6 Tips & Tricks For Applying to College

Welcome to post #2 of my little High School Series. If you missed post #1 about the Top 10 Things I Wish I Knew In High School, check it out here!

Since I'm just entering my freshman year of college and have recently been through the college admissions process, I wanted this next post in my high school series to be on tips and tricks that I would've found helpful in applying to college. So if you're getting ready to apply to colleges either this year or the next couple of years, you've come to the right place! And even if you've been through the college admissions process already, you can feel free to share any of your own tips or experiences in the comments below! :)

It's easier for me to do this in list form, so here goes:

1. Start Early

Seriously. If you don't read any of my other advice in this post, PLEASE follow this one! It's important to start early in visiting colleges and doing research on schools so that come senior year, you have an idea of colleges you want to apply to. It also helps to start early when applying to colleges. Once you've come upon your senior year of high school and are starting to apply to colleges, make sure you know when the deadlines are for each school's application. Although many school's applications have a priority deadline of November 1st, some school's have a different deadline (so make sure to do your research). This means that you don't want to wait until midway through October to start your applications, essays, and asking for teacher recommendations. You want to start as early as you can, so if somehow there's a glitch and the applications website is down, your high school forgot to send your transcript, or any other unforeseen event happens, you won't be stuck and you'll have time to fix it. This happened to a girl in my AP Gov class senior year, who applied to one of the same school's I had applied to. We both got in and everything, but the thing was, there was a delay in her transcript being sent so although she had her actual application in by Nov. 1st, the school declared her application as not being fully complete by the priority deadline. This meant losing out on a $14,000 automatic academic scholarship for out-of-state students that she could have gotten if she had everything in by Nov. 1st. So what I'm trying to say is, make sure you start on your applications as soon as possible during senior year so that you don't run into any issues. 

2. Write down your passwords!!

If you're applying to several colleges like I had, it's important to write down your log in passwords for each online application you fill out. Each school is different, but for many of my online college applications, colleges had a multitude of requirements for creating a password. Due to these various requirements for creating a password, I had to create new passwords for myself that were pretty difficult to remember. Since I was the first one of my siblings to apply to colleges, I didn't think to write my passwords down. I ended up forgetting them a lot and having to reset them. However, on one of applications, there was a limit on how many times you could reset your password, and I ended up having to call that college for help since I couldn't log in to check my application's status. And I have to admit, it was pretty embarrassing...so don't make the same mistake I did!

3. Apply to a safety school

What I mean by applying to a safety school is to make sure you apply to a school you like, and that you're almost positive you'll get into. That way, if all else fails and the unexpected happens where you don't get into some colleges, you won't be stuck. 

4. Have someone read over your essays

I had my Mom read over my college application essays, and I'm really glad I did! She caught some mistakes in them that I hadn't noticed. Be sure to have someone read over your essays, whether it be by a parent, a teacher, or a friend. It's good to have another set of eyes read your essays so that you can make sure your essays are the best they can be! On a college visit I went to, one of the college admissions counselors there told us about several mistakes they have seen in application essays. For one of them, a guy was supposed to write an essay on what he wanted to be when he grew up. And in the essay, the boy said that all his life he wanted to be a couch. Although he probably meant "coach" the admissions counselor said that she and her colleagues got a good chuckle out of that one (and she later said that no, the boy did not get accepted). Although the essays aren't everything and most colleges try to use a holistic view of you, don't make awkward mistakes in your essays that could have been avoided if you had someone look over your work.

5. Be patient

Especially if you had your application sent in early, it can take a few months to hear back on your decision. I know it's hard to wait, but don't waste your time thinking about everything college when you should be enjoying your last year of high school. College will come sooner than you know it, so take the time after you have finished all of your college applications to just relax and enjoy your senior year. Also, do yourself a favor and avoid sites like College Confidential. I know you may want to read what other people who applied to the same college you did have to say, and read when everyone the previous year heard their admissions decisions. But please avoid yourself the annoyance. A lot of people post their stats (like ACT score, GPA, and a list of like 15 clubs they were ever remotely involved in) and ask others if they think that they would get in to whatever college. When you read these things, you might start to doubt whether you will get into so and so college. But don't doubt yourself. Again, most colleges use a holistic view, and even so, who knows whether these people who post their stats are even being truthful. Whatever will happen will happen, so be patient for your decision and don't let others cause you to doubt yourself.

6. Remember: Everything happens for a reason

Throughout the whole College Admissions process, please remember that everything happens for a reason. Many people have a first choice school that they've dreamed about going to all their lives, and don't get in. It happens, and it's a fact of life. But the good thing is, even if you don't get into your first choice school, there is another college out there that is meant for you. And I can guarantee you, you'll end up where you are supposed to be. 

