-ins during my senior year of high school. I quickly
realized that many of my flights were on the same airline:
Southwest. So I set up a Southwest account, added my flight
numbers, and accumulated all those flyer miles! I recently used all
those miles to pay for a ticket to visit my friend in Cincinnati.

Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be homesick for a place you've never
been to, perhaps more homesick than for familiar ground.
- Judith Thurman

Applying Early
Some colleges give applicants the option to submit an early application. Applying early usually
increases an applicants chances of admission, and shows the school your commitment to attend if
admitted early. Most early admission deadlines are in November, and most applicants find out if
theyve been admitted in December/January. By comparison, the Regular Decision deadlines for most
schools are in late December/early January, and applicants find out about their admission decision in
late March/early April.
There are two ways to apply early: Early Decision and Early Action. Early Decision is binding,
meaning that admitted students HAVE to attend the school. This option is not as appealing because
you must attend, regardless of the financial aid package provided. However, some schools allow
students to opt out of this binding contract if they absolutely cannot afford to attend, even with the
financial aid package provided to them. Early Decision is also not as appealing because what was
initially your dream school could turn out not to be so dreamy after all once you learn a little more
about it. But early decision is still great because, like early action, it gives you a better chance of
getting into that school. On the other hand, early action allows students to apply early and is not
binding, so students can still consider other schools. Students admitted in early action dont have to
respond with their decision to attend until May 1 st, the national deadline for most other schools. So, if
you become unsure about attending the college you got into with early action, its okay because you
dont have to respond with your decision until the deadline for nearly every other school in the nation,
so you can still apply elsewhere. At the same time, if you get into your dream school with early action,
you can save a lot of money not having to send applications to additional schools.
Some schools have restrictive early action (REA), meaning that you can only apply to their school and
no other schools for early admission. However, if you were looking to apply to your state school early,
so that you could be considered for an academic scholarship, you might still be able to do so on top of
the REA school youre applying to. Just be sure to check with the REA school to make sure its okay.
If you apply early, there are four things that can happen to your application.
1.

Incomplete
These applications had missing elements not submitted to the institution on time, so the admission
committee was unable to consider the student. The committee may push your application to a
later admission round and request the missing documents. So, make sure youve sent in every
portion of your application on time, and your school counselor and recommenders have also done
the same.

2.

Accepted
Yay! Now that youve been admitted early, senioritis is more prone to attack. Stay strong! Schools
can rescind their offer of admission if your grades take a devastating turn in your final grade
report.

3.

Deferred
Being deferred means that you were not rejected, but you also were not admitted. So close, yet so
far away. Being deferred provides students with a glimmer of hope to still get into the school.
Deferred applications are automatically sent to the regular decision round, where they will be
reconsidered. A deferred application means that the admission committee was not prepared to
give the student a definite decision. They may want to see your first semester grades on your midyear report (this report is not available to colleges for students who apply early), awards youve
won, and any other major accomplishments that could come about in your senior year.

If youre deferred:

4.

You can contact the admissions representative for your area to ask why you were deferred.

You now have even more of a reason to obtain a really good mid-senior-year report.

If you receive any major awards/accomplishments, you should let the school know so that they
can be added to your application.

You can submit additional letters of recommendation.

You should communicate with your counselor because admissions representatives may contact
them to talk about your application.

OR, you can just let it go and take this time to consider your other options.

Rejected
If you are rejected, there is very little hope for reconsideration. Some schools do allow a petition
for reconsideration upon rejection, but this is mainly for technical reasons, e.g., your test score was
sent, but it was a lower score than the higher score that was supposed to be sent and youre later
able to provide a higher one. Other schools do not want to hear it and will not let you appeal.
Rejection hurts, but, if anything, the school is missing out on a great student, and there is another
school out there that will accept you!
Note that even with a rejection, the game isnt over. If you get rejected from your dream school but
you really want to go there, consider attending someplace else for a year or two then reapplying to
your dream school as a transfer student. Be sure to keep your grades up and be a stellar college
student, and your dream school will take a closer look at your application the next time around.

If you apply Regular Decision, you can be:

1.

