college tips

Great news, these days you can apply to college online! Exciting, huh?

Well, it's not as easy as it may sound. Sure, the Internet has made everything from communicating over long distances to buying books and concert tickets easier, but the college application process has always been complicated. And just because you can apply to college over the Internet doesn't mean that you don't have to deal with the same headaches as before: essay requirements, endless blank spaces to fill in, and that pesky "List any academic honors you have received" section.

Before you begin . . .

Before you get started, here are a few general things to keep in mind when you're working on your online college application:

• Don't get distracted by all the other stuff on the Internet. You've got a job to do. Your favorite gaming Web site can wait.

• In some applications, you can't use the Back button of your Web browser. That doesn't mean something can't be fixed; it just means you have to save everything and go back to the start.

• The best information about deadlines and applications is from the college itself. Don't hesitate to call the college or university directly if you have any questions.

• The ease and quickness of the Internet has spawned a new age of sloppiness and inaccuracy. (Just look at a few of the e-mails you've received and marvel at the typos, lack of punctuation and capitalization, and so on.) While many of the Web sites offer spelling and grammar check, don't use them as your only means of quality control: Spell-check is not always correct. Ask another pair of eyes to check your application materials carefully for spelling and grammar errors.

• Check, double-check, and triple-check the accuracy of all the information in your application. One misstep, such as typing your Social Security number incorrectly or transposing the numbers in your parents' combined yearly salary, could spell disaster.

• Make sure the Web site uses a secure site for transferring your personal information over the Internet. You don't want your personal information, like your Social Security number, falling into the wrong hands. If the site doesn't use a secure connection, use the old-fashioned method of sending in your application: Paper, envelope, and overnight mail.

Despite all the Internet hype, online is not always the preferred method of application for all universities. If the school you're applying to prefers to receive your application on paper, then you should submit it that way.

However, if they've upgraded their admissions process to accept online applications, keep reading.

Find the application online

Visit the Web sites for the colleges you want to attend, go to the Admissions page, and get all the application information there.

If the school has its own online application system, click through the whole application, printing the pages as you go. It'll be much easier for you to fill out the paper printouts with all the information first, and then after your paper application is complete, go back to the online form and input your information.

If the school accepts only an outside service, go to the site, click through the whole application, print out all the pages, and fill in all the information on paper before filling out the online form.

Collect dates and data

Make sure you make your requests for teacher recommendations and transcripts early enough to give you plenty of time to receive them. You'll probably have to mail separately copies of recommendation letters, transcripts, and other paper materials to the school directly, so make sure you have the correct mailing addresses.

Look through the application and collect any info you don't have, such as exact dates of old jobs, date you're going to take the SAT, and so on. Have your parents double-check any information you have to provide about them, such as Social Security numbers, birth dates, job and salary details, and so on.

Write any essays for the application in a word processing program before you go back to the online form, and print out your essays and have one or two other sets of eyes take a look at it (preferably your English teacher or guidance counselor).

Make a master list of all the information you need, and cross off each item as you collect it. Mark important dates on a calendar, so that deadlines don't sneak up on you.

Fill out the application

As you plan to visit college campuses, most likely your admissions counselor will ask you to set aside some time for an interview. You should plan to attend an admissions interview for every college and university that you hope will send you an acceptance letter, even if you think your acceptance is in the bag.

Don't worry if it's time to accept your top choice college's offer of admission and you don't know what you want to study. Many students begin college with little or no idea what they will eventually choose as a major. You don't have to declare a major right away, so consider the following points to make sure you go into the right field of study.

Pick a college or university that has areas of study that interest you. If you are interested in humanities or the arts (if you could see yourself as a historian or English teacher, for example), you'll probably do well attending a liberal arts school. If computers, architecture, agriculture, or engineering have always intrigued you, consider technology-driven schools. Some of the larger schools offer both. (You can gain some insight into a particular university's programs by looking at the types of degrees they offer: Upon graduating, would you receive a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Science degree, or do you have the option to obtain either?)

