College, College, College. I want some!
With a little more than two weeks until my Early Decision deadline, I can truthfully say that I never stop thinking about college and about how much my life will radically change in less than a year…
It's funny what things have been hard that I never thought about when I was preparing for college. For one thing, I don't eat frequently enough because I feel like I don't have time. I really like eating, and I know it's important, but with a full schedule and challenging classes, it's hard for me to take time to just sit and eat. A lot of the time I try to multitask by working and eating, but as I am learning in Psychology 101, multitasking rarely produces the wanted effects of getting multiple things done quickly, and instead slows all of the various tasks down and decreases efficiency.
It may seem silly to say but typically admissions officers read the applications front to back: essay first, then the secondary school report including the transcript and counselor letter, then the letters of recommendation, and finally any supplemental information a studend may have sent.
One thing that this means is that the essay really is important and can potentially create the first impression a student makes on an admissions officer and therefore significantly impacts the student's chances for getting in. It also means that the first impression made comes directly from you.
If a college application does not include an essay then the order would proceed with the secondary school report and recommendation letters – emphasis on GPA and test scores.
