Understanding The “Early Decision” For College Applications

Understanding The

Photo by SGrace

Understanding The “Early Decision” For College Applications

If you go to a high school that is college preparatory or you’re working to get into a college that has a competitive application process, then you’ve probably heard the term “early decision” in regards to your college applications. You may have a vague idea that this means something about getting your application done early and finding out before others about whether or not you’ve been accepted to the school. But do you really know what “early decision” means? How can you tell if it’s right for you?

The “early decision” in the college application process does mean exactly that; you’ll get a decision early on in the game about whether or not the school accepts you. By early, most colleges mean that they will tell you by December of your senior year of high school whether or not you will be able to attend their school in the fall of the following year. There are pros and cons to the early decision process which you should consider before you go this route with your college applications.

On the plus side, applying for “early decision” means that you will know in advance whether or not you’ve gotten in to the college of your choice. If you apply and don’t get in, you can still apply to the back-up schools that you were considering. And if you do get in, then you can relax a little bit about the college application process. When everyone else is going crazy with their applications in the beginning of the second semester of senior year, you’ll be planning for your spring break celebrations.

However, “early decision” applications come with their own stresses. You need to get your applications done early so just when everyone else in school is enjoying the beginning of senior classes and the last homecoming dance, you’re going to be prepping your application. And even getting accepted early can have some stress associated with it, because if you get accepted early, you have to agree early to go to the school and making that final decision can be a bit harrowing early in the game.

The “early decision” is primarily designed for those students who have one college which really stands out for them as the college of their choice. Some students have a family history associated with the school (a “four generations have gone here” kind of thing) and some students are strongly interested in a particular program (an outstanding one-of-a-kind dance degree, for example) and so they know that they really want to get in to a particular school. By applying for “early decision”, these students will stand out during the application process, get that edge up and know early on whether or not they need to apply to back-up schools.

For students who aren’t quite sure about what schools they want to attend or who plan to apply to a number of different schools and to see which ones offer the best packages in terms of financial aid, the stresses of “early decision” application probably won’t outweigh the benefits. But for students who know where they want to go, the “early decision” application can be the way to get the stress over with as quickly as possible.

[tags]early decision, college early decision, college applications, applying to college, college acceptence, college acceptence letters, getting in a college, early college decision[/tags]

Finding and Getting College Scholarships

finding and getting college scholarships
Photo by J.Michael Sullivan

Finding and Getting College Scholarships

College scholarships are those coveted financial aid packages which do not need to be repaid, allowing you to get your education at no or low cost. Because they’re so great, there’s often a lot of competition for college scholarships which can be intimidating to some students. They think that if they aren’t the best athlete or the valedictorian of their class, they won’t be offered college scholarships. While it may be true that no magic scholarship scout is going to come out of the woodwork to offer you free money, it’s not true that you have to be the crème de la crème of your class to get a college scholarship. College scholarships are available for all sorts of different students and you are almost guaranteed to be able to get one if you’re willing to do some footwork.

(1) Put Your Time In To Finding College Scholarships

The first thing that you need to be willing to do is to put some time in to finding college scholarships. The first place that you want to start is with your current school and the schools to which you are applying. Your high school or community college will have financial aid advisors who can point you in the right direction of college scholarships which are right for you. Individual colleges also offer many different scholarships, so you should contact the financial aid offices there to see which scholarships are available that you might qualify to obtain.

(2) Broaden Your College Scholarship Search

After exhausting the resources at your school and the schools of your academic interest, you should broaden your college scholarship search. There are numerous books and websites which provide information on different scholarships. It will take some time to go through these and find the scholarships which you’re a match for but the time will be well-rewarded with money. You can save a bit of this time by signing up on college scholarship search pages. These sites allow you to put in information about your education and background and then will run a search to find which college scholarships are a match for you.