Understand that although you don't have to declare a major as a freshman, some universities that are composed of separate "colleges" might require you to choose a college. For example, once agreeing to attend a university, even if you haven't selected your major, the school might ask you to declare your entrance into the College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Education, the School of Business, or the College of Nursing. If you picture yourself working in the business world, or as a teacher or nurse, you should enter the appropriate school at the university. If you're interested in the sciences, arts, or humanities, enter the College of Arts & Sciences. If you have absolutely no idea where to start, you should enter the College of Arts & Sciences because it usually offers the most majors and most varied courses from which to find your niche.

Declaring entrance to a particular college is not a permanent decision. Say you entered the College of Nursing only to discover that you faint at the mere thought of vaccinating someone; you can still change your mind and transfer to another college at the end of a semester or school year. You might set yourself back a semester or be forced to double up on classes to catch up, but that's better than finishing a degree program that doesn't appeal to you.

If you think you might want to major in something but aren't sure, take one class to see what it's like. Most degree programs have classes that all students must take to obtain a major (for example, a student who wishes to major in Journalism might be required to take a class called The History of Media before any other.) Take the introductory course and see how you like it and then decide whether to continue with the program.

If you still have no idea, remember that many colleges (larger schools, especially) offer a general studies program to freshman (and sometimes sophomores). These programs usually allow you to explore various options and remain undeclared for two to four semesters before you have to choose a major. Usually, these programs also assign you an academic advisor who helps you figure out what you like and what you don't and guides you toward the major that suits you.

Remember, you're not the only one who doesn't know what career direction to take. A lot of college freshman haven't selected a major. Still more students who have selected a major will change it at least once before graduating. Your freshman year is largely a time for exploring your options, acclimating to campus life, and taking the required courses that all students need to graduate.

Community colleges are accredited two-year institutions of higher education dedicated to serving the educational and workforce needs of their local communities. They are often called "the people's college" because of their philosophy that anyone can benefit from a college education. Open admission policies, low tuition rates, flexible schedules, and convenient locations make them easily accessible to the public.

At community college, you can train for some of the faster growing jobs in the economy, or follow a course of study that will allow you to transfer into a bachelor's degree program at a four-year institution. You can also take courses just for pleasure or to improve your work skills.

Although community college isn't the right choice for everyone, this educational option might be your cup of tea for one or several reasons. Consider the following benefits:

• It's a great bargain. You can't beat the low cost of community college. A public community college's annual tuition and fees are about half those of public four-year colleges and less than 10-15 percent of those of private four-year institutions.

  If you live at home, you can also save money on room and board. Financial aid can help you graduate with no or low debt. If you want to go on to four-year college, but don't have the money yet, attending a community college can help you cut back on expenses and earn transferable college credits until you have the funds to make the switch.

• You can get in and get started. So your grades aren't or weren't so great, or your SAT or ACT scores weren't stellar. Rather than delay your education, take advantage of community college's open admissions policy and get started. Build a stronger academic record that can help you transfer to a four-year college, or choose a more direct route to a career.

• You can stay close to home. Community colleges are usually located where you live or are usually within easy reach. Many of them have a main campus and branch campuses so that you have easy and convenient access to their services without living on campus.

• You can get a flexible schedule. You can find a schedule of courses that fits into your personal schedule. Community colleges are geared to students who work full time or part time and who have families and other commitments. Distance learning courses — online, video, television — offer students an alternative means of taking coursework that is often adjustable to any schedule.

• You can get help with the basics. If you need additional help with the basics — writing, reading, mathematics, science, study skills — you'll have an opportunity to catch up before you plunge into college-level classes. Developmental skills classes focus on gaining or strengthening skills that you 

  • may have missed in high school or may have forgotten because you've been out of school for a while.

  • You can test-drive the college experience. You may be undecided about whether or not you are ready for college, or if you even want to go to college. A two-year experience can help you gain the skills and confidence to go on to four-year schools. Or, it can help you decide you'd rather learn a technical skill and start your career. Either way, you always have the option to continue your education in the future.

