Senior Year Application Timeline

Webinar Transcription

2021-06-14 Senior Year Application Timeline

[00:00:00] Hi, everyone. Welcome to CollegeAdvisor’s webinar on Senior Year Application Timeline. To orient everyone with the webinar timing, we’ll start off with a presentation. Then answer your questions in a live Q and a on the sidebar. You can download our slides and you can start submitting your questions in the Q and a tab.

Now let’s meet our panelists. Cool. Hello? Cool. So, um, hi, y’all my name is Austin. Um, and I am an incoming freshmen off of a gap year from Stanford, uh, where I plan to major in computer science. Uh, maybe a little bit of math, econ, uh, maybe poly side, some combination of those fields. I like them all. So yeah.

Um, just without further ado, let’s get right into the topic. So, um, Before I go any further, I’d like to stress for the college application timeline. This is purely my view as an advisor. Um, again, based on how [00:01:00] you apply, you’re going to have different timelines for everything. So like, for example, if you’re doing a drama programs that can be a completely different timeline or specialized program, sometimes that’s different, but if you’re going the traditional route, this is what I would recommend as an advisor.

Um, so how did I feel the summer before my senior year? So I was actually at, um, a summer college program and so I was like pretty stressed at the time. Um, and so that was, but I was also like excited to explore, uh, my college options. So personally, because I had a lot of work as a little bit stressed, also just nerves, but, um, I, I was really excited to see kind of what the field I was looking at was going to look like.

So I knew what I wanted to study. Uh, computer science is kind of like the main thing. I know that from a couple of years, like computer science or. Uh, those two programs are very similar when you apply. Um, even though weirdly they’re actually not normally in the same college, but, um, they’re very similar kind of field, so you can kind of go one or the [00:02:00] other.

Um, and I had somewhat of a preliminary college list partially from like teachers, um, who knew the schools and also from the program. And also just some for my own research. Um, I had no idea, uh, like if at all, like if I would apply early, um, which for computer science, it’s especially weird. Um, just based on the kind of schools that do offer what their early plans are.

Um, so I was not totally sure what my early plans would be. Um, and luckily, so I’m assuming so summer, I’m talking about like the end of it. Um, luckily I’d finished my comment out by then. Um, and my common app essay, which was super, super, super helpful. I cannot stress this enough for I’m actually doing my supplements.

So I was like, okay, let’s I know the schools I can apply for. I can go fully locked and loaded for the supplement. So that was very helpful, but overall kind of stress, but also pretty excited. I feel like probably where a lot of you are, um, kind of in this [00:03:00] space of, Hey, I don’t really know what the future holds, but I’m excited to find out.

So, um, yes, I, I crammed a lot of info at each of these slides. You’ll notice that throughout that thing. Um, so when are the college applications due? So I’ve tried to separate this list as much as I could. Traditionally though, there are two cycles, there’s the early cycle and the regular cycle. Um, but they go on different schedules.

So your friend might be applying, um, ed to Penn. Um, that’s gonna be November 1st, but you might be applying to edTPA. Um, and that’s gonna be November 15th. So sometimes there’s a little bit of nuance in these things. So you gotta be, um, kind of very watchful of those dates, but generally these are the deadlines.

Um, they might change a little bit, uh, this is how I remember them. So, um, November 1st is by far the most common for early cycles. So that would be an early decision, um, or an early application. So, um, early decision is the binding mode where if you apply that way, um, you commit to the school. [00:04:00] Um, but, uh, a lot of the times it comes to the boosted admissions, right?

As well as an earlier decision, which is kind of nice. So it’s heads the name early decision. Uh, it could be a nice weight off your shoulders, an early application, same thing, but it’s not binding and it normally doesn’t carry the same weight. Um, but again, it can still show demonstrated interest, which is really nice.

So November 1st is kind of the. Early date is a lot of call it. Most colleges will fall on that November 1st. Um, some may actually be, well, actually a bunch of that at the end. Um, the next like big ish date is November 15th. A lot of the smaller liberal arts colleges do November 15th for their ed date.

Don’t know exactly why, but, um, it’s kind of something that’s through the NESCAC. So most of them do November 15th is their early decision date, as opposed to November 1st, um, much less common than the November 1st deadline, but it does still happen. So if you’re thinking about kind of like that league of schools, um, keep in mind, November 15th, as well as November 1st.

Um, and I [00:05:00] separate these two specific days out just because even though there are only a few schools, they’re like the most applied to colleges and the United States. Um, so the university of California system is November. Um, at least it has been a years past. Um, so the UC op is really intense. It’s like, uh, another common app that’s November 30th.

So please be aware of that. Um, they actually don’t have an early cycle. That’s the regular decision. So everything for the UCS is like November 30th. Um, and the USC. So USDA actually has two deadlines. Um, but the main one which people apply for. So if you’re applying for scholarships, cause USC offers a lot of merit scholarships, um, largely based on it.

So like stuff for PSVT. For example, I can do that. Um, you are going to apply by December 1st. Um, so that’s just a day to be aware of some other schools have merit scholarship deadlines that are earlier. Um, sometimes if you include a portfolio like an arts portfolio, you have to submit your application earlier.

Not [00:06:00] always the case, but sometimes. Um, so also watch out for those. I just mentioned USC specifically, cause it’s like a super applied to school and the UCS, because they’re also super common. Um, so January 1st through fifth is kind of the regular decision cycle. So that’s just like the traditional you apply.

So if you get in that, choose your schools from there. Um, that’s going to be, most of them are in the range from January 1st to January 5th. Um, which no, probably first is probably the heaviest state, but beyond that can kind of be anywhere in there. Um, that’s where most schools are going to fall. Um, and then there’s kind of like another cycle, but this is actually normal.

I’ve noticed for larger schools tend to do this kind of strange, um, from January 15th of February 1st. So Michigan actually goes all the way to February 1st for the regular. Um, or there might have different rounds of regular decision. Basically. It doesn’t really mean anything but time USC actually has their regular non-scholarship deadline, January 15th.

So, um, Josh just that’s like the last kind of big chunk I’ve noticed, of [00:07:00] course. Colleges can break the cycle. They are all over the place, but these are the general trends that you’ll notice. Um, and lastly, rolling admission can occur at any time. So rolling admission, if you don’t know what that is, um, basically as they evaluate the applications as they get them.

So some are regular decision with rolling. Some are early decisions with road, like, like one of the most famous examples is wake forest has an early decision cycle. That’s rolling that you can find out as early as August. Um, so I knew people who actually did that and got in like that early. Um, I don’t know if it’s that early, still, but it’s like, you can have it be that early.