Accepted
Yay! The school loves you and they want you to attend, and that is awesome.

2.

Waitlisted
There is still hope! You may be pulled off the waitlist if a college does not have enough students
who accepted their initial offers of admission to fill the class. Although there is still hope, you
should take this time to consider the other schools you were admitted to.

3.

Rejected
There is no hope for this school sorry! For the most part, at least, and not at this time. Some
schools will allow you to appeal your rejection, but only in very specific circumstances. Other
schools just dont want to hear it. But as mentioned above, if it really is your dream school,
consider going someplace else for a year or two then reapplying as a transfer student. If you go
this route, your academic performance in those first couple of years before transfer are critical. But
dont give up on your dream just because someone in Admissions said no. Keep your eye on the
prize.

Likely Letters
Some schools send likely letters to students before the official admission result release date for both
early action and regular decision applicants. Likely letters are basically coming from admissions
officers who are saying you will probably be admitted, and then giving you a huge wink. Some letters
literally say, "You are likely to be admitted." Other likely letters are not as direct. For instance, I
received a likely letter from the University of Notre Dame that said I was likely to be admitted, and
they invited me to visit their school. Whereas, for Duke, I was invited to their Black Student Alliance
Invitational, which was set to begin the same day applicants received their admission decision. So that
invite also served as a likely letter, since I figured Duke would not invite me to be on their campus
when they released decisions, and then be like LOL, jk, you didnt get in. However, these letters are
not set in stone. Admission officers can still alter the decision if they receive any bad information about
you. So either do not do anything bad, or just make sure admissions does not find out.

Every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being redirected to something better.
Steve Maraboli

Pro Tip:
I applied early to a school I thought was my dream school. After being deferred, I
realized I had to seriously consider my next two favorite options. When regular
admissions came around, I didnt even care if I had gotten in or not. I had already
let the school go, and I fell for another school. Regardless of what happens, the
school will really choose you. You will end up where you are meant to be, honestly.
And if you dont like it, just transfer out and go study someplace else.

Tackling the Essay Portion

Many of your schools will accept the Common Application. The Common App is an online application
that allows you to fill out one main application and send it to all the schools on your list. Most public
schools dont accept the Common App though, and you will instead submit an application through their
website.
The essay portion
writing skills and add
officers know about
this portion
compile a college list,
prompts together in a
files so that, if your
Group the essays
ways to answer each
to write a small

gives you the ability to display your

what you want so the admissions
you from your application. To tackle
effectively and efficiently, after you
I suggest putting all the essay
single Word document. Back up your
computer crashes, you will be okay.
with similar prompts. Then brainstorm
group of questions while only having
number of essays.

After I went through

all my main essay prompts and
categorized them, I
ended up with one essay on
extracurricular
activities, one on my educational
pursuits, and one on
my culture. I worked really hard to
write three stellar
essays, and I reused each essay as
much as possible.
Remember, quality over quantity. It is
better to write three
great essays than ten mediocre ones.
And, reuse, reuse,
reuse! If you have a 500 word essay
that also answers the
prompt of a 150 word essay, you can
make it happen. Its important to learn what information is necessary to keep, and what is not. If the
part you want to keep doesnt answer the prompts, then its got to go. It is not easy, chopping essays,
but it will save you time and still result in quality work. But if you are really struggling, you should
reach out to your English teacher for help, or a trusted person who writes really well.

Personal Essays
Admissions officers have to read thousands of essays, so make yours stand out. These personal essays
are not the standard 5 paragraph essay with a thesis, introduction, and conclusion that youve been
writing through all of high school. Personal essays should be more of a narrative which allows the
reader to get a better glimpse into who you are and your experiences, that still roughly follow the
standard essay format. If youre having trouble deciding what to write, you can follow these steps.
1.

Find a particular moment/event/person that has heavily impacted or influenced you greatly.

2.

Now, if you had to talk about this event, but you were only allowed to describe one scene from
the event, which would you talk about?

3.

Take this scene, and write about it. But, the key is to write it using a lot of details and
descriptions. Dont say I walked into the hospital, but describe the hospital room, the colors,
the lights, and the people, how you walked in, etc. You want the reader to feel like they are
there with you, in that room. Provide adequate descriptors but not too much as space is
limited.

