Whether your students are just starting to look at colleges, or they’ve had their eyes on the same university since they were 5, applying to colleges is a confusing and stressful process. When I was a junior, I didn’t even know where to start. I think I probably just googled "how do I go to college.” And now I have a degree! So maybe they’re off to an okay start...but they could definitely use your help!
Many students have some idea of what schools they would like to apply to, but they have trouble keeping track of the multitude of application-related tasks needed to complete the process. Help them stay on task and take it step by step--that’s the only way to make it to the finish line.
In this post, we're going to go over all the most important components of a student’s college application to make sure it's in great shape for the admissions committee.
目录
大学Application Essays
例如，他们的一些学生的应用程序 - 他们的GPA - 当他们申请到高校时，将相当不利。然而，在申请过程中，它们将更能控制他们散文的质量。你肯定应该鼓励他们借此机会在他们的写作中闪耀，并展示他们作为个人的招生委员会。强大的论文可以衡量其应用程序的较弱区域，或者锁定已经强大的统计数据。
But of course, any opportunity for success can also be nerve-wracking. What makes a good essay is much more difficult to quantify than a good SAT or ACT score, so many students struggle with uncertainty about the quality of their writing.
虽然有一件事：你的每一个学生都需要至少写一篇文章 - 如果不是更多的文章 - 申请大学。
公共应用程序，由大多数主要美国本科课程接受的在线大学申请包括一项关于在公共应用程序平台上提交大学申请的所有学生所需的论文组件。在这个强制性论文之上，许多学校也需要对自己的补充论文问题的回应。
So what does it take to write a stellar college application essay?
经过following the seven steps below, your students can ensure they write the high-quality essays their college applications deserve.
We’ve also created adownloadable quick guideto writing a great Common Application essay that they can print out for reference!
好，我们开始吧。
1）选择一篇论文提示
The first step in the process is choosing an essay prompt to respond to. The Common App offers several prompts for students to choose from, and individual colleges may also allow for some flexibility in terms of what supplemental essay questions applicants decide to answer.
学生应该选择一个最能说明问题的应用程序文章提示，以及他们认为能为他们提供最充实、最有意义的材料的应用程序文章提示。如果跳出某个特定提示，请选择该提示。然而，如果你的学生很难区分问题，告诉他们不要太担心。在某种程度上，他们选择哪种提示来回答其实并不重要，只要他们写得好，表现得好。
Authenticity is key, so just make sure they choose a prompt they can answer thoroughly.
2) Brainstorm
您的学生是否立即在选择提示时立即成功，他们的下一步是头脑风暴。鼓励他们首先在考虑他们正在考虑的提示时陷入困境。
Tell students to make a list of strengths, as well as a list of any weaknesses in their application they might want to speak to.The ideas they generate this way will help them move forward in the application, and will probably clue them in to which prompt offers them the most content and examples to elaborate on.
3） 别忘了这个问题
Each prompt is posed as a question, and your students need to answer that question… don't let them forget that!
如果他们的散文转变为ramblins，它不会善于解决提示的核心，即使这些ramblings写得很好。
因此，一旦您的学生准备开始起草他们的散文，告诉他们设定有意定期暂停并转回问题 - 也许在每个段落结束时。这也是学生确保他们读取了他们申请的大学任务声明的好时机，因此他们可以将其纳入他们计划的答复。
建议您的学生不要继续前进到下一段，直到他们确定了当前段落如何扮演一个响应提示的更大叙述。
4) Structure the Essay
大学申请论文可能不像你的学生在高中写的大多数论文。学生们将分享一些关于自己的个人信息，然后反思和分析为什么他们所分享的信息是重要的，而不是争论或解释一个学术话题。
Nonetheless, they can still rely on their knowledge of basic essay structures to help them. Just like with a regular essay, they’ll still need a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
现在我们来谈谈这三件事。
介绍
介绍的目的是：
1) To grab the reader’s attention and compel them to continue reading
2) To introduce the reader to the general topic of the essay.
虽然需要解决两个目标，但是一个人绝对是优先事项。介绍应该是一个独特的注意力，建立个人语音和音调，同时将读者进一步绘制到论文中。学生应考虑使用简要的说明性的轶事，报价，修辞问题或本性的一些东西。
身体
构建论文的身体的一个好的拇指如下：
Paragraph 1:在读者身份：通过专注于特定设置，主题或细节集来提供故事的背景。
第2段：使用特定示例和关键详细信息介绍有关主题的更多信息，为什么重要。
第3段：Go deeper. Elaborate and reflect on the message at hand and how this particular topic shaped the person you are today.