Like, and so general advice for rolling admission is actually to apply as early as possible just because, um, it, it does help, uh, but not necessarily between cycles. I just met at the beginning of when they start to take rolling admission applications. So it’s just another thing. Just watch out. That can be literally.

Um, but you won’t really see that unless the college explicitly states they have a role like admission policy, so [00:08:00] watch out for that, but it’s, that’s kind of it. Um, so, um, what are the different parts of a college application? So I’m just going to cycle through this real quick. Um, so you have the main application, so that’s like awards, extracurriculars, test scores, um, oh, ahead.

I’m actually already meant that. So rewards like extracurriculars, like all this information about your parents, um, like and financial aid. Well, that’s also separated that out. Um, yeah, just basically your home address, all that stuff, all that jazz with your school. Um, sometimes a profile is sent in most of the time it is with, by your school counselor.

Um, so that can be either through the common app is, uh, someone I normally recommend, if you can use it just because much better user experience and they’re much better with. Kind of answering bugs in the program. Coalition’s good too. Um, that’s less schools, most schools are in the common app. Um, I can think of only one school that uses the coalition, but not the common app, but I know a [00:09:00] lot vice versa.

I think it’s the Texas system uses coalition in addition to apply Texas. Um, and then sometimes they have school specific systems. So like, um, the university of California system is a great example of that. They have an entirely different application for just the university of California. So, um, you want to apply schools like that?

You got to remember, not every school is on the common app, like some famous ones that aren’t on the common app, like MIT is not in the common app. Uh, that’s a different application. You are not in the common app. That’s a different application. Uh, Texas is not on the common app. Those are different application.

Um, so just be mindful of that. Uh, but basically the main actual application piece. So you’re also going to send it in your high school and any college transcripts. So if you took dual enrollment, for example, or you took summer courses at like a college. Um, you send that in as well. So a lot of colleges are gonna want to see those grades.

Um, and so any transcripts you may have, uh, you’re going to send those in with your application. Uh, you’re also going to send it, so this is your choice. Uh, most schools are test optional this next year, due to the [00:10:00] COVID-19 pandemic, um, standardized test scores. Um, so you can choose to whether to include them or not to include them.

A general rule of thumb is if you are at the 50th percentile or greater, it’s a good idea. And otherwise it’s not for that specific school. So that’s generally what we should know about standardized tests, um, and then teacher mentor and counselor recommendation. So you need two teacher recommendations.

It’s generally a good idea to go, um, as close to most like most recent teachers that have had you. So junior year is normally a good idea. Also, if you can, again, also pick teachers that know you really well, but if you can, uh, one from humanities and one from stem is normally a good idea as well, kinda show your.

Um, and in addition to those two, you can get a third recommendation. Um, so I like to do this as like some schools will take it, some schools, Walt. Um, so I like to say though that this should normally be from an external source. So like a coach, for example, I had a friend who, um, got it [00:11:00] fully, uh, like who was his coach and football, uh, for the offensive line.

So that’s what he took in us, his recommendation. Um, so after you have those like main, uh, pieces, you have the supplemental essays for each individual college, you’re applying, uh, this is why I say

this is why I say it’s normally a good idea to get your common app done, um, early, because you’re going to have to write a lot of supplemental essays so that like, for some schools like Stanford, I was like, Um, for example, I know some schools Northeastern has like zero. Um, it really is like a sliding scale from them.

So you could be writing a lot more based on where you’re applying. Um, also, especially if you’re an engineering applicant, they often have more essays you have to do or business school, same thing. Um, so you gotta be mindful of that. Um, so supplemental essays are huge. They will probably take up the most amount of time of anything here, um, for each college respectively, because just cumulatively.

Um, then you have optional [00:12:00] portfolios. Um, I did not submit any optional portfolios when I applied to college. Um, other than X, well yet I did not see any formal optional portfolios to college. Um, but a lot of the times they’ll, if you have a special talent and music, for example, you could submit that or robotics or like a Makerspace.

Um, they have all these options to kind of share that, right. Or, um, maybe submissions for like papers and stuff. Um, but you can also kind of mention that in the extracurriculars. So it’s totally your prerogative. There’s a billion different ways colleges do this, but that’s another thing to keep in mind.

Um, so just an extra side of yourself that you want to show, go ahead and do it. Um, some also some specialized schools might require them, um, for like something specific. Uh, and then the FAFSA and CSS profile is the two biggest financial aid documents. Um, just make sure you have those flips out. Um, if you’re applying for financial aid and I cannot stress this enough because occasionally people forget to do it.

If you are applying early [00:13:00] decision, a lot of the times they will send you an early decision agreement that you have to sign. And so you have to sign it, your counselors to sign it normally. Um, I don’t know if sometimes I didn’t apply to listen to my friends who did. Um, and I know sometimes some of them had their parents had decided, so you have to just be aware of that because otherwise it might not be considered in the early decision route.

So make sure you’re on that. If you’re applying early decision, that’s the binding one. All right. Um, what should rising seniors start working on this summer? So a common are coalition app essays, and two major ones pick which one you like. I prefer common app, just purely cause a better user interface. And you’re going to have less problems tactic wise.

Like you never have technical problems in the common app where this happens frequently, the coalition, um, very important for SATs, right? You gotta have your common app or a coalition. I’ll just say common app essay from now common app essay done like ASAP. Um, I would say under the, summer’s always a good idea.

So again, it’s not like you have to have [00:14:00] it done right now, but I would say out of the summer, do you will save yourself so much time in the future. I know people who are writing it in October bad idea just to in the summer, you will be very happy with yourself later. Um, so definitely do that. And that should be kind of like a reflection of you on a paper.

So if there’s an essay where you really tell your story, Like why you’re applying to college or like maybe something that just is the truest reflection of yourself. That should be the common out. So don’t be afraid to kind of get quirky and have some fun with it. Um, try out a ton of different drafts, see which ones you like and just really hone it in and get this one.

Perfect. Just because that is going to be the essay you send to every college. So take the summer really make a good effort to get it done. Be great. Um, so finalizing a college list. I like to normally have a rough, not final, but a rough idea of a college list, uh, during the summer. So, uh, at the, at the tail end, you do not need to have it up until like maybe September, just as a good idea.

So you can let your recommenders now, um, [00:15:00] where you’re applying also your school counselor so that they can send your transcripts and stuff there. And if you don’t know where to start, uh, use, what’s called the 3, 5, 3 rules. So this is a rule I like to say it’s just a standard, good advice rule. Um, they should have three likely, some people call them safety, but college admissions is just, it’s gotten very competitive nowadays.

