So where can you find this information? Interview current students; read college newspapers/blogs; find news on programs, professors, and innovation at the school. And more!

Here’s what we’re exploring in this class, “How Early Research Can Power Your List + Supplements”:

• Learn creative research strategies to find unique facts about each college so you can draw connections that are meaningful to YOU. This will not only power your LIST as you uncover what makes each school special (or not!) for YOUR needs, but…this will fuel your supplemental essays big time during the crunch period.
• Where can you find these creative facts?
• What role should AI play in your research, and how can you protect yourself when using this tool?
• How should you write about your connections to schools?
• Hear examples of meaningful connections between student and school to inspire your own writing.
• What’s the best way to ask admissions officers questions you may have to continue to find interesting things to talk about in essays? And…how can you come up with meaningful questions to ASK if you’re not sure?

As a bonus, students will receive my NEW RESEARCH WORKSHEET to collect information. Grab your spot here (space is limited).

The post New Class Announced May 31: How RESEARCH Can POWER Your College Search + Writing! appeared first on Power Hour Editing.

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Check out my new video on how you can find YOUR standout idea:

My take? The prompts are staying the same year-to-year. That means they work! They generate the kind of authentic teenage writing that colleges want to see. Keep in mind, they’re PROMPTS to PROMPT YOUR best idea! They aren’t an English paper rubric where you have to answer every single part; they’re meant to generate ideas, and the more creative, the better!

That doesn’t happen with AI.

• Should you use AI to WRITE your essay? Definitely not. Here’s more about that. Bottom line = Authenticity wins every time! AI can’t generate that OR your unique voice and best life stories.
• Colleges, however, MAY start using AI to evaluate applications, as reported by the Associated Press. Consistent with what I’ve heard, this review is to get a preliminary read in a world where it’s sometimes impossible to read 100,000+ applications quickly. Virginia Tech told the Associated Press that this may even expedite decisions: “Virginia Tech is debuting an AI-powered essay reader. The college expects it will be able to inform students of admissions decisions a month sooner than usual…because of the tool’s help sorting tens of thousands of applications.”
• What does this mean? AI can scan applications to put them into piles by major or geography, or to see if certain values come through in the writing. I’ll keep you posted as I hear more, but many admissions reps tell me that every application gets a HUMAN read. The Associated Press article noted, “Colleges stress they are not relying on AI to make admissions decisions, (but) using it primarily to review transcripts and eliminate data-entry tasks.”
• I wrote about this idea 2 years ago here, along with a video interview with a UPenn graduate student who studied the possibility.

Some tips as you approach your main essay:

• Start early! That’s the #1 tip students have shared in my survey over the years. Something this important takes time, finesse, and multiple drafts. Creativity doesn’t happen when you’re in a rush.
• Brainstorm & write your #1 headline! What does that mean? Think about the ONE BIG story you NEED to share with colleges to explain why YOU are the one they should accept. Think of your application as a SERIES of puzzle pieces that complete the picture of YOU. Each one tells a unique story – your academic choices & record; a test score (maybe); your activity list showcasing how you spend your time; the main essay (your #1 story); supplements (if required); and what others have to say about you (rec letters).
• You’ll write ONE main essay and use it for all of your schools. Why? Your main essay is super important and should be your BEST story! Have I seen students revise slightly for some schools? Yes, on rare occasions, if there’s a special support point that only applies to that school. But be CAUTIOUS as you change content from school to school.
• Do you have to use all 650 words? No. Tell your best story efficiently. 650 isn’t a huge number, though, so typically, my students use at least 550, usually closer to 640 or so, in case certain characters count as words in the Common App.
• Should you write your essay and stick to 650 words from the start? Heck NO! One of my favorite essays last year started at 2,500 (truth! but also unusual). A chunk of it ended up in the supplements, and yes, it involved a lot of cutting down, but…this student brought forward the BEST POSSIBLE support throughout and then made the tough decisions of what to trim.
• What’s your parents’ role in the main essay process? Here’s my analogy. YOU (student) are the architect. Everyone else you bring into the mix (parents, an essay coach, teacher, friend) is a coach on the sidelines, guiding you to tell your BEST story in your own, beautiful, unique, authentic voice! Getting too many opinions leads to analysis paralysis. Trust your gut; tell your best story; but know that polish is critical!