(3) Apply to Your Chosen College Scholarships

Once you find the scholarships, you need to apply to get them. Be organized about your college scholarship application process. Make sure you know all of the deadlines well in advance as well as what materials are required. For some college scholarships, you hardly need to do more than prove that you meet the minimum qualification. For others, you will need letters of recommendation, high school transcripts and essays. Keep track of what you need and make sure that you complete each step of the application process so that you have a chance to be considered for each scholarship.

(4) Never Give Up.

Finally, don’t give up. If you’ve applied for college scholarships and aren’t receiving them, you can try some alternative methods of getting free funding for your education. Consider checking with local groups which don’t advertise college scholarships but may consider sponsoring your education. Or run some fundraisers of your own to gather the cash you need to pay for school. If worse comes to worst, you can apply for financial aid in the form of loans and work part time during school to cover the costs. College scholarships are there to be found and used but they aren’t the only way of paying for school. A commitment to your education will pay off in the end.

[tags]finding scholarships, find scholarships, getting scholarships, college scholarships, scholarships, research scholarships[/tags]

Making A College Application Checklist

collegeapplicationchecklists-Making A College Application Checklist
Photo by Mr. Snappy

One of the biggest things which can cause you to not get into the college of your choice is your failure to stay organized during the application process. You wouldn’t believe how many students manage to miss their SAT tests because they overslept on the day of the exam or how many college applications don’t ever get looked at because the applicants failed to get them in to the college by deadline. If you can stay organized about the application process, meet or beat all deadlines involved in applying to school and know what you sent to where and when, you’ll be far ahead of the college application game. Creating a college application checklist for yourself can help.

The college application checklist is merely an organized list of all of the things that you need to do in the process of applying to college. It includes listing all of the schools to which you want to apply along with their application requirements, their deadlines and their expected reply dates. It also includes lists of all of the pre and post application activities which you need to be on top of; things such as taking the SATs, making sure that you get your letters of recommendation in order and placing those follow-up calls to the contacts that you made at the schools of your choice. If you can do all of these things before you’re supposed to, you’ll be making the impression that you need to make to get into the college that you want to go to.

So what needs to go on the college application checklist?

First, you should make a list of all of the colleges to which you might apply. Running along the top of this list should be a list of items necessary to each application which you need to check off as the application process goes on. These categories may include:

  • Request information and application from school.
  • List application fees and payment methods.
  • List deadline for application. Note early-admit deadlines if interested.
  • List all required materials for each college, since they differ. Note whether an interview is part of the application.
  • Make a note about financial aid application deadlines for each school.
  • Note the date that the application was sent.
  • Note the expected date of arrival of your response from the school.

This is your basic college application checklist. It shows you where you want to go, when your applications need to be in and what they’ll consist of and whether or not you sent them in. But you’ll want to have more than just this basic college application checklist if you’re going to stay ahead of the game. Other items that you want to make notes of on your college application checklist:

  • SAT / ACT dates of exam, when results are due and which schools you had results sent to
  • Lead time required for requests to send your high school transcripts and the dates you sent them to which schools
  • Names of people you want to have complete your letters of recommendation, dates you asked them to do so and dates expected to receive them, along with dates sent to which schools
  • Creation of a personal essay checklist. Note what the questions are, when they are due for each school and how much time they’ll take. This way, you can budget your essay writing time in with your other work to get this part of the college application done on time.

You can adapt the items on your college application checklist to meet your specific needs as you apply to schools, but you should definitely make sure that you have some version of this checklist. It will help you to be more organized which will make the application process go more smoothly. This organization will get your foot in the door and it should carry you all the way through to graduation from the school of your choice.

[tags]college applications, college application checklist, how to fill out college application, college preparation, college prep, college admissions[/tags]

College Preparation While You’re In High School: A Timeline

Photo by Neil Cummings

College Preparation While You’re In High School:  A Timeline

From the very moment that you enter high school, people in your life will begin talking to you about your options for college. Your teachers, guidance counselors, friends and family members will all have college on the brain when they’re speaking with you. This is especially true when you’re in your junior and senior years of high school, as you begin to prepare more immediately for college. But even in those first two years of high school, there will be things that you can do to help you prepare yourself for college. The following is a general timeline of college preparation activities that you will find yourself engaging in during your high school years.

