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I am interested in knowing the best way to let a school know you are really interested in the school. My daughter has two top school; she has let one know that they are her first choice. She doesn't want to tell the second school the same thing as she will go to the first if accepted. Other than the visit to the campus, interviews, and keeping in contact with the regional adcom, are there other things she can be doing to let both of these schools know that she is serious? How does one tell a school that they are not one of 15 your child is applying to? School one does not have ED; there stand the problem.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 09:38 am: Edit

Your daughter is already doing the "right" things in this regard.

What she should also do is write a cover letter with her application. If the school is a first choice or top choice, she should mention that in the letter. She should articulate VERY specifically why she wants THAT school and in that discussion, she should tie in specific things she did on the visits and learned and how those things fit her for whatever reasons she has. She may have visited and that may be on record but here is a chance to show the specific things she did on the visit...such as if she met with a professor, she can mention some aspect of the program she found out and why that appeals to her so much. If she did an overnight in the dorms she can mention the sense she got from talking to various students regarding particular aspects of this college and why it fits her so well. So, she can get into her visit, why she wants to go there, why she is a good match for their class, and let them know it is a top choice and in the case of the first choice school, she could even say that she would matriculate if admitted or something like that (if true) as you said they do not have ED there. For the second choice school, she can say something like that it is one of her top choices or one of her first choices or one of her highly preferred schools.

Susan

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 10:05 am: Edit

Pokey -- kudos to your D for not wanting to be anything less than completely honest. There are plenty of kids who would be quite prepared to tell multiple schools they are their "first choice."

I agree with Soozie's advice, whether you do it in a cover letter or in some other form on the app (some have questions like "why do you want to attend this school?" and you could fit the info in there).

By Apd4 (Apd4) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:43 am: Edit

If an application is submitted completely online, there isn't a need for a "cover" letter. Is it a good idea then to have the student just write a letter explaining why the school is the top choice? Any thoughts?

By Tlaktan (Tlaktan) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 03:13 am: Edit

I'm going to bump this.

I want to send a letter of interest to Georgetown. However, I have a problem trying to make everything fall together, I normally do not have a dilemma in making words flow. Writing a letter to the admissions committee is very difficult though.

As for what I'd like to express.. I'm 3,000 miles away, but I feel very close to it and I love it even though I'm here. Finances keep me from going over there but I've read the works of many of Georgetown's professors, starting from Professor Cha, Dean Gallucci, among others. I know a small bit of its history, its original purposes and intents, etc.,

It truly is my #1.. But I'm afraid in the pool of applicants that comes in this year.. My application is going to get lost in a sea of higher-qualified applicants.. oy.. Some people who have no interest at all for Georgetown, who shoot for prestige..

..

Writing letters is definitely not my fortee.

(BTW: Marite and all you other wonderful parents helping me along thus far: my interview is on the 16th at a Border's in Glendale - near LA, about 30 minute drive.. It's at 11am, I have an administrative lecture to give at 8am, but I don't think it'll overlap.. I might find myself being forced to go in uniform though.. that can't be good :/.. )

By Simba (Simba) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 09:46 am: Edit

"Being forced to go in uniform"...Tlaktan, I don't know about that. Let some other wise parents comment on that.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 10:18 am: Edit

Tlaktan....try to follow the cover letter advice I gave earlier (if the school does not have a Why X college essay required already)....you do NOT have had to visit the school first. My daughter who is currently applying has two applications done and both have cover letters but one school she visited and one not yet (will this winter when she auditions there). Even though she could not mention things done on a visit, she was able to mention SPECIFIC things about that school that appeals to HER and why she fits it well or how she sees herself doing certain things there. To do this, it just takes researching the school in depth online and on paper. This part of the cover letter should not be generic and she should not be able to plug a different school's name into that paragraph. When it was her first choice, she said so, and when it was one of her preferred schools but not first choice, she mentioned it being one of her top choice programs. Even if you did not write a cover letter, this is exactly what will come up in an interview (which I see you have one about to take place). I interview applicants for a college and I always ask why they are interested in the college. My daughter had an interview this past Friday with an admissions officer and indeed, that topic came up. So, if you can articulate this quite specifically in an interview, you should be able to in a cover letter.

As well, I would not wear a uniform to an interview. Bring another set of clothing in a backpack and change in the bathroom at the interview site if you need to.

For the question regarding submitting online, one of the reasons I do not like online apps is that you cannot attach a separate activity list or cover letter, etc.

Susan

By Marite (Marite) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 10:22 am: Edit

Tlaktan:

I actually think the uniform will be work to your advantage. Since JROTC is so much a part of your life, your uniform will lead very naturally to discussing your JROTC work. It will also enable you to mention why you are wearing the uniform: you did not laze abed until 10 (as my S did today and most weekends), but were up early enough to give a lecture at 8am (how many adults are awake enough to give a lecture so early in the morning?).

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 10:30 am: Edit

I agree with Marite. The uniform will make you stand out in a good way since your wearing it will cause an easy segue to your talking about how being in ROTC has affected your life.

Your being in uniform also will help the interviewer remember you. In addition, your going to the interview after handling your ROTC responsibilities will highlight how your sense of responsibility and your independence. All of this is wonderful.

In interview situations, one always should aspire to stand out from other candidates by behaving in a different way that would be an attribute to the institution that you're hoping to join. Your wearing the uniform will help you do exactly that.

By Simba (Simba) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 11:30 am: Edit

Well yes, but it is Saturday morning in LA. The venue is Borders Bar and Grill. The interviewer might be in shorts and sandles....

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 11:33 am: Edit

I am sorry about the uniform advice I gave above and agree with Marite and Northstarmom. I did not see anything in the post about ROTC. I did not know what sort of uniform he meant. I agree that it will show how he did this early in the AM and showcases this significant activity and will be remembered. I did not catch on exactly to what he was talking about, sorry. Go with the other moms' advice on that Tlaktan.

Susan

By Over30 (Over30) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 11:35 am: Edit

Here's an Associated Press article about "showing interest" in colleges. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Colleges-Enthusiastic-Applicants.html?oref=login

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 08:52 pm: Edit

I agree with Marite and Northstarmom. Don't worry about the uniform. Even if the interviewer IS in shorts and sandals (which I doubt), the interview is about you. Just explain why you are in uniform and use it to your advantage to get a great conversation going. Best of luck - let us know how it goes.

By Editrix (Editrix) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 09:37 pm: Edit

The uniform is fine: It's a conversation starter that directly relates to something you do that sets you apart from other kids (most of whom will be sleeping in on Saturdays, not giving administrative lectures at 8 am). If you change in the bathroom, you'll feel as if you have something to hide, when you absolutely don't.