| It is time to go to college! This is an exciting period in | | | | academic quality of those in the application pool. |
| anyone's life, but it can also be daunting and | | | | Increasing the quality of the application pool leads to |
| confusing. If you follow the next four steps, you will | | | | their being able to attract better qualified research |
| be well prepared for this arduous task, and, hopefully, | | | | professors and faculty members.Step 3:You will need |
| gain admission to the university at the top of your | | | | to determine your fiscal budget. If you need to |
| list.Step 1:Competition in terms of top tier universities | | | | borrow money from the college which you will be |
| has become increasingly challenging over the years. | | | | attending, the first place you will need to go is This is |
| To improve your chances of being accepted by your | | | | the free site provided by the U.S. Department of |
| first choice, you will need to stand out in the eyes of | | | | Education. There are several sites with very similar |
| the admission committee. The best way to stand out | | | | names, each of which charges what is called a |
| is to have a high Grade Point Average (G.P.A.). | | | | "reasonable fee." There is no need for these |
| Although it may be nice to take several AP | | | | services; they are trying to skim money from college |
| (Advanced Placement) classes, it is more important | | | | students. They take the information which you |
| to have a high G.P.A. If you have the opportunity to | | | | provide, and submit it via the website on your behalf. |
| take an AP high school class, you had better do well, | | | | Your budget will help you to determine to which |
| and pass the AP examination at the end of the year, | | | | universities to submit an application. You can find free |
| or your efforts will not be recognized.You will need | | | | scholarship information at remember: you should |
| to have participated in community service activities or | | | | never pay for information on scholarships or financial |
| and taken an internship in your desired field. | | | | aid information. Financial aid information is free and |
| Universities like students to be proactive in their own | | | | abundant on the Internet: Google Search.Step 4:You |
| educations. Early exposure to the real world and to | | | | will need to sort your list of colleges into 3 |
| your desired career displays to the admission | | | | categories: stretch, first choice, and backup |
| committee that you are serious about your | | | | universities. A stretch university is a college that |
| education. Universities want a guarantee that you will | | | | accepts applicants with higher test scores and GPA, |
| complete your education, and graduate on time in 4 | | | | and more work experience/community service than |
| years; you need to show the admission committee | | | | you may have. It is important to apply to these |
| that, if admitted, you will graduate, and become a | | | | universities sparingly, and be realistic about your |
| productive member of society.You will need to write | | | | chances of acceptance. It can be expensive to apply |
| a strong admission essay. Select a topic that you | | | | to these colleges; Stanford University, for example, |
| have extensive knowledge; do not try to impress | | | | charges $75 to process an application.First choice |
| the reader. Provide personal anecdotes, be concise to | | | | colleges are universities to which you have a good |
| avoid redundancy, and present your ideas and | | | | chance of being accepted. The typical applicant to |
| opinions logically. You should have your parents and | | | | one of these schools has test scores, GPA, and |
| peers read over your essay; another option is to hire | | | | work experience/community service that are similar |
| a professional proofreading company: Step 2:Before | | | | to yours. Apply to as many of these universities as |
| you even start to create a list of top universities, | | | | you would like, but only if you are willing to attend |
| you will need to take the SAT or ACT (see the | | | | one of them, if admitted. There is no need to apply |
| article on which exam to take) in your junior year of | | | | to schools that you have no intention of |
| high school. It is essential that you study and prepare | | | | attending.Backup universities are exactly that; they |
| for the exam of your choice. Do not take these | | | | are not your first choice or a stretch school. You will |
| examinations lightly; they will help to determine which | | | | want to limit your submitted applications, and make |
| university accepts you. You will need to prepare a | | | | sure you exceed the test scores, GPA, and work |
| minimum of two months for either the SAT or | | | | experience/community service of the typical |
| ACT.Most universities use your SAT/ACT score to | | | | applicant. You always want a backup plan, in case the |
| determine how you will perform over the next | | | | admission standards at your first choice universities |
| 4-years in college. In addition, each university wants | | | | have increased. You can always transfer from one |
| to enhance its reputation in the academic community. | | | | university to another, but you will have a better |
| As a consequence, each one would like to accept | | | | chance of being accepted from a 4-year university |
| students who score the highest on the entrance | | | | than from a junior college. |
| examinations; this is their way of improving the | | | | |