Here are some past articles loaded with tips that apply this year too:

• Any Idea Can Lead to a Great Essay – What’s Yours? – An idea is just an idea until you craft the stories and learnings surrounding it. Check out some of my ideas to spark YOUR best stories!
• More tips I shared with the Class of 2025 that are still relevant, including how I might approach MY own college essay today.

Remember, it’s a process…get started early, and you’ll shine like a star!

The post Class of 2027 Common App Main Essay Prompts Announced! What’s your story? appeared first on Power Hour Editing.

Each panelist has a private counseling practice, and this wasn’t about university-specific advice but rather general application tips. I’ll share some highlights here.

What Would You Advise YOURSELF When Applying to College?

I asked our panel to share tips they’d give to their high school junior self, along with a throwback picture.

Here’s mine:

Amy Smith: Forget about what seems right for you based on what others think. Go for your North Star. Your choices, classes, activities, hobbies, and passions likely point to something that makes sense for you. Research is power. Use it to avoid a course correction later.

And tips from our panelists…

Andrea van Niekerk: Applying to college is kind of just like attending college. Stressing about it doesn’t actually change the outcome, but that experience that you’ll have at college — intellectual, social, personal — will actually be determined by the choices you make. The choices to jump into things and take risks at college rather than by where you choose to apply.

Barry Beach: Slow and steady wins the race. I’m an artist, and I’ve been making art since my undergraduate years. Find that passion, and stick with it if it makes you happy.

Eva Gelman: Trying new things, connecting with people who think differently, and really believing that what happens outside the classroom oftentimes is more important than what happens in it. Take advantage of those opportunities. It’s not where you go, but what you do while you’re there (that) is really important.

Kate Kindbom: Visit as many different types of colleges as you can, even if they’re local, before you decide where to apply. Visit urban, suburban, rural, large, medium, small, faith-based, if that’s a factor for you, and public universities to inform your application decision. Then apply to no more than five or six. You can only go to one.

Steve Tapper: I felt like my college search process was a little bit too focused on prestige, and I didn’t do enough research on the colleges I applied to. I did a pretty good job for a few, and the one I ended up going to, which was my top choice all along, but a couple of others I applied to, I didn’t end up getting into anyway. I wondered what was I even thinking? Those would not have been good fits for me. I wouldn’t have been happy there.

There was a TON of consensus on the call, which I loved. Some tips were mentioned by multiple panelists that are VERY consistent with my experience and advice:

• The read time is SHORT. I’ve always heard 7-10-12 minutes total per application, and our panelists pretty much agreed with that.
• The review process is a team effort. For the most part, more than one person reviews each application, with final decisions happening in a committee setting.
• Context is so important. Don’t raise red flags. If something needs to be explained, DO IT!
• Learning/aha moments are a lot more compelling than simply reporting facts.
• Every college has its own “scorecard” that determines what’s important to assess admission, along with institutional priorities. A college wants to be sure a student can succeed academically AND contribute to the school’s community.

Amy’s advice: Since you can’t see behind the curtain to know EXACTLY what each college wants, you need to do well throughout your application. Make sure each “puzzle piece” fits together to tell the story of YOU! I refer to this as “connecting your dots.”

Tone Matters & First Impressions Count

Van Niekerk suggested considering tone, that a strong application is connected by a complete narrative. She explained, “This doesn’t mean hitting the same point over and over or doing the same stuff in an application — but if they can read your application and get a sense that it’s the same kid in every one of those little facets, I think that…allows your strength to resonate throughout an application. It amplifies it, and it makes for a stronger application.”

Gelman pointed out that first impressions count, reinforcing how important it is to be polished with grammar and email etiquette. She also mentioned how important it is to follow directions: “There are reasons for word counts. There are reasons that letters of recommendation count. Admissions wants students to respect those instructions and requirements.” Also, great Gelman tip: “Accept uncertainty and unpredictability. Control what you can, right? Students have control of certain things in the application, and they do not have control over other things.”

