This document provides tips for perfecting college applications. It discusses the importance of grades, rigor of coursework, test scores, applications, essays, recommendations, activities, interviews, demonstrated interest, and having a strong senior year. Specific advice is given for each area, such as checking transcript accuracy, continuing extracurricular involvement, editing essays, preparing for interviews, and demonstrating interest in colleges. The overall message is that senior year performance and application materials are critical for college admissions.

1. Perfecting Your
College Applications
Dr. Rebecca Joseph
Getmetocollege.org/hs
getmetocollege@gmail.com

2. What Do Colleges Look For…
 Grades
 Rigor of Coursework
 Test Scores
 Applications
 Essays
 Recommendations
 Activities
 Interviews
 Demonstrated Interest
 Strong Senior Years

3. Grades
 Grades are the top factor of admissions.
 Please make sure to enter all academic information
correctly on applications.
 Get an official copy of your transcript and check.
 Get extra copies for future usage.
 Make sure you report the correct GPA—don’t estimate.
Ask your counselor.
 Senior year is critical year. Colleges will see your
grades.
 Most colleges will see your first semester even after
application is submitted.
 You can even send in first quarter grades to early
colleges.
 Colleges will see second semester-avoid the black hole
of senioritis

4. Let’s Not Let This Happen

5. Rigor of Coursework
 Colleges expect you to keep the
difficulty of your classes consistent
through senior year.
 You list your senior grades on
applications.
 If you change classes, you must notify
colleges.
 You cannot drop classes.
 If you are planning on transferring, your
grades all year are the most important of
all time.

6. Test Scores
 You have one more time to take two
more times to take the SAT and one
more time to take the ACT.
 You must send your test scores to
colleges. They are not official unless you
send them.
 Double-check that colleges received
scores.
 Some colleges take
◦ Only highest overall day
◦ Highest per section

7. Applications

8. Applications
 Keep all application usernames and
passwords on your phone and on your
computer
 Once you apply, please make sure to
keep all emails—they will send you
college specific user names, enable
you to track status of all submitted
materials, and send you info about
scholarships
 Make sure all paperwork is submitted

9. Applications-Part 2
 Make sure you fill out all sections of
applications.
 Look at optional sections and see if
you can submit key additional
information
 Spend the rest of November and
December completing high quality
applications.
 Print them out before submitting and
double-check for mistakes or

10. Recommendations
 Please remind teachers and counselors
to submit your recommendations in time
for your colleges.
 Give them brag sheets and graded
papers.
 Track the submission on Naviance,
Common Application, and individual
college websites.
 If you need extra recommendations,
contact recommenders now and find out
how to submit the recommendations
 Give gift cards and thank you notes.

11. Activities
 Make sure to continue with your
leadership and initiative in activities.
 If colleges ask for activities, be as
descriptive about your leadership and
initiative as possible.
 Keep a record of what you do all year.
 If you are planning to transfer, your
activities are key this year and next
summer.
 Make sure you have an up-to-date
resume.

12. Application Essays
 You need to keep revising your essays
 Make sure they answer all parts of the
prompt
 Make sure you give visuals and key
examples of your leadership and
initiative
 Have someone you trust proof them for
grammar and technical
 Format the essays correctly.
◦ Common Application
◦ Other applications

13. 10 Essay Reviewing
Questions
1. Does your essay start with a story that hooks us in from the
first paragraph?
2. If you start in the past, do you get to the present very
quickly? Colleges want to know about the recent you. Great
essays can start more recently and weave in past events.
3. Do you write only in the first person and not spend too
much time describing anyone or anything else? Use my
one-third-two-third rule. You may not spend more than 1/3
of the essay describing anything other than your own
activities and goals.
4. If you are writing about your community or family or
location, do you get to the present and your life and life
works quickly? Can this description only connect to you and
your story of who are you and how you are making a
difference?
5. Do you only tell one story and not try to tell your entire life
story?

14. More Reviewing Questions
6. If you are writing about an obstacle or challenge or failure overcome, do
you get to how you have responded and made a difference in the life of
your community by the second or third paragraph of the essay?
Admissions officers want to know who are you and how you make an
impact drawing upon your obstacles or challenges or failures.
7. Do you have a metaphor that goes through the entire piece…does this
metaphor reveal who you are and what you offer to potential colleges? You
can embed this metaphor throughout out your piece.
8. Can I close my eyes and picture your story? Does it make you sound
unique and not like anyone else applying? Can I see your leadership and
initiative and the power of what you will offer a college campus?
9. Do you tell new stories and qualities in each separate essay your write?
Do you make sure to reveal powerful information and core messages that
colleges will need to know to admit you and give you money to attend?
10. Endings-Do you end with a bang? Do you make it clear by the end you
have goals and aspirations that drive you. Your endings must be specific
for some prompts like the University of California and University of Texas,
but can be more oblique and implied in Common Application and many
supplementary essays. Do you end your essays leaving the reader with
the desire to get to know you more, to see you on his or her campus, and
to share your essay with someone else?

15. Interviews and Campus Visits
 Go to college websites and see if they
conduct interviews
 Check my tips.
http://getmetocollege.org/hs/short-and-sweet-
interview-tips
 Interviews are information or evaluative.
 Many campuses do them after you submit
application. Make sure your respond to
requests immediately.
 Make sure you prepare and send a thank you
note within 48 hours.
 Also it’s not too late to visit colleges on your
list that are within an hour or two away.

16. Demonstrated Interest

17. Demonstrated Interest
 Try to visit local colleges on your list if you
haven’t already.
 Even if you can’t visit, you can demonstrate
interest to a college.
 One of the college specific webcasts today
counts.
 You can read their blogs, you can follow them on
twitter, you can go to local events.
 Keep track of what you learn so you can use it in
a college specific essay or contact info on
Common Application.
 If you apply, and then something really cool
happens, send the admissions officer in charge
of your area with an update email.

18. Senior Year
 Senior year is difficult in many ways
but it is essential to do well.
 You must keep your grades as high as
possible.
 You can apply for as many
scholarships as possible.
 You must enjoy yourself but not allow
the black hole of senioritis to take over
your life.
◦ Two stories

19. You can do it!
 I know you can make the next few
months really count.
 If you need any help,
◦ Look at my website: getmetocollege/hs
◦ Follow me on twitter @getmetocollege
◦ I will post this powerpoint on Slide Share:
Get Me To College