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College Admission: How to Get Into Your Dream School—Real Students, Real Stories

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College Admission: How to Get Into Your Dream School—Real Students, Real Stories Copyright © 2019 by NSHSS College Admission: How to Get Into Your Dream School—Real Students, Real Stories All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. Printed in the United States of America First Printing, 2019 ISBN 978-0-9980362-0-5 National Society of High School Scholars 1936 North Druid Hills Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30319 www.StudentSuccessStories.com TO MY PARENTS for raising me to believe that anything is possible And TO MY WIFE, LEE for her unconditional love and support And TO MY CHILDREN: AUSTIN, ANNIE, AND HUDSON for the inspiration they have given me as they achieved their own dreams And TO MY GRANDCHILDREN: NOAH, JACOB, AND BABY JAMES for the love and joy that they bring to all of our lives COLLEGE ADMISSION HOW TO GET INTO YOUR DREAM SCHOOL Foreword ...................................................................................................... 1 A Letter from Claes Nobel ............................................................................ 2 Introduction ................................................................................................. 5 What is a Dream School, Anyway? .................................................................8 The Stats ......................................................................................................10 Good Luck on Your Journey ........................................................................11 The Wisdom of Your Peers ...........................................................................12 How to Make the Most of Your High School Years ..................................... 19 Create a Four-Year Plan ................................................................................20 Academics: Making the Grade .....................................................................36 Activities: Arts, Athletics, STEM, Community Service, Jobs, and Volunteer Work ............................................................................39 Time Management .......................................................................................48 Relationships: with Teachers, Guidance Counselors, Employers, and Parents ................................................................................49 Polish Your Image ........................................................................................51 Don’t Worry, Be Happy ...............................................................................52 Just Breathe ..................................................................................................54 Consider a Gap Year or Semester..................................................................55 Are You Ready for Early College? .................................................................57 Community College as a Bridge to Your Dream ...........................................62 Creating Your List of Schools ..................................................................... 67 Reflect ..........................................................................................................68 Reach Out ...................................................................................................75 Refine ..........................................................................................................91 REAL STUDENTS, REAL STORIES The Application.........................................................................................109 Getting Organized .....................................................................................110 Common App, Coalition App, and Universal College App ........................114 Standardized Tests ......................................................................................115 Letters of Recommendation .......................................................................118 The Essay ...................................................................................................121 2018-2019 Common Application Essay Prompts ......................................138 Portfolio and Video Submissions ................................................................151 Is it Optional? Do Your Best to Submit Materials.......................................153 Auditions—Be True to Yourself! .................................................................153 The Guidance and Influence of Others on Your Journey ............................158 Overcoming Challenges .............................................................................168 What If You Still Have Questions? .............................................................174 You’ve Submitted Your Applications, Now What? ......................................175 Stay Positive and Believe in Yourself! ..........................................................176 Paying for It All! .......................................................................................179 Financial Aid and Scholarships ...................................................................179 Making Your Choice ..................................................................................195 A Big Financial Decision ............................................................................200 Revisits for Accepted Students ....................................................................202 Rejected? You Still Have Options ...............................................................202 Showing Gratitude .....................................................................................205 Advice For Parents ....................................................................................209 Congratulations! ........................................................................................215 Advice from Claes Nobel ............................................................................217 Acknowledgments .....................................................................................219 Resources ..................................................................................................223 About the Author ......................................................................................227 THE “DREAM SCHOOLS” Agnes Scott College Hampton University American Musical Dramatic Academy Laguna College of Art and Design American University Lehigh University Austin College Nebraska Wesleyan Bard College at Simon’s Rock New York University Barnard College North Carolina State University Baylor University Oglethorpe University Bowling Green State University Ringling College of Art and Design Brown University Spelman College Carleton University The Ohio State University Carnegie Mellon University The University of Texas at Austin Cornell University United States Naval Academy Dartmouth College University of Akron Drexel University University of California, Berkeley Eastern Michigan University University of California, Los Angeles Fashion Institute of Design and University of Chicago Merchandising University of Florida Florida Institute of Technology University of Southern California Florida State University Wellesley College Georgia Institute of Technology Yale University Georgetown University Students and tourists around the world rub John Harvard’s shoe for good luck. Foreword ames Lewis’s book “College Admission: Real Students, Real JStories” about current students and their experiences in high school and during the college admissions process is a wonderful and important addition to helpful resources at a time that too often is filled with angst. As one who has been an educator for 45 years, including the last 27 as a college counselor, I found the book to be uniquely layered with both peer-to-peer and professional advice that could make a significant difference for applicants and their parents. As Lewis and those whose stories are told demonstrate, a student’s dream school can be well known or a hidden gem, and it is important for all families to keep an open mind about which schools may truly be “best fits” in preparing students for careers and meaningful lives. Nancy T. Beane Associate Director of College Counseling at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA Former President of the National Association for College Admission Counseling A Letter from Claes Nobel Senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes Dear Students, I truly believe that you are the future of our world, the future leaders. Each and every one of you is capable of achieving greatness both in your personal and professional life. You should be proud of your hard work and what you have achieved so far, but you cannot allow yourself to become complacent. This is the time for you to seek opportunities to learn, to grow, and to expand your mind, so you can reach your full human potential. You do not need to wait for the future to start making your mark on the world. Achieving greatness takes time, so you must begin now to take steps to accomplish your goals. This is your moment; RIGHT NOW, seize it, and begin on your path towards future success. This is your moment to: “Be More!” This book, “College Admission: How to Get into Your Dream School—Real Students, Real Stories,” was created to help you be your best. The idea of recognizing the best has been the
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