The Inside Scoop on the College Application Process

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Redwood Academy Newsletter! This week we’ll be breaking the down the college application process. One of our tutors, Sabeeh, will be sharing his experience from when he applied. Sabeeh is a second year at the University of Southern California, with a major in Political Economy and a minor in Applied Analytics. He will be graduating a year early and is involved in a wide range of activities on campus.

1) The Lead-Up

In the summer before your senior year, you should try to do as much research as possible. Have a solid college-list! The Common Application essay is something that most schools will require – finishing and polishing it during the summer is ideal!

Sabeeh: I had a college list done with 15 schools – this list changed over the semester, but it was mostly finished during the summer. Don’t think you have to apply to this many schools! I had friends who applied to 3, and friends that applied to 25. I also had 2 different Common Application essays by the end of summer that were ready to go. I edited them both substantially over the semester, but the bulk of the essay had been finished. I’ve linked the template I made for making a college list!

2) August-January

Having a clear timeline of when applications are due is crucial. Most universities will require a supplementary essay (or a few). Typically, the word counts for these essays are shorter (between 200 and 600 on average). For example, the University of Wisconsin, Madison, has the following supplementary essays for the 2024-2025 application cycle.

• Each student is unique. Please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments, and/or interests you will bring to our campus.

• Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest. [If you are curious to see how we recommend attacking this prompt, see the bottom of this article!]

Give yourself time to edit your essays – getting them done before the deadline will make sure you can have friends edit them, proofread them, and more.

Sabeeh: I think in total I wrote 60 supplementary essays – mind you some of them had the same prompt so it was more manageable. I would typically start the essays 7 days before the application was due. This was hard for days that had multiple applications due (for example I had 7 due on November 15th), so make sure to give yourself some more time for those.

3) February to April

This time of the year is mostly a waiting game – you’ve submitted all your applications! While it is easy to be stressed out or anxious, do your best to stay calm – remember to keep your grades up! A lot of people talk about “senior sliding,” don’t! Colleges definitely still care about your final grades, so don’t let them slip.

Sabeeh: I was definitely really anxious when I was waiting for decisions, but it was also the end of high school! I saw my friends as much as possible, and tried to make the most of it.

4) April and May

Deciding between schools can be exciting and nerve-racking! Ultimately, narrow it down the most you can – if you’re in a position where you can’t decide, make pros and cons charts! Talk to your family, friends, teachers, etc. At the end of the day it is a decision for you and your family – if you can, visit the schools! Try to picture the next four years, and see where you’d be happiest.

Sabeeh: I struggled a lot deciding between my final two options (University of Southern California, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) – I had a lot of conversations with my family and friends – ultimately for me it came down to which location I liked better, but everyone has different priorities!

If you want more information about the college process or need help with your application, reach out to Redwood River Academy! You can also watch the recorded webinar on our website featuring our panel discussion!

Answering the “Why [this University]” Essay

1. Start with a compelling hook! Narratively structuring your essays, as opposed to listing facts out, can make you stand out

Sabeeh: I always started this kind of supplement with a story of me as a child, and how a certain experience has shaped me / pushed me towards a major or area of interest

2. Show that you did your research! Talking about specific classes, clubs, and professors can show that you are committed and passionate – make sure that you have a unified goal – don’t just list them off, but explain why each example would support a certain interest. If you visited the school or have a connection, include that too!

Sabeeh: Word count allowing, I would try to mention at least one class/professor, a research lab, and a student group or initiative

3. Don’t just talk about academics! Talk about school culture, the surrounding area, and more – universities aren’t just choosing an academic contribute – they are picking a person and individual to join their family

Sabeeh: I would look at reviews of coffee shops near the school I was applying to, and mention a coffee shop or restaurant that interested me/was popular with students – not only did it show that I was invested in the community, but it gave me a quick break during essay writing!

4. Have a strong ending! Connect back to your hook, and remind the admissions officer why you would be an amazing fit for the school. Remember that you are convincing them that they are a great fit for you, and you are a great fit for them.