  • You can explore your options. Community colleges offer a broad range of vocational and technical studies, as well as liberal arts and science coursework.

    Through the college's career center, academic counseling, and other support services, you can explore what it takes to jump-start a career in fields as varied as accounting, culinary arts, criminal justice, nursing, or computer technology. You can also take courses without credit to see if a certain field is right for you, or to improve your readiness to enter the world of work. You can even enroll in a vocational or technical course such as automotive technology at the same time you're studying art, history, or another subject in a general studies or liberal arts and science track.

  • You can chart a pathway to a four-year institution of your choice.Preparing students to transfer to a four-year institution is one of the original purposes of community college. Many four-year colleges and community colleges, especially those in the same state, have agreements to accept credits from community colleges toward the baccalaureate degree. Many state educational systems give first priority to transfer students from in-state community colleges to their four-year institutions.

  • You can enter the workforce faster with a career-oriented degree.Community colleges offer many programs leading directly to a career. You can earn a two-year associate's degree or enter a shorter-term certificate program (usually a year or less) that offers intensive training in a specialized field. These programs are often not available at four-year institutions.

    Moreover, studies show repeatedly that education translates into greater earnings over your lifetime. Individuals with an associate's degree or technical and vocational certificates consistently earn more than those who have only a high school diploma. The more education you have, the greater your earning potential.

    • You can connect with employers. Community colleges are networked with potential employers. They know what fields are "hot" and what skills the market demands because they ask employers what they need. Community colleges often revise their coursework based on advice from employers.

      Community colleges also offer internships, cooperative education opportunities, and community service learning programs that can give you a competitive edge in finding a job after you graduate or in getting accepted by a four-year college or university.

Your head is packed with facts, figures, formulas — all the stuff you're supposed to pull out of memory to survive the SAT. Taking your bulging brain with you on test day is, well, a no-brainer. You're going to the test site to show what you know. To be fully prepared for this "exciting" experience, you'll need to load up with a few other items. Here are some must-haves for the test-taking trip:

• Your Admission Ticket: You wouldn't imagine trying to get into a concert without your ticket, right? Expect the same deal at the test center on the day of your exam. Your ticket will arrive in the mail a week or two before the test. If you haven't received your ticket one week before the test or if you happen to lose your ticket, call the College Board at 609-771-7600. You also can make changes to and print your ticket online (even if you registered by mail) after you set up a fast, free, and easy account at College Board.

• A photo ID: You must have in hand a current, recognizable picture of yourself. Snapshots don't count; neither do library cards, social security cards, birth certificates, or credit cards. These folks want to see a driver's license, passport, or school ID.

• Map or clear directions: Getting lost on the way to the test is not an option. To make sure you don't add more stress to an already crazy day, take a "test" drive a few days before the big day. Pay attention to how much time it takes to get you where you need to go. Also check out the parking situation at the test center. On the morning of the exam, add a few minutes as a safety net for odd weather or traffic conditions.

• Pencils: Take several freshly sharpened Number 2 pencils with healthy erasers. You can even pack a small pencil sharpener and a pudgy pink eraser, if you want.

• Watch: The test center clock may not be within your view (or, it could be off a few minutes or hours). A simple timepiece will tell you all you need to know. Leave watches with beepers or alarms at home, along with your cell phone. Audible distractions usually become the property of the proctor for the course of the exam.

• Calculator: You can use almost any four-function, graphing, or scientific calculator on the SAT I. According to the College Board, students who use calculators on the exam perform slightly better than those who do not. That said, the College Board does say No! to some types of calculators. You can find that list — plus other tips — at SAT I Calculator Policy.

• Clothes: Put comfort before fashion on test day. Dress for all kinds of classroom weather by layering on a sweater or sweatshirt over a shirt that 

  • stays away from a tight fit. The test center is bound to feel like either a deep freezer or a sauna, so you need to stay adaptable. Chilling out (or overheating) won't do much for your concentration. And the people in charge probably won't be building maintenance professionals willing to adjust thermostats.

