Sagert

Don't apply to safeties you don't plan/want to go to at all. It's a waste of money, and you'd probably be better off going to a local CC(then maybe transferring).

WakeUp

Something that has already been mentioned but... apply! Apply! Apply!

Being from Texas, I knew I had a great back-up at UT (with the hope of getting into a couple of its honor programs) and applied to, really, three "reach" schools. Despite my mother's protests to reach higher, I said no thinking that number 1, I may not get into the schools I had so far and number 2, I wanted to put my energies into the applications I already had in front of me and fine hone them.

Now, looking back, I regret that. I got into my reach schools, but still wonder what if I tried for HYP or Stanford?? It's a crapshoot, but you might as well throw the ball you have up and see where it lands.

Of course, only do so many apps before it becomes ridiculous.

LawlzS

I wish I had known this subcategory of the forum existed.

I wish I had known how hard it was to put heart and soul into an essay. Not to mention, the fact that I had procrastinated thinking it would be easier than an analytical essay - it's not.

I wish I had known that you could fax SAT/ACT/SATII scores, I could've saved a good 200 dollars.

I wish I had known to put three stamps (instead of two) on my IDOC envelope so that it wouldn't have been returned and put me in a panic.

In the end though, all this wishing doesn't matter. I'm practically going full ride to a college that was already on the top of my list.

Mglstudent

I wish i had known that I was actually coming to the USA and graduate high school here. I came here in ending of my sophomore year. God for sake, all i had known in english was very general, like I could introduce myself.I'd try to memorize as much as words I could when people spoke so i could look them up on the dictionary when I got home.

Well, in two and a half years; I have learnt sooo much, even though I still struggle.
I am glad that I came here; otherwise, I would not learn these much. But still, all this moving to the USA thing was such a surprise that I just freaked out when I heard about the college admission process in my junior year. (And of course, SAT... ) How it works is just complete different in my country. So, I was like a first grader who was about to skip 10 grade levels. Well, i did my best. I got accepted into Boston u, Syracuse u, St. John's U, Stony Brook and some other suny's and CUNY's. But, I haven't decided which college to go yet. I just hope that I'll make a wise decision. College will be very tough, my family is going back to my country in less than a half-year and my life journey in this country will still be continuing .....................

sictransitgloria

If you don't qualify for financial aid don't decide to go to one school over another just because it is ~$6k cheaper after merit money, especially if the more expensive school has tuition lock. I did and the school I ended up at is now the same price as the school I wish I had went to, that keeps the tuition the same for all 4 years.

efforts

For me it was impossible to see the luck I had. I didn't think that I could get accepted to Tier-1 Colleges so most of the schools I was accepted to were safties, and bad ones.

I'd say have a more than one "reach" school!

MD Mom

How about...listen to your guidance counselor, listen to your friends, listen to your parents and then do your own research to figure out what you want.

Don't fall in love with just one school.

October's Child

Do proper research on the colleges you plan to apply to.

Don't base your opinion on what you've heard from other people - call the colleges and ask them questions time and time again until you get all your answers. Posters on CC or your friends will not know if they give good financial aid or if SATs matter as much, only the college will.

Don't be scared.
Remember that you lose nothing from trying...

Have faith in yourself...

Ms. Ladybug

^^^"I wish I had known that you could fax SAT/ACT/SATII scores, I could've saved a good 200 dollars."

LawlzS: Can you explain this more? Will most colleges accept faxed copies of official score reports, instead of paying College Board/ACT to send the scores directly to schools? Thanks, Ms. L

applicannot

Reach higher.

Don't settle for debt.

Use and abuse QuestBridge.

People will dismiss your accomplishments. Dismiss them.

sushmita

NEVER fall in love with a school.
I did, and it just seemed so very likely I'd be accepted.
I wasn't.
And though I agonized for days over what I could have done better- fewer typos? better essays? more interest?- in the end, maybe the factors just weren't in my control.

Oh, and I wish I'd applied to more reach schools!

But, fairly happy with where I'm going.

Equilibrium

When you're applying to college, ask for help when you're confused. Are you struggling with your essay? Are you struggling deciding on your college list? Are you having trouble with financial aid / scholarships?

ASK FOR HELP. Use CC, Use your Guidance Counselor, use your teachers. Really, it's well-worth it.

NoonesFool

Only thing I learned......

Sucks to be an international applicant asking for Aid. Get yourself a green card if you can.

nicksmtmom

I'm a mom, but I learned that everyone else is just as

- confused
- nervous
- deficient in some areas

as everyone else. No one is the "perfect" candidate.

I also concur not to listen to too many other peoples opinions....opinions are like...bellybuttons. Everyone has one, and they're all different. You will never get a
definitive answer to "which choice is best...A or B?" because that answer is different for every kid.

Choose based on the program/major you want, not the overall rep of the school.

Do your research, choose, and don't look back or regret. Just find a way to take advantange of every opportunity at the school you chose.

AnagramPanda

I wish I had known to question my parents about finances, both what the EFC calculators will come up with and what they're willing to contribute, BEFORE senior year. I visited one school and fell in love with it, then ended up not applying because they didn't give merit aid and we couldn't make our EFC... It worked out alright for me in the end, but it might not for others.