For me, I was lucky enough to get into all 5 Big 10 colleges I applied to and I was pretty set on one of those schools ever since I was little. My Dad had went to grad school there, and each summer since I was real little, we'd visit. It had a really pretty campus, and I was already accustomed to the school's traditions. Although I got in to that school, there was no way I could afford it. It was an out-of-state school that didn't have very many scholarships to give, so I wasn't able to go there. But the funny thing this, I think because I was so set on my first choice school, I really didn't give the other 4 schools a chance. 

It's ironic actually, on how I came to choose Ohio State. I had applied to the 4 other schools way back in September (2013) of my senior year, but didn't apply to Ohio State. The first time I visited, I thought it was wayyy to big, and it was a little bit overwhelming (I visited back in April 2013). But in about mid-October (2013), I had this inkling that I should apply to one more school. I talked about it with my parents, and they both suggested that I apply to Ohio State since it was a good school and it was near where my Dad's side of the family lived in Ohio. So I ended up applying to Ohio State a little late, but still before the Nov. 1st deadline. 

And it's all down hill from there. I finally realized how much opportunity I would have at Ohio State, from the Scholars program I'm in, to getting direct admit into the business school, to possibly being able to graduate in 3 years (due to AP credit). When I visited again in March 2014, I fell in love with the school. Not only was Ohio State known for good academics, but I also loved the huge amount of school spirit at OSU, and how everywhere you went in Ohio, there seemed to be die-hard Buckeye fans. And the next day after my visit, during the 7-hour drive home from Ohio State, I remember saying to my Mom that day that I finally decided on Ohio State. 

Anyway, I'm not trying to broadcast for OSU. The point is, I just want you to realize that even if things don't pan out with your initial first choice school, it's okay. There's another school out there for you, and you'll end up where you're supposed to be.

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And those are my 6 Tips and Tricks For Applying to College. If you're in high school now, I hope this helps! If your're beyond your high school years, would these tips have been helpful? Or do you have any other experiences or tips to add?

Thanks for stopping by!

10 Things I Wish I Knew In High School

Now that it's already July, I thought I'd put together a little High School Series where I talk about my high school experience and give advice. I felt like this would be a nice way to clear my mind of everything high school before starting college! My hope is that someone in high school or just starting high school will find this series and benefit from it, or that I'll meet some other newbie college life bloggers like myself!

The first topic in my High School series that I wanted to talk about was the Top 10 Things I Wish I Knew In High School, especially in terms of the things I wish I knew during freshman and sophomore year. The following list contains 10 pieces of advice based on the things I wish I knew earlier in my high school career:

1. ALL four years matter. A common misconception in high school that a lot of people have is that they think that you don't have to try very hard freshman and sophomore year, and that grades don't really matter that first year of high school. However, that couldn't be any further from the truth. All four years of high school are important, especially in terms of applying to colleges. If you completely blow it freshman year like some people I know, it's really hard to come back from it. It's not impossible and I know things happen, but it's still really hard. Luckily, I did do well my freshman year, I just think I could have tried even harder, and I wish I knew that it would have helped me in the long run if I had put in a little more effort. 

2. Your past doesn't define you. Just because you had your weird middle school days (I'd like to forget mine), it doesn't mean you can't shape yourself differently in high school. You're allowed to be whoever you want to be, and high school gives you a new start. I wish I knew that I could be myself, and I wish I would have found my niche earlier in high school.

3. Make Sure to Choose Your Friends Wisely. This is definitely a biggie. My Mom always advised me to find nice friends because other people will associate me with the people I hang out with. Thankfully, I did find some good friends my freshman year, some of the same people who I'm still friends with now that I've graduated. But now that I'm done with high school, I've found that a couple of my "friends" weren't really my friends. I had sort of seen the writing on the wall near the start of my senior year about a couple of these girls, so the point is, I wish I choose some of my friends more wisely.

4. Don't worry so much about what other people think. To be honest, I still haven't mastered this one completely. But I have come a long way. I just wish that freshman year of high school, I wouldn't have cared what everyone thought of me so much. I think I would have been a lot happier if I didn't, and I wish I would have known that it's okay to be a little different. :)

5. It's best to branch out of your comfort zone. Activity wise, I used to be a competitive swimmer and I played in my school's orchestra both freshman and sophomore year. I didn't do any other clubs or activities because swimming and orchestra took up so much of my time. But when I had to quit swimming at the start of my junior year, I had a whole bunch of time on my hands, and I wish I would have joined a club earlier in my high school years. It's a lot easier that way, and if I branched out and joined a club or organization, I could have met so many more people! Socially, I think branching out of your comfort zone applies as well. It was so easy for me to just hang out with my circle of friends, and not have to approach anyone else. I wish I would have talked to more people in my classes, and people I didn't know very well. I could have had a broader circle of friends, and met people I normally wouldn't have! It's a good thing I learned this for junior year!

