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Many high school seniors are preparing to submit college applications this week. Here’s how to enjoy Halloween with November 1^st application deadlines looming:

• Don’t wait until the deadline to submit. The Common App, like most technology, tends to remind us of Murphy’s Law when the stakes are the highest. Plan to submit a few days before the actual deadline. Find a time when you can sit uninterrupted to focus on this very important task. Trust me, there is nothing scarier than sitting at the kitchen table on Halloween night, trying to submit applications with a glitchy Common App and throngs of trick-or-treaters ringing the doorbell every 5 minutes.
• You’ve looked at your essay, activities list and supplemental questions over & over – get someone you trust to look at your application with fresh eyes. Assuming you’ve spent the last few weeks, or months, crafting your essay and supplements, this is not the time to make major edits. It is the time to catch spelling errors and typos. Don’t rely on spell check or grammar checkers. Don’t forget to proofread the details – email addresses, birth dates, telephone numbers, test scores (if you are submitting them), current class listings — everything.
• Review each section of each college’s application requirements – even if the green check mark is appearing. Optional items that are left blank, will not show up as incomplete. Check to make sure you have answered all the optional questions and/or provided the optional submissions (like a resume or writing assignment) that you think will enhance your application.
• Check your email. The Common App will send you a confirmation email after you have successfully submitted each application – make sure you receive them. Continue to check email regularly throughout the process. Log in to online portals right away, if provided by the schools. If anything is missing from your application the colleges will contact you via email or the portal.

Treat yourself by taking the time to carefully complete your applications early this week.

Are you the same person you were 25 years ago? Neither is the college you attended.

Nearly every time I meet with a family for the “List Meeting” one of the parents will dismiss a school I am recommending based on old stereotypes. Sometimes the impression is from decades ago, sometimes it is from only a few years ago when they visited a college with an older child.  The fact is: colleges change – often.

Universities are adding majors, special programs and buildings to keep up with – or stay ahead of – the changing demands of the global economy and student needs.

Big changes can happen in just a few years’ time.

To help your child find their best-fit college, keep an open mind, revisit with fresh eyes, and pay attention to each college’s strategic plan for growth and its vision for how they will support and prepare students for success.

Visiting colleges is an exciting rite of passage for high school students. With a little bit of planning, you can make the most of your tours, saving time and money and walking away with important information you will need later in the college process.

Getting Started:

Start locally but have a focus: Getting a sense for what a small private liberal arts college is like compared to a big state university is a great idea… but make sure both have features that are appealing to you. For example, if you know you’d like to participate in student-run theatre, be a part of an active outdoors club, major in environmental science, or minor in Chinese, do some research to make sure the colleges you are touring have these options.

Typically students seriously start touring colleges during their junior year of high school, But sometimes starting earlier makes sense. If your older sibling is touring, or you’re on vacation to a distant area you may not make it back to in the next couple of years, it’s a great idea to tour and make note of what you like and dislike. Keep in mind, your priorities may change as you mature. Some colleges may be worth a second look later on.

Preparing for your visit:

Sign-up online via the college’s website. This is very important to do in advance to secure a spot (especially during busy high school vacation weeks) and to get your name and contact information in the college’s system. Many schools track demonstrated interest and the first way you can do this is by officially signing up for a tour! Look at all the visit options. Most colleges offer tours & information sessions. Many offer special visit days which may include department-focused sessions, tours of specific facilities such as labs and studios, or the ability to sit in on a class or have an interview. See Interview Tips here

What to bring:

A notebook, a list of questions, your phone.

While colleges do a good job of presenting themselves, sometimes the specific things you want to know might not be covered. List your questions in advance and don’t be afraid to ask them! Often times, asking the student tour guide between stops on the tour is the best time to ask about activities, the social scene, and general campus vibe. General questions about majors, financial aid, study abroad and housing can be asked during the Q&A portion of the info session if they are not addressed, or after the tour by stopping into the admissions office. Click here for a suggested list of College Visit Questions.

While you should not be on your phone during your visit, using it to take photos to document your trip is a great idea!

During your visit, don’t just list the facts and figures in your notebook, rather jot down specific things that jumped out at you. Did the speaker say something that resonated with you? What was it? Who said it? Did the tour guide talk about an experience she had with a club, in a class or at an internship that excited you? Write down the details! These tidbits will be crucial to remind you why you have this college on your list when it comes time to apply. After your visit, expand on your notes to include your overall impression of the college, likes & dislikes, and any follow up questions. Click here for our College Visit Notes sheet.

Which college will come out on top?

Millions are watching the best of college basketball, building brackets and weighing the odds of which school will reign supreme. When you’re a high school senior, March madness takes on a whole new meaning. After months of endless research, visits, applications, essays, and interviews, all you can do is wait. Maybe a few decisions were made in the early round, but those are simply waiting on the sidelines —  benched until the results of any deferred or regular decision applications come in. The waiting is the hardest part, the madness ensues.

Here are tips to help you get through:

• Focus on something else! Your apps are in — other than checking your email for any requests from the colleges, there is nothing more you can do. This is a time to have fun and take care of yourself — exercise, read a book, hang with friends.
• Get excited about any early acceptances you have. Go to accepted students days, begin to picture yourself as a student on these campuses.
• If you receive a denial, move on. Colleges have more applicants than spots. They turn away thousands of qualified applicants. Don’t take a denial personally. Focus on the schools that want you.

Over the next few weeks, a flurry of emails, portal checks, and old-school envelopes will bring in the results. Finally, the ball is in your court and you determine the winner.