Building the perfect application: it's only a couple pieces of paper. But when it comes to attending the college of your dreams, those few sheets are the most important documents in the universe. It's your college application—your chance to introduce yourself, show your qualifications, and relate what you can contribute to a school - Strategies For Success

Careers and Colleges, Sept-Oct, 2003 by Tracey Randinelli

PLUS: How to write a winning essay.

At a typical university, a handful of admission officers may be responsible for reading thousands of applications. That means you may have only 15 or 20 minutes to make a good impression. How can you do it? It helps to know the application and what colleges look for in each part.

STEP 1 INSTALL YOUR PERSONAL DATA

The first few items on the application--name, address, citizenship, and so on--seem like no-brainers. But you'd be surprised how many people make mistakes. "There are often sections of an application that a student just on/its," says Susan Klopman, dean of admission at Elon College in North Carolina. Read all the questions carefully before you start filling them out.

The personal data section may give you the option of stating your ethnicity, which you should do, particularly if you're a minority student underrepresented at the school. You also may be asked if either of your parents attended the school since many colleges give special consideration to children of alumni. And don't forget your Social Security number, which schools often use to identify applications.

STEP 2 DISPLAY GRADES AND TEST SCORES.

This portion asks for details about your high school. You'll need to give your school's ACT/CEEB number (a code used by computers when scoring SAT and ACT tests), which you can get from your guidance counselor.

In this section, you must also list your SAT of ACT scores, grade point average, and/or class rank. You might be tempted to sweeten your GPA or test scores a bit. Don't. "The fact is, we're going to get a transcript," says Randall W. Dahl, associate vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. And colleges don't look kindly upon liars.

STEP 3 HAMMER DOWN YOUR ACTIVITIES

Most applications require a rundown of the extracurricular activities and organizations you've participated in over the past four years. This does not mean you should list every club meeting you've ever attended. "It's better to have several that you've contributed to than 16 that you haven't done much in," says Judi Robinovitz, a Florida-based certified educational planner.

Start by listing all your activities, including volunteer work, internships, part-time jobs, and other out-of-school interests. Then pare down your list to activities in which you've played an active role. Include the amount of time you've spent on each activity, the leadership positions you've held, and the honors and accomplishment you've collected. Be specific: As yearbook advertising director, did you sell a record number of ads and increase profits? As band president, did you convince the school administration to budget money for new tubas? It's important to distinguish yourself from other qualified applicants, says Robinovitz. "Thousands of people are president of their class. You need to show what you've done to make your presidency special."

STEP 4 NAIL THE ESSAY

Because the admission process is so competitive, the essay can sometimes make or break you. "Other things being equal, a really good essay could pull you into the class," says Dodge Johnson, a college planner in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

But don't let that intimidate you. Admission officers want to gauge your writing ability, but they're also trying to get to know you, your interests, and your goals. Do not write an essay that says what you think a college wants to hear. "When you write about something you think will impress the admission committee, the phoniness is obvious," says Michael McKeon, dean of admission at Seattle University in Washington.

A great essay doesn't need to be stuffy or boring, either. Dr. Douglas Christiansen, dean of admission at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, once read an essay by a student who wanted to eat a hot dog at every major league ballpark in the U.S. "I've remembered it for years," Christiansen says. "It talked about having goals that are just for fun, because, hey, life is fun."

Even if the school doesn't require an essay, think about including a personal statement, particularly if it explains an extraordinary circumstance that has negatively affected your grades. (For more essay-writing tips, see "Writing a College Essay in 3 Easy Steps" below.)

STEP 5 TACK ON RECOMMENDATIONS

When choosing a teacher to write your recommendation, select someone who knows you well. "The person should be able to write more than just what a wonderful student you are," says Robinovitz. "He or she should be able to describe contributions you make outside the classroom."

Make an appointment to speak to the teacher, or perhaps ask him or her to lunch. During the conversation, you may suggest a teacher stress a facet of yourself not yet covered in the application. Give the person a resume of copy of your application to familiarize him or her with what you've accomplished, and allow the teacher at least a month to write. As a final touch, send a thank-you note once he or she has completed the letter.

Can you include recommendations from a coach, boss, or other non-teacher? Go ahead--as long as you've already secured the required number of academic recommendations. "But don't give us seven or eight," cautions Jim Bock, director of admission at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. "There really is such a thing as overkill!"