Amy’s advice: YES! I agree! So much is already written in “permanent ink” – grades, test scores, etc. Focus on what you CAN control: essays, supplements, and how you report your activities.

Essays = Something You GET To Do!

Gelman also stressed the importance of essays and what stands out. She acknowledged that writing in the first person about themselves isn’t always easy for students, but that mindset matters. She explained a great attitude to use to approach the writing parts of the application: “I get to, versus I have to.” Students, she said, GET to present themselves, and every essay is an opportunity.

Similarly, Beach considers the college essay a very limited opportunity in a small timeframe. His advice: “Demonstrate the things that make you tick, the things that you’re excited about, the things that you’ve learned, your big-picture aha moment, your great experience from a summer job or a fantastic learning opportunity where you fell flat on your face, but my gosh, you learned so much.”

Supplements + The WHY Essays

Kindbom recommends that students “save bandwidth for supplemental essays” and mentioned how important it is to support a WHY essay with specifics versus generalities. She explained, “Don’t spend your time complimenting the school. Talk about why you will be a great fit.”

Amy’s advice: YES! I call general info in supplements a “brochure drop.” The school knows EXACTLY what they offer; what they don’t know is WHY it’s relevant to YOU! Connect those dots!

Another supplemental essay available to ALL applicants is the Additional Information response. Tapper recommended, “Don’t leave questions unanswered. So if a student had a bad grade or a bad semester, or if they couldn’t take an AP class due to some scheduling conflict, you don’t want colleges to wonder about that. You want to use the additional information section to explain it.”

That’s all for now! I hope this helps you frame YOUR narrative in a way that makes sense for YOU.

The post How is Your College Application Reviewed? And What Can You Do to Succeed? appeared first on Power Hour Editing.

Happy “November 1st is in the rearview mirror”! It isn’t a holiday but should be! We don’t have data on this year yet, but sources estimate that more than 4 million applications were submitted by November 1! It’s always a huge relief when most of the EA/ED deadlines have passed. Today’s topic: what’s next? What do you do AFTER you apply to college to increase your chances that all of your hard work will be rewarded? First, I highly recommend you take a DEEP breath and consider a relaxing, fun activity to refuel! One idea:

Beyond a homemade spa experience :), here are some tips:

• Applying to more schools – Make a plan to get to the finish line! With “lane congestion,” the Common App sometimes glitches. Plus, if you wait until the last minute to apply and realize you need something from school, it’s tough to get it quickly. AND, students are realizing that as they fill out the Common App, some selections (major, test-optional, etc.) trigger additional questions. And YES – you CAN update anything in your Common App before applying to another school, so if you add an activity or have an idea for a change to your main essay, go for it!
• Most important: Make sure your application is 100% complete ON TIME – Log into the portal provided by EACH college you applied to, and make sure your APPLICATION IS COMPLETE by the deadlines provided. Requirements vary, but unless your app is complete on time, you will not be considered. Again, the checklist varies by school, but typical items include transcript, rec letters, and test scores (if required/applicable). Some schools show green checks & red Xs by required items; others vary. But log into those portals, and be aware of deadlines! A few years ago, I heard about a student who applied ED; her school didn’t send her transcript on time; and the student was moved to the regular decision round. That’s avoidable – double-check that everything is where it needs to be!
• Demonstrate Interest – Some colleges say they care if you demonstrate interest; others say it isn’t considered. So HOW can you demonstrate interest? Email admissions with something unique (a question or something new since you applied); take a virtual tour; talk to a professor in your desired major and reference that conversation in an email to admissions. And those marketing emails you get? Click around a bit. They have technology in place to KNOW how you’re engaging with their marketing. Again, not all schools care, but…some do! YOU are the reporter of your story, so take charge & tell it how you want it to be told!
• Alumni or Admissions Interviews – Some are offered directly to applicants; others, you need to request. If you plan to do interviews, draft a resume to give your interviewer in advance or at your meeting to provide a quick overview of your background, and prepare so you’re confident, comfortable, and ready!
• Merit Aid & Scholarships – Some schools automatically consider you if you apply by a certain deadline; others require additional applications/essays. Research & ask for it if required.
• FAFSA – To apply for financial aid, see info on how to prepare here and more details here.