We don’t use that term anymore. Likely schools. So schools where you typically are above the 75th percentile for any credentials, um, you’re likely to get in, uh, maybe and that’s for the program. So again, it’s not like some schools have specific programs that are very competitive Carnegie. Mellon’s a great example of that.

Um, so schools that are you’re likely to get in, um, your counselor can also give you a pretty good idea of that. Um, five target schools. There’s the schools that are like, you’re kind of in the upper middle range of students for, um, five of those four or five of those is normally a good idea, just so that you can have a lot of options.

Um, normally you delegate those as like a 50. [00:16:00] Um, and then reach schools. So three reach schools, so schools that are kind of tougher for you. So it can be 50, 25 to 50, maybe in the percentiles. Um, I will say though, if you were applying to schools like the Ivy league, even if you have the credentials for it, those are automatically reaches, um, automatically anything that is like 10% or lower admissions rate automatically reach, like just those schools are incredibly competitive.

Don’t have those as your target or safety. Those are reach schools every single time. So, um, if you really want to add stuff to your list, I would say, don’t go below five and don’t go below three for the target and S likely’s. But if you have the time and if you feel like you can accurately do it well, you can add more reach schools, but, um, 3, 5, 3 as a bare minimum is normally a good idea.

Um, but again, don’t overwork yourself. It’s quality over quantity with college applications, um, optional portfolios, if they’re included in the application. So music portfolio, our portfolio, if you know what you want to show. Start to have that [00:17:00] ready, or at least start to have a good idea of what you want to show off when you’re actually going to be applying.

So like I had a friend who submitted a piano portfolio. Um, she had her pieces picked out by this point. Um, and so she was starting to record is interesting. Um, and if you have time, see, I did not do this. So don’t worry, uh, start working on supplemental essays for your early round schools. So, um, some of these are really depths, like schools that come to mind are like Princeton has a very, has very long supplements.

Stanford has very long supplements. Um, just be aware that they can, you, Chicago has a pretty long supplements to, um, be aware that it might be a good idea if you have, if you, all of these are completed and you have time, you can start thinking about really around supplements. But again, I’d rather see everything on that list before fully knocked out before you attempt this.

Um, this is more of a September, October thing, but yeah. So what are the most important pieces to have done by the end of the summer? So. None of these are necessary. This is just what I [00:18:00] recommend. Um, and have these at least close to done. You don’t really need to have anything done by the end of the summer, but, uh, yeah, comment, common app.

Just again, definitely nice to finish. It will help you. You will thank yourself. I can tell you this now. No one is ever upset. They’ve finished their common app essay. Like in August. People are upset when they finished their common app essay in October and don’t have time for their supplements. Um, so very nice to do college lists.

Um, again, it can be flexible, but it’s a really good idea to have that 3, 5, 3 rule or at least some good options, uh, for that. Um, anyway. Yeah. And you can add or remove a school here or there, if you get close to the deadline, I even added a school literally the day before, uh, in one of the cycles. So that’s like, it is absolutely nonsense.

Uh, so just think about it. Uh, and that common app, common coalition made application. So you can start working on the actual, like rote detail, like addresses parents and phone, like siblings, where do they go to college, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, if at all, um, stuff like [00:19:00] that main application, um, and finding people have right to write letters of recommendation for you.

I actually, so as an advisor, I actually told my students do this before they go for summer. Um, it is not essential, absolutely not essential, but, um, a lot of the times teachers get really inundated with requests for letters of recommendation. So if you have a teacher you really like, and you know, that teacher is popular among students try to get them as soon as possible, just because sometimes they get like 30 recommendations, like, oh my gosh, I can’t do anymore.

Like, I, I, I just, can’t like, I’d love to write one for you, but I have too much work. So the sooner, the better for letters of recommendation does this mean you should ask the middle of your junior year. This means like maybe end of junior year, maybe summer. That’s what I’d say, but maybe before September is probably a good idea.

Maybe September as a little pushing it, I would say dead ended junior year or the summer, somewhere around that. All right. Good. Um, so, uh, what should you be working on in September? So [00:20:00] finalizing your early application plan? So again, it’s like, there is a little bit of a strategy to apply in early. Um, early decision carries a lot of weight, um, versus early action.

So if you really want, if you really know where you wanna apply this, really think about where am I applying early because it, it just really helps you in the cycle. Right. So definitely think about that. Um, also finishing your common coalition essay, if it has not already done, I will say I put a hard deadline on September.

Do not let it go past September, or you will be in for a world of hurt com supplemental essays, just, yeah, absolutely. Finish it by September. Um, also FAFSA and CSS profile. If you’re applying for financial aid, uh, September is good time to. Um, uh, October two, but basically any time before a deadline just I’m done, um, and also find people, um, to write letters of recommendation for you.

As I mentioned earlier, I, it would be nice earlier, um, but here at the absolute latest, cause you do not want to have a teacher be like three weeks before the recommendation. [00:21:00] Hey, can you write a recommendation for me? Because I guarantee you’re most teachers will not do that. Um, I don’t know unless you have a very supportive school, but that would not have happened at my school.

Um, and, uh, writing supplements for your early application schools, September is a great time to start. So I personally started writing supplements for my early, so I applied to Stanford. Um, and I started writing, I believe in September, like very beginning of September. Um, let’s start writing supplements, uh, and also schedule a meeting with your school counselor.

People don’t do this. Um, it is a really good idea to schedule a meeting with your school counselor, because they’re going to also have a good idea of where kids from your school normally. So they will know that it’s also nice to kind of build a relationship with them. Cause they send a recommendation along with it.

Talk about you as a student, as called profile and kind of classes you’ve taken. Um, and so schedule a meeting with them at some point, just also to let them know of your plans and be like, Hey, this is where I’m thinking of applying. You have any recommendations. Um, your school counselor is meant to help you for that.

So definitely schedule a meeting [00:22:00] with your school counselor, um, or some schools handle it through a registrar, but, uh, school counselors normally. Um, good. Uh, so what should seniors be working on in October? So anything not done in September slide. I’ll briefly go back to this so you can look at it again.

Um, cool. Um, so continue to write and finalize supplements for your early applications. Rules. Most deadlines are November 1st. So October is kind of your last month to do it other than that one day in November, but do not be the person who was writing their supplements in November. Don’t do that. It’s just, just, you’re going to want time to edit, uh, these, you’ve gotta be very, very strong if you’re hoping to get into.

Normally when people apply early it’s to a reach school, so got it. You really gotta be in your a game. Um, so, and if you have time, so if you already have all your earliest done, I was not this way. So do not worry. This is not the norm. I knew. I know one person who had this done, uh, [00:23:00] who had the early applications done in October.