Freshman Year Of High School

The following are things that you will want to do during 9th grade to begin your college preparation:

  • Make an appointment to meet your high school guidance counselor. If you’re serious about college applications, you’ll be spending a lot of time with this person over the next four years, so introduce yourself early on.
  • Begin looking into school clubs, electives that interest you and volunteer opportunities in your community. You’ll have more time in your first two years of high school to excel in these areas than you will in the last two years so get involved early on.

Sophomore Year Of High School

The following are things that you will want to do during 10th grade to continue your college preparation:

  • Take a more difficult course load this year if it’s an option at your high school. Honors courses and even AP college courses may be offered.
  • If you’re involved in clubs, try to get yourself nominated for a small leadership position such as treasurer or secretary.
  • Begin identifying the teachers with whom you really connect so that you can consider them for writing your college recommendation letters in the future.
  • Prepare for the PSAT.

Junior Year Of High School

The following are things that you will want to do during 11th grade to continue your college preparation:

  • Take a strong course load. But don’t overdo it. Your junior year grades are important so take the hardest course load that you can without sacrificing good grades.
  • Take on leadership roles (vice president or president) in school clubs. Again, make sure that you don’t take on more than you can actually handle or you’ll defeat the purpose of this.
  • Take classes with favorite teachers if this is a possibility. This strengthens your recommendation letter options.
  • Take the PSAT in your first semester.
  • Take the SAT and / or ACT in your second semester.
  • Spend time making a college application plan with your high school guidance counselor. This will include starting to look at which colleges are right for you and beginning to think about your financial aid needs.
  • Visit college campuses.

Senior Year Of High School

The following are things that you will want to do during 12th grade to complete your college preparation:

  • In the summer before your senior year, you may be tempted to just relax. Don’t. Get a part-time job, volunteer with a community organization or take summer courses. These all look better on college applications than just hanging around and also give you great experience in “the real world”.
  • Similarly, you shouldn’t take an “easy” course load in your senior year. Take college preparatory classes.
  • Stay involved in your school and extracurricular activities.
  • Take the SAT and / or ACT immediately if you failed to do so in your junior year.
  • Request applications from the schools that interest you.
  • Make a checklist / timeline for all of your college applications. This will include dates for application deadlines, essay writing, requesting your letters of recommendation and having your transcripts sent to schools.
  • Apply for financial aid.

[tags]college preparation, prepare for college, college timeline, highschool time line, college preparation timeline, college prep[/tags]

Choosing a Major for College - How to Choose Your College Major

Choosing a Major for College - How to Choose Your College Major

You haven’t even finished high school yet and already you’re being asked by everyone what you’re going to major in when you go to college. Maybe you’ve picked something out of the blue to tell people or maybe you just say, “I don’t know” when you’re asked this question but either way, in the back of your mind, you’re a little bit stressed about knowing that you need to choose a major. You feel like you’re planning out the rest of your life by making that decision and you just aren’t sure that you’re ready to do that.

Calm down. Choosing a major is an important part of your college education but it isn’t the be all and end all of what you’re going to be doing with your life. You can choose a major and then change your mind later if it’s not the right one for you. Or you can have an undeclared major during the first year or two of college while you take some general education courses to help you better determine what you’re going to want to do for a career. College is a time of exploration; choosing a major and taking the courses for that major are only small parts of the entire college experience.

Choosing a major simply means that you have decided the general course of study that you would like to pursue in college. It helps to dictate which courses you should take to learn more about the topic that you think you want to get a degree in. But if you start to take those courses and find out that you really don’t feel right in them, you can always change your major later and pursue other courses of study. Learning what you don’t like is as important as learning what you do, so you shouldn’t be afraid to pursue a major and change your mind about it.