  Now that your pockets, purse, or backpack is stuffed with supplies, pull out any of the following things. You won't be welcomed into the test room if you happen to have

  • Books, notes, index cards: Study time's over. Rather than cloud your thinking with last-minute cramming, take a deep breath and clear that congested brain.

  • Scratch paper: Although you can't bring in blank sheets of paper, you can trust that the exam booklet has lots of extra space that you can figure, jot, diagram, scrawl, or doodle on.

  • Testing aids: Pencils only allowed . . . no highlighters, compasses, rulers, protractors, personal stereos or headphones. Leave the abacus in your car, too. (If you're not sure if you even own one, look it up in the dictionary. You just might sneak another vocabulary word into your memory banks!)

Although the advent of the Internet has made it possible to take "virtual" tours of college campuses and to view streaming video of interviews with current students, there simply is no substitute for the real thing. To make the best-informed decision between and among the schools on your list, you must walk their campuses, visit their dining halls, attend their classes, talk to their students yourself, and get a real feel for each campus's students and its architecture, atmosphere, and "vibe." By visiting a campus, walking around, observing life on campus, and watching the way the students interact with each other (and with you), you should be able to get a feel for what it would be like to go to school there — and for how well you would fit in to the lifestyle you observe.

Try to schedule your initial campus visits at a time when students are on campus and classes are in session, so that you can get a realistic sense of what a typical day on campus feels like. To accomplish this, you will need to avoid midterm week (usually the last week in February or the first week in March), the two weeks in March when students are typically on spring break, and any time after the third week in April, as that is often when "reading period" begins and students hole up to begin preparation for spring-term exams. You're also going to want to visit at least your top-choice schools during the school week so that you can sit in on classes.

Connecting with the Admissions Office

As you are planning your itinerary of campus informational visits, give each admissions office a call to ensure that classes are in session and that you are not planning to visit in the middle of exams or at another inopportune time. While you have the admissions receptionist on the phone, ask him or her whether the admissions office will be giving informational sessions on the day you are planning to visit and at what time they will be occurring. Ask the same question about campus tours.

If you would like to speak to a particular faculty member in an area of academic interest, you can typically schedule these appointments through the admissions office. The same is true if you would like to meet with a particular coach of a sport for which you hope to be recruited.

Finally, ask the person what the first date is that the school begins accepting appointments for on-campus interviews. Record all this information on some blank sheets in the section of your three-ring binder dedicated to this school.

When you've done this for every school on your list, compile the kickoff dates that each of your schools begins accepting appointments for on-campus interviews — as well as the phone number of the admissions office of the school — and get these dates and phone numbers into the relevant sections of your binder. This will help you keep track of the dates when you need to call each school to schedule your on-campus interview.

Think of this the same way that you think about ordering tickets for a concert. If tickets go on sale at 10 a.m., you are on the Internet or on the phone at 10 a.m., or you won't get tickets. On-campus interview slots are almost as much in demand these days as tickets to the hottest band, so plan accordingly.

To interview on campus at each of the schools on your list, or at least at your top-choice schools, you will need to work out a second travel itinerary. Try to block out ten days early in the summer when you can complete this important task — and then call each school on the first day that interviews are being scheduled, to fit the school into a slot that works for you.

The timing's right for academic interviews

When scheduling interview times, try to pick either the last slot on the schedule before lunch or the last interview of the day. Try to put your top-choice schools somewhere in the middle of the process so that you'll have an opportunity to get a couple of interviews under your belt before the high-pressure ones hit, but not so late in the process that you'll be too exhausted or such that your answers will seem too rehearsed or "canned." Scheduling interviews in early summer puts you on campus at a time when the admissions staff will be fresh.

Here's the rationale for choosing the slot immediately before lunch or the last slot of the day: If the interview is going well, you won't be artificially constrained by a time limit imposed because the next applicant is waiting behind you; and the more time you have to talk to an admissions officer, the more time you will have to burn an impression in her or her head.