That’s all for now! Best of luck to ALL students!!!

The post I applied! Now what? 2025 Edition appeared first on Power Hour Editing.

• Write, edit, revise, PREVIEW – Most know about the first 3 steps and forget the last. Hit PREVIEW in the Common App so you see your application AS COLLEGES WILL VIEW IT. That’s where you catch any final formatting or spacing issues. Save to PDF; proof; adjust; PREVIEW again.
• Which prompt should you answer? I get this question a LOT, and you’ll be relieved to hear that it doesn’t matter which you choose for the main essay. Of course, you want to pick the prompt that fits your essay BEST, but this isn’t an English paper rubric where you have to cover every single word. Rather, make sure your story FITS the prompt you choose. Personally, I don’t love the last free-choice option. I’ve never seen an essay that couldn’t somehow fit into one of the prompts. For reference, I’ve listed them here, along with more tips on tackling the main essay.
• Do you need a title for your main essay? No. It’s totally optional, and it DOES count toward your 650 words in the Common App. My advice: if it adds something unique/extra, GO FOR IT! If it’s bland or simply summarizing, leave it out.
• Deadlines – You must manage ALL deadlines. Each school varies in terms of when all pieces are due. Beyond your application, you may also be submitting test scores, teacher recs, additional materials, Honors applications, etc. Once you apply, you’ll typically get a portal where you can log in to check your application progress. Make sure any pieces arriving from somewhere else arrive on time to be considered with your application.
• Resume or no? Some schools do require a resume. Others allow you to upload a resume. Of course, if it’s mandatory, you must include it. If it’s optional, here’s my advice: ONLY upload a resume if it ADDS significantly to the activities you’ve already reported. If you have just a little more to share, and it’s important, you can certainly use the Additional Information section instead. Keep in mind, adding more stuff doesn’t mean they’ll take longer to read your application. It means that everything will be reviewed more quickly. So think of your application like it’s a series of puzzle pieces telling the story of YOU. Make each one count, and don’t simply repeat information because you think it will impress.
• Honors/Scholars/Merit Aid – Some schools offer this automatically to all applicants; other schools offer it only if you indicate interest or if you apply by a certain date. And others require additional writing or information. Since this is a school-by-school thing, you need to research to be sure you’re completing the steps on time to receive this potentially wonderful stuff!

I hope this helps!

The post Deadline Crunch & Last-Minute Tips appeared first on Power Hour Editing.

Side note…one of my first PR campaigns many years ago was 7-Eleven’s “So many changes, it isn’t even funny!” That line stuck with me, and I think it applies to college admissions, too! Why? So much information and so many requirements are college-specific, and things CHANGE! Prompts, deadlines, requirements, etc. Even comparing college websites to the Common App, you may see discrepancies. Try to stay on top of all of the moving details, even if it feels like you’re trying to catch wet spaghetti! Research is an amazing and powerful tool when navigating college admissions.

Now let’s talk Common App!

1. Account Rollover – If you started your Common App prior to 8/1, SOME info will roll over; some won’t. Verify anything you already entered. Check out my article explaining that, plus intel on what’s NEW in this year’s Common App. There are definitely some changes this year, but nothing too major. I’ve outlined most of the big ones in my article linked here.
2. Preview – That’s your best friend in the Common App. Preview + proof what you enter with the PREVIEW button before submitting. If you’ve seen me talk at schools, I share the comment from one admissions officer who told me a student uploaded breakup texts from a boyfriend by accident. Preview + proof! Trust me, it’s worth it!
3. AI-Generated Essays – No. Please, no! So many reasons why. This is definitely NOT the writing colleges are looking for, and it can really backfire on you. Present your best, authentic work – THAT is a winner!
4. For the WRITING SECTIONS – Write & edit somewhere else before copying & pasting into the Common App. Then PROOF again. Many times, spacing & formatting get wonky and need to be adjusted. Also, note that the dash (-) sometimes counts as a word.
5. Activity List – Did you edit first offline? Change/add anything? UPDATE! Also, note the activity section allows you to MOVE activities UP & DOWN after entering. Again PREVIEW! Position + Organization appear in BOLD and are automatically separated by a comma for you.
6. Respect the Word Counts 🙂 – One year, a student called me to say that the Common App was allowing him to enter MORE than the word count. Should he? No. Follow the directions provided 🙂
7. Formatting – Again, sometimes this has to be redone after entering content and is really limited (italics, bold, underline). This is a REAL bummer to me. I’ve had many students who wanted to insert emojis or international languages, and I’ve suggested this upgrade every year to the Common App. Maybe one year…

I’ll be adding a video to this post to SHOW you how to navigate the 2025-26 Common App below.