That said; how should you choose a major anyway? First, you should make two lists. One is of those things which you think would be fun to study. The other is of those careers that you might like to have one day. Brainstorm as much as possible for each of these lists. Then, compare the two and find the things which show up on both lists. For example, you might think it would be fun to study astronomy but you don’t have anything on your potential careers list which goes with that. On the other hand, you might think it would be fun to study acting and you might also have “stage director” on your hopeful-careers list so you would put some form of drama on the final list to be considered for choosing your major.

Once you’ve got a basic list of majors that might interest you, you should research them further in terms of what requirements they have. Different schools offer different specific majors so you might be looking to get a degree in stage management only to find that what your school offers is a general major in the dramatic arts. Find out if what your school has matches what you want for choosing a major. Then, look at the required classes before you choose your major so you can see if they interest you. If not, you may consider choosing another major or looking into other schools to better narrow down your educational path.

If your list of majors is still long and you aren’t sure what to do with it, consider speaking with an academic advisor. He or she can help you to identify what you really want. Ask the people in your life for their opinions as well – although be prepared to take them with a grain of salt since everyone will have an opinion and your choice is ultimately up to you. Read up on different professions and speak with people working in the fields that interest you to help you decide which career choices might make sense for you. And then dive in. Declare a major and be open to seeing where it will take you.

[tags]choose a major, choosing a college major, college majors, college choices, choose career field, choosing career fields[/tags]

How To Save Money On College Textbooks : Guide to Saving Money on College Books

Saving Money on College Textbooks

How To Save Money On College Textbooks

College textbooks are expensive. Depending on the courses that you’re taking and the number of different textbooks that are required per course, the cost of college textbooks can sometimes be even pricier than the cost of the classes themselves. This is especially true for community college classes which is kind of ironic since the students attending those schools frequently do not have the excess money to spend on expensive texts. But they’re required and you have to have them to be able to pass your classes (and get an education) so what can you do about it?

Here are some tips that you may or may not already know about how to save money on college textbooks:

  • Buy used from your campus bookstore. This is the most common method of somewhat reducing the price on your college textbooks and the one that you probably already know about. Even if you didn’t already know about it, you’d find out soon enough because most campus bookstores give you the option up front of buying used or buying new. The cost is considerably lower to buy used so always do that.
  • Buy used from a local bookstore. There are many college textbooks that you can buy used from places other than your college campus bookstores and the prices are likely to be lower than the used books in your campus store. Some courses use books that are normal literature books (English and Cultural Studies classes are the most likely culprits but other courses do as well) so if you do some digging, you can often pick them up very cheap at local used bookstores. Many cities also have used textbook stores where you might be able to pick up the books that you need.
  • Buy used online. There are plenty of online sites where you can get used textbooks at a discount. Amazon.com, Half.com (from eBay), TextbookX.com, and AbeBooks are common places that students check out but do your research into some other online bookstores if you want to find a good discount. Don’t forget to factor shipping costs into the overall price of your textbooks.
  • Buy an old version of the textbook at any of the above locations. Be sure to check with the instructor of the course so that you know if the book has changed so much that it won’t be useful to you in the current course. However, changes are usually minor and often, you can photocopy the pages that you need during the course of the class from students who have newer copies of the book. The outdated versions are much cheaper even with the extra copy costs.
  • Plan ahead. If you know what courses you are going to be taking the semester before you take them, you can start looking into who you know (or who you can find) that might be taking those courses before you. At the end of the semester, they’ll want to unload their books and you can get them for cheap (or sometimes free if you play your cards right!)
  • Buy only what you need. Many courses say that a certain textbook is required when it’s actually optional. Books that are for general use (dictionaries, grammar books, citation manuals) may be useful but aren’t always necessary. Definitely get what you need but don’t get those extras if you don’t need them.
  • See if there’s an online version. Some college textbooks are now available online. You can access these for free or for low cost if you don’t mind reading your course material on your computer.

