College application information and advice from Brandon Trac, a Course-Notes Editor: Though the college application process may seem daunting, it actually is not that bad when you allow yourself some time. It was easier for me, as I only applied to UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UCI, and USC*. I was able to handle all the UCs with one application, which allowed me to save a lot of time. For USC, I used one of my UC essays and added a few sentences, therefor meeting the requirements for their essay. I also had to ask for a recommendation letter from my teacher. I applied to these schools for several reasons: I had already been "accepted" to UCI due to ELC** and used it as my safety school; I also applied to UCSD because of their strong science department (I plan to be a biology major); and I applied to UCLA because that really is the school I want to go to. UC Berkeley and USC are schools that I applied to in case I do not go to UCLA. Decisions come mid/late-March, so I will not know anything until then. Furthermore, to those applying next year or years ahead, remember to give yourself some time. Filling out the information is not that bad, but really concentrate your time on the essays. I had talked with one of the UCLA admissions officers and he had said what really stands out, besides grades and extracurriculars, are your essays. They really only have 10 minutes to review EACH application, so an essay must stand out at once. Make sure you get to the point in the beginning, and allow your English teachers to help edit them; it really does help. Also, if you ask for a recommendation later, please make sure you ask early on before anyone else so that your teacher can put more thought into what they write. Make sure you kindly ask for a copy so that you are able to proofread it (though teachers are not supposed to show you it, most will anyway). Good luck prospective college kids! *USC: University of Southern California **Eligibility in the Local Context: Students ranked in the top 4% of their public high school in the state of California.
Note from the Editor-in-Chief: Asking your teacher for a copy of the letter of recommendation is highly controversial and most teachers will NOT show it to you. However, if your teachers are submitting their letters via the Common Application, you have the option, to not waive your rights to access those recommendations should the college(s) keep it on file. Also, I am assuming Brandon's letter of recommendation is for USC because the UC's do NOT require letters of recommendation. Feel free to comment on the advice and tips provided by Brandon. Sincerely, Terry Chan Course-Notes Editor-in-Chief [email protected]