Good luck, and let me know if I can help you!

The post Common App Launch Day! Class of 2026 Tips appeared first on Power Hour Editing.

Let’s start with news on the writing requirements and meaningful CHANGES to the Common App. Here are the writing requirements that will stay the SAME:

• Main Essay prompts – no change – see them and my tips here.
• Activity Section – no change to how you report your activities (up to 10), but they’ve added a mandatory checklist response that I’ll explain below.
• Because I’m frequently asked who answers which prompt, I’ll share stats from this past cycle as an FYI. But…remember it truly doesn’t matter WHICH prompt you select as long as your answer fits generally into what they’re asking. In this past cycle, prompts in order of popularity were as follows: Free Choice (28%); Facing Adversity (22%); Personal Growth (20%); Background, identity, interest of talent (18%); Intellectual Curiosity (5%); and tied at last were the Gratitude (3%) and Challenging an Idea (3%) prompts.

Here are the CHANGES announced for the 2025-26 cycle:

• The Additional Information (optional) question is the same, but the maximum word count is only 300 this year (vs 650 before). They found that the average responses were much shorter, and this syncs with my advice – keep it simple & brief! More here.
• They DELETED the Community Disruption question & renamed it “Challenges & Circumstances” (up to 250 words max). Interesting that 100,000 applicants answered the pandemic-triggered Community Disruption in 2024-25 (vs 300,000 in 2020-21). The average number of words applicants used for this response was less than 200. More on this here.
• NEW for all applicants this cycle is the required “Responsibilities & Circumstances” checklist (no writing, just a checklist) where students can indicate if they spend 4 hours or more a week on family responsibilities or general circumstances. This is something the Common App tested in pilot form for three cycles and decided to implement this year system-wide. Note – there is STILL an option in the MAIN ACTIVITY LIST SECTION to select “Family Responsibility” if that applies (caregiving, babysitting, etc.). On this new CHECKLIST, while it’s required, you CAN check “none of the above.” I grabbed a screenshot to show you.

• ACT/SAT Test Reporting – They’ve added an option to report with or without science and writing (both optional for the online test). And to avoid confusion, they’re updating the grid of colleges so students are clearer on WHO requires test scores, INCLUDING these sometimes optional sections (science + writing).

Important Reminders:

• The Common App officially launches AUGUST 1 for the Class of 2026. You CAN (but don’t need to) start your account earlier. I heard that scholarship matching can start BEFORE you apply, so that might be a reason to go ahead and set up your account now. IF you do that (optional), please keep the following in mind:
  • Account rollover continues, meaning IF you start your account prior to 8/1, only SOME of the information will roll over into your actual application. See below for specifics.
  • Remember to download any information you entered prior to July 28 because the system will go offline before launching.

More Common App Updates:

• Direct Admissions will continue in 2025-26. That means that partnering member institutions will grant proactive admissions offers to select first-generation & low/middle-income students. More info to be posted in Fall 2025.
• As mentioned above, the Common App expanded its Scholarship Matching capabilities, so definitely check that out! Students can now match to opportunities BEFORE applying. See the slide below for more information.

That’s all for now! I hope this helps you anticipate application season! As the number of applicants AND applications continues to increase, it’s important to stand out and present a polished application package. As of TODAY, there are 66 days until LAUNCH DAY (August 1), so you have plenty of time to take the first steps I recommend: research college list, draft Activity List, and draft your Main Essay. Then, focus on supplements that will be confirmed between now and August 1.

The post What’s New with the Common App – Class of 2026 Updates appeared first on Power Hour Editing.