结论
The conclusion is a great place for students to draw connections between the subject of their essays and their continued learning trajectory as college students and beyond. For example, how might your students want to expand on the knowledge they already have? What problems do they anticipate being able to solve given their experience?
5) Write Honestly, Specifically, and Vividly
It may go without saying, but students should always follow the cardinal rule of writing: show and don’t tell. Encourage them to provide specific details, examples, and images in order to create a clear and captivating narrative for their readers. And of course, make sure what they’re showing-not-telling is their own story. Their application essays are meant to be autobiographical--nota fictionalized version of someone else's memoirs.
6) Be Mindful of Voice and Tone
你的学生论文应该是专业的，yet still conversational.Tell students to try reading their essays aloud; do they sound natural? That’s good! Students should keep the tone semi-casual, but avoid profanity, and make sure they’re still upholding all the rules for proper style, grammar, and punctuation.
7) Revise, Proofread
This is不是可选的. 确保学生在申请过程中有足够的时间修改、重做，甚至多次重写他们的论文。学生们写完初稿后，应该离开它几天，这样他们就可以用新鲜的眼光重新审视它。
对于一些really fresheyes, tell students to find at least two people they trust to review their essays, like a parent, a teacher, or anyone who has gone through the college application process before.
当然，学生应确保他们的散文是原始的提交。这意味着Triple和四点检查拼写和使用错误，拼写错误等。
建议书
Letters of recommendation play an important role in college admissions, offering an objective third-party commentary that no other piece of a student’s application can. But letters of rec can also be incredibly stressful to ask for.
通过遵循这七个步骤，学生可以得到一封强有力的推荐信，这封推荐信将送他们去他们梦想的学校！
- Build meaningful relationships:Encourage students to get to know their teachers, employers, coaches—anyone they work with consistently who can speak to their strengths when it comes time to apply to college. After all, when they ask for letters of rec, it’ll be a big problem if their teacher can’t remember their name!
- Ask the right people:既然你的学生已经消失了建立有意义的关系的麻烦，他们会想问那些人的信件。建议他们询问可以讨论他们的品质和潜在的人的人 - 那种推荐人的类型会比仅通过葡萄藤知道学生的人写得更强大的封信。
- 欣赏：当向潜在的写信人寻求帮助时，确保学生明白他们只是在这样做——寻求帮助。他们要信时要有礼貌并表示感谢。
- Give enough time:在申请截止日期前两天询问建议书是灾难的谱系。学生应至少提供一个月的通知（非常明确的截止日期）。
- Highlight your strengths:根据任何建议书的请求，提供一些谈话要点为推荐人提供一些引用有助于如何开始。
- 跟进：随着所有推荐人在他们的盘子上，他们很容易拖延你的来信。学生应在截止日期前一周或两两个发送电子邮件，感谢推荐帮助您解决，并礼貌地检查建议的状态。
- Send thank-you notes;显示侦察mmenders gratitude by sending thank-you notes after submitting the applications. Many students forget this step, but they can easily make themselves stand out by remembering.
招生访谈
While not all colleges require admissions interviews, if your student’s school of choice recommends them, the admission interview can be a crucial part of their application.
但是，如果想到坐下来陌生人并卖给他们为什么你的学校吓坏了你的学生，他们绝对并不孤单！
但在所有人开始恐慌之前，以下是我们的建议，如何让你的学生做好入学面试的准备，并缓解面试前的紧张情绪。
Practice!
The more your students practice, the easier their college interviews will be. They can start by reading sample interview questions and writing some notes down. Then they should say their answers aloud. Practicing in front of a mirror, with a recording device, or with another person--especially someone with admission interview experience--can also be incredibly useful.
Students should write down their talking points in advance. These interview talking points can get them started:
- 你最骄傲的时刻
- Your favorite memories
- 你最大的挑战
- 你战胜逆境的时候
- 你钦佩的人
- 你想在大学里有新的经历
Do your homework
招生面试是你的学生展示他们适合学校的一个机会，但是除非他们知道学校的一切，否则他们不能展示他们适合学校。告诉学生进行研究，了解学院的价值观、使命、优势和劣势。然后他们应该试着把这些事情和你自己的兴趣、目标和经历联系起来。
穿着得体
两个字：商务休闲。If you’re not sure what that means, there are heaps of outfit guides online (I like this信息图表来自普渡大学职业中心)。
慢慢说
当我们紧张的时候，我们都容易匆忙。相反，鼓励学生放慢语速，尽量从他们的演讲中去掉“嗯”、“啊”和“喜欢”。他们也可以暂停几秒钟来收集自己的想法；事实上，这表明他们是多么体贴！
提出有见地的问题
大多数面试结束时，面试官会问“你有什么问题要问我吗？”学生不应该对这个问题说“不”！在完成上述研究之后，他们应该能够为招生面试官提出三到五个有意义的问题。
A few more tips for students about keeping their cool...