Why are these interviews so important?

First of all, at many schools, admissions officers conduct the on-campus interviews, and at many of those schools, the admissions officer who interviews you will be the person who presents you "in committee" if your candidacy makes it that far. In a highly competitive game where candidates present with incredibly similar credentials, every little edge you can get matters a lot. If you can make a strong impression on an admissions officer, you can pull yourself out of the stack of people with identical credentials and make that officer want to "pull" for you a little harder because he or she met you and can speak for you personally, in three dimensions, beyond what appears on the printed page. The other similarly credentialed candidates who didn't take this additional step remain in two dimensions.

But in the close cases, the three-dimensional candidate — the candidate who has left a strong positive impression with an admissions officer — will get the little nudge that can make all the difference.

You're looking forward to your freshman year in high school. Now blink. Before you know it, you'll be on the brink of entering your freshman year all over again — this time in college.

Although that day may seem far into the future, know that 9th grade is not too early to start planning your course of action toward applying to the college of your choice. If you take steps early in high school — and keep moving forward through your senior year — you're bound to have a better experience in the final sprint toward your new freshman year.

Here are some suggestions to put you on the right track:

Freshman year

• Take classes that challenge you to be creative in your thinking and in your approaches to problem-solving.

• Spend some time with your guidance counselor, discussing how your school and your goals can best mesh.

• Try out some activities both in school and in the community. Figure out what's fun, rewarding, and a good fit your talents and interests.

• Read all about it! Pick up a book, rather than the remote, to build your vocabulary.

• Get out and about during your summer break. Find a job, see new sights, do something for someone else, sign up for a special program, like art classes or wildlife exploration.

• Get the best grades you can. The difference between letter grades is often one big "E" — for Effort.

Sophomore year

• Talk with your counselor about what you're doing to prepare for college in general and for the particular institutions that stand out in your mind right now.

• Make your mark in the extracurricular activities. Accept a club officership, lead a committee, start a brand-new organization altogether.

• Focus on your coursework, aiming for high grades in every class.

• Get in as many AP and Honors classes as practical for your courseload.

• Research scholarship opportunities and get the jump on applying.

  • "Test drive" the PSAT in the fall. You can become familiar with the exam before your score counts.

  • If you feel ready, take SAT II subject exams in May or June.

  • If you've finished any AP classes, take AP tests at the end of the school year.

  • If your family takes a summer vacation, stop in and visit some colleges along the way.

  • Do something fun and worthwhile during the summer.

  Junior year (a biggie, academically)

  • Get serious with the college process. See your counselor early and often.

  • Choose your senior year courses wisely, with your counselor's advice.

  • Take the PSAT for real, knowing that your score shows how ready you are for SAT I.

  • Line up your resources for SAT preparation.

  • Register to take the SAT I or the ACT for the first time during your 11th-grade second semester.

  • Check out some college applications, to get an idea of what'll be expected.

  • Spend some time with college representatives who visit your school or who hold introductory sessions in the community.

  • Spend more time on the scholarship trail.

  • If your parents haven't initiated the conversation, start talking with them about how you'll finance your college education.

  • Identify a few of your favorite teachers as possibilities when you're ready to ask for references.

  • Make the most of your summer break by visiting campuses and realizing that this time next year, you'll be a few months away from your college freshman year.

    Senior year (yippee — graduation at last!)

    All school year: Fight off the urge to fade into the senior slump.

    In the fall

    • Narrow your college choices to a handful and list out their application deadlines.

    • Take SAT I and SAT II: Subject Tests. If you took exams before to get the hang of what was expected, look forward to scoring better on this round — ifyou prepared.

    • Get going on your college essays. Never submit your work without having at least one other person review it, preferably someone trained as an editor or educator.

    • Approach teachers about completing your Evaluation Forms and School Report. Make sure you communicate a clear deadline for submission to each college.

