5 Common Mistakes to Avoid as a College Bound Student
By Emma Marie
College approaching? I believe that students and families deserve to know these common mistakes on the front end rather than wish they would’ve known it all later on. I mean, students ARE on the verge of beginning a pretty large transition within young adulthood. Approach this season feeling prepared, rather than overwhelmed.
With that, I’ll leave you with 5 common mistakes to avoid as a college bound student:
#1. No longer considering a school just because of the sticker price.
Keep in mind, not ALL schools market their costs this way. Some schools will market their total yearly cost with an estimated financial aid offer tacked on to it, whereas some use the sticker price! That’s why it’s wise to use the net price calculator tool on most schools ' websites. It will be the best estimate with every variable put into play at the time. On another note, If you’re looking at an out of state school, there are criteria that could be met to gain in-state tuition...some are easier than you may believe! Be sure to ask the admissions office early on what that criteria is so that you know what to shoot for!
#2. Writing a generic personal statement that doesn’t highlight the uniqueness of YOU!
Personal statements can and will enhance any college application - if they are done well! I will read personal statement essays from time to time and sense insecurity from the student. Then, I will talk to them and find out something really cool that they didn’t include in the essay! There are many students that will write about how COVID - 19 impacted their high school career. If that’s what you choose to discuss, share a story with us on how you were resilient during that season. The evaluation team is going to look for how you were able to lead throughout your personal story.
#3. Having a parent or guardian always taking the initiative for you.
Students, it’s time to take the driver’s seat on this one. This is your journey and you are in charge of it. Parents/guardians are encouraged to be available for guidance throughout the way, but they are going to serve well as an assistant. It shows a lot to an admissions selection committee when students are able to communicate effectively, ask great questions, and take initiative early on.
#4. Not being intentional about who you are taking advice from.
The truth is that college preparation looks entirely different than it did 10-15 years ago. It has changed so much just this past year! Majors are constantly restructured, there are different careers in demand, scholarships are found differently, etc. No one expects you to have it all figured out, so it’s good to build your tribe of people to help guide the process. Some examples of people who would be a good fit are your school counselor, parents, a college coach, teacher, and sports coach. As you build a bond of trust with your tribe, they will be eager to share advice during the bumps in the journey.
#5. Passing up deadlines.
I’m sure this one always gets brought up! The truth is that there typically isn’t any wiggle room when it comes to deadlines for applications or scholarships. I feel for the students that I talk to who were just too late in the process. I always want to encourage students of a few things in order to stay organized : Create an email account for your college search and use this for everything related to college preparation. Keep your documents housed in Google Docs. Tweak and save each document as you go. Use a paper planner or calendar app on your phone. Familiarize yourself with deadlines from your schools of interest and write them down!
Emma Marie
Emma is the founder of ‘Coach Emma Marie | Your College Coach’. She has a combination of over 7+ years of experience in college admissions and coaching young adults through life’s transitions. During her free time, you can find her planning another travel venture, drinking cold brew while catching up with a friend, or at her local Cycling Studio.