4.

Then, for the rest of your essay, you want to talk about what you learned from it, how it
allowed you to grow, and how it influenced/impacted you.

These 4 steps will help you create a solid blueprint for your essay. You should read the essays in this
guide for inspiration. And, after you write your first draft, you should have someone peer edit it:
someone who is a good reader and writer, and someone who you trust. Even after reading your own
essay over and over again, you will miss things that others might notice. Its important that the person
reading it is someone who you trust so that you: 1. feel comfortable sharing personal information with
them, and 2. see their feedback as constructive criticism not meant to hurt you. The more feedback
you get, the better your essays can be! These essays will take a lot of revising. So dont become
overwhelmed if you feel like youve been working on draft after draft after draft. Perfection takes time.
Rome wasnt built in a day.
Many essays have word limits, and even if an essay does not have one, you should stick to no more
than 600-700 words per essay unless instructed otherwise. Essays longer than this can become
repetitive and bury the main point. You certainly do not want to do that. Also, remember that these
admissions officers read thousands of essays so if yours isnt holding their attention for any reason,
you risk that they will stop reading. And if you do find yourself going over the word limit, its time to
cut and delete. Refer back to my cutting and deleting tips for help, and sometimes you can recognize
wordy passages and rewrite them to save space. Also, make sure that your essay is as fine-tuned as
possible regarding the mechanics of writing (grammar, usage, structure) so that you dont distract
from the content. Go for perfection here. Admissions officers do notice these things.
During your time on this earth, you may have experienced maybe sorrow and/or maybe
joy. Take your unique experiences and be fearless in sharing them. Let them make you
stand out among the rest.
Wilglory Tanjong, your author

SAT/ACT
Getting the Coveted 1600, 36, or 800
Most colleges will require that you send in your standardized test scores for either the SAT (Scholastic
Aptitude Test) or the ACT (American College Test.) These tests are actually very different and suit
different types of people.
The ACT is an achievement test that measures what a student has learned in school. The test is
composed of five sections: English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing. The English, Math, Reading,
and Science sections are scored out of 36 points, while the Writing section is scored from 2-12. The
writing score is separate and is not included in your composite score, so the highest composite score
you can receive is a 36. The writing section is often optional, but some schools require it. The ACT does
not penalize for guessing, so students are encouraged to fill in all the bubbles.
As for the SAT, it is being revamped and revised. Currently, the highest composite score on the test is
a 2400, with three sections included: Critical Reasoning, Math, and Writing, accounting for 800 points
each. A penalty exists for guessing, so 1/4th of a point is taken off for every incorrect answer.
Therefore, its often better to leave an answer blank if you cant narrow down the choices, and then get
no points rather than guessing, getting it wrong, and getting points taken off.
But, starting in March of 2016, the SAT will be releasing a new test. Its going from being more of an
aptitude test that measures reasoning and verbal abilities to being an achievement test, like the ACT,
that measures what students have learned in school. The new sections are Reading, Writing and
Language, Math, and then the essay. Each section is becoming more analytical, and the essay will be
optional. As for vocabulary, they are no longer testing students on obscure words like punctilious, but
instead on words that are widely used in college and career. Questions called sentence completion
are being scrapped, and there will no longer be a guessing penalty, meaning that points arent going
to be taken off for wrong answers.

Preparing for the SAT/ ACT

You should take both tests to decide which one is better for you and because different colleges require
different tests. The SAT is better for people who are deeper thinkers, and students taking this test are
given more time to answer thought-provoking questions. The ACT has significant time constraints and
is better for students who can answer direct questions rapidly. If you cant afford to take both tests,
contact your school to see if youre eligible for a fee waiver. And if you use an SAT fee waiver to take
the test, Collegeboard will also provide you with 4 free college application fee waivers.
Do not beat yourself up for getting a low score, though. They are standardized tests, but not everyone
gets the same preparation for them in their high school curricula. Some students in the country will
take these exams without ever having covered the testing material because the schools they attended
may not be the best, education-wise. Others may have been preparing for these exams for years. But
this does not mean that, if you come from a low-performing school, you cannot succeed on these
exams... because you can.
You should first take the test(s) during your sophomore/junior year and consider it a practice run. You
can also take the PSAT as practice for the SAT. If youre a senior, you should take the test as soon as
possible. Learn which test you prefer, what your weak areas are, and where you need to improve. If
you can, get a test prep tutor. Although they can be expensive, sometimes these tutors offer discounts.

