The second, slightly more mischievous, reason that I mention this idea is so that I can address the myth that people work better under pressure. I hear that all the time (especially in the context of these discussions) and it simply is not true. At least, not entirely. It is true that sometimes pressure is our friend, and we need that extra adrenaline to get it going, but just because you’re working doesn’t mean you’re working well. Let that marinate for a second: just because you’re working doesn’t mean you’re working well. All that means is that you will have something to turn in, but will it be your best? doubt it.

At some stages in the academic game, it might be okay to not hand in your best. At points in my education (especially high school), I would do what I knew was expected of me (but less than what I was capable of) and still get As. I knew it wasn’t my best, but since I was still getting good grades I didn’t see the point of putting in the extra effort. But then I went to college and realized how difficult it was to click into that extra gear, to put in that extra effort. Since doing my best wasn’t a habit, I wasn’t prepared for the tougher assignments and increased expectations of higher education.

The moral of the story is that if I got used to doing my best when it wasn’t necessary, it would have been easier to do it when it was. I learned too late that the best time to develop positive habits is when you don’t need them.

This story may seem tangental to the idea that you don’t work better under pressure, but it’s not. (I promise!) Waiting until the last minute doesn’t allow you the time to do your best work. A 5 page paper written the might before it is due is just a rough draft of what you should actually be turning in. (Be honest, it totally is.) Getting in the habit of doing an assignment even 2 days before will help you out tremendously in both the short and long terms of your life. It will help you get better grades now and work better in the future. It may be a tough one at first, but believe me when I say that quick doesn’t (always, or even usually) mean quality.

I thought about this today as I was making phone calls to some of my high school students. While listening to their ‘personalized’ VMs, the phrase “are you kidding me” came to mind about a dozen times. The ring-back songs were one thing, but the ‘leave a message and I might call you back’ or the ‘I don’t answer when I don’t feel like it’ messages got me thinking about how I might feel if I didn’t already know these students… or how I might judge these students if I were, say, an admissions officer or an employer who was calling.

Email addresses should follow these same codes of decency. FYI: email is the primary mode of communication between applicants and a college’s admissions office. Until you are accepted and receive a .edu address, your personal email address will be used. And, since most schools prefer that applicants apply online (and sometimes waive the application fee if you do this by a certain time), it is a good idea to create an email address specifically for your applications that is simple and professional. Firstname.lastname@whatever.com is perfectly fine, and since registering an email address is free through services like Gmail and Yahoo, it shouldn’t be a problem to do this. Sending out applications with sexichik4u2luv4evrxoxo69@whatever.com as the ‘reply-to’ address may not make a great first impression on an admissions officer who reads hundreds of applications per day.

By no means am I trying to say that you should completely depersonalize your VMs and email addresses, but keep in mind the image of yourself that you are putting out there. For people who don’t know you, it could be very off-putting to hear that their phone call may not be returned because you might not feel like returning it, or to receive an email from someone with a name that you may find a little offensive. Just know that people will make value judgments about you based on these snippets of information. It sucks and it’s wrong, but that’s the world way it works. Don’t sabotage yourself (or your future) on something so easy to avoid.

A: Oh no! I can feel your anxiety oozing through the computer, so before I even begin to answer your questions I have one important piece of advice: RELAX!! Breathe in, count to ten, and let it out. Pinky swear it’ll be okay. As for your questions…

food. It’s good to remember that college food varies from campus to campus and from eatery to eatery on campus. In my experience, the main cafeteria has the stereotypical bland, tasteless, prison-type food that college is known for, while the random eateries (that may or may not be part of your meal plan) sell the tastier goodies. It’s a good idea to spend the first month or so of school figuring out where you can go to get what you want. Don’t completely discount the cafe, however, since it provides a great socializing opportunity.

fat. While the “freshman 15″ might be a bit of an exaggeration (either under or over), expect to gain a bit of weight when you go to college. Contrary to popular belief, all of the weight isn’t due to the fact that you’re out of your parents’ house and have free reign of the junky stuff. Part of it can be blamed on the overall adjustment to a new environment and the stress involved with the transition. The human body reacts to these changes in different ways (weight, acne, mood swings, etc.), so be prepared for the physical and psychological effects of freshman year. If the weight really bothers you, just rethink your diet and start working out. Exercise is a great way to both get fit and relieve some stress.

fun. The college social scene is definitely what you make of it. I mean, there can be parties every night if you link up with that set, but if that’s not your thing then that’s cool, too. As a freshman (and depending on where you are) the bar scene might be a little hard to crack, but random chill sessions in the dorms are always available. Orientation will have plenty of opportunities for socializing, but keep in mind that it’ll be different once classes start. ‘Work hard, play hard’ is a great motto to have if you actually put in the work.

Going to college for the first time can cause a series of minor freak-outs, but it’s completely normal. Remember that 1) it’s not as bad as you think and 2) it’s totally worth it. So just relax and have fun. Four years goes by fast, so make the most of it!

The default answer to this question is that you need to take the hardest classes possible so that when you apply to college, the admissions officers will be impressed by the academic rigor of your high school transcript and know that you will be able to handle the tougher college coursework. Then you’ll get accepted to your dream school and live happily ever after. Yay for life…

While I am clearly mocking that answer, there is some validity to it. Taking tougher classes (AP, IB, honors, etc.) does make your transcript look better and make you appear capable of succeeding in college… But this only if you do well in those classes. Don’t load up your schedule with the hard stuff if you know you won’t be able to handle it, because that is exactly what will show on your transcript. A good plan is to take the hardest schedule possible that still makes you look like a good candidate for admission to college. Think about it in terms of shoes: There are the ones that kill your feet but make your legs look hot, and there are the ones that kill your feet and make you look like a dummy for wearing them. Now wouldn’t you rather like to have hot legs? (I apologize to my male readers for the gender bias of that metaphor, but I’m sure you understand.)

