College Admissions Consulting - Application Strategy

Many high school seniors try to ease the uncertainty in applying to college by applying early decision. Early decision binds both the student and the college into admittance months earlier than the regular admission decision. If you are certain about a particular university, applying through the early decision program can be very beneficial.

There are two different types of early admittance programs that high school seniors should seriously consider. Approximately 450 colleges (about 2/3 of the nation’s top undergraduate institutions) have early decision or early action plans, and some, such as the University of Miami, have both. Meantime, all of the eight Ivy League Schools offer some form of an early admissions program as well.

• Early Decision
• Early Action (including Single-School Early Action)

Applying to College

• Timing: Start Early. Preferably Early In Junior Year (If Not Earlier)
• Create Options: Investigate Many Schools and Programs; Just Do Not Follow The Pack
• Research: Learn As Much About The Schools As Possible (visit, talk to students, blogs etc.)
• Financing: Make Sure You Research Real Costs, Financing and Scholarships
• Performance: Make Sure You Keep Up High Academic Performance
• SAT/ACT: Make Sure That You Prepare For The Test(s) and Do As Well As Possible; The Only Objective Part Of Application
• Recommendations: Ask Early/People Get Busy

Choosing The Right College

• Identify career interests
• Identify the different types of college and potential good matches that fit their needs, interests, and goals
• Begin to explore the benefits and obstacles associated with getting to college
• Learn basics of admissions process and about various school system
• Develop Areas Of Academic Interest
• Realistically Assess Your Credentials
• Determine What Factors Are Most Important To You
• Your Academic & Professional Goals
• Establish Geographic Parameters
• Determine A Budget (remember college spans four years)

• Marketing Versus Applying
• Competition Is Stiff
• Do Not View This As A Process Of Filling Out Forms And Writing Essays, But About Showcasing Your Accomplishments And Potential
• Make Every Attempt You Can To Learn As Much About The School As Possible; Likewise Have As Many Interactions With Students, Professors, Admissions People, Alumni, Etc.
• Do Not Be Afraid To Be Creative And Let Your Personality Show
• Do Not Be Afraid To Interact With Admissions, Send Additional Information, Provide Updates – Just Not Too Much

• Timing: Start Early. Preferably Early In Junior Year (If Not Earlier)
• Create Options: Investigate Many Schools and Programs; Just Do Not Follow The Pack
• Research: Learn As Much About Schools As Possible (visit, talk to students, blogs etc.)
• Financing: Make Sure You Research Real Costs, Financing and Scholarships
• Performance: Make Sure You Keep Up High Academic Performance
• Information: Get Only From Reliable Sources

• Grades/Academic Potential - 30%
• Scores - 20%
• Extracurricular Activities - 10%
• Essays - 10%
• Recommendations - 10%
• Interview - 10%
• Other - 10%

Writing Effective Essays

• Students will develop visual thinking and imagination
• Practice writing skills
• Learn the elements of a good personal statement/essay for college application

Personal Statement

• Most Schools Require At Least One Admissions Essay; Some Schools Have Very Complicated Admissions Requirements and Multiple Essays
• This Is One Place Where You Can Show Creativity and Individuality
• Do Not Be Afraid To Be Creative – But Not So Much That Only You Understand It
• Make Sure You Provide The Content That They Are Looking For and Answer The Question They Want Answered
• Remember That The Purpose Of This Essay Is To Learn About You, Your Background, Your Motivations, Your Goals
• 100% Control Over Content And Quality
• Very Important Aspect Of The Admissions Process; Do Not Take Lightly – A Poor Essay Will Negatively Impact Your Chances
• Most Schools Require At Least One Admissions Essay; Some Schools Have Very Complicated Admissions Requirements and Multiple Essays
• This Is One Place Where You Can Show Creativity and Individuality
• Do Not Be Afraid To Be Creative – But Not So Much That Only You Understand It
• Make Sure You Provide The Content That They Are Looking For and Answer The Question They Want Answered
• Remember That The Purpose Of This Essay Is To Learn About You, Your Background, Your Motivations, Your Goals
• 100% Control Over Content And Quality
• Very Important Aspect Of The Admissions Process; Do Not Take Lightly – A Poor Essay Will Negatively Impact Your Chances

Being Active

• Schools Like Well Rounded Students
• Shows Passions And Interests
• Many Different Ways To Define
• Schools Especially Look For People Who Excel Or Innovate
• Leadership Positions Particularly Important
• Better Not To Over-Extend Oneself Or Spread Too Thin

Third Party Assessments

• Be Strategic Who You Choose To Write
• Teachers, Counselors, Alumni, Employers, Mentors
• Help Them Out As Much As Possible
• Write Summary Showcasing Work, Goals, Activities, Community Service
• Ask Early
• Keep People Updated On Deadlines
• Do Not Be Afraid To Send Reminders

• Learn the different types of financial aid available: grants and scholarships, loans, work-study.
• Learn the basics of the FAFSA application
• Identify the information they will need from their parents to complete the FAFSA application.

• Advisory process: Does Your School Have A Supportive Advisory System? Are Your Counselors Over-Worked? Alternatives?
• Teachers: Often The Source Of Good Information And Encouragement
• Parents: Want The Best But May Not Know A Lot About The Process
• Friends: Going Through This Together; Sometimes Supportive Sometimes Competitive
• Mentors: Good For Encouragement And Information

• College is one of the largest financial commitments of a lifetime
• Wide variation in costs among colleges
• Experts will
• Identify cost-cutting opportunities, saving time and money
• Provide important knowledge on scholarships
• Reduce stress and obtain better outcomes for the whole family

Limitations of Guidance Counselors

• Guidance Counselors play key, but limited, role in college application process
• Aren’t trained to deal with complex financial aid & cost-reduction strategies
• Are reluctant to work with parents on family finances
• Experts fill this hole

When to Hire a Consultant

• The earlier the admissions process starts, the more cost-reductions opportunities there are
• Many college savings options begin up to a decade or more before the student starts college
• Last minute cost-reduction strategies for high school students include
• Timely and accurate submission of financial aid application materials
• Scholarships

*We strongly recommend that you speak to one of our college admissions consultants for a free 20-minute consultation to better formulate your application strategy.