Standardized Testing
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General Application Tips
- Make a manageable list of school to apply to. More than ten may be unmanageable.
- Consider early action and early decision.
- Early decision often has a much higher acceptance rate than regular decision, but it is binding, so if you are accepted, you will have to attend that school.
- Restrictive early action is offered by a few elite private schools. This means you can only apply to one school in the early application round, but you aren't bound to attend if you are accepted.
- There are specific differences in this application option among schools; double check with your college directly.
- Regular early action which is offered by many different schools often has higher acceptance rates and an earlier decision notification than regular decision. You are not bound to attend. If this is an option at colleges you are applying to, take advantage of it.
- Demonstrate interest.
- This may mean visiting the school, showing up to an informational presentation in your area, or just getting on the school's mailing list for prospective students.
- Many schools pay attention to this, and it can be very important when they are deciding who to admit.
Activities and Awards
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Letters of Recommendation
- Ask your teachers or other recommenders well in advance of any deadlines so they can take the time to write you a very good letter of recommendation.
- Most schools want no more than two letters of recommendation. If they don't want more than that, don't give them more. At that point it isn't helping your application.
- Choose teachers that you are close to, not necessarily the teachers that are in the field of your major.
Essays
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