There are a few ways to go about this. If you are confident enough in your abilities to take a heavy, AP-laden schedule (or the IB sequence), then do it. If you are on the fence about it, you might want to try to cushion your schedule with classes that you know you’ll do well in so as to counter-weight a less than stellar grade in the harder course. For example, if you’re not too sure about AP English but you’re an excellent drummer, then use band as a counter. And who knows, you may surprise yourself in the AP and you’ll have an even better GPA than expected. In any case, it would be wise to talk to your guidance counselor about the option of switching out of a course if it becomes too difficult. There is nothing wrong with moving down a level if you need to. Classes are like undies, they’re all about fit… and if you’re walking around with a wedgie, you will be way more comfortable once you pick it. (For the fellas…)

Always remember that grades aren’t the only things that get people into college. SAT/ACT scores, your essay, recommendation letters, and extracurricular activities are also key parts to your college application. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t try your best to get the highest grades possible, but know that your transcript is just one piece of the admissions ensemble. Everything should work together to present the best possible you.

This idea that a name isn’t everything can be applied to the college search, too. As a guidance counselor, I have noticed that a lot of students choose schools based solely on the fact that they’ve heard of them. Either their cousin/brother/favorite athlete went there… or it was on “Gossip Girl“… or it’s expensive and therefore a good education… so that’s the place for them. Never visited, never spoke to an admission rep, never had contact with the school beyond a google search, but the student feels comfortable giving up their hard earned money to pay to apply because they know the brand. It’s a little insane, no?

Every school is right for someone, but you need to find the one that is right for you. Do research. Talk to current students.VISIT!  You don’t want to go somewhere just because you heard of it, then hate the next 4 years of your life (or worse, drop out). It is tedious work to narrow down the thousands of colleges out there to find just the right one, but it’s not as hard as you think! Search the web and ask your counselor. Pinky swear, it’s worth it.

You might have test anxiety if you answer YES to four or more of the following:

1. I have a hard time getting started studying for a test.
2. When studying for a test, I find many things that distract me.
3. I expect to do poorly on a test no matter how much or how hard I study.
4. When taking a test, I experience physical discomfort such as sweaty palms, an upset stomach, a headache, difficulty breathing, and tension in my muscles.
5. When taking a test, I find it difficult to understand the directions and questions.
6. When taking a test, I have difficulty organizing my thoughts.
7. When taking a test, I often “draw a blank.”
8. When taking a test, I find my mind wandering to other things.
9. I usually score lower on a test than I do on assignments and papers.
10. After a test, I remember information I couldn’t recall during the test.

Great… now what?? Here are some things you can do before, during, and after a test to reduce your test anxiety.

Where you study is just as important as studying itself! Okay, maybe not JUST as important, but it can make or break the time you spend doing this all important (yet ridiculously tedious) task. You need your space to be somewhere that ensures your study time is effective.  Check out the questions below and see how your space adds up… and what you need to do to change it!

Q: Is my study space available to me whenever I need it?

In a word: VERY.

In more words: Recommendation letters are the main way that admissions officers can gauge both your classroom performance and your individual character. Grades only give the outcome of a course, but these letters show more of the process side: how much you participate, how well prepared you are, how you match up to your classmates, etc. This could be helpful for people whose grades may not necessarily reflect their investment in the work or their personal qualities that aren’t quantifiable in A,B,C,D form. In addition, most rec writers (myself included) add information about the applicant’s character: judgement, decision-making style, motivation, etc. so that readers can get a picture of who the person is on the inside. A student might have a 4.0 but if they are a jerk who doesn’t work well with others, they may not be offered admission.

This last point illustrates exactly why it is important to choose your recommenders wisely. In most secondary schools, you can count on your guidance counselor to write one for you, but check on this if you are not sure. The rest of your recs should come from teachers who know you well and who can write positive things about you. They do not necessarily have to be from a particular subject (unless the school specifies), but it should be from an academic subject (sorry, no gym teachers!). If a teacher has had you in class and is the advisor of a club that you are part of, the are a great choice because they know you across a few realms and can write a lot about character traits.

Be sure to ask the teachers first before committing them to writing letters for you, as some may not have the time. If you are a junior, it may be a good idea to ask now or at the end of this school year, just so that the teacher has a heads up… or can give you a heads up if they can’t write one. When you do get letters, definitely write your teacher a Thank You note for their time and effort. Writing recs takes a lot of energy, so this appreciation should be shown.

Thanks for the great question, Camille! For those who don’t know what she’s talking about, here is some background. A college resume is a document that you add to your application that shows admissions officers what you have been up to during your high school career. It should contain information like your extra-curricular activities, any jobs you’ve held, and any honors you’ve received. Be sure to include any leadership positions you’ve held, as these are very attractive to admissions officers. NOTE: If there are places on the application for this information, you might want to think twice about attaching a resume since you don’t want to be redundant.

The format should mimic that of a regular resume:

• First should be your name, home address, phone number, and email address at the top.
• Next you should put down your educational information.
• Below that should be the different sections for your different activities and accomplishments. Whatever information you include should be listed chronologically, starting with the most current.

The length should be about a page, as admissions officers likely won’t look at anything longer. A good idea for writing one is to write down everything that you’ve done, then edit out the things that weren’t that important to you until your resume is a page long. If you have less than a page to begin with, it might be a good idea to leave out the resume, since you don’t want to draw attention to the fact that you didn’t do much out-of-classroom stuff in high school. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, admissions officers may take it to mean that you won’t participate in campus activities if you are accepted, therefore look less favorably on your application.

Here is a sample resume for you to get ideas. It is by no means the only way to do one, so be yourself and get creative!