You get to start writing supplements for your regular decision. So depending on the cycle, you’re normally going to have more colleges to apply for in regular. Then you do an early, so it can be a good idea if there is time. Um, but again, it’s absolutely not essential. Um, I would say November, December is normally a better time for this also because most schools, um, you’ll have a break in December, so that’s quite nice.

That’s it. That’s a great temporary college jobs. Great. Um, so what should seniors be working on in November? Um, anything not done in the October slide. I’ll go back to that for a sec.

Alright. Um, continue to write and finalize early for like supplements for your early applications goals. I say if the deadline is after November 1st, I intentionally did this because you should not be writing. You should not be editing on November 1st. Like literally just take that day off, take it as like a right to [00:24:00] submit your stuff on Halloween.

That’s what I did good for your mental health. You will not have any technical issues if you do that. Um, just relax on November 1st because most of the people will be stressed. So I just like to say, take that day to yourself. Um, and anyway, uh, so early application goes, if you’re applying to a NESCAC, so those are the November 15th deadlines.

Remember, so just be aware of that. And also like to say for anything, uh, for the UCS, this is a great time to write UC apps. So like I did early Stanford, which was November one. I think I submitted, like, I think I actually submitted on Halloween if I remember, or is there a little bit earlier submitted an application on Halloween?

I remember that. Um, and the, so the UCS, I then took November to write my UC app, um, and my USC app. So when I was applying to USC and the university of California system, this is what I did all November. It was just these schools. Um, and I think I did maybe a little bit of supplements for regulars, but it was largely those two.

Um, [00:25:00] and yeah, begin direct supplements, free regular decision. Um, I wish I took my advice cause I got really crammed in December. Um, remember it’s still pedal to the metal, like you pre and put a ton of time to your earliest, but do not forget the amount of volume of schools you have in the regular decision.

So, yeah. Um, and submit applications the day before their due date. That’s just, I heard that advice from someone it’s a really good idea. Um, just because oftentimes there are like technical errors and most colleges will still be fine if feel like I don’t know something weird happens if you write to them, but it’s the sort of thing where you don’t want to take that chance.

Um, so submit the day before, if you can, um, just to prevent any tech errors and yeah. Celebrate the applications you submitted. So I like to say, take November one to yourself so that I did, because all my friends are submitting all that. They’re all really stressed. I was like, Hey, I’m just going to relax.

I have my early app set. So good idea. Um, so, uh, what should seniors be working on December? Okay. Anything not done in the November slide, um, for back.[00:26:00]

Alright. Uh, and yes, that includes celebrating. If you have not celebrated submitting your early applications yet, please celebrate a plight of colleges. Um, you deserve a pat on the back. So I don’t know, like how’s the back. Good idea. Um, and continue to write and finalize your supplements for your regular decision applications.

I wrote pretty much all my supplements in December, other than the ones I previously mentioned, it was a bad idea. Um, I would space them out bar if I was redoing the process. Um, so yeah, definitely think about November, uh, is a good time to start with these. Um, yeah. Uh, and don’t be F yes. Well, thanks. I can mention it all the time.

Um, and again, uh, submit applications the day before their due date to prevent any tech errors really important. Um, cause you may have a deadline or two in December, but January is much more common. So, um, I would say December 31st is a great time to submit like new year’s, um, just because they get even [00:27:00] more applications in January 1st.

So your chance of tech errors goes up like crazy. So, um, and I would say mentally prepare yourself for and accept any decisions that may come. Keep in mind that college admissions really, you can’t really predict much. Um, you can, the best thing you can do is put out an authentic version of yourself. Um, and just if you match with the school, if the school feels like you’re a good fit for them and vice versa, um, and they’re a good fit for you then.

Yeah. Maybe it will come out as good news, but otherwise it might not. Um, so you really need to accept that decisions aren’t necessarily a reflection of yourself and that oftentimes it’s kind of like casting for a play. Sometimes you’re going to fit a role. And sometimes you’re not doesn’t mean you’re more talented or less talented than other students.

It just means you weren’t right for the role. Um, and oftentimes that’s a good thing for you as well. So, um, I would say, prepare yourself for and accept any decisions that may come in this time. See, I actually fun fact [00:28:00] got three straight deferrals in this period. So it was interesting for me, uh, but you will make it out of it.

I will say that right now. Um, and oh, actually one thing I forgot to put in here, if you get deferred, think about starting to write a letter of continued interest around now. Um, some of those in January, uh, basically it just reiterated the school’s number one choice for you, um, that you would go there if attended, uh, and maybe a little bit about why you’re excited about school, uh, like specific, if you want to go a little bit more detailed, shouldn’t be very long.

Some schools will actually give you a whole deferral form. So like, when I was deferred from Stanford, I got three essays I had to write. So they literally gave you like three, three more essays. Um, a lot of it was about your senior year and like, um, kind of what have you been up to, uh, so that’s kind of the Tony’s you take is any updates from there.

So especially awards, let them know about that. And again, pat yourself on the back for job. Well done, like [00:29:00] you’re done. Um, arguably, I don’t know, maybe you procrastinated on a January 5th, but. Good. All right. So now we’re going to take a poll and I will not.

I personally haven’t started with my college process. If you guys are here, apologies, y’all all are curious. Um, it looks like the, like the pole was actually duplicated and already opened, which is my bad. So we have 13 people who said they haven’t started 29, who are researching schools, seven who are working on their essays, one who is getting their application materials together.

And we don’t have any horror almost done, which is a good thing, because that would be a crazy time to be almost done. Yeah. And keep in mind, there are so many that are just like you. These do not have to go in order. I would just say future recommendations are probably good to get earlier. It’s not essential, but if you’re still in school, definitely [00:30:00] ask your teachers.

Um, Yeah. And I don’t know, college list, if I had to guess and comment, those are the idea of the three things I would say are probably fairly early, just because they kind of inform the other thing. So like, obviously you have to know your college list before, you know, your college supplements. So does it make sense to work on supplements until you know what your okay.

That, that looks cool. I’m going to close the poll now. Great. All right. So how could seniors make their essay stand out? Uh, number one, be yourself, please. I see so many essays where kids try to write what they think the admissions officers want. And it is a bad idea. Um, there is a book, I forget who it’s by, but she mentioned that those are the essays that ends up as by a former Dartmouth admissions officer.

I believe. Um, she talked about how those are the worst essays to read, uh, because like 10,000 other kids are doing the exact same thing. If you try to [00:31:00] put yourself into this. That the college of business officer, uh, you think they want to hear one, you’re probably going to be wrong and two, you will sound like every other applicant.

