You Don’t Have To Fear College Applications!

Boo! With Halloween right around the corner, there are plenty of fake scares and fears to indulge in. Also, this is the time of year when the reality of college applications sneaks up on you, but don’t let that haunt you. Though they seem scary (and are real, not fake), you don’t have to fear college applications. Read on for tips to help with some of the scarier aspects of college applications.

Here are some common fears and how to defuse them.

Too Many Choices!

There are hundreds of schools, how do you choose? First, you don’t have to apply to all of them, even all the “good ones”! Talk to a college counselor to get some help generating a list of schools best suited to you. Look for programs you’re interested in, and try to create a healthy mix of reach, target, and safety schools so you can focus your efforts.

Plenty of information exists online about most schools and their programs, so make sure to do your research thoroughly on schools that you’re interested in. However, it’s important to understand that colleges use their websites to market themselves, and try to portray themselves in the best light possible online. To get a better understanding of what a school or program is really like, it’s always a good idea to get the inside scoop from an alumni or current student. Check with the colleges or your counselor to see if they can help you get in touch with alumni from the schools you’re looking at!

Deadlines Are Closing In!

With all the deadlines flying around, applying to college, while still doing your schoolwork, can seem overwhelming. Since some schools have different deadlines than others, it’s important to stay on top of your schedule. So make a plan! Start by writing down exactly what’s due and when, and make sure you include any supplemental requirements (double check!). Then, create a work schedule by carving out time in advance to work on each of your requirements. Finally, make sure you have a checklist, so you can keep track of your progress and ensure you don’t leave anything out!

A good approach is to work with friends to motivate each other and make sure that everyone is sticking to their schedules. To make the most of this approach, try and find friends that are applying to some of the same schools as you, so you can help each other stay on top of requirements!

They Won’t Like My Essay(s)!

Your essay is definitely an important part of any college application, so it’s understandable to have some anxiety about how it might be received by admissions officers. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources at your disposal to help you write the best essay possible. There are some some tips to reduce the fear of writing your college essay, here’s our list of top ideas.

After deciding your topic and drafting your essay, be sure to have others (like your counselor) read it and give you feedback. Go through at least a few drafts to really hone your essay’s message and tone. Look for resources where you can get outside guidance – by the way, check out how Meemli can help!

 

You don’t have to fear college applications, after all, millions of students like you have done them successfully. Keeping these tips in mind can help you have a fun, stress-free Halloween as well as college application experience. Just watch out for the candy monster!

 

27 Oct, 2017

College Application Essays Are Easier With A Little Help

There are many reasons why writing your college essay may be a daunting task – maybe essays are not your strong point, or maybe you just don’t know how to get started writing about yourself. Maybe the fact that the essay is important to admissions officers is not helping. Regardless of why you’re worried, what’s important is that you take care of the worry. The Meemli team believes that getting help for your college application essay is a great idea and recommends you give it serious consideration!

Here’s why.

Everybody Does It

Well, almost everybody. Getting help with your college application essay is not just if you’re not a strong writer, or you’re uber-competitive and/or paranoid about failure. We all know students who get help with various subjects and also test prep (SAT, ACT) because their schools may not have the resources to help every student in every area they need some guidance. This extends to writing personal statements too.

Clearly having someone else write your essay is dishonest, just like having someone take your tests for you. It also harms you as it destroys your confidence in your abilities. But, that doesn’t mean you should not ask for any help. You have the capacity in you to tackle writing your personal essay yourself, but rest assured that it is ethical, and smart, to get some guidance in doing it to the best of  your ability.

You Will Write Better

Do you ask your parents, siblings, trusted teachers to review your essay?That’s often the first step that many students take in getting some help with their essay. And it is great to get their feedback as they can do the initial vetting on how it sounds. But you can’t expect them to give you “expert” feedback unless they happen to be English teachers, or involved in college admissions, and you can be sure their personalized feedback is based on the essay, not what they know about you.

The right kind of help will not only improve your college essay, but it will also make you more skilled in writing essays in general – a skill you’ll need in college and in most careers. Good writing is increasingly important is it can showcase critical thinking and persuasive reasoning.

You Can Reduce Stress

Not to increase the pressure, but there is a lot riding on your personal statement. There are many items you have to take into account in writing a winning essay – from picking the prompt/topic to rules of grammar and elements of style. Understandably, the burden of making sure you’ve done it right can seem too heavy to bear.

Do yourself a favor. Applying to college is not like a walk in the park, so wherever you can, try to reduce your stress. Having someone knowledgeable guiding you makes you feel more confident that you can handle this challenge.

Getting help for your college application essay is a great idea, but it is also important that you get the kind of help that suits you. And of course, you should get it in time. If your application deadlines are less than three months away, you should probably start looking for help right now.(Note, Meemli believes this is an important service we can offer students and have some options you can check out here.)

Another easy tip: follow us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook to get weekly tips and other useful information – and helpful motivation –  for your college admission essay!

15 Oct, 2017

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