- Take a deep breath before you go in.
- Make eye contact.
- 有一个坚定的（但不是压倒性的）握手。
- Strike a tone that’s friendly but professional.
- If it’s your first interview, it’s okay to say so.
- 以防万一，带上您的简历，成绩单和测试分数的纸副本。
- 做完后说声谢谢，稍后再发一封感谢邮件。
- Chew gum if you’re nervous. (No, seriously, it helps.)
- 面试前别忘了吐口香糖
申请费及豁免
Applying to colleges is an expensive and confusing process. Some schools' applications are a lot more expensive than others...on the flip side, there are also schools that don’t require any fee at all.
好消息是,如果你的学生有资格,他们can get fee waivers, meaning they won’t have to pay to apply to some of the schools on their list, even if those schools do come with a fee!
申请的费用
全国平均申请费为41美元。但每所学校的学费都不一样。像斯坦福大学和哥伦比亚大学这样的学校申请往往收费最高，大约90美元。你的学生肯定会想单独研究他们感兴趣的每一所学校，这样他们就不会被巨额费用蒙蔽了双眼。
Fee waivers
Another good reason for students to do their research is that they could be eligible for a fee waiver.
三个最大的收费供应商供应商是大学Board,NACAC(National Association for College Admission Counseling), and the通用应用程序。There are similar qualifications for fee waivers from each organization.
如果您的学生已收到SAT费用豁免，他们也将有资格获得大学申请费豁免。学生还可以在某些资格指南内落在某些资格指南中。
Because fee waivers are meant to be used for top-choice schools only, students can only receive around four waivers from each organization. But if they obtain waivers from many different places, they may be able to waive the fees for all of the schools on their lists.
没有申请费的大学
In an effort to be more accessible, some schools don’t have any fees at all. Great colleges like Tulane and Oberlin fall into this category—remember that when it comes to college applications (and colleges!) expense does not necessarily equal quality!
Choosing a Major
Some colleges require students to declare a major when they apply. This can be daunting if they haven’t considered choosing a major up until this point.
直接学生到我们的“我应该主修什么”quiz to get them started, and share these brainstorming tips:
想想你爱什么
People are predisposed to enjoy, and excel at, certain disciplines. Use this flowchart infographic to figure out what you should major in!
长期思考
一些专业（如护理或工程）教学生如何进行交易。他们会让你的学生在毕业后开始一个特定的职业生涯。其他专业（如国际研究或英语）经常教学生更多的理论技能，这些技能在毕业后可以在许多方面得到应用。学生应该考虑他们更喜欢哪种专业，以及他们最终可能喜欢哪种职业。
Remember that you can change your mind
Most students change majors once or twice during college – and that’s completely okay!
But if your students aren’t sure at all what they might want to study, or they’re torn between many different fields, they should consider applying to liberal arts programs, or at least colleges where they don’t have to declare a major right out of the gate.
其他选择：考虑到差距年
你的学生选专业有困难吗？不知道他们应该在哪里申请大学？甚至不确定他们是否想上大学？也许他们应该考虑空档年！
A gap year after high school allows students to figure things out on their own time – especially if they’re not sure that they really want to go to college after all, and don’t want to commit to all those years of school right away. Taking a gap year lets students gain some valuable experience while still giving them the space they need to consider (or reconsider) their academic and career goals. Many students choose to take a gap year before applying to colleges, or apply to colleges and defer for a year.
在高中和高中迈出差距，也可以是看到世界各地的机会，特别是对于从未出国旅行的学生，或者在大学期间不打算留学。差距年度计划（或自主旅行时间）可以允许学生了解其他生活方式，在世界各地制作新朋友，并回到其未来的期货意识。
重要的是要记住，空档年不可避免地会带来经济成本，特别是如果你的学生把这段时间花在志愿服务而不是工作上。休这种假也会使他们的学术生涯推迟一年。如果他们打算上大学，他们会比没有休学一年的人晚一年毕业。总的来说，休一年假没什么区别，但会影响一个人早期的职业生涯。188app88
这取决于每个学生，评估大学后差距年份的利弊，看看这是正确的举动。如果您的学生有兴趣了解有关差距年是否可能是他们的好选择，请告诉他们查看我们的“Should I Take a Gap Year”quiz!
大学申请的最后一句话
A lot goes into applying to college--not to mention the 12+ years it takes to make it all the way from preschool to high school graduation! Your students have worked hard to get where they are now, and their college applications should reflect that hard work.
So encourage them apply to that reach school! Or take that gap year! Or pursue whatever their post-graduation dreams are!
随着你的支持，任何事情都是可能的。