Take Your Time Making A Decision « Application Boot Camp – College Admissions, Admissions Counseling, College Acceptance Help

Take Your Time Making A Decision

This is an exciting time for seniors: many of you have received
early notification already and are waiting for regular decision
replies in the next few weeks. We want to urge you to take your
time making a choice. Choosing your college is an important
decision, and will impact your next four years and beyond. Take
the time to inform yourself about your top schools. A college
might look great on paper, but when you visit you find that it
doesn’t feel quite like the right fit. It is much better to find
this out BEFORE you accept the offer of admission than after! If
you’re planning to visit colleges between now and May 1, use our
College Tour Service to make the most of your visits.

TAKE YOUR TIME MAKING A DECISION

Some of our students (even those admitted early action) have
received likely letters and regular letters will be coming in the
next week or so. Students often feel pressure to decide immediately
where they will spend the next four years, but such a hasty
commitment can often be a mistake.

First, it is wise to wait until you hear from ALL of your
schools. Just because you received a likely letter does not mean
you have to attend that college. The best thing to do is look
through all the materials you can about each school to which you
are accepted and then take the full 3-4 weeks (until the common
reply date of May 1st) to consider. If you are torn between a
handful of schools, visit during the special time periods
colleges set aside for accepted students. You’ll have a chance to
meet other accepted students, professors, experience dorm life
firsthand, etc… Since you’ll be spending four years there, you
do not want to rush this decision. In fact, if after visiting you
feel you need more time, feel free to call your top schools and
ask for an extension which is often granted. Sometimes
it’s hard to fit visits in before May 1st, so take an extra few
days if you need them once you’ve gotten clearance. Picture
yourself living on campus – is it the place for you? Visiting is
the best way to get a feel for where you’d be most comfortable.
Talk to students with interests in your fields, speak to
professors in particular departments and grill people to see what
the “truth” is about various departments. You are the consumer –
once you’re accepted, colleges will cater to you and answer your
questions! Make an educated decision.

p.s. Don’t make bad decisions on your school revisit weekend. The
statistics are enough to scare any parent. SADD (Students Against
Destructive Decisions) and Liberty Mutual released the following
results: Almost four in ten teens (39.1 percent) who have stayed
overnight on a college campus report engaging in drinking, other
drug use or sex during those visits. The survey also indicates
these dangerous behaviors are far more prevalent among boys than
among girls. Not only can these bad decisions harm you
personally, but also if admissions officers catch wind of any
scandalous behavior they can rescind your acceptance.

COLLEGE SCHOLARHIP, AWARDS and INTERNSHIP ESSAY TUTORING

Applying for scholarships, summer programs, or competitive
internships? We are here to help. Josh Stephens will work with you
via phone for 5 hours to help you craft stunning essays! Don’t
wait, email Josh today!

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