What Seniors Should Be Doing This Summer

This is good advice for seniors, but I don't quite agree with all of it.  I understand that some girls want to get their applications done as quickly as possible, but sometimes it pays to slow down and be a little more thoughtful.  So while I agree that summer is a good time to visits colleges, practice for the SAT or ACT (if you are really going to do that), and talk to your parents about finances, there are drawbacks to finishing the paperwork so fast.  It all goes back to allowing for the unexpected or allowing for that eureka moment I talked about in yesterday's post. 

GPS seniors will be writing college essays in English class this fall, and although you can brainstorm ideas over the summer - and even start a rough draft - your most compelling topic might come from an experience you're having right now.  I think ruminating on your idea for a while - perhaps jotting down some ideas or stories - can be helpful, regardless of whether you are writing about a past event or a current one.  But take your time with your essay. This is an important piece of your application, and you don't want to rush through it simply for the sake of getting it out of the way.

Likewise, if you begin your application now (remember, the Common Application doesn't open until August 1), you still might want to think about it for a while. Did you explain your involvement in activities in the best way possible? Have you demonstrated your leadership abilities? Have you allowed someone (preferably your college counselor) to proofread it?  The application may seem cut and dry, but there are nuances that you might not be aware of and changes you might want to make.

Your college application is not simply a box you can check off.  It should be thoughtfully completed and proofread carefully by multiple sources.  Perhaps this quote by Albert Einstein says it all: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."  Your college counselor will help guide you through it all.

*Seniors, don't forget we will discuss a lot of this during Application Boot Camp on August 7.