College textbooks are pricey and the costs are only going up. But you don’t have to spend as much as it might seem when you first get your book list. Do your planning in advance, be wise about where you buy your books and always think used. Then you might have some money left over to do something fun on your weekends this semester!

[tags]college textbooks, school textbooks, save money on college textbooks, saving money on college textbooks, discounted textbooks, discount textbooks, discount college textbooks, college, schools, colle books, saving money, save money[/tags]

The Computer Technology That College Students Need

The Computer Technology That Every College Student Needs

The Computer Technology That College Students Need

 

If you’re about to enter college, you’re probably already well-versed in technology. You have an iPod or other mp3 player, a cell phone, a computer (or two), and probably a number of other gadgets that you use on a daily or regular basis. But as you get ready to pack everything in your life away and head off to college, you might be wondering which of these technological tools you actually need and which you can go without … and you might also be wondering if there’s technology out there that you need and don’t yet have. Here’s the lowdown on the technology that college students need these days.

First and foremost, let’s take a look at the personal computer. You almost definitely don’t need a desktop computer. There will be plenty of those on campus, probably more up-to-date than the one you’ve got in your room at Mom and Dad’s house anyway. They’re heavy and annoying to move and completely unnecessary. But you’re probably going to want your own computer so you’ll need a laptop. Is it a necessity? No, your campus will have plenty of access to computers. But it’s something that most college students find to make life easier. It’s good for entertainment (movies, music) and socializing (via IM and email) and research and is more convenient than having to go to the campus library or tech lab.

Having a computer means that you’re going to need to have software for your computer. As a college student, you can probably get away with just the basics. A computer that has Word and perhaps a spreadsheet program should be good enough for you. But college years are a time when you’re going to be learning a lot about budgeting and other finances so you might also want to consider some sort of financial software.

Your mp3 player or other digital music technology. Whether or not you need this technology as a college student is entirely up to your personal preferences. Some college students feel that music is their life. It’s how they relax. So they’ll want to have that with them when they’re in school. Others couldn’t care less about getting something like an iPod. If you’re already living without one, you probably don’t need one.

A PDA. Many college students are concerned that they need to get a PDA or other electronic organizer in order to keep on track with their work in school. For some students, this might be a good investment but it’s not a necessity for college. A standard, old school, paper-based planner works just as well as a PDA and is a lot less costly.

Your cell phone and its plan. You almost definitely need a cell phone these days. It’s how you’ll communicate with the folks back home; it’s a safety issue. And you probably already have one, so why would you get rid of it? You wouldn’t. But you might want to take a look at your plan and see if it’s the right one. If you’re currently on a family plan, you might not be able to stay on it when you go away to college. Make sure that whatever plan you choose allows you the number of minutes and messages that you need to stick within a reasonable monthly price range. If you don’t already have a phone, get one that has a reasonable contract and which is affordable, even if it’s not the most flashy.

 

[tags]computer technology, technology, college technology, college students, technology students need, education technology[/tags]

Don’t Feel Bad About Taking Your High School GED Test

Don't be depressed that you have to take your highschool GEDs

 

Don’t Feel Bad About Taking The GED

 

We live in a world that gives us a lot of choices about our education and there are many different ways to get the education that we each need in a way that suits us. It’s hard to remember this in the face of the pressure to perform under traditional institutional education methods. For that reason, many people who don’t “make it” in the normal way of getting through school and getting a high school diploma feel really bad about themselves. Even taking the GED test can be daunting to some high school dropouts because it seems like the final thing that they’re doing to say that they didn’t finish high school.

