Dont Panic

 2 Days left for the big Jan 01 deadline. Dont Pