College Prep: What To Do (and don’ts)

admin Posted OnOctober 2, 2013

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Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications

College Prep: What To Do (and don’ts): Applying to college doesn’t have to be an impossible journey. You just have to know what to do. To help you navigate the admissions maze, we sought out local experts for their advice. They offered their what to do’s (and a few don’ts) on how to select the school that’s the best fit, how to approach the college essay, — and how to manage the stress of it all. Want to know how to get the most out of a college visit, or what undergrads really think of their schools? Read on.

Find the Best Fit School

Carol Gill

Check online websites where students talk about their schools, such as unigo.com, collegeprowler.com and collegeconfidential.com. However, be wary: a student may have flunked an exam and decided to badmouth the college on a given day! But by far the best way to check out the best fit is to visit a college when it is in session. Check bulletin boards to see what goes on during weekends to make sure that it is not a “suitcase” school. Talk to students not on the tour, but in the student center. Ask them to be honest about what’s good and what’s bad about the school. – Carol Gill, President of Carol Gill Associates and College Counselor for Soundview Preparatory School.

Christine Cahill

There are so many amazing schools to research but there is one school that is right for you. When compiling your visit list, try to add different types of colleges/universities- private/public, small/medium/large, rural/suburban/urban, to see the different opportunities you have to choose from. Look for schools that offer your top majors, not just one of them, so should you decide that you want to change majors you don’t have to transfer to another school (all you have to do is transfer from one academic department to another.) Here’s a checklist to help you get started.

Start your search locally.
Once you have a sense of what you are looking for visit schools farther away.
Try to visit the college campus while classes are still in session.
Before and after your tour(s) stop students (not your tour guide) and ask them questions.
Try to get different perspectives about the school’s academics, community and culture.
Check the student center bulletin boards to see what kind of activities/events take place.
Ask questions of administrators that work in the Residential Life/Activities department.
Ask admissions to help you set up appointments to meet professors/students in the major(s) that interest you. – Christine M. Cahill, Director of College Counseling, The Harvey School

Neal Schwartz

With the increased cost of college, the change in some key industries, and the fact that a college or graduate degree may not command as much as it used to in the job market, college fit is extremely important. Distinguish between reach schools with great brand names and those schools the student has the potential to really excel at. Graduating with mediocre grades from an Ivy League school may not be as beneficial as graduating at the top of your class at a near-Ivy.

Visit the schools on the top of your list. Believe it or not, there are students that apply to, and get into schools they have never seen. With the cost of college today, prestige alone is just not enough. It is essential to see the school before a student enrolls. Stay overnight in a dorm room with a student you might know. The student can benefit with some private time at the target school without Mom and Dad. And remember to check out the courses you will be taking. Look up the actual course titles. Are they interesting? If they don’t interest the student now, they are not going to prove interesting a year from now. – Neal Schwartz, Tutoring Club Armonk

Prepare for the Application Process

Christine Cahill

As you solidify your application list compartmentalize the types of applications the institution accepts, deadlines, number of recommendations and writing samples needed. Check with your school counseling offices to find out how they handle submittals of standardized test scores. Some schools send them with the transcript and recommendations. However, there are many that do not submit test scores and it is the student’s responsibility to contact College Board and or ACT to have them send scores to the schools. If you are applying online, make your counselors aware of your electronic submittal so they can send out transcripts and recommendations.

Identify the people you would like to ask for a recommendation.
Ask for recommendations early (remember you may not be the only student that has approached them.)
Offer them a “brag ” sheet or fact sheet about yourself so they can have a fuller view of you.
Review essay topics for each school and figure out which ones you would like to develop.
Have someone proof read your writing samples and application to ensure it is complete.
Follow up with the admission offices to confirm applications are complete.

– Christine M. Cahill, Director of College Counseling, The Harvey School

Start with a spreadsheet

Start with a spreadsheet for the tasks that need to be done with dates to start and submit.
Neal Schwartz
Get the static, personal, demographic information entered first.
Don’t overdo the extracurricular portion.
Remember, they are looking for leadership experience not just membership.
The Application essay[s] are the most critical element of the application, but don’t underestimate the other parts.

– Neal Schwartz, Tutoring Club Armonk

Writing the College Essay

Carol Gill

Students should really start thinking about the college application process in the spring of their junior year. For instance, they need to consider what to write on the required 650-word essay on the Common Application, which almost 500 colleges subscribe to. Colleges want to know more about an applicant than what they can find on a transcript or teacher’s recommendation. Sometimes the best personal essays come from summer experiences between junior and senior years.– Carol Gill, President of Carol Gill Associates and College Counselor for Soundview Preparatory School.

Brainstorming

Neal Schwartz

The Application essay[s] are the most critical element of the application. The main essay[s] are really personal statements and should not be viewed as an English paper. The best essays come from lots of brainstorming and many drafts. Give the college a vivid picture of yourself. If you believe that you really might have an essay that works, ask whether any other student could have written the same essay. Make sure your essay is unique. Emphasize only positives, try not to address any shortcomings unless they absolutely need to be addressed. – Neal Schwartz, Tutoring Club

Managing Stress

Christine Cahill

Remember to BREATHE!!! Students need to make sure they are asking questions. A big factor to adding stress is the unknown. If unsure; the more questions they ask will help reduce their fear. This is a BIG STEP in their path towards adulthood and they are scared to death of the unknown, of where they are going, and especially the thought of leaving home. Talking it out in regards to their fears and uneasiness will help them see that they are not alone in the process or in their feelings. Sometimes group meetings with other students can be useful so they can see that they are not the only ones feeling this way, that many students have the same questions and that their questions are not so “silly”. – Christine M. Cahill, Director of College Counseling, The Harvey School

Don’t believe everything you hear

Carol Gill College Prep: What To Do (and don'ts)

One of the real problems about living in Westchester County is the anxiety and stress that accompanies the college admissions process. Students should try to stand apart from all the college talk — much of which is not true — whether it is overheard in the nail salon or the school hallways. If you have questions, speak to your guidance counselor. – Carol Gill, President of Carol Gill Associates and College Counselor for Soundview Preparatory School.

Remember, your child is going to college — not you!

The key is to not get caught up in what you hear, because much of it is just not true.
Neal Schwartz
It sounds like everyone is applying to the same 20-30 schools, but there are 5 times as many that students actually attend.
The more organized you are, the greater chance you have to experience a challenging, but not impossible journey.
Have honest conversations about what the student wants, not what the parent would like for the student.
Consider applying early decision.
College trips can reduce stress by providing a bonding time for students and parents during those long car and plane trips.
Make sure you are applying to reach, likely, and safety schools. – Neal Schwartz, Tutoring Club Armonk