However, the GED test is a reputable test which tells the world that, although you might not have done it in the traditional manner, you completed your educational studies enough to meet the requirements necessary to pass the exam. Taking the GED is not something that should make you feel bad about your choices in school. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Taking the GED means that you have made a decision to be serious about your education and that you are considering going further with it one day. It tells the world that you’re interested in learning and willing to do the work you need to do. And it’s the first step towards higher education if you decide that’s what is right for you.

Taking the GED can feel like a big decision. It’s an important exam and many students who are having doubts about finishing high school in this way have fears that they may not know what they need to know to pass the exam. The best method of allaying those fears is to address them head on. Understand the feelings that you are having about taking the GED and make the conscious decision that it’s the right thing for you to do. Then study for the GED so that you can do well on it when you go to take it.

Studying for the GED exam is something that you can do on your own or through a formal program. If you feel that you know the material that you need to know for the exam, you can get a GED study guide and brush up on the basics before you take the test. This will help you get familiar with the GED test format and make you feel more confident about taking the test. If you don’t have a comfort with the material, consider taking one of the classes which are offered in most communities for GED preparation. You will learn the material that you need without having to take the traditional high school route to learning it.

“Normal” high school education isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. If it’s not what is right for you and you’ve exhausted your other options, you should consider taking the GED test. Don’t let concerns about what others might think about the GED or your high school choices limit what you can do with your life. Just like a high school diploma, the GED can help open doors for you that will improve your choices for the future. No one should feel bad about that!

 

[tags]GED, GED exams, GED test, taking GEDs, highschool GEDs, GEDs, high school GED, graduate high school, graduating high school[/tags]

Common College Application Mistakes to Avoid When Applying to College

Common College Application Mistakes to Avoid When Applying to College

Common College Application Mistakes to Avoid When Applying to College

Your college application is supposed to tell the schools that you want to go to about the reasons that they should want to accept you into their programs. However, many students make mistakes in their college applications which actually tell the school that you probably don’t belong there. Avoid common college application mistakes when you complete your application process so that you put your best foot forward and straight into the door of the colleges of your choice. Here are some of the big mistakes that many students make:

Typos.

It should be obvious by the time that you get to the point in your high school career when you’re doing college applications that typos are bad, bad, bad. After all, you’ve been through all the red pens and learning of lessons. But many students are so concerned with the pressure of the college application itself that they neglect to edit their work. Always make sure to double-check everything you include in your college application and get a second person to edit it as well. Typos make you look sloppy and unconcerned about your education which is NOT the way to get in to college.

Casual attitude.

Many students take on an informal tone with their college applications, using slang and addressing their college admissions team with less-than-formal jargon. You should consider your college application to be on par with a formal job interview and act appropriately throughout the application.

Being too formal.

On the other hand, you don’t want to be so formal in your college application that your voice doesn’t come through. Many students make the mistake of using “big words” in their applications which aren’t natural to them. Yes, you should avoid slang, but you should convey yourself using language that you would use with a respected elder in your community, not language that you would use if you were writing a dissertation for a college journal. Be yourself, just be your best self.

Trying too hard.

Along those same lines, many students make the mistake of trying too hard in their application to be impressive. They not only list every single small accomplishment they’ve ever made (really, your admissions team doesn’t care that you lost all your teeth before anyone else in your kindergarten class) but they also use their cover letters to try and stroke the egos of the school. Be genuine in your application and let your strengths speak for themselves.

Incomplete applications.

You have to answer every item on the application. You have to send all required transcripts and letters of recommendation. You have to read through essay questions completely and answer them thoroughly. If you’re cutting and pasting portions of essays from college to college, be sure you read through them carefully to make sure that every single thing you’ve said in each one applies directly to the question being asked on that specific application. If the college can tell that you don’t care where you’re applying to get in, they are probably going to let someone else have you.

Incorrect application information.

The most common area of mistake here is the GPA. Different colleges use different information for this so check carefully about the rules for “weighted” and “unweighted” GPA before you fill yours in. Similarly, make sure that the numbers you input for things like SAT scores are correct since discrepancies make you look sloppy.

