Read This Before Submitting College Applications
You're ready to submit your applications, and at this point, except for the waiting, the worst is basically over. However, the way you submit the student's paperwork is just about as important as what's being submitted.
Recommended order: (1) The application; (2) the essays, attached to the application unless there are specific instructions to the contrary; (3) a resume (you do have one, don't you?), stapled together, but not to the application or the essays; (4) a special essay titled, Why I Must Attend the University of ---, or We All Know What XYZ U Has to Offer the World, Here's What I Have to Offer XYZ; paper clipped to the resume. Attach a large paper clip to all of the above to ensure everything stays in the proper order and send the entire package overnight or 2nd day with a signature confirmation. Whew!
If your plan is to submit the application electronically - don't, unless it's the only alternative. You may accidentally send the application before it's completed, send it with errors, or worse, into cyberspace. What will you do then? Be sure to print a copy first, or you'll have no record of what was sent.
There are other electronic pitfalls such as: the transmission could arrive incomplete, get garbled with your name on the "address" line and all the rest of your information pushed down, out of place, never to be processed. If anything goes wrong, it will not be acceptable to the school, and an otherwise qualified applicant will be called out on strikes before they even get up to bat. Don't let this happen to you - mail it.
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The following actually happened to one of my students. He applied over the Internet, received an email confirmation and shortly thereafter received a hard copy acknowledging that his application would be processed. No reason for concern, yet.
The following April, the college sent out letters of acceptance and rejection. His friends, who had all applied around the same time but not online, received their notices, but he didn't. He called the admissions office, but alas, it was too late. They politely informed him there had been an unfortunate computer glitch at the time he applied, and his application was among several dozen that were permanently lost. The family was devastated. How could such a thing could happen? Well, accidents do occur. Learn from this and act accordingly.
Another submission problem all families need to be aware of is if for any reason you can't meet the application deadline, the student, not the parent, must call the school in advance and give them a valid reason. They will almost always extend it two or three weeks. However, it is strongly advisable that you ask for a written or email confirmation and take note of the person who granted the extension. Leave nothing to chance.
OK. You've prepared all your paperwork, completed all requirements, checked and re-checked everything, mailed all the applications and have confirmations showing proof of receipt Take a deep breath, but don't get too comfortable. It's time to prepare for the student interview.
Reecy Aresty, a financial advisor since 1977, is the author of Getting Into College And Paying For It, an indispensable parent/student manual, the only book of its kind available in Spanish. For the past 25 years he's helped thousands of families send their kids to the college of their choice for less than they ever dreamed possible. His book is guaranteed to give students that all-important edge in admissions, and for parents there are numerous legal strategies to drastically cut the cost of college. Go to www.paylessforcollege.com for a free report, The College Funding Timeline, and learn what parents, students, and the media are saying about Reecy and his book for all seasons.