Students are not encouraged to take the test more than three times because, after the third time,
statistics show that scores do not improve.

SAT Subject Tests

These are also known as the SAT Iist, and test your knowledge in specific subject areas (e.g.,
Literature, History, and Biology). These tests allow colleges to see which subjects you excel in. They
are scored out of 800 points, and students are penalized for guessing. Some schools require that you
submit scores for one-three Subject Tests (typically more selective schools). Other schools do not
require these tests at all, and some may highly recommend that you send scores, meaning, you
should definitely look into taking them.
You should take the test immediately following taking the Honors or AP (Advanced Placement) course
for that subject, especially if you take the AP exam in the same year. If youre already a senior, you
should start preparing to take the next available test. Its helpful to take them early and during the
same year that you take the test subjects advanced course because youre more likely to remember
the content, and you will free up precious time you need during senior year. Also, it is recommended
(and required for some schools) that you take Subject Tests in different subject areas to display
diversity in your knowledge areas.

THE KEY:
These tests have the same types of questions and concepts they repeat over and over again. So after
you take the test multiple times, youll become accustomed to the test. Youll be able to quickly pick up
when theres a trick question, what answer theyre looking for, and what you have to do to get the
answer, etc.
So, to get a high score without any test prep tutors, you need to first take a lot of practice exams. You
can get an SAT or ACT book from a bookstore or your local library, and these generally have practice
tests in them. There are also practice tests online. After you take a timed practice test, you must go
over every question you get wrong, understand WHY you got it wrong, and do your best to make sure
to not miss the same type of question again. And if you do make the same mistake again, its
important to acknowledge why you made the mistake and what tripped you up. Timing yourself is
crucial because you need to build test stamina. Taking so many tests over and over again is
overwhelming, but its important to not get discouraged. Your score will improve. If you are
determined, you will succeed.

Pro Tip:
After taking the ACT and the SAT, I felt more comfortable with the ACT and decided to master that test.
Every day after school, I took an ACT test. Depending on how much homework I had, I would dedicate
2-3 hours per day to the tests and do 2 or 3 sections of the ACT.
For instance, one day, I might do the entire test, or I would take the math and reading section and save
the science section for another day. I used the answer keys in the back of the test prep books to
correct my wrong answers, and I made sure that I thoroughly understood why I got questions wrong.
And if I still didnt understand, I would Google the question and hope that I could find an explanation
online. And if that didnt work, I would go to my teachers with questions. I did this for the two weeks
leading up to the test, and I ended up taking over 20 tests. When it came time to take the official test, I
just sailed right through it. It was just like taking another practice test, except it was in a classroom.
The result? My score increased significantly. This method isnt easy, but it does work. So much practice
will make perfect, or at least get you close to it.

Never, never, never give up.

Winston Churchill

Applying to a Military School

There are five federal military academies in the United States: the United States Military Academy
(West Point), the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the United States
Coast Guard Academy, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The only price you pay is
service. Students dont pay tuition, or room or board, but all graduates do have a service obligation of
at least 5 years.

Application Process:
1. Meet the eligibility requirements

Applicants must be citizens of the United States, and at least 17 but younger than 23 by July 1 st of
the admission year, as well as unmarried, not pregnant, and without dependents. Noncitizens may
be eligible through a special agreement between the government of their country and the United
States.

2. Submit a preliminary application

Each academy makes this application available for online download, or you can request that a copy
be mailed to you.

3. Apply for a nomination

Every applicant must obtain an official nomination. Those qualified to nominate candidates include
the Vice President of the United States, U.S. Representatives, and U.S. Senators.

4. Take the college admissions tests

The academies require high scores on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the American
College Test (ACT).

