WHAT TO DO AND NOT DO WHEN APPLYING TO TOP 100 COLLEGES

DO

1. TOP colleges want grades, grades and more grades. Get close to all As since most colleges are test optional so high grades are a must these days.

2. TAKE several AP classes. You can’t spell AP-titude without the letters AP can you? And the more of these the better.

3. HAVE national level activities, clubs or volunteering. This is a clear “game changer” for the top 25 ranked schools. Without top notch activities, it’s usually a major reach to get in even with great grades. It’s the difference maker. A top ranked chess champions, TOP 100 athlete, NATIONAL champions or SEMI-finalist at Intel, Siemens, Science Bowl, Acadeca (Academic Decathlon) for speech and debate. You can’t debate...that can you?

4. TEACHER REC's(Recommendations)- “Joey is the best student I’ve ever had in my almost 40 years of teaching AP (over 3200 students at the ranked public school in California) for …AP Physics. and another one like that for AP Calculus too and the math would help.

5. BE HIGHLY involved in High School (Secretary of Clubs) Class President, School tour guide, etc. Start many clubs or Captain of your High School Sports team.

6. TAKE CLASSES or attending a summer program at a top college is a major factor in helping you get admitted if you did really well. It’s the gift that shows colleges you have the right stuff. And taking classes and doing well any reputable college for that matter is a big boost proving you can handle higher education.

6. HAVE TOP essays that make Hemingway seem dry and boring. Do it the Hemming way and Earnest

PLEASE DON'T:

1. APPLY with a LOW GPA Play the State lottery for a better chance…. Educational lotteries rarely happen for high school students at top schools. Admissions at these elite schools is typically based on a PROVEN TRACK record of excellence. If you don’t have a top GPA…don’t worry at all and just study harder at the college you decide to attend, then ace college and viola you’ll be attending a world class grad school which is much more important. It’s all about the grades as a first “hello” or introduction to the committee and then the rest here apply.

2. Apply to just the IVIES, MIT, Stanford and Cal-Tech. You’ll have such a small chance of getting in when you’ll have higher admit rates and more spots at Notre Dame, UCLA ,USC, Georgetown and Villanova, etc. I have seen hundreds of rejections from world class students and athletes that believe they can get into the top 25 schools when full rides are available everywhere else. The top 10 and Ivies are insane to get into so don’t kid yourself. It’s a long shot no matter what and be proud of any school you get into these days.

3. If your Friends aren’t getting into top colleges, then I would never ask the teachers for a reference. I give great job recommendations for former employees who earned it. There is a skill to writing a letter and the great ones get you in. Try to determine how good they are as this is form or art.

4. Don’t be much lower than top 3% of graduating class for some success. They want the creme de la creme.

5. Don’t apply if you don’t have top level activities, charity and something unique about yourself that will resonate with the reader(Application committee) or you're likely giving a beautiful, and non taxable donation to the schools scholarship fund. It’s a nice gesture but a costly one if you take more than a few gambles.

6. Don’t apply to just the top 25, top 50, etc. layer your application carefully and apply to 5 top 25 (and not all in the top 10)…if you're a top student try 5 of the top 50 and then to 5 that are ranked 50-150 as well as schools outside of top 150. You’ll have maybe 1 from the first group; 2 from the second and 4 from the last for 7 great choices. And a few scholarships too. This is how to play the admission game where you’re in the driving seat deciding where you will attend.

7. Don’t spend 1 hour on an essay to Harvard. That won’t end up well for you.

8. Don’t apply to U Texas Austin out of state unless you’ll also get into the IVIES. It’s that tough getting in with maybe 10% going to out of state. I must state

9. Don’t press. Be yourself and enjoy the process. The selection of schools with higher admit rates and large classes helps.

Regards,

Carl