LibGuides: College Exploration: Applying to Colleges

Applying to Colleges

Now comes the hard part -- it's time to apply! Once you've narrowed down your list and visited each college, you need to apply to see if you will be accepted.

This can be a very difficult and nerve-wracking process! Below are resources to help you when applying to colleges...

Writing Your Essay

Many schools require a personal statement. Generally one essay can be modified to fit the prompt for most schools however it is imperative that the essay fits the prompt. While a great essay will not guarantee admission, a poor essay can severely decrease your chances. Essays are the student’s opportunity to add his or her personality to all the other information that has been supplied.

The goal is to craft an essay that accurately reflects your qualities and character so it is a smart idea to give your essay to your parents and friends to read so you can make sure it accurately reflects you and your personality.

The following links can be helpful for providing further guidance when writing your essay:

BEST COLLEGES 10 Tips for Writing the College Application Essay
Ten suggestions to help with having a good topic and effective writing on your college application essay: (1) Be concise; (2) Be honest; (3) Be an individual; (4) Be coherent; (5) Be accurate; (6) Be vivid; (7) Be likable; (8) Be cautious in your use of humor; (9) Be controversial (if you can); (10) Be smart.
Big Future - Essays
Tips, articles, and tools to help you when writing your college essay. Presented by The College Board.
The Art of Writing the College Essay
Author Parke Muth shares his tips for writing a good college essay, one that will stand out to admissions officers, and how to avoid the McEssay -- the "Big Mac" of college essays.

The Application Process

Big Future - Applying 101
Tips, articles, and tools to help you with the college application process. Discusses how to break the admissions process down into manageable steps, five things to know about college admissions, early admissions, and more. Presented by The College Board.
The Common Application
Accepted at over 500 schools worldwide, this site allows you to submit one application to a number of schools. It also now allows students to roll over their accounts from year to year so students can fill out important data about extracurricular activities and achievements as they happen. There is also helpful advice from the “virtual counselor”.
Avoid These Big College Application Mistakes
This post to the US News & World Report Higher Education blog gives tips from admissions staffers from across the United States on what NOT to do when applying to college.

Interviewing & Admissions

College Interviews and Admissions
For help with the college interview and application process.

Books About Applying to College

B+ Grades, A+ College Application
Call Number: CR 378.1 JAG
ISBN: 1607743418
Contrary to popular opinion, you don't have to have a perfect GPA or a perfect jump shot to get into a good college. A must-read for "average" high school students (and their parents), this book is an insider's look at how students with sub-4.0 GPAs can get the most out of the college application process, make their applications stand out from the rest, and pay for school without taking on enormous debt. With Emotional Intelligence skill-building exercises to help students identify their unique priorities, this manual focuses on the whole student, not just grades and SAT scores. Featuring special tips for B (and C) students to make a memorable impression on admissions officers, painlessly beef up their applications, write great essays, and even get into brand-name schools through the side door.
Writing a Successful College Application Essay
Call Number: CR 378.1 EHR
ISBN: 1438001495
This book guides prospective college entrants through the do's and don'ts of the essay writing process and offers them three easy steps for success. Included are several full-length sample essays from recent applicants, each with a critique that discusses its strengths or indicates missteps.
Fiske Real College Essays That Work
Call Number: CR 378.1 FIS
ISBN: 1402225105
Fiske Real College Essays That Work is the first application essay book designed for those who need it most: bright students who aren't natural writers. Students can learn by example with more than 100 real sample essays, chosen from all degrees of writing proficiency, including 20 brand-new essays from students who got into the most up-and-coming, in-demand schools. Examples are also given to show how an essay is edited from initial to final draft.
Conquering the College Admissions Essay in 10 Steps, Second Edition
Call Number: CR 378.1 GEL
ISBN: 1607743663
A guide to crafting a meaningful and polished college admissions essay that gets students into the school of their dreams by expressing their unique personality, strengths, and goals. Stand out from the crowd with a memorable, meaningful personal statement that will capture the attention of college admissions officers. This to-the-point handbook shows you how to identify an engaging essay topic, and then teaches you how to use creative writing techniques to craft a narrative that expresses your unique personality, strengths, and goals.