Applying for College
The college application process can be daunting but there are lots of ways to make it easier.
C2 Education recently held a talk at the Nichols Library, to give students and parents some college admissions tips.
Start Early
“It’s never too early to start thinking about ‘what colleges do I want to apply to and what kinds of things are going to be on my application,’” explained Kim Grazulis, an education coordinator for C2 Education. “A lot of people think about test scores, but there’s a lot more that goes into it that you can even start planning from eighth grade and ninth grade, in terms of what classes you’re going to take and what extracurriculars you’re going to have and things like that.”
And that’s the top tip for students – you can never start too early on your applications and essays.
Get Essay Feedback
“The number one thing I tell parents and students about college essays is to get outside feedback,” said Grazulis. “And that can come from obviously students’ friends and family members and teachers, but it’s even better to have someone read your essay who doesn’t know you at all. Because the main purpose of a college essay is to show the college admissions officer something about yourself that isn’t elsewhere on your application.”
Holistics and Academics
While it’s important to think of the holistic parts of your application, the number one thing admissions officers look for is academics, both in coursework and test scores.
“Because after all, college is more school. So we want to make sure that you’re a good student on paper so you can continue to be a good student while you’re there,” she added.
Know Your Deadlines
Most colleges and universities have an early admission deadline of November 1, with a regular admission deadline of January 1.
Naperville News 17’s Christine Lena reports.