Sending the application to the wrong location or in the wrong format.

College campuses can be big places and you need to get your application to the right person in the right place. Double-check addresses, suite numbers, PO Boxes and zip codes to make sure your application goes to the right place. Also, make sure that you know if you can send the application in via fax or email before you do that.

Missing deadlines.

If you miss the deadline, you don’t get in. That’s it.

You’ve done a lot of work already to get into the colleges of your choice. You studied and took the right classes, you practiced for and completed the required exams, you engaged in afterschool and club activities, and you researched the colleges and programs that interested you. Don’t let the work be for nothing by making common college application mistakes that turn the school’s eyes away from you. You’re in the last stretch now so give it your all!

[tags]college applications, applications, college application mistakes, mistakes to avoid applications, college admissions, apply to college, applying to college, college[/tags]

How To Get In To College When You’ve Been Wait-Listed

How to Get Into College When You Have Been Waitlisted

How To Get In To College When You’ve Been Wait-Listed

You received your application response from the college of your choice and it wasn’t the news that you wanted to hear. You were hoping for a “you’ve been accepted” letter and instead you got the news that “you’ve been wait-listed”. Yes, this is disappointing, and you should take some time to process how you feel about it. But then you should pick yourself back up and get back on the ball. Just because you’ve been wait-listed doesn’t mean that you can’t go to college. In fact, you can probably still go to the college of your choice so get yourself back in the game.

It is Okay to be Sad.

It is Okay to Be Sad

Give yourself a chance to feel sad or frustrated about the fact that you didn’t get in to the college of your choice on the first go-round. If you don’t process these feelings, you’re just going to be angry, so let yourself have that time. Listen to your favorite CD on repeat, eat a gallon of ice cream or have a sit-down session with your friends to complain about how stupid the school is for not seeing how great you are. Then get over it. If you still want to go to the school, you need to stop being angry and start taking action.

Notify the College that You Want to Remain on the Wait-list

Notify the College That You Want to Remain on the Wait-List

You’ll need to let the school know that you do want to remain on the wait-list if that’s what you want to do. You’ll probably stay on the wait-list of most schools without any input from you but this is your chance to make an impression by letting them know that you appreciate being wait-listed and still want to be considered by the school. Contact the admissions contact person listed in your wait list letter via phone. Putting a voice with your name will help keep you in the mind of this person. Be polite and clear in expressing your interest in the school.

Follow up with a Thank you Letter.

Follow up with a Thank you Letter.

Follow up this phone call with a letter thanking the person for his or her time on the phone. Express clearly the reasons that you want to continue to be considered by the school for admission. Do not be whiny or desperate. Simply reiterate why you meet the qualifications for the school and how pleased you would be if you were moved from being wait-listed to being admitted. This letter is like a second chance to let your personality shine through in your writing.

Keep Up the Good Work.

Keep Up the Good Work.

Once you’ve followed up with the school, make sure that you’re doing everything you can to remain an impressive candidate in case they do consider you in the near future. Many high school seniors get that “senioritis” problem and start slacking off. If you carry a full load of classes, keep your grades high and remain involved in your school and community, you’ll stand out over others who have been wait-listed with you. This puts you ahead of the game.

Don’t Fight a Losing Battle.

Don't Fight a Losing Battle.

Of course, you also have to know when to cut your losses. If you got wait-listed at the school of your choice and you’re killing yourself to try and get into it, you might be fighting a losing battle. Really assess whether the work you’re doing to get in to the college after being wait-listed is worth it. You might want to consider another school. Or you may want to consider going to a community college for a year before applying to the school again. There are many different ways to approach a college education, so when you get wait-listed, consider your options and make the right choices for you.

[tags]waitlisted, wait-listed, college waitlists, college wait-lists, college admissions, getting into college, how to get into college[/tags]