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Counselor's Corner |
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When it comes to applying to colleges, deadlines are sacrosanct.
You can't call a college admissions office and receive an extension of time
so you can submit a late application (unless it's an unusual extenuating circumstance, like a serious or prolonged illness).
If you miss a deadline, even by a few minutes, your application probably won't be considered.
That's why checking and double checking deadlines is so important.
Although it doesn't happen often, an application deadline can change from one year to the next,
so it's a good idea to verify deadlines in August or September of your senior year. In addition,
I caution my students not to wait until the deadline to submit their applications.
If you have a problem with the submission, you may not have time to rectify it and still meet the deadline.
Even within a particular college, deadlines may vary, depending on whether you're applying early decision,
early action, or regular decision. Some schools have "priority" deadline dates,
and most decisions are made from among the applications submitted by those dates.
Make sure you know which deadline applies to you.
Although your application may be submitted on time,
a college won't begin to look at it unless your file is complete.
So give your high school counselor a heads up as early as you can as to the colleges
to which you will be applying and to their deadlines, so that your transcripts and recommendations can be sent in time.
When you ask your teachers for recommendations, let them know about those deadlines, as well.
And don't forget to send your standardized test scores to the colleges,
keeping in mind that it can take several weeks for those scores to reach the schools.
My recent check of the College Board web site indicates that SAT scores are delivered approximately
five weeks after it receives the "send" request;
the ACT says it will process a request within a week and that it delivers scores to colleges at least every two weeks.
Although the College Board can rush your SAT scores in two business days and the ACT will send a priority report
within five or six business days, check with the particular colleges
to find out if they will accept rush reporting; not all do.
The views expressed herein are those of their authors alone, and do not necessarily represent the views of Hundreds of Heads or of IECA.
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DON'T PROCRASTINATE. Know the deadlines beforehand and work in advance.
Try to send out your applications by the end of October so you can focus on scholarships
and last-minute things in November and December.
-- SARAH BORMEL
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
STAY ON TASK WITH EVERYTHING. I missed applying to one school because the deadline was in August;
I assumed that, because applications to all the other schools I was looking at were due in January or February,
this one was, too. But then I looked online and found the application deadline had passed.
-- DANE SKILBRED
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY
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The mother of all college sites, Collegeboard.com, has some useful calendar tips:
www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/23626.html
The College Application checklist at TeensAdvisor.com is also a spot to click to:
http://teensadvisor.com/teen-schooling/application-checklist.html
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Work backwards to write in additional personal deadlines.
For example, if a teacher recommendation is due on a certain date,
mark down a month or two earlier that you need to give your teacher the form to fill out.
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