So don’t do that. Be yourself. That is the best way to kind of go through this process. And one of the, um, I forget who said it, Susan, another student, somebody, sorry, my memory is foggy tonight, but, um, basically she was describing how, if you try to pretend to be this person, let’s say you fold the committee.

You’re not going to be happy at the school because they would admit that fake person and not yourself. So you have to trust that a lot of the times admissions officers also are looking for your best interest. So, um, if you are yourself, you are more likely to match the schools that match your personality, that you would be better suited for.

So be yourself, all caps. I literally tell all of my students, I advise this more than anything. Please be yourself. Very important. Um, humor is great when you use. Uh, there is a book [00:32:00] called I think it’s called on writing the college essays by a brown admissions officer where he talks about how pretty much the soul of any good college essay is humor.

So again, does this mean you have to go all humorous and it’s a good idea to go all humorous? No, but don’t read all dead pan either. So definitely think about having a little bit of humor. I’m like a little bit of jokes here and there. Like I had a few jokes on my applications. Like I wrote one about how I wanted to learn to knit.

I wrote another about like traffic on the highway, like stuff like that. Like it’s, you really, really do not have to be all serious in college applications. Like it’s, it’s fun to spice it up a little bit, show off your personality and humor is a great way to do that. Um, I also think that the best essays come from introspective thought and unique messages, so kind of introspective thought taking it one level deeper, like, okay.

I like history. That’s the essay let’s say so why do I like history? History helps me connect to my past history helps me kind of look at all these things that I just didn’t know in context helps me contextualize [00:33:00] so much of our modern day and maybe go more into your background and more into how that is.

So like, really think about not only what the subject is, but how can you make it deeper on a personal level and how can you take it to kind of a worldview? So how can you kind of bring it to a statement that applies to everyone? So say that and unique messages kind of fall into that vein. So think about all right, what is something that I can say that is unique, um, from the Soviet unique for unique sake, but is there something really interesting I can think of for the subject that maybe hasn’t been said before?

Um, it can be a decent idea. Um, and I would say so actually leading into that point, be intentional about creativity. You can be creative. I had a friend who literally submitted a there’s U Chicago question. They have a famously weird supplement. That, um, was the question was just where’s Waldo and she’s just submitted an ASCII art of Waldo and wrote, found him.

So you can be creative, but [00:34:00] don’t be weird for weird sake. So if you are going to be creative, you need to be intentional about it. So I wouldn’t just try to stand out cause you might be standing out in the wrong way. I think people underestimate how charming and creative they are in their essays. So I would say just unleash your creativity.

Don’t try to like stuffing into a box really, really think about like, okay, I really want to show off this side of myself and this is a good way to do it. Take some risks. Good idea. Um, and also tailor essays to the school, especially for why college essays. So if a school asks, why do you want to pursue a major also talk about in that essay?

This is why this school is a good fit for me to do it. So don’t just have a cookie cutter, copy and paste, copying and pasting is fine for like some specific supplements that happened to fit very well. But if an essay looks shoe worn, it’s going to be bad. So make sure only in the case that that prompt is literally like the same thing.

You can do that, [00:35:00] but I would always tailor the essays to the school. So why college essays, especially that’s very important. Cause the college wants to know you genuinely want to go there. You’re not just applying for the name brand and you’re not just applying because it’s a safety you or likely school.

You want to be tailoring the essays to that school. You want to make them understand why you want to go there. Very important. All right. So what should you keep in mind? Uh, this is a long arduous process. Take time for yourself. Your mental health is very important through this process. Um, stress, uh, anxiety, uh, really try to focus on yourself.

This process is very holistic and it’s very personal. Um, So take time for yourself, really think about all these things and really kind of come to peace before anything happens. Oh, it’ll save you a lot of heartbreak and headache in the future. Um, just like it, because for most people, some people they get in everywhere, but like, I, I definitely did not get it everywhere.

[00:36:00] A lot of people don’t so really, really think about kind of like, well kind of get, get prepared mentally for anything that may come because you might also be pleasantly surprised. Like I was pleasantly surprised and I know a lot of people were pleasantly surprised. Um, for most people, this process does work out.

Um, but again, it is long and arduous. Don’t get discouraged by the amount of essays. Use it as fuel in the fire, really be like, all right, I’m going to crank through all of these, right. Just, but don’t, don’t overwork yourself. Just stay moderate, stay intentional. Um, yeah. Uh, Good. Um, so now, uh, be prepared for changes and unexpected events they’re sure to happen.

I literally, as I previously mentioned, I literally changed my colleges. I decided to apply to a school, um, pretty much the day, literally that same day, I was like, I’m actually just going to write an application to the school, but they literally did that. Um, so that can happen, um, and just be prepared for unexpected events they can happen.

So like, [00:37:00] um, actually if you’re curious what that school is, I, um, I got an email from brown about like January 2nd, saying there were extended the deadline of the January 5th. So I actually applied as I, it was like on my school list, but I’d caught it. And I was like, oh, why not? I have time for it. So I actually applied to brown on them on a whim because they had extended the deadline.

So be prepared for those unexpected events. Like they can happen, um, start early and finish. Again, I’ve said this 5 billion times, but really it is a good advice. You will thank yourself later. It is very, very, very good advice. Like no one is ever bad that they started earlier than college process. People are mad that they started late, early, early, early, early, early, like we’re in a great time right now to where you just are kind of really starting the process.

Um, so there’s no pressure right now, but I would just say finishing your common app at the end of the summer, having a solid college list by the end of the summer, all are good ideas. And so, yeah, as I previously mentioned, [00:38:00] this process is intimidating and it seems daunting. You’re going to want to compare yourself to all these people, but again, remember you are not those people.

You are not just numbers on a page. Your essays are what make you unique and your essays are what to add. A lot of the stuff determines if you are a good fit for the school. So, um, don’t necessarily be intimidated or anything like that by other applicants. A lot of the times the process works itself out in the ed.

Students are normally pretty good at picking schools that are good matches for them. Um, and, uh, one quick thing I like to say is there is a trend, um, to apply to like a lot of IVs. I would seriously recommend against that. What do you do that? Cause the IVs are incredibly different with schools. So stuff like that, for example, don’t just apply for prestige.

Um, it will work itself out if you work for it, find schools based on fit. Um, that is the best way to go through this because you will like the, uh, the essays will come to more naturally to you normally. And you can write about the score more naturally instead of trying to force this for prestige of school.

Um, and don’t fear rejection. [00:39:00] Um, it can open doors that you never considered walking through as the line I always like to use. Um, and so again, like rejection, oftentimes like Mo it can oftentimes just be that they don’t think you would like it there, like for a school. Um, that is a pretty common reason.