5. Complete a medical examination

The medical exam is given by the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board
(DODMERB).

6. Take the Candidate Fitness Assessment

Due to the rigorous nature of the academy programs, candidates must be in top physical condition.
This assessment consists of physical tests designed to check your stamina and movement.

7. Wait for your status

The academy will make a decision when it has received every part of your application package.

8. Interview.
An official interview with your Blue and Gold officer is required to complete your application.

http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Steps-for-Admission/

It is a proud privilege to be a soldier a good soldier [with] discipline, self-respect, pride

in his unit and his country, a high sense of duty and obligation to comrades and to his
superiors, and a self-confidence born of demonstrated ability.
George S. Patton Jr.

Applying to a
Visual and/or Performing Arts School
These types of schools focus on the arts and have different special requirements for students who are
applying, so I encourage you to read the schools website and be aware of all requirements. Things like
grades/GPA and test scores might be less important in the application process, in comparison to the
extraordinary talent they are looking for. You are likely to be asked to audition or perform, so practice,
practice, practice!

Here is a helpful link if you are considering applying to a performing arts school.
http://www.petersons.com/college-search/music-school-applying-arts.aspx

Examples of specialized visual/performing arts schools are Juilliard and RISD (the Rhode Island School
of Design). Some of these schools are part of a larger college, such as Oberlins Conservatory of Music
or NYUs Tisch School of the Arts. These schools can have a completely separate application (like
Oberlin), but they can also use the same application as their parent school and ask for additional
materials (like NYU).

Practice doesn't make perfect. Practice reduces the imperfection.

Toba Beta

Once You Hit Submit

Even after submitting your application, there is still more work to be done. You should receive emails
from the colleges you applied to, confirming that theyve received your primary application. You should
also receive additional emails about how to access their online portal, a site where you can see
whether all your application components made it to the admission office (test scores, recommendation
letters, etc.). You should regularly check this site to make sure your application is complete and youre
aware of when and how decisions will be released (either snail mail, email, or through the online
portal). If youre not getting emails, check your spam or call the admissions office just to make sure
they received your application. Its better to be safe than sorry!

After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
Nelson Mandela

Interviews
Some schools offer on-campus interviews (e.g. Carnegie Mellon), and some will require that you do an
alumni interview as a part of your application (e.g. Georgetown). An alumni interview is simply an
interview with an alum. These interviews are provided to students who have alumni interviewers in
their area. If youre offered an interview, you should definitely do it. Interviews add more depth to your
application and can help you stand out.
When doing an interview, you should:

Always be on time, which really means you need to be early. To be early is to be on time. To be
on time is to be late. And to be late will not look good.

Make sure you do research on the college prior to the interview. You should be ready to answer
this question: Why do you want to attend _______?

Be prepared to answer common college interview questions.

What will you contribute to the college community?

What do you expect to gain from the college?

What do you plan to major in and why?

What contributions to society do you intend to make after you graduate?

What do you do in your free time?

And of course: Can you tell me about yourself? This will most likely be the very first
question of the interview. You should talk about your interests, your extracurricular
activities, your passions, etc.

The last question the interviewer will ask is probably going to be: Do you have any questions
for me?, and of course, you do! Always ask a question. You can ask them about their

experience at the college, their career, or how the college prepares its students for the real
world. You want them to know that your interest in the school is genuine. So make sure you ask
them at least one question when they ask you if you have one.

Dress appropriately. Some interviewers will actually ask you to dress casually, which never
means shorts and a tank top but rather khakis and a pressed shirt or top. Your best bet is to
dress to impress.

Shake the interviewers hand firmly and look them squarely in the eye. In US culture, weak or
limp handshakes are generally perceived as the person being less confident and nervous, and
little-to-no eye contact is perceived similarly or worse, like you have something to hide.

Remember that this is a casual conversation between you and the interviewer, so laugh and smile. If
youre nervous, you should do practice interviews with your other college-bound friends. But at the end
of the day, this interview is not the end-all, be-all. Alumni interviewers are not admissions officers, so
their evaluation of you only carry so much weight.

Changing the world does not mean changing the whole world, but changing somebody
elses world.
Rani Jaswal