Your transcript

Your test scores

Your interview

Your extracurricular activities

Teacher recommendations

Your essay

Your transcript-- Most schools still rank the transcripts as the most important element of your application. Officers will evaluate the strength of the courses you took. Advanced Placement and Honors courses are obviously given more weight while classes like "The History of Disco" will automatically set off the "Micky Mouse" course warning. The other obvious factor under consideration involves the grades you received in these courses. If you have a high GPA in honors or AP courses, this will be more impressive than a high GPA taking general or basic courses. However, admissions officers do not just look to see if you have high grades. They are sympathetic to the fact that a rigorous course load of honors classes in difficult courses can result in (gasp!) a grade of "B" or even the dreaded "C" from time to time. Just because you have trouble with a difficult course does not mean you have blown your chances.

Your SAT I, II and ACT scores- Most Admissions Officers DO NOT assign as much importance to SAT I and II and ACT scores as the students and parents do. Questions have been raised over the last few years about how reliable the SAT I and II scores are in reflecting student aptitude and chances of success in college, especially given the huge increase in SAT I and II preparation courses that may have diluted the relevance of the scores. Many admissions officers treat these scores as just a way to evaluate your achievement on this kind of test while taking your background into consideration. A student who comes from an upper middle class home with two college educated parents could reasonably be expected to achieve above average in the verbal section of the SAT I. However, a student from a small rural town with a single parent and a poor school system could get a 580 in the verbal section, which could be considered a favorable score based on his/her background. The SAT I and II are still important factors, but many schools are looking past raw test scores and focusing more on the essays and other portions of the application to really see what a student may be capable of.

Your interview-- Many schools are simply using the interview as a recruiting tool these days. Most interviewers are expected to make you feel comfortable and to provide a good impression about their school. Meaningful interviews take too much time and it is hard for schools to get a really solid read about you in only half an hour. Many schools are toying with the idea of getting rid of the interview process altogether.

Your extracurricular activities-- Outside activities are very important indicators of your interests and levels of commitment. Admissions Officers generally are most impressed by students who pick only a few extracurricular activities and then participate fully in them. Your best chance of standing out is to be fully and actively involved in a select few campus clubs, teams, music groups, etc. It is also to your advantage to show evidence of a leadership role in these organizations. Remember that Admission Officers have seen it all and if you try to impress them by participating in 20 different organizations on a superficial level, they will see through your smokescreen! If you have waited until the fall of your senior year to participate in activities, you may encounter some problems when your file comes up for consideration.

Teacher recommendations--Recommendations from your teachers and administrators still carry a great deal of weight with Admissions Officers. This is another way for schools to find out about the "real you". If teachers write good letters of recommendation they will, hopefully, communicate to the college examples of your character, dedication, humor, wit and other positive attributes. A well written letter is another opportunity for a college to get a sense of your uniqueness. SO, be careful about who you have write your letters. Pick instructors you trust and respect and who feel the same way about you.

Your essay--By the time Admissions Officers get to your essay, they already have a general idea of who you are. They know about your activities, your grades, your family and a variety of other things. They have clues about your character and values based on letters of recommendation, and the "real you" is beginning to come into focus. NOW, you get to sharpen that image. A well written essay, with a unique, genuine quality, will help solidify and expand on the image the admissions officer is developing. Apply4Admissions.com can guide you in writing a compelling essay.

GETTING YOUR APPLICATIONS

Many colleges have now agreed to accept a Common Application, and will mention it in their college admissions materials. If more than one college you are applying to accepts the Common Application form, you can save time and effort-but there is a catch. Some colleges will also request that you fill out a "supplementary" application, which can be much more detailed and may actually contain their most important requirements--short answer responses and essays. You are responsible to be sure all REQUIRED application forms are completed and sent back in. Do not assume that because a Common Application is accepted that it is the only one the college expects you to submit.

How do I get the applications I need? Just ask!

Ask your counselor

Some state applications can be obtained at your counseling or career services office. In California, for example, most counselors can provide you with application materials for the University of California, California State University or Community Colleges.

Ask the college Admissions Offices

For many schools you will need to write a letter requesting application materials. Your counseling office may have form letters you can send to Admissions Offices. You can also simply call the schools in question and request an application be sent to you.

Ask for electronic applications!

Some schools can send you computer diskettes with the application forms on them! Make sure to ask about this option when requesting the applications.

TIPS ON FILLING OUT THE APPLICATIONS

• Neatness and accuracy count. Admissions officers WILL notice basic errors such as misspellings, poor grammar and illegibility. If your application is messy and looks rushed with many errors, many admissions officers might simply stop reading it.

• Don't use abbreviations for terms or programs that only you understand. Write out these terms so you are sure whoever reads the application fully understands what you are referring to.

• Don't leave blanks in the application form. Use the commonly accepted N/A to indicate that the information requested is either "not applicable" or is "not available". By doing this, you are indicating that you read the material and are aware of it, but that it does not apply to you. This way, evaluators will know that you did not just skip it due to carelessness.

• Do not be afraid to attach another page if you don't have enough room to complete some portions of the application. Be sure to indicate on the main form that the evaluator should "see attached page". (Double check the application, because, at times, the college will expect you to ONLY use the space allotted for some information)

• Have someone (parents?) proofread and double check your application for errors.

• Use a typewriter or print very neatly to fill in applications.