And so. By not going to that school and going to a school that actually is like, we really want you, and we think you would love it here. You might be much happier that school, you probably will be much happier at that school. Then you would be at the other school. So it can open doors that you just never even considered in the first place.

So remember the future, like you’re young, but the future is yours. There’s so much exploration to do. This is not the end all and be all. This is kind of just the first step, really? So, um, yeah. Yeah. If you want to set yourself up for success again, start early. I’ve said this like 50 times, I’ll say to 51st time start early [00:40:00] again.

Be yourself extremely important. If you try to pet what the commit admissions, but you think the admissions officers want that, or I don’t know. Maybe you do even know what they want. It will not work out well because so are 10,000 other. Don’t do it be yourself very important. You are far more interesting than any person you could pretend to be seriously.

All right. Pick schools that are best as access, but I touched on it, thought it was on the previous line. It’s actually on this one pick schools that are best equipped to help you on your education journey. Not those which are the most prestigious. Um, it is tempting to look at those lists like best like blank program in the United States.

But a lot of those types of schools are really different. You need to seriously consider location size, fit, all these things like core curriculum, open curriculum. What speced sets you up for success because you you’re going to be more successful at school you are happier at. And so your dream school may not often be what you think your dream.

[00:41:00] Like there, you really, really need to look at schools that are better equipped to help you at schools that are, you think you are going to like better than schools that are prestigious, because like freeze up. My classic example is the student who applies to all eight IVs. Like those schools, a lot of them are nothing like each other, like Dartmouth is like nothing like Columbia, other than the fact they’re in the Ivy league.

Like, what is it a city? What is like in the middle of nowhere, one is 4,000 students. One is like 10,000 students. Like one is more liberal arts. He wants more engineering. One is more of an open curriculum. One’s more core curriculum. Like they dart completely different. So don’t just pick off prestige.

Think about what really matters to you in the process and be picky. There are a lot of colleges in the United States, um, and abroad too. Uh, I’m just talking about that. Um, so stay organized, remember dates and deadlines. I had a spreadsheet, um, spreadsheets. Thinking about it. We also have the tool of CollegeAdvisor, um, if you’re with us, uh, so feel free to use that and just relax and enjoy it.

Um, so this [00:42:00] process, like I know it can be hard to relax. I know there’s a triggering word for a lot of you of the process because it is so stressful, but I was there the moments when I really took a moment to myself and just thought about it, or just relaxed, where the moments were actually an inspiration for some of my best essays.

So enjoy kind of this period of your life, where you really getting to spread your wings for the first time and really getting to study what you want and consider all these places, because there are so many great places that would love to have you, like not everyone goes to Princeton and that is fine.

A lot of people would hate it at Princeton. Most people would like, so it’s the sort of thing where it’s like, you got to pick a fit, you got to pick, like you can’t just go straight for what you are told to apply for. You really got to go off of what is important to you. And that’s the best way to go through this process is to just enjoy it.

Enjoy this. And joy, finding out little tidbits about each of the schools you love, and then use that to inform a list that you love and write assets that you love, and hopefully go to a school that you love in the [00:43:00] end. So, um, now we’re going to go to the Q and a I’ll turn it over to Hannah. Okay. All right.

So this is the end of the presentation part of the webinar. We hope you found this information helpful, and remember that you can download the slides from the link in the handler handouts tab, moving on to the live Q and a. Austin is going to read through the questions you submitted in the Q and a tab, and then read them out loud to give you an answer as a heads up, if your Q and a tab, isn’t letting you submit questions, double-check that you joined the webinar through the custom link in your email and not from the webinar landing page.

Okay. Back to you, Austin. Um, I’ll just go in between each of these. Like from the timeline, the pre QA, and also some of these, we have more in the live Q and a solid read from those later, but I’ll kind of alternate for now. So, uh, first question is from Emma. Do you necessarily need recommendations for your application as I have trouble being socially expressive and I’m going to be lucky to get one, is it [00:44:00] okay just having one recommendation?

So I actually think that recommendations like teachers are only happy to write them for you. Um, I would definitely try to go it for more than one. Um, some most colleges will require to not all but most. Um, but I wouldn’t, I, I bet your teachers would love to write recommendations for you. I’m just saying that like a lot of students kind of, um, underestimate how much their teachers truly like them.

Um, and worst comes to worst. They’ll say they’re too busy. Like never will a teacher write a recommendation for you. And it turns out that, like, that, that doesn’t happen as much as people think it might doesn’t happen. Um, at least from any, I’ve never heard of something like that happening. So I would actually just reach out, I would say, definitely get to.

If you can, uh, and the teacher might be like, yeah, like she’s probably at, but like, um, she is a huge, like whenever she says something, it like turns the classroom discussion on their head. That might be a really good that’s, that’s a really powerful statement. So I wouldn’t worry necessarily about that.

Again, [00:45:00] some college is going to be a better fit, so like small liberal arts colleges, for example, um, a lot of them like that they look for students like that. And so, um, I wouldn’t, you will totally be okay, but I would recommend going for too, um, probably good idea. And I, I bet your teachers will be happy to read them for you.

Um, I’ll go to the pre pedal question. Um, oh, this is a great one. How do you balance college applications with courses and extracurriculars? Okay. Yes. Um, so be mindful of this and your senior year. Um, I would say write essays on the weekends. That’s normally was my role. Um, I wouldn’t really write essays, uh, during the week days except okay.

I had kind of a weird. As soon as on the weekends and essays during free periods of high school or study halls. Um, I do homework during the school nights, but I do essays on weekends and just, uh, free periods, but that’s a pretty good strategy. Also be aware that when you have that break in December, like most schools, that’s [00:46:00] a great time.

That’s the best time to write it. Um, so just really blocked that out. Um, it’d be helpful keeping yourself on somewhat of a schedule to, um, a lot more time for your earliest. Cause those are the first supplements you’re gonna do. You’re probably gonna have some writer’s block up until you actually start writing those.

And it’s a lot easier to get the ball rolling once you’ve started to write them and you can kind of reuse. So that’s what I’d say on that. Um, uh, and I’ll answer two right here, uh, from the live Q and a. So why can you start applying to colleges and the deadline to apply deadlines? I mentioned, um, applications you can apply as early as they accept them, but normally applications released, I think on September 1st, there’s no point really in applying earlier than the deadline.

Um, other than maybe technical issues, unless you’re applying for rolling admission, that’s the only difference most of these colleges just written them all at the same time after that deadline. Um, and what are the NESCAC? So those are, oh my God, I’m going to pull up the abbreviation right here. They are a, um, there, so they are the new England, small college [00:47:00] athletic conference.