6. You'll change tremendously. I'm definitely not the same person I was 4 years ago, during freshman year of high school. I've changed so much, and thankfully for the better! I just wish that during freshman year, I wasn't so afraid of change. That it was okay and normal for change to happen, whether it be within my group of friends, or anything, really. 

7. You aren't defined by a number. This one is mostly in regards to junior year, but still applies to the rest of the high school years. I wish I knew that a number, like your GPA or ACT scores, doesn't define you as a person. I mean I knew this, but I would get so worked up about any slip in scores or a not-so-good grade on a homework assignment. I just wish I knew that if I tried my best, that was all I could do, and that I could always try harder to better myself the next time. 

8.  You'll win some and you'll lose some. Meaning: you won't be perfect all 4 years of high school, and that's okay. You're going to make some mistakes, and you're not going to be amazing at everything. You'll get recognition for some things you do, but not for everything. I think this is important for everyone to learn, and I wish I would have learned this sooner.

9. Look toward the future, but stay in the moment. After the initial appeal of high school during freshman year, there's bound to be things that you're bored with at your school, or things that don't really appeal to you anymore. This was the case with me, especially my senior year (aka senioritis). All throughout senior year, I feel like I was too busy counting down the days to graduation and finally being out of high school, that I forgot to stay in the moment. I wish I had more memories from my senior year, so my advice to anyone in high school right now is to make the most of your time in high school, because those 4 years will truly fly by. 

10. The best is yet to come. This is one of the biggest things I wish I knew in high school. It's okay if your high school experience isn't perfect. I know I haven't even gone off to college yet, but I just know that although I had a good high school experience, life after high school will be even better. I've been told this by multiple friends who are already in college, and I believe them. I can't wait for my college years!

And that is my 10 things I wish I knew earlier in high school. For any of you who have already finished high school, did I miss anything? Is there anything you'd like to add?

That's all for now,

♥ Colleen

So...Graduation Recap

Graduation went by in a blink of an eye. After counting down the days to graduation since early September, it feels weird that graduation's already over. Like where did the time go??

The actual ceremony was on June 6th. I was so fortunate to have both sets of grandparents, one of my aunts, and my parents all be able to come! The ceremony went pretty well, and success story for me: I didn't trip! (I mean, I did wear wedges instead of legit heels...but even still, I was a little worried about tripping. So yay me for not making a fool out of myself).

I did have one little fail, though. You know when everyone throws up their caps at the end of the ceremony? Well, that didn't happen for me. At the graduation rehearsal they told us that we should take our tassel off (because certain tassels mean different things, they would be nice keepsakes and so on) before throwing up our caps in case we don't find our cap afterwards. So here I am at the end of the ceremony, everyone has taken their cap off and tassel off, ready to throw them up in the air. Of course, only I wouldn't be able to get my tassel off my cap (why I couldn't, I don't know) and by the time I finally got it off, everyone had already thrown their caps in the air. So, yeah. Oops. I missed out on that, but I guess there's always college graduation. Do people still throw up their caps at college graduation ceremonies? I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Anyway, there really isn't much else to report on graduation. Lots of pictures were taken, but since my Grandpa was the one taking most of my pictures, I haven't gotten them yet...but I do have a couple to show you! The first one was taken by my friend's Dad at graduation, and the second was taken a day before graduation, so that it could be put in the Before/After picture frame I'll also show you below.

Just me and some of my friends...I'm the third one from the right

hmm...I don't know why it looks like I'm clenching my fists, but that's me, looking happy to be done with high school.

The left pic in the frame is from my first day of kindergarten and the right is obviously from graduation. Quite a big difference, huh? :)

And lastly, I just wanted to share a picture of one of the OSU-related grad gifts I got...isn't it cute? :)

So that's my graduation in a nutshell. Maybe I'll share more pics once I get them from my family and friends, but the weird thing is, I don't feel any different now that graduation is over. It hasn't quite hit me yet that I'm done with high school and that I won't be seeing my friends everyday once August comes around. But to be honest, it probably won't hit me until I'm sitting in my college dorm room getting ready for the first day of classes in the fall. Anyhoo, I am happy to be finally done with high school! I can't wait to head off to Columbus. :)

♥ Colleen