    • Send in Early Action or Early Decision applications, you're interested in finding out sooner, rather than later, whether you've been accepted at the colleges of your choice.

    In the winter

    • If you haven't already sent them in, now's the time to launch your applications!

    • Get your financial forms, including the famous FAFSA, in order and in the mail (also available online).

    • Stay in touch with your counselor. He or she should submit a completed Mid-Year School Report by the deadline, which usually falls in February.

    • Keeping tracking down scholarships. Check in with local civic and special interests groups, businesses and industries near and far, and your parents' employers.

      In the spring

      • Be patient as colleges sort through hills and heaps of applications. You'll probably get the news (hopefully, all good) in April.

      • If you're placed on a wait list, talk with your counselor about your next best move with that particular college.

      • When you've heard back from every college, you have some deciding to do. Participate in on-campus events for the incoming freshman class at any or all of the schools that extended an acceptance. Then, figure out where you reallywant to spend the next several years.

      • Notify all the schools of your decision and send in your deposit to your top choice.

      Take the time to thank everybody who helped you get to this point — the threshold of another freshman year!

Eleven years on any job is admirable, of course. And when you've worked hard every day to make the grade, a little rest and relaxation seems only right.

If you're a high school (or even college) senior, you probably feel a sense of entitlement from having spent so much time employed with education. Through all those years of school, you've looked forward to shifting gears. No big deal if decided to slack off a "little" on the final stretch.

Don't buy that line.

Senioritis can leave permanent damage. The affliction's contagious, too. Once a few seniors start ditching classes, sleeping during lectures, and losing interest in anything not linked to party time, everybody develops a touch of the plague.

If you catch a case of senioritis, get rid of it quickly. Here are a few real dangers of letting it linger:

• Colleges can decide they don't really want you at their schools, after all. Students who've been accepted at the college of their choice are dumfounded when the school revokes its admission offer. Surprise! Acceptance letter carry phrases like, "Your admission is contingent upon your continued successful performance" to give fair warning that senioritis is a known threat. Eleven years of good work hitting the skids in just a couple of semesters tells schools that you probably aren't ready to make the leap to "higher" education.

• You'll fall behind the freshmen pack. Slipping up senior year can spell disaster when college coursework builds on what you should have been learning along the way. Your classload might multiply if you need to enroll in remedial sessions to bring you up to speed. Although the time you wasted can't be reclaimed, you could find yourself up to your weary eyelids in extra work to catch up.

• The party's over. As the English proverb says, all good things must come to an end. If the party scene becomes the "good thing" you can't stay away from, your senior year might close out with some heavy lessons learned. The negative consequences of drifting into mischief can be embarrassing (at the least) or downright devastating to yourself, your family, and your friends.

The senior slump has one clear remedy: graduation. Before that welcome ceremony, however, students can battle senioritis with an ounce of prevention. Try these tips:

• Venture out of your comfort zone. Take challenging classes, contribute creative ideas to class discussions, raise the bar on your research and writing skills. You'll not only fight boredom and apathy, but also develop new ways of looking at what may have become commonplace in your academic life.

• Do something for someone else. If you're a dedicated volunteer, stick with it senior year. If you've considered sharing your time or talents with the school or local community, and never quite made it past the thought process, now's the time to give volunteering a try. You may be surprised at how much fun you have and how good it feels to contribute to something or someone else.

• Make sure your schedule includes at least a couple of Advanced Placement (AP) classes. You can earn college credit by performing well in AP courses, and you'll get a taste of what to expect as a freshman — and beyond.

If you get the itch to skip out of a solid record your senior year, at least consider the possible outcomes.  Relief from a rash of senioritis might be a bitter pill to swallow.

Although there's no promise that if you take a certain combination of high school courses you'll get into any and every college you apply to, there's no question that you have to take the right courses in high school to be considered by most colleges.

Generally, it's strongly suggested that any high school student who hopes to attend college take four years of English and math and at least three years (preferably four) of science and history/government/sociology. Most colleges also require at least two years of a foreign language, but once again, more is better.