Um, and they, so I used that they are like a lot of the Northeastern small, uh, colleges. So like Boden, Bates, Colby, Amherst, Williams, that kind of vibe, that’s all NESCAC. So a lot of them are November 15th for their, uh, ed date. So that’s what I would recommend. Um, great. Uh, how do I want to answer this one?

How do you begin the essay? Okay. So this is how I like to do it. Every advisor’s is going to have their own advice. This is how I always like to say. So the patented Austin method, if you’re curious. So I always like to say, I want you to generate two as ideas for each of the prompts, right? So there are seven prompts, the common app, I think there’s like five or six in the coalition.

I have no idea. I don’t often I never recommend these to the coalition. I’m good for some people. I just normally don’t recommend it. Um, and so I like to write two ideas for each of them. From there. I like my students to choose five of those [00:48:00] essay topics. Right. And I want them to do a 200 to 300 word free write.

I don’t care how you do it. Lock yourself in a room and write down the word refrigerator 15 times if you do it. But I want you to get 230 to 300 words on the page. Just your thoughts, stream of consciousness, because oftentimes you’re going to kind of think about things that you wouldn’t previously have thought about.

Um, so that’s how I like to say, just get out and start writing. Uh, there’s a Pablo Picasso quote that I love, which is inspiration exists, but it needs to find you. So that’s the best way to get assayed, just start writing and don’t stop, even if it’s terrible. My first comment out as it was horrible, but I’d, I got one I just threw out, but there is some, is that really, you’re going to actually find gold by doing something like that.

So do it. Um, okay. Uh, okay. I’ll answer it actually brought these from Ralph. Um, can you apply EDD for multiple schools? No, but you can apply ed and then also apply EA under some [00:49:00] programs. Auria is interesting. So that’s restrictive early action, Stanford, Harvard, Gail, prince, and Outlaws. They’re a little bit weird.

Um, I think they allowed me, I for public schools and scholarship deadlines. So basically more of the story is if you do RA or D one school, but EA is kind of, as long as they allow it. Um, I’ve seen a few real fast, I’ve seen a few questions about sort of, what is the difference between ed and EA? So what you explained that yeah, just go on straight down.

Yeah. Early decision. So again, early decision is the binding one. You say, I want to go to this college, my top choice. If I go in, I am going there. You have to sign a contract. Um, only way they’ll let you out of it. Normally is if you get financial aid, if financial aid is not enough. So, um, yeah, if you go in there, if you apply, um, most colleges have ed.

Um, so if you really like to college ed there, um, but you have to be absolutely sure. Don’t settle for a college with ed. That’s a bad idea [00:50:00] because you never want that one F just say it. Um, an EA is like, you don’t get as much and you normally get a huge boost in admissions chances from ed, depending on the school.

Some schools don’t care, but most do. Um, EA sometimes you get an emissions boost. Um, it’s good for showing demonstrated interest. It’s just an earlier application. Sometimes the scholarship deadlines they make you apply EA it’s kind of all there is to it. Um, yeah. So I’ll go back to the pre Q and a, uh, how much can you share from this timeline?

Um, this is just my personal advice. Uh, you can try as much as you want. Um, but I would just say those things. I said, try to have teacher recommendations. Um, common app essay in college is done by August and obviously have your supplements mostly done by October and December respectively for your colleges.

Give yourself about two weeks to edit for, um, stuff like don’t don’t, don’t give yourself a date at it. Give yourself two weeks. So you can keep looking at it, waking up with new ideas, fresh ideas and editing. Um, [00:51:00] uh, okay. This specific, I don’t know that, um, uh, two, two of these are both about common app or the common app questions, the same everyone.

And they actually changed one this year, but mostly, yes, they are. Um, they added a new prompts, so the prompts are actually already out for this year. So go ahead and look. Um, and normally colleges keep their supplements relatively similar, but that’s not always the case. So don’t start writing them now focus on your common app.

Um, and are any of the military academies on there? I believe they all are actually, I know I’m pretty sure west point is, and I’m pretty sure navel is, but I don’t know about the others. You might have to fact check me on that, but I’m pretty sure they are. Um, great. Uh, I’ll go back to the pre Q and a, um,

would you recommend taking less challenging classes your senior year to focus on applications now? Um, don’t overload yourself, but also don’t intentionally take easier classes than what you can do. Um, [00:52:00] that will kind of make it look like you’re not necessarily, you’re trying to take the easy way out.

Don’t do that. Um, but again, don’t overwork. Don’t apply to so many colleges would be my recommendation quality over quantity to what you can. This is a really stressful time of year. You’re going to be working a lot. It’s just kind of how it is, but I would not take the easy way out if you’re asking that it doesn’t look great.

Um, oftentimes, especially at a wait-list, um, uh, how can I, well, how can you apply on to schools that aren’t on the common app? Um, they have their own application, basically. So if they’re not the common app, they’re there or they have their own application, pretty much every school on the coalition is also in the common, um, not vice versa.

Like the only one, I think that’s different is Texas, but they also have their own application in addition to coalition. Um, oh, can you choose between early decision early on? Yeah. EA you can do that at the same time as ed. If you do restrictive early action, that’s a little bit different. It depends. Um, schools have different policies on that.

So you’re going to have to check [00:53:00] with a specific school. Um, Yeah, these only pre QA what’s the most important factor in college applications. How do I stand out, be yourself, be yourself and be interesting. Um, if you’re like sort of thing is don’t, don’t write it the same thing. Everyone else writes, like have fun with your essays.

I wrote some really wacky essays. Um, definitely, definitely have fun with essays, um, and be yourself. Um, and okay. Uh, what should be in the common app essay? Uh, I would say the truest reflection of yourself. Um, so something that actually really is important to you or says something about you. It’s like, I actually have one of my, so one of my, um, one of my students I worked with last year wrote an essay about learning how to do a kick flip and kind of, it was an essay about creativity and showing how he persevered.

So something like that basically takes something that’s important to you and draw it out to more of the, as a phenomenal essay, draw it out more [00:54:00] to the expanded sphere, right? Um, and let’s see, is there any more pre Q and I, uh, uh, yeah, those are more specific. I can answer those, um, and oh, supplemental essays.

So some schools, normally more selective schools, um, are gonna make you write more assets. So when I say supplements, that’s what that means. So supplemental essays. So like some schools will literally have you read like 5,000 more words, like defending the school. It’s it can be a lot. Um, so that’s why you need a lot of time for this.

Um, is there, uh, anything you can do as a junior during the summer before, or, um, during the school year? I would just say, uh, maybe research colleges. I wouldn’t really touch it until I would say college list. Maybe start thinking about common app. I would say keep your grades up as number one. Uh that’s that’s number one.