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Every year, I like to share a few tips (see below) to inspire students to tackle this important part of their application. First, a video inspiring you to get started:

Some tips for you:

• Start early! That’s the #1 tip students have shared in my survey over the years. Something this important takes time, finesse, and multiple drafts.
• Brainstorm & write your #1 headline! What does that mean? Think about the ONE BIG story you NEED to share with colleges to explain why YOU are the one they should accept. Think about your application as a SERIES of data points about you. Each one tells a unique story – your academic choices & record; a test score (maybe); your activity list showcasing how you spend your time; the main essay (your #1 story); supplements (if required); and what others have to say about you (rec letters). The writing pieces that YOU control…connect your dots in AMAZING ways!
• AI? Definitely not. I’ve written about this quite a bit here and here.

Here are links to some past articles I wrote on this topic that may help as well:

• Class of 2025 Main Essay Tips – Same exact prompts as this year! Check out last year’s tips, along with how I might approach MY own college essay today!
• Class of 2024 Main Essay Prompts & Ideas – Same prompts as this year; more tips here
• Any Idea Can Lead to a Great Essay – What’s Yours? – An idea is just an idea, until…Check out some of my ideas to spark YOUR best ideas!

Remember, it’s a process…get started early, and you’ll shine like a star! JUST ANNOUNCED – 2025 Class Dates: FREE INTRO on Sunday 3/16 @ 6 pm EST, Research Class (3/30 @ 6 pm EST), and Activity List Class (4/6 @ 6pm EST) – grab your spot here!

Note – I mentioned some changes in the headline of this post…I covered this year’s changes to the Additional Info & Community Disruption questions in a separate post to provide some more tips.

The post Class of 2026 – Common App Just Announced Main Essay Prompts! And some changes… appeared first on Power Hour Editing.

• You were deferred and want to update them to increase your chances of a YES.
• You haven’t heard yet and want them to know you REALLY want to attend and why.
• You have meaningful updates to share that the admissions committee needs to know to evaluate your application.

College applications are a lot like dating. You need to be a good match, and it’s important to communicate WHY in the right way. If the school offers you a way to provide updates, use their form/approach. If they don’t, you can email your specific admissions rep if you know who it is, and you can call admissions to find out the preferred approach to sending a LOCI. From a content perspective, here are some things you can include:

• Meaningful updates since you applied. Started a new activity, had an exciting win in one of your activities, were recognized academically for something special, increased your GPA substantially.
• Share or reiterate in a unique way why you’re a perfect match for each other. Remember, it’s all about the YIELD – colleges want to say YES to students who will say YES.
• A resume if you feel you got cut short in reporting activities in the 10 spots provided.

Here’s what you do NOT want to do:

• Reiterate your application – they have it!
• Send a letter with typos.
• Spam the college with too much (too many emails/letters/rec letters). More isn’t always better. Remember – they have limited time, and it’s up to YOU to curate the information thoughtfully.

These are some basic tips…let me know if I can help you draft a compelling LOCI!

The post What’s a LOCI, and how should you write it? appeared first on Power Hour Editing.

My article last year is still very current/relevant – check it out here. AND…I wanted to share some additional tips with you and remind you of some important ones!

• Make sure your application is COMPLETE! I know getting to the finish line can feel grueling at times, but…after you hit SEND, make sure all that work pays you back! Most colleges give you an application portal where you can log in to track progress. Make sure your rec letters, test scores, mid-year transcripts (if required), etc., are ALL received on time. A few years ago, I heard about a student who applied ED; school didn’t send transcript on time; student was moved to regular decision round. That’s avoidable – double-check that everything is where it needs to be!
• Interviews/Merit Aid – Availability & requirement to “get” vary by school. Research & ask for it. Your request may be as simple as a quick form or as involved as additional essays.
• Emailing admissions – Ask something thoughtful/new, and keep them updated if something CHANGES in your application – good OR bad! YOU are the reporter of your story, so take charge & tell it how you want it to be told!

Again, check out last year’s article with LOTS of helpful post-application tips.

The post I applied, now what? 2024 Edition :) appeared first on Power Hour Editing.