1. So listening in English class may pay off after all…

2.  Colleges and Universities get admissions applications from many, many people.  If they are going to admit you, it is best to have something that ‘distinguishes’ you from your peers.  They look at: GPA, ACT Scores (or SAT), Involvement (extracurricular activities), and the Essay.

3.  If you are a senior and you have the thought, ‘Huh, I should have done a little better…’, you are a little late.  Now is the time to try to boost your GPA – even if you have to take that boring class that everyone knows is boring to get an A. Boost the GPA.

4.  If you study – and I mean really study (AKA not just thumbing through the test prep book looking for cool pictures, but really sitting down, doing the problems, figuring out how to work the problems, etc.) this could be the easiest thing to change.  You can retake the ACT. You can’t retake your GPA.

5.  Help other people. Do interesting things. These two can actually be the same thing.  School clubs, church, Boys and Girls club – many organizations exist that really could benefit from you. Just get out there and see what’s happening and get involved.  School’s like students that have done more than study and not do anything else (or worse – not study and not do anything else).

6.  You have less than 300 words to say that you are awesome and they should choose you and not anyone else because you are just that great. And awesome. And wonderful.  Don’t go crazy and make up stuff (don’t say you invented the internet, invented penicillin, cloned human beings in your basement, etc.)

7.  It was written by these people –  They just look like they know how to write a great essay, don’t they…  Here is the website: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors- guide/2010/09/15/10-tips-for-writing-the-college- application-essay http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors- guide/2010/09/15/10-tips-for-writing-the-college- application-essay

8.  Even though the Common Application main essay has a suggested minimum of 250 words, and no upper limit, every admissions officer has a big stack to read every day.  In other words, you write too much, they are not going to read it.

9.  Be honest. Don't embellish your achievements, titles, and offices.  It's just fine to be the copy editor of the newspaper or the treasurer of the Science Club, instead of the president.  Plus, I am sure your parents always told you to be honest all the time anyway, so why start telling lies when you do your university application?

10.  Be an individual. In writing the essay, ask yourself, "How can I distinguish myself from those thousands of others applying whom I don't know—and even the ones I do know?"  It's not in your activities or interests. If you're going straight from high school to college, you're just a teenager, doing teenage things.  It is your mind and how it works that are distinctive. How do you think?

11.  Be coherent. Write about just one subject at a time.  Don't try to cover everything in an essay. Doing so can make you sound busy, but at the same time, scattered and superficial.  The whole application is a series of snapshots of what you do. It is inevitably incomplete. The colleges expect this.

12.  Be accurate. Use spell check. If you misspell something, they might just throw it out. Watch your grammar – and the other mechanics of good writing - conventional punctuation in the use of commas, semi-colons, etc.  If you are unsure about your grammar and mechanics, ask an English teacher to help you proofread your essay (and give them time).

13.  Be vivid. A good essay is often compared to a story: In many cases it's an anecdote of an important moment.  Provide details  Use the names (or invent them) for the other people in the story, including your brother, teacher, or coach.  This makes it all more human and humane.  It also shows the reader that you are thinking about his or her appreciation of your writing, which is something you'll surely want to do.

14.  Be likable. Colleges see themselves as communities, where people have to get along with others, in dorms, classes, etc.  Are you someone they would like to have dinner with, hang out with, have in a discussion section?  Think, "How can I communicate this without just standing up and saying it, which is corny." Subtlety is good.

15.  Be cautious in your use of humor. You never know how someone you don't know is going to respond to you, especially if you offer something humorous.  Humor is always in the eye of the beholder. Be funny only if you think you have to. Then think again.

16.  Be controversial (if you can). So many kids write bland essays that don't take a stand on anything. It is fine to write about politics, religion, something serious, as long as you are balanced and thoughtful.  Don't state you have the final truth. And don't just get up on your soapbox and spout off on a sensitive subject.  Give reasons and arguments for your view and consider other perspectives (if appropriate).  Colleges are places for the discussion of ideas, and admissions officers look for diversity of mind.

17.  Be smart. Colleges are intellectual places, a fact they almost always keep a secret when they talk about their dorms, climbing walls, and how many sports you can play.  Show your intellectual vitality. What gets you excited about learning?  This is not the same thing as declaring an intended major. What matters is why that subject interests you.

18.  These people stated over 700 words and your essay probably won’t be read by the admissions worker. Look what someone posted at the end of this post: Yes, Jaspreet, yes. It is too long, way too long. And boring and it won’t get read.

19. See what the U of MS has to say about applying for admissions

20.  In addition to grades and test scores, the University Admissions Committee may consider a variety of factors to assess a nonresident applicant's potential for success at UM and to make an admissions decision.

21.  The factors considered may include and are not limited to: rigor of high school courses, diversity of background and experiences, school and community activities, work experience and special life circumstances. In making an admissions decision, the Admissions Committee may review an application for evidence of excellence in academics, the arts, athletics, leadership, service, citizenship and character. The University's Admissions Committee will review all application materials and make an admissions decision.

22.  Admissions decisions are influenced by the institution's ability to provide an outstanding UM experience. Accordingly, all applicants should submit required materials well in advance of the term for which they intend to enroll. Nonresidents of Mississippi applying for first-year admission for the summer or fall terms are encouraged to submit all application materials no later than April 1.

23.  Luckyday Success Scholarship  Award Amounts: $8,000-$28,000 ($2,000- $7,000 per year).  Eligibility: Entering Mississippi freshmen with 20 ACT or higher (940 SAT), 3.2 or higher GPA and remaining financial need after considering other scholarships or grants. Selection is competitive and considers grades, test scores, financial need, leadership, activities and the Luckyday essay. One-hundred freshmen are chosen each year.