Regarding English classes, try to pick classes that let you do the most reading and writing. You want to demonstrate to the colleges you're eyeing that your high school English classes have taught you how to analyze and critique written materials and how to conduct research and write a paper.

Throughout your high school years, try to take the most challenging courses you can, including Advance Placement (AP) courses. Although your grades are very important, most colleges are a bit more forgiving of students who take the most demanding courses their high schools offer — to a college admissions office, a B+ in physics looks a lot better than an A- in general science. But also keep in mind your own limitations and be realistic: Don't sign up for courses you know you don't stand a chance of passing.

Career-related courses really don't add much to a high school transcript. If you think you might want to be an accountant when you grow up, then by all means take an accounting class as an elective. But the colleges you're applying to probably don't expect you to have all of your career goals mapped out when you're still in high school — having a well-rounded education in English, math, science, and history is most important.

Don't forget, the classes you take in high school and the grades you receive in them might be the most important factor colleges look to in applications, but it's not all. Say, for example, that a college is comparing two applicants with the exact same course load and GPA, but one student played a sport, was involved in one or two student clubs, and belonged to a community organization, while the other student wasn't involved in any extracurriculars. If the school can offer admission to only one of the two, guess which student will get the acceptance letter — the one who was involved in her school and community. Your scores on the SAT or ACT are also important.

Lastly, start thinking about college early in your high school career. Although it's true that some universities in particular like to see a "late bloomer," don't wait until your junior or senior year to get serious about your classes and your grades. Ideally, you should start to think about college and what you want to do with your life by the end of the eighth grade.

If you're dreading the essay part of the college entrance process, you're not alone. Most students find the prospect of writing a college admissions essay pretty scary. What are you supposed to write about? What should be the tone of your essay? What are they looking for? How personal should you get?

If you have free reign to choose your college entrance essay topic, pick something that interests you. If the college has assigned you a specific essay, read the question carefully and think about it to let it sink in. No matter how simple the question sounds, you want to make sure you understand what you're being asked. Once you've got that covered, spend some time at the library researching the topic. You want to follow the essay guidelines as laid out by the admissions office, but you also want your essay to stand out from the crowd, so try to think of an interesting or unique perspective about the topic to cover.

Next, brainstorm the topic and take notes, writing down anything that pops into your head about it. Then take a look at your notes and start forming your outline. After that, like it or not, it's time to start writing. If the topic is multi-dimensional, don't be afraid to choose a side or otherwise share your personal feelings and opinions. This is what the admissions office is looking for.

Don't forget the golden rule of journalism: Show, don't tell. Do not say something like, "I like to sing, travel, and I want to be a dentist." Instead, you'd want to write, "I was in an acapella choir in high school and I hope to join a chorus in college. When I graduate from the School of Dentistry, my goal is to take two missionary trips to Africa each year to practice free dentistry in developing villages."

You want to convey your strengths and character in your essay. You also want to prove that you can state an opinion and back it up and to show your skill at putting your thoughts into writing. There are also a few things you don't want to do. First, don't use a thesaurus. If your essay is peppered with words that you'd never use in conversation, a trained admissions officer will realize it and be less than impressed with your ability to stand on your own.

Next, do not try to brown-nose or write to what you think they want to read. By this time, the admissions office already knows that you want to be accepted, so you don't have to tell them how wonderful you think their school is. Instead, let your writing introduce you as a person, someone with original ideas and leadership skills, and someone who fits into an academic environment.

And last, the college admissions essay is no place to share your woes. It might be tempting to write about your triumphs over adversity, but even if you really wereborn in a women's prison and left on a random doorstep by your gambling-addicted father, only to be ridiculed and raised as the simple ugly duckling in a family of super-intelligent supermodels, the admissions essay is not the place to talk about it. Among a sea of essays, sob stories tend to find their way to the bottom of the pile.

Finally, trust yourself, and have confidence in your writing. Remember that the people who will be reading your essay are looking forward to getting to know more about you. You can do this.