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ALSO | Music to the ears | At The Moment | Seniors usually sigh with relief when they start school in the fall. SATs and ACTs are behind them and many students have lighter loads after taking some of their most difficult classes as sophomores and juniors. College choices have also been narrowed down. Still, school counselors note that this is a critical time for seniors as they work on one of their most important tasks the college application. Depending on the college or university, most applications are due by early December, which means seniors need to start now, if they haven’t already done so. “You can’t start early enough with the application process,” stresses Marguerite Bonous-Hammarth, director of admissions at UC Irvine. “The deadline for admission to the UC system is Nov. 30 each year, which means students can’t wait until Thanksgiving weekend to start their applications.” By October, most seniors should have a good idea of where they plan to apply and should also know each school’s requirements and deadlines. Both the UC and Cal State systems use a Nov. 30 deadline, and like many colleges throughout the country, they both provide online applications. This means students can log in, set up a file with a password and user ID, and then work a little at a time on the application. In fact, admissions officials advise students not to complete the application all at once, since they may overlook something. “The best thing a student can do is to prepare before they apply,” advises Bonous-Hammarth. “When applying, they should sit down with their high school transcript so all the information is right there in front of them.” Many colleges require admissions essays or personal statements, and admissions officers point out that students need to take time in preparing their responses. Substantial editing and rewriting are necessary in producing an essay that portrays an accurate description of the student. “It’s best if they write this early enough so they can give it to a friend, parent or teacher who will give them honest feedback,” says Bonous-Hammarth. “We’re not judging them on grammar, but we do want them to use clear and concise statements and address the prompts sufficiently so they demonstrate their unique strengths and skills.” Seniors juggling multiple applications should not cut and paste a section of one college essay into another college’s essay. In these cases, they are not taking the time to respond directly to the prompt and the content is usually weak. Another no-no regarding essays is providing a rote response, consisting of information that already appears in the application. “We already know how many AP classes they’ve taken and what activities they’re involved in,” says Bonous-Hammarth. “We like to see something that’s not in the application with content related to their potential to contribute and succeed in college.” As a part of their application, some four-year universities have a section that must be completed by another person, such as a teacher, coach, club adviser or guidance counselor. If this is the case, students must give them a minimum of two weeks to complete this letter of recommendation. Students should select an individual who knows them best and can provide specifics on their classroom work, talents and skills. Many students wonder how many different schools they should consider in the application process. There is no clear rule on the appropriate number, but it’s wise to make a list of about six colleges two that are strong matches in terms of qualifications and desires, two that are long-shot schools one can’t imagine getting into, and two schools that are relatively certain to offer admission. Then the student should go back and apply to one in each category. Even if students are undecided about majors, it’s important to apply to schools that have strong programs in areas they might consider majoring in. One of the biggest fallacies in the college admissions process is that senior year grades are not reported. Many colleges, however, will not make a decision until receiving first-semester grades and they expect to see continued success. In fact, some colleges include contingencies in their letters of acceptance, stating that if grades drop significantly over the senior year, the admission may be withdrawn. Students should extensively proofread their application before they push the submit button online or mail a hard copy. It’s also a good idea to print out and make copies of everything that was sent out, including scholarship applications. If a student mails the application, he should pay the additional fee to receive a Certificate of Mailing, which acknowledges that it was mailed when he said it was. With about 43,000 freshmen and transfer applications each year, UC Irvine and many other major universities have streamlined the application process to make it as user friendly for high school seniors. Most colleges that use online application processes also use a tracking feature so that students can receive updates on where their application is in the admissions process. “It really doesn’t have to be complicated,” says Bonous-Hammarth. “Students just need to start early and be sure to submit all the information that is required.” Carol Daus is a freelance writer who lives in Huntington Beach with her husband and three children. Music to the ears By Robin Lam The running shoes are in the closet, the beach towel is in the wash and the lazy days of summer are giving way to excitement as the class of 2006 readies itself to begin one last year of high school. Senior year is the time for students to relax and enjoy the comforts of home before heading off to college. At least, it should be. With fall approaching, I feel only anxiety for my hectic schedule filled with classes, extracurricular activities, SAT testing, and most importantly, college applications. Like all Asian children, I was expected to apply to Harvard and Yale to major in medicine. So imagine my mother’s surprise when I told her I wanted to be a professional flutist in the L.A. Philharmonic instead of becoming an ophthalmologist. She nearly cried as she asked me how I planned to pay my bills when I was living in a one-room apartment with a leaky roof. But after months of insisting and cajoling, I convinced my mother that I was dedicated to my musical ambitions. I know the competition is hard and I will only be paid a fraction of a doctor’s salary, but what is the point in a career that is not enjoyable? So as my friends are out having fun, I will be diligently practicing audition material for music schools across the country. Although I will need to work extra hard to study for the SAT, write my college applications and practice, I know that I will not regret pursuing my love of music. Robin Lam of Pomona is a senior at Troy High School in Fullerton. She is co-editor of the school’s newspaper. At The Moment By Courtney Skinner As soon as I started high school, family and friends began asking about my college plans. I could barely wrap my mind around it I was only a freshman! But here I am, a senior faced with the daunting task of college applications. My first step is figuring out where to apply. My mailbox has been bombarded with love letters from numerous colleges, but which one is best for me? After working on my school’s newspaper, I know I want to be a journalism major, but there are still so many possibilities. Pouring over college books has narrowed down my choices, but I’m still undecided about my top six. I’d apply to every prestigious school out there, except for that pesky application fee. Then I have to agonize over how I can possibly make my resume stand out among 20,000 other applicants. I’ve been building up my list of accomplishments throughout high school, but there’s still so much to consider. Between the gpa, classes, grades, essays, test scores, extracurriculars and letters of recommendation, it’s easy to find yourself swamped. Pretty soon, the stress of college applications will be over, and I’ll simply dream about college life new friends, new classes, and greater independence. Whether I end up behind ivy-covered walls, at a private or public university, I know I’ll make the best of my experience. But for now, it will be just me and my application forms. Courtney Skinner of Fullerton is a senior at Troy High School in Fullerton. She is co-editor of the school’s newspaper. |
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