Five Tips for Submitting a Top-Notch College Application

The common college application can seem a bit daunting at times, but if you approach it with a professional demeanor and a cool head, it can be a great tool for showing colleges what a prize pick you are. Here are five tips to help you grab it by the horns and never let go.

Take it Seriously.

You're going to be sending this thing to a lot of colleges, so take the time and do it right. Start early so you have plenty of time to go over it with a fine-toothed editing comb. Have some of your smart friends take a look at it, show it to your teachers. This is a great opportunity to impress schools, and you have time to make it perfect.

*Hint: if you can't decide whether you should look up the spelling to a word, then you're not taking it seriously enough. You can't always trust your word processor, so bust out a dictionary or go to dictionary.com. Grab a thesaurus while you're at it.

Take it Lightly.

This is not the be-all-end -all of getting into a good college. Other things you've already done, like your grades, extracurricular activities and SAT scores, play a big role. And while you want to open a plethora of options for yourself, any college you get into will offer a great learning experience.

Be Honest.

You're looking for the best fit for you. Essays help give colleges a personal feel for who you are, something that numbers can never do. If you really want to find the school that is perfect for you, you're going to have to put yourself out there a bit.

Include in the application all of the organizations and activities you are involved in, but focus on one thing that you are really passionate about. Show your dedication to the thing you care about, as silly as it may seem. If you love to draw comics in your spare time, write a rousing essay about that. Colleges are looking for creative, diligent people; they don't care what dream you're chasing, as long as you're running as fast as you can.

Be Organized