We couldn't pretend to answer all your questions, but we'd love to provide this forum to facilitate your discovery. There are no stupid questions, and we will make sure that the responses are intelligent. If you have something that you're itching to ask, please let us know. Your fellow students will be glad you did.

Applications and essays

Q. To what number of schools should I apply?
A. There is certainly a variety of theories on this question. When applying to colleges and universities with competitive admissions processes, it is unlikely to receive a "Yes!" letter from everyone. Although we do not discourage you from pursuing your dreams, we also urge you to approach the process with a realistic perspective.

Having explained that, the best advice that we've received is this: Apply to three types of schools. The first type represents that caliber of university to which you expect to easily gain admission solely on your academic credentials; your SAT or ACT scores and high school record indicate that you would be highly qualified to succeed at a school within this category. Your SAT or ACT score will most likely lie above the 75th percentile at schools within this category for you.

The second category includes those schools in which you would likely receive acceptance based solely on your academic credentials. In schools of this caliber, your SAT or ACT scores and high school record will be highly competitive with other applicants. For rough measures, your SAT or ACT scores should lie above the 50th percentile of the stated range for schools within this category.

The third and final category represents your "dream" schools. If you were to apply to schools of this category, you might possibly receive acceptance solely based on your academic criteria. To keep your dreams somewhat realistic, we recommend that you remember that students below the stated 25th percentile in the SAT or ACT range likely have some outstanding extracurricular talents that place them above the pack.

We suggest that you apply to at least one school in each of these categories and that you choose them wisely. Don't select schools merely for name-dropping purposes later. Unless financial restrictions determine otherwise, we recommend that you apply to two schools from each category.

Q. When should I fill out the applications?
A. We strongly urge you to complete your applications well ahead of the deadlines, at least a week before the stated deadline. A great method to make that happen is to review the application materials as soon as you receive the applications from the various schools. Any forms to be completed by guidance counselors and teachers should be distributed well ahead of the stated deadline times. We know of several friends whose hopes of attending individual schools were scuttled by a disorganized, overwhelmed, or misdirected teacher.

Q. What is the most important portion of the application?
A. From research that we have done, it appears that the personal statement or essay portions of the essay hold the greatest means of swaying the admissions officers in your favor. Charisma will shine through great essays. This is not to claim, however, that an inadequate academic record can automatically be salvaged by fifty lines of winning prose. Your academic record will speak for itself, but your character cannot, unless you reveal it through your application essay.