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How to Take Over the World Lesson #328: From the Yard
By
Stefanie Botelho
It’s September... well, almost. Leaves will be changing colors and west coast schools will finish a movement that started on the east coast in early August: the beginning of a new school year. For many, that means long weeks of homework to culminate with Friday night football games and Saturday night parties; but for a select few this fall will be one that will change their life. Those select few are the high school seniors… the ones who will be filling out college applications.
You’ve probably already done your research as to how to get into the college of your dreams. You’ve heard from the Princeton Review and made the rounds with the College Board, and now you can hear from me - a Harvard University freshman that thinks it’s not mathematically possible for either of those groups to be a non-profit considering the amount of money they rake in every year. I managed to get accepted to the university of my choice, but it wasn’t easy. I don’t have ten easy steps. I don’t have a magic formula. I can’t even tell you why the colleges that accepted me did. All I can repeat is some practical advice I heard along the way that helped get me from my back yard to Harvard Yard.
Understand the instructions. Read the instructions once. Read the instructions twice. Read the instructions as many time as it takes for you to understand them. This sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how often it’s overlooked. If a college wants you to write in blue or black ink, don’t write in purple. If an essay has a word limit, they might not actually count… but chances are they’ll be on to you if you submit a novel. If a college doesn’t want supplemental materials, don’t bake your admissions officer cookies.
Be neat. You have to summarize four years of hard work and preparation into a thin packet of paper and maybe an interview. A group of people sitting very far away will read your application and decide whether or not you’re a good match for your dream school. It’s logical that you’d want to make the best first impression possible considering it’s the only impression you’ll get to make. So if the university doesn’t require you to handwrite the application, type it. Don’t crunch, crumple, stain or tear any of the materials. Paper clip, staple, and organize everything.
Don’t procrastinate. NOW is the time to order applications online. NOW is the time to ask teachers for recommendations. NOW is the time to decide what, if any, supplemental materials you also want to include. The early decision/action deadline is November 15. All your other applications won’t be due until January; that’s TONS of time. Trust me, start now.
Be yourself. I didn’t want to be myself. I wanted to be whomever the college was going to admit. But think about it: colleges read through thousands of applications a year in order to select a freshman class. They know who is going to be the best fit for their school. They won’t know if you’re a good fit if you’re not you. Write your college essay on whatever you want to write about, whether it be a caffeine addiction or a love of punk music. Respond to your short answer questions truthfully. Add whichever awards you are proud of to your brag sheet, even if you are the local Blueberry Pie Eating Contest Champion.
Once you mail your application, that’s it. Your half of the deal is done. Try not to worry and go back to homework, Friday night football games, and Saturday night parties. Just remember, not all acceptance letters come in big envelopes… so make sure to open the small ones too.
Stefanie Botelho, Harvard University freshman and a past CTSO National President, is a Trainer with Team TRI and a new contributor to the Leadership Solutions Network. Click here to learn more about Stefanie and how to contact her!
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