How I did it: I ended up applying to only 3 schools, but I did a lot of research about them before applying (application fees are no fun). I kept my goals realistic - I had a safety school (Elmhurst), a target school (Iowa), and a reach school (Illinois). I took an enriched essay writing class at my high school and got a lot of help with proofreading and editing my essays, which definitely paid off. In the end, I got a $56k scholarship from Elmhurst and a $16k scholarship from Iowa.

Lessons & tips:

• Don't be afraid to apply to a reach school; even if you don't get in, it's good to know you tried.
• Visit, visit, visit! You never know if you'll like a school until you visit. For example, I ended up hating U of I after my visit, and loving Iowa. It was a pretty big factor in my decision.
• Apply for scholarships. The more money you can get, the better.
• Be yourself when you write that admissions essay. :) Don't be afraid to share something you wouldn't normally share, as long as it shows off you character. Also - be as creative and original as possible!

Resources:

1. www.prephq.com - great for organizing your schools
2. www.fastweb.com - scholarships!
3. my parents :) trust me, they'll help more than you know!

Mar 31, 03:32PM PDT | 0 comments | 1 cheer