The College Application Process!

Next up on our series of College preparation blogs, The College Essay

First off, develop a timeline to help you stay on track. Map out every step, and set your own goals and deadlines ahead of time! Don't let applications wait until the last minute.

Start planning your college essay early, keep a list of possible topics. You never know when inspiration will strike! Expand on each topic as you feel inspired. Most colleges ask for an essay about a "significant experience" and how you were changed or affected by that. Don't be scared to get too personal, this is your opportunity to let your true personality shine.

Proofread, proofread, proofread! Have a trusted English teacher take a look at your essay and make suggestions for you. Have other trusted peers and relatives read it as well and brainstorm together on how to improve it. Different perspectives can only help.

It seems obvious to most, but have a safety school. You can't put all your eggs in one basket, always have a backup plan, and a backup plan to your backup plan. You never know what can happen! Prepare for the unexpected!

And lastly, talk to as many people you can about their own college application experiences. Many people will have things they wish they'd done differently, and you can learn from their mistakes! They'll also have plenty of tips on what DID work for them as well.

The College Search!

The College Search!

Everyone seems to be on a different page as to when exactly the college search should start. Is it too early to start looking at schools in 9th grade? Is it too late when you're in 11th grade? When should you first take the SATs? These are all common concerns, and Learning Magic is here to help you make a few college-related decisions.

Freshman year of high school is not too early to start thinking about college. This is the time you should probably pick up a college guide book, and familiarize yourself with the process. Make it a family affair, the burden of the college search shouldn't fall solely on the student or parents alone.

Sophomore year, college visits are a fantastic idea! Plan family trips around visiting schools, or start locally! Here in New England, we're fortunate enough to be surrounded by hundreds of fantastic colleges and universities. Next time you're in Boston for a Sox game, stop by Boston University or Northeastern, both are easy walks from Fenway. It's good to start looking at schools early, because there's far less pressure on decision-making, you can actually appreciate the experience. It's better to visit when schools are in session, rather than visiting an empty campus to get a good feel for the school.

Visit college fairs! And meet with admissions staff! Consider the admissions staff to be like car salesmen, they'll only focus on the positive aspects of their schools, and gloss over the negatives. So ask probing questions that will get them to admit the truth! Parents and children should both be involved in this part of the process. Each have their own perspectives and priorities as to what's important in a school.

Next week, we'll discuss the College Application Process! Have you started writing your essay yet?!