Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
It's that time of the year when high school seniors start sending out applications to get into a college or university.
The deadline for most colleges is Jan. 1. The choices can be mind-numbing - Harvard vs. Yale or FSU vs. UF - but education expert Eva Ostrum, who is a Yale and Harvard graduate and a former Yale admissions officer, has 10 tips to take the sting out of applying. Ostrum also is the founder of College Broadband Inc., an educational consulting company.
-- Take the SAT twice. Students need to familiarize themselves with the test the first time - and then concentrate on raising their score in their areas of weakness the second time.
-- Apply to two "reach" schools (those that may be just out of your reach), four schools within your range and one "safety" school that you should be accepted to easily.
-- Do not set your heart on one school. "Focus on a type of school you like - say small suburban schools with strong liberal arts programs - and identify several schools in the category to target."
-- Begin asking teachers for letters of recommendation at the end of high school junior year. (Maybe a bit late for those who are seniors now.)
-- Once a teacher writes a letter of recommendation for you, have the teacher give it to a guidance counselor to read before it goes off to the college admissions office. "Make sure it is screened so it emphasizes your strengths."
-- Do not take more than one SAT II, formerly known as the achievement tests, in a single sitting. "Fatigue, anxiety and diminished concentration could depress scores on tests taken immediately following the first."
-- Visit schools overnight on your own once you've received letters of acceptance. "A night in the dorms and visits to classes tell you more than receptions and tours organized by the school."
-- Purchase a college guide book that describes the different colleges and universities. Ostrum recommends The Insider's Guide to Colleges, issued by the staff of the Yale Daily News.
-- Before you mail it, seek outside consultation on your college application from someone who has a proven track record of success advising students.
-- Avoid using a consultant who overcharges for these services.