It's Here
Coupon Code: PREVIEW23
BREAKING -- the Common Application is out today!
I haven't been this excited since the new phone books arrived (bonus points if you got the movie reference).
Putting my giddiness aside, today's the day when Class of 2024 college-bound kiddos can get a clickin' and a clackin' on their little computers and officially start the college application process. Some thoughts:
- There's no race. Even for rolling admissions colleges.
- However, there's no need to wait until hours before deadline to start your applications. These easily avoidable faux emergencies occur in November and December. Today's August 1, but those deadlines will sneak up on thousands. Maybe even some of my readers (not you of course :)
- Generally, the Common App is straight forward. The parts that require some thought and strategy are 1. the personal statement, 2. supplemental essays and 3. the Activities Section. Work on those first, in that order (if you haven't already). The other stuff is less important, semi-thoughtless administrivia.
- When working on the Activities Section, don't lose sight of what you're really doing: selling. Write up each activity in a way that persuades and distinguishes you from your fellow-competitor applicants.
- Do not merely make a bland list of each club or other thing you did. Try to impress your reader with your commitment, impact and initiative when you can.
- There's a difference between artistic license and fiction. Don't cross the line. If the ethics don't concern you, know that admissions officers are good at sniffing this out.
- When you get back to school in a few weeks, your guidance counselor will probably make a big deal about FERPA. What the ferp is FERPA? Who cares. What it means is that, if you want your guidance counselor to send your transcripts and recommendation letters to your colleges, you must waive your right to see what she is sending. This is an anti-tampering device. You do this on the Common App. It takes a few seconds.
I'll have more to offer once I go through this year's Common Application (commonapp. org) for my clients tonight, as part of our summer bootcamp. I can't wait to see all the stuff about gender, pronouns, race and other untouchable topics that I, of course, promise to touch later this week.
**Our newest ACT prep class starts tonight in a few scant hours. Coupon code PREVIEW23 saves you $115 (any class, not just the one starting tonight). Here's where to go:
Your Best Ferpin' Friend,
- Andy Lockwood