Yes. There’s always things you could do. But chief among them is keep your grades up. Um, so say here, I basically try to do a senior [00:55:00] year application timeline timeline, because that was the presentation, but keep your grades up as number one, especially junior year. Very important. Um, so,

um, real fast, I think we’re about five minutes away from the end of the Q and a. So I just want to, uh, slip in that, uh, if you’d like to work with one of our advisors, Then you can sign up for a free consultation with us by going to CollegeAdvisor.com and clicking the green chat button in the bottom, right of the screen from there.

And just reading consultation and a live team member will get back to you to help coordinate your free consultation with us. And you can have wonderful help from Austin advisors. Like, hello. Yeah, there’s a lot of, so, um, I’m going to like speed round these because we’re done with the pre Q and a all right.

Should supplements be more creative or to the point, depending on what you want to do. Um, I like a mix humor and serious have a mix of both. Um, but depending on the kind of the, uh, Tony growing, don’t go all creative. Don’t go, I’ll do the point, have a [00:56:00] mix. Um, I had some serious essays, but I like writing humor.

So most of my stuff was humorous. Um, do you know around which month? Uh, most college as specific essays are released September, I believe, but normally they’re the same as last year. So if you want to have a good idea of what they are, they’re normally the same. Um, and any recommendations how to search for colleges that best fit you?

Yeah. Think about criteria beyond prestige. I think, look at programs, academic programs, size location, uh, the requirements. So core open curriculum. Um, whether, whether, sorry. Yes. Whether I’m from new England, if you were from California, do not come here unless you really like the cold and snow seriously. Um, literally it’s like fall in the morning and then like winter in the night.

Like it’s crazy. Um, anyway. Yeah. So think about that. Uh, those are all good things. Um, and oh, okay. If we were restricted from test taking due to, um, health now is that, but you’re applying to competitive [00:57:00] schools. This is exactly why test optional exists. Yes, you’re fine. Don’t worry about it. Um, if you don’t submit it, colleges won’t take a thing of it.

I would say if you’re 50, if you’re below the 50th percentile or you just couldn’t take SATs, that’s fine. Just don’t submit it. They won’t care. Um, most colleges are test optional this year. Um, so it’s really. It’s really not a big deal. Um, if that happens, right. So just work on essays and stuff. Totally fine.

You can explain that too, if you want the additional information section. Um, I think they still have that COVID-19 section where you’re talking about how it’s impacted you, but it’s mostly just, yeah. Just bringing up that, um, our honors program application generally different. Yes. Oftentimes they have extra essays, um, that you have to write.

So keep that in mind, um, is it to create, you know, it is not too late to create extracurricular activities, uh, in the summer before your senior year do what you like follow your passion. That’s what I always say with these process. So I’m trying to speed run these. So I’m not going to read the full on out, um, where [00:58:00] we start with a personal statement, kinda, as I mentioned, um, start writing and don’t stop to give a lot of different ideas and pick the one you like best and then pursue that.

Um, Retaking, the sat doesn’t really affect to you other than you can super score it. Um, that’s all, it was like, they’re not gonna, I wouldn’t take it more than three times. It’s just my general advice. But, um, yeah. Uh, and watching the teacher mentioned about the student, um, I don’t really know, I’m not going to lie, but probably little individual things.

Maybe your leadership positions, normally a teacher will give you a form. Um, I’ve never written a teacher recommendation, so I don’t really know firsthand. Um, but yeah, uh, what’s the best way to find likely colleges colleges in your area is normally a really good place to start. So, um, that’s a good one.

Um, also just you can look up like less competitive select for stem students. I always recommend Purdue for high-achieving stem students. That’s normally a really good likely school for people. Um, I really liked that school, uh, if you’re like on the top end of stem. So the F and state [00:59:00] programs, state schools are really, really good, um, for that state schools are good at everything.

So, yeah. Um, Yeah. I heard about you that, uh, I would not email professors and admissions counselors, uh, to show your interest per se, I would say attend events, maybe meet them. Um, if you have a specific, if you want to get involved with research, that might be a maybe, okay. You can ask about like professors looking for high school research interns, you’d be like, Hey, I’d like to do research.

Um, and then they can write a recommendation for you if they want, but I wouldn’t really do anything beyond that. Um, and my main extracurriculars were mostly computer science. I also did just pretty much any of academic team there was they can marry mirror your major, or they can be totally interest. I would say depth as opposed to like spread.

So definitely have a few really good focused, um, extra curriculars that you go deep into instead of just answering a lot. Um, yeah, colleges will accept recommendation letters outside of school, but that should be an additional, that should be your third, not either of your primary to, um, EA [01:00:00] is non-binding um, sorry.

Um, How many colleges that I applied to actually, I did way too many. I applied to like 19 schools. Don’t do that apply to like 15 max, um, uh, uh, I wouldn’t do that. Talk about like gifts or anything or, uh, fence you’ve attended. So I’m going to try to answer all these I’m almost done. Um, I would just like talk about the specifics of why you like the school.

They’re going to value that more, but yes. Um, get on email list for colleges if they track demonstrated interest. Cause a lot of them do. Um, no, I am not involved in any sports at Stanford. Um, I am terrible at sports. Um, yeah, score as good grades as you can. Just all throughout high school, but especially junior, senior year, um, uh, common out.

What do you find it? Look up common up common app.org. Um, AB call it classes. Yeah, take the most difficult classes you can, but again, they’re never gonna, um, blame you for something that was not available at your school. Uh, five more. Okay. I’m gonna show, um, uh, databases that [01:01:00] are good. I like college vine.

We have a good one at CollegeAdvisor to. Codified is a good one. Nash is pretty good. Um, there’s some of your school uses Navi ops or score. Those are both really good. You can also check from like, what kind of students kind of get in, so you can be know where you are, range, um, test optional. Yes. For pretty much every college they’re going to be test optional.

Um, and yeah, you should not submit your sat. If it’s under the average, I would say middle fit below the middle $50 a minute. If it’s 50% or above do submit it. That’s the rule of thumb. All right. How do you want to have that speed? Run all those questions. Very impressive. Okay, everyone. Thank you so much for coming up tonight.

Um, and thank you Austin so much for presenting. So this is the end of the webinar. Thanks for all your awesome questions. And we had a wonderful time telling you about the timeline for senior year. Here’s the rest of our June series. So tomorrow we have. Um, my admissions journey is a pre-med transfer student, and we also have taking the act test optional [01:02:00] schools later this week.

All right, everyone. Thank you so much for coming out and have a great night.