“What advice do admissions officers have for 2010 applicants?”
Here is what some had to say…

1. Meet application and financial aid deadlines. American U.

2. Do submit applications for both admissions and financial aid by the stated deadlines. Take advantage of filing the application for admissions and financial aid documents online. Remember to keep copies.Boston U.

3. Please visit the campus and schedule an interview with the admissions staff. This exposure greatly increases your ability to decide on a college that meets your needs. Brandeis U.

4. Work hard, pursue or develop a passion, be comfortable in your skin. Carnegie Mellon U.

5. Students should apply early, visit the campus of your first and second choice schools. CentralConnecticut State U.

6. Visit colleges you’re interested in. Centre C.

7. Don’t take a light senior year schedule. Claremont McKenna.

8. Apply early if possible. C. of Charleston.

9. Research, research, research! Spend as much time as possible determining what kind of school is right for you. Compare the similarities and differences between four-year colleges and universities; small schools versus large schools and liberal arts schools versus more general or vocational schools. Cornell C.

10. Challenge yourself academically and personally. Do what you love and do it well. Dartmouth C.

11. Understand fully what each of their applicant colleges stand for and what makes each college distinctive. Additionally, they should know themselves thoroughly-how they learn best and interact with others-in order to match college characteristics with their own. Dickerson C.

12. Don’t rule out a school until you see the financial aid package. It may be more affordable than you thought. Drake U.

13. Apply on time. Include parents in the process and enjoy the college selection adventure. DuquesneU.

14. The short answer and essay questions are students’ primary opportunity to speak to the Admissions Committee in their own voices, and they give the Admissions Committee insight into the students’ interests and aspirations. Duke U.

15. Visit. Visit. Visit. Demonstrate interest. Elizabethtown C.

16. Begin your college search early and stay organized. Emory. U.

17. Writing and critical thinking. The Evergreen State C.

18. Do strong work in your courses now and apply in a timely manner. Be proactive about your application. Also, visit the campuses you are interest in attending before making your decision about where to attend. Florida State U.

19. Apply for admissions early, apply online, check application status online. Keep your profile up-to-date. Apply for scholarships and talk with your admissions counselor frequently as he or she makes recommendations for scholarships. Visit our campus and meet our students. Georgia Southern U.

20. Take time on your applications to tell the college who you really are. List all of your activities, community service, volunteer, extracurricular and really take the time in the personal statement to tell the admissions committee something about yourself. Green Mountain C.

21. Study hard. Hampden-Sydney C.

22. Do applications early and financial aid early to avoid missing deadlines. Husson C.

23. Put your best foot forward in the application process. James Madison U.

24. Visit campus and spend time in the town as well during your visit. Keene State C.

25. Decide early. Kettering U.

26. Enjoy your senior year. Challenge yourself and present your best work academically, but continue to pursue your passion outside the classroom. Lafayette C.

27. Apply early if financial aid is needed. Marygrove C.

28. A return to a rolling admissions policy gives applicants a better offer, quicker reply and less complication than any Early Decision or Early Action policy. Students receive a decision about their application when they want to as they control when the application arrives. So you find out if you’re accepted as soon as you want. You’re in the driver’s seat. Messiah C.

29. We advise students to “brush up” on their writing skills. Norfolk State U.

30. Apply early. North Carolina State U.

31. Get a strong course of study in high school; focus on your extracurricular activities. Oberlin C.

32. Reflect on your responses to application questions, visit any university you are seriously considering, research scholarship and aid opportunities. The Ohio State U.

33. Start the process early and ask questions. Point Park U.

34. Apply to an appropriate mix of institutions-only ones you would happily attend. Don’t get caught with acceptance to any place you really don’t want to attend. Providence C.

35. Complete your application by the end of December. SUNY U. of Buffalo.

36. Apply early, follow directions carefully, take responsibility for your own application-don’t hand off to guidance counselor. US Coast Guard Academy

37. Prepare well and challenge yourself in high school. U. of Maine.

38. Apply early, always complete FAFSA form for financial aid. U. of Michigan-Dearborn.

39. Continue to challenge yourself through the end of senior year. U. of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

40. More web use for a quicker response. Apply early. U. of N. Dakota.

41. Apply early. Work hard. Your senior year is very important. Take both standardized tests. U. of N. Florida.

42. Apply early (Feb. 1 for freshmen). There is a new fall application deadline of April 1 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the U.S. If you are placed on our wait list, arrange to retake the ACT or SAT or both. U. of Oklahoma.

43. Apply early, follow directions carefully, take responsibility for your own application-don’t hand it off to the guidance counselor. U.S.C.G. Academy.

44. Do apply early, but don’t apply to too many colleges just because its free on the web. It can get confusing to receive admission material from more than 7-8 colleges. Valparaiso U.

45. Get applications in early-December 15 for priority consideration and aid. Wabash C.

46. Pay attention to deadlines. Xavier U.

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