I am currently in grad school, so I wanted to share my experience on how I was able to get into a school and the application process. I was inspired by this idea because one of my followers asked me how I had gotten into NYU, so I figured if I could help her, I can help others as well ^.^ I remember being in her position four years ago, when I was in high school and I remembered how confused I was about this whole process and half the time I did not know what I was doing, but luckily, I did something right and I was able to get into one of my dream schools. Now, four years later, I had to go through that process again and although it was a bit similar, it was different. I will start off by explaining the undergrad process and then I will do a post on how to get into grad school.
Basics
Research!!
Tests, yuck!
Essay Writing Time. Yay!
There's basically two essays that you have to write, for the most part and I say that because some schools only require a personal statement, while others require a detailed biography or an essay on why they should accept you. Many senior English classes require you to write a personal statement amongst other essays, so don't be too worried if you're not as good as Ernest Hemingway or Edgar Allan Poe. It's okay, they know you're only a high school student, but make sure your essay is free from mistakes. When you write your essay, make sure you have several people look at it and I mean it. Have your English teacher look at it or go to the career center and have a career counselor look at it. Those people are there to help you, so use your resources!!
Time to Apply
Ways to Make You a Better Candidate
Schools are looking for people that have other interests other than just having good grades. Get involved and join clubs or play sports and volunteer. You want to make yourself stand out and not just be some boring candidate that doesn't do anything, but go to school. I'm not saying to not care about your school work, but do something other than just going to school. Build a stronger networking system because you are going to need letters of recommendation, so building a good relationship with the head teacher of the debate team, might be a way to start. Make yourself known and market yourself. I was in band practically my whole life, but I didn't want to be known as just a band geek and nerd, so I started volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club and I became a Big Sister, while being in five other clubs, I had a meeting during every lunch period, but it was okay because of extra curricular activities, I was able to stand out and be accepted into the school of my choice.
I Got In, but I Can't Afford To Go...
Don't worry! You're not the only one. Many colleges offer scholarships and full rides, so look on their website or call the school to look at your choices. Also, there's Financial Aid (FAFSA), the application opens up January 1st every year and the deadline is always around March 2nd, for most colleges and universities. The sooner you apply, the better. I have heard that if you apply early when the application opens up, there's a bigger chance you will get more money, but I am not sure...I am still figuring that one out. There's always ways around money issues. My family is not rich whatsoever, my parents still get paid minimum wage and they've been working at their jobs for more than twenty years, so I know what it's like to not be well off.
Where Do I Live?
You got it, congrats! But you don't know whether to live on-campus or off-campus. I think every student out there faces this problem. There's so many perks of living off-campus as there is to live on-campus, so I don't blame you, but I will help you make your choice. Here are some reasons to help you make your decision:
On-Campus
-You will be able to meet people faster because all the other freshman will be on the same page and they'll just want to make friends and meet people.
-You can wake up twenty minutes before class and still be on time
-You save yourself stress from searching for a place to live at
-You wont have to take a bus or subway or drive to school, so you same time
Off-Campus
-For the most part, it's cheaper.
-You have more freedom.
-You'll be more independent.
Do's and Don'ts
Don’ts
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Do
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-Don't just apply to a school because you
want to be with your friends or bf/gf
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-Do apply to the same schools, but consider what
you want first.
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-Don’t apply the night before, save yourself some stress
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-Do Apply for Financial Aid
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-Don’t be sad if you didn’t get into the school of your
choice, that’s what your back up schools are there for
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-Do apply to more than one school
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-Don’t go to a school just because it’s far away from home
or vice versa
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-Do visit your career center as often as possible and ask
for help (or just go and eat the candy they have or drink their coffee)
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Helpful Links
-SAT
-ACT-Financial Aid (FAFSA)