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Advice from Students Who Participated in The Princeton Review's "College Hopes & Worries" Survey 2008
Think earlier! Start earlier! - A.L., Sterling, VA
The college search process is like buying a pair of shoes. You want one that feels good, looks good and wears well. Not only does it have to be the right 'fit' in terms of the type of curriculum, student profile and extra activities, it has to prepare us for the future whether it be grad school or the workforce. -- Kristi, Wellesley, MA
Start your applications as early as possible and keep a calender with a todo list to keep yourself on track.-- Thomas, League City, TX
Don't put off your application essays until the day before they're due. Don't forget to check whether you need to mail in stuff or not (and do so before the post office closes, so you don't have to scramble trying to find an open office at 7pm)! -- Sumaiya
When it comes to writing the college essays, do not be afraid to be you. Colleges want to get to know you, not who you think they want you to be. -- Nivin, Garden Grove, CA
Make copies of everything and ask for recommendations early! -A., MD
Research which companies recruit at the college you're interested in, and what career guidance programs the college offers. These networking opportunities will have a big impact on your career success later on. -- Katie, New York, NY
We tend to get overly stressed about the entire process; just remember, applying to college is about finding out who you are. Make sure you only apply to places you truly would like to attend; this way, you'll be happy no matter what.-- Jocelyn, St. Louis, MO
Visit more schools than you would like to apply to. The visit (even if during the summer) is the most important part. It gave me an idea of what it would be like to live there. I saw the location, toured the buildings, and met administration. I ended up choosing a college I never imagined I would like over ones I had dreamed about for years. -- Theresa, Rochester, MN
Try to be reasonable with parents who did not attend college. They don't understand the process and are likely to get frustrated. Frustration in return will not do you any good. -- Jessica, TX
Parents might be tempted to prevent their children from applying to schools they cannot afford, to protect them from the heartbreak of being admitted but being unable to pay. DO NOT DO THIS! Many expensive schools have great financial aid packages. There is millions of dollars of aid for the diligent scholarship hunter. - S., Pompton Plains, NJ
The best thing to do is always keep talking to your parents because no matter where you go they will support you. Also your guidance couselor will make a huge difference in the college process if you keep in contact with her. - K.J., Dix Hills, NY
Take a deep breath and let your parents help, they may actually know something. - Robert, CT
Try to win the lottery before you apply. - Daniel, Colorado Springs CO
When applying to college, first decide which one will be the best overall fit for you. Then apply for scholarships like it's nobody's business! - J., Frederick, MD
We go to school to study so that we will be financially stable in the future. How can that make any sense if a student can not fulfill that goal just because they do not have the money to pay for tuition? -- Tiffany, Martinez, CA
You have never applied for too many scholarships.-- Andrew, Delaware, OH
Try to stay calm but realize that it's OK to freak out every once in a while and don't stress out too much when it comes to picking your school. - Ellen, South Elgin, IL
Try to take time to relax. -- Amanda, Fitchburg, MA
The college application process isn't the worse part, waiting to hear back is! -- Courtney, Ashburn, VA
Narrow down your choices of colleges in time for the application season, so the process will flow more smoothly and reduce the cost of expensive application fees. -- Reece, KS
Try looking over all of the schools you plan to apply to the summer before senior year, and come March, don't hover over the mailbox! -- Lisa, Garnet Valley, PA
Take lots of bubble baths. -- Cindy, Cupertino, CA
You shouldn't base your college choices on the best reputation, like Harvard or Princeton. You should base your choice on what that college has to offer YOU .-- Kylie, Chico, CA
The college you attend will determine your future! Do a lot of research and have fun doing it! These are some of the most exciting years of your lives! - L, Stony Brook, NY
The college you get into does not decide the rest of your life. -- Matt, Mission Viejo, CA
Try and find the college that suits you, your family, your finances, and your academic field and preference. You may not get into your first choice so always have a good back-up plan. -- Ben, Haverhill, MA
Undergrad college doesn't mean nearly as much to a future career as graduate school. -- Nicole L
Calm down. It's only four years! - R.H., Springfield, MO
When you think you didn't get the school you wanted, you might be getting the school you needed. --- Amy
Though college is an important step in the walk of life, it is not the only step. Don't let your value as a person be determined by the college you go to .-- A, Salt Lake City, UT
You may not be able to get into the top 25 schools in the country, but there are thousands more and you will find one that wants you as much as you want it. - H,, Barrington, IL
Not getting into the college you want isn't the worst thing in the world. - Angela, CA
You are smart. Don't let a rejection letter make you depressed. - A.E.P., Knoxville, TN
We are all going through this together so don't be scared to ask people lots of questions. --Phoebe, Williamsburg, OH
Try your best. It's not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Don't worry too much about where you're going, worry more about the mindset you go to school with.-- Samuel, Wasilla, AK
Trust the process. Colleges are pretty good at selecting students who will do well at their campus. -- Carl, Petaluma, CA
Your future happiness and success does not depend on your college, only on your attitude. - Yaset, Orlando, FL
Whoever said that senior year is the easiest year is a liar. -- Heera, Fairfax, VA
Don't worry be happy. - Claire, Garland, TX
We will be ok. -- Ana, Tyler, TX
Buy a Princeton Review book (I read the Best 366 Colleges) to help you decide where to apply. It helps so much determining what schools have a personal fit, which I think is more important than anything. -- Kelly, Lees Summit, MO
Read Princeton Review's book, Paying for College Without Going Broke in your sophomore year! It will be immensely helpful in financial planning and will help demystify the fin aid process. -- Kevin, South Pasadena, CA
Counselor-O-Matic, on PrincetonReview.com provided me with a list of colleges where I had an excellent chance of admission. -- Genevieve, Largo, FL
Use Princeton Review Prep Books. They are very helpful for SAT Tests - David, TN
The Princeton Review website is extremely helpful in determining good colleges, majors, and careers to pursue. -- Erinn, Alpharetta, GA
Use The Princeton Review and take their SAT courses, it has made the whole daunting college experience so much less stressful. Also, START EARLY! -- Annie, Seattle, WA
The Princeton Review thanks all of the students who shared these tips and comments and the thousands of others we heard from on our survey. Our customers are our best advisors and counselors!
--return to College Hopes and Worries 2008--
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