This document provides guidance on factors to consider and avoid when choosing a college, such as size, location, majors offered, and parental or social pressures. It also offers tips for the application process like creating a list of safety, match, and reach schools, writing compelling essays that reveal character, and preparing for interviews by researching the school and having thoughtful questions prepared. The document concludes by providing sample college application mentor contact information.

1. CompassPoint

2. FACTORS TO CONSIDER FACTORS TO AVOID
 Size  A significant other
 Public/Private  Following friends
 Location  Parental pressure
 Price
 Majors offered

3.  Start with list of 15 and narrow down
 3 Reach schools
 Highly selective schools that will be your top
choice
 3 Match schools
 Schools at which your stats stack up favorably
 2 Safety schools
 Schools which you are very likely to get into

4.  Your application and scores already show
how smart you are and how hard you work so
this is not the purpose of your essay
 Essays need to reveal something about your
character
 If there is no word limit, 500 is the rule of
thumb
 Keep your focus narrow and personal
 Stay in line with your topic
 Be specific, use vivid details, and avoid clichés

5.  Picking a topic is one of the hardest components
of writing a college essay
 Easy ways to start:
 Significant interest or experience
 Where do you see yourself, career wise, 10 years from
now?
 Describe your most rewarding experience
 Evaluate a specific experience or risk you have taken
and its impact on you
 Whatever the topic is write about something you can
write with passionate about

6.  Many top tier schools include interviews in their
application (including both 1 on 1 & group
interviews)
 If interview is optional, definitely request for one to
bolster your application
 You will likely receive an interview request via
email from a school alumni
 Have an appropriate email address (i.e.
firstlast@gmail.com)
 Respond promptly to interview invitations and use
proper email etiquette
 Appear as professional as possible

7.  Do research about the school & your
interviewer (if possible)
 Prepare specific questions for your
interviewer about classes/campus
clubs/intended field of study
 Ask questions about your interviewer’s school
experience
 Don’t hesitate to email interviewer questions
if anything is unclear about the time/location

8.  Arrive 10 min. early
 Introduce yourself with a firm handshake
 Relax! The interview should be a conversation
 Maintain eye contact
 Don’t chew gum
 Smile/ Show positive emotion throughout
 Attire: Business Casual (Better to be
overdressed than underdressed)

9.  Why do you want to attend XYZ university?
 What are you passionate about?
 What are some activities you do in your spare
time?
 What separates you from other applicants?
 How will you contribute to the diversity of the
student body of XYZ university if you’re
accepted?

10.  Prepare a 30 sec. elevator pitch that would set you
apart from other potential candidates
 This pitch should highlight your interests and
accomplishments as well as what you are looking for in the
school. Memorize the speech by heart and learn to deliver
it with confidence.
 Don’t be overly aggressive in asking questions to the
interviewer, let other applicants have their time too
 Establish rapport with your mentor by finding
commonalities
 Stay after to thank your interviewer and ask any
additional questions if necessary

11.  One day post-interview, follow up with a
thank you email & mention something you
learned /thought was interesting
 Email your interviewer after college decisions
come out to let him/her know your final
choice

12.  Michael Gao (michael.gao328@gmail.com)
 UMD-CP, 2015
 David Guhl (davidguhl1992@gmail.com)
 Cornell University, 2014
 Asheel Kakkad (akakkad@gmail.com)
 UMD-CP, 2014
 Fay Yu (fayyu92@yahoo.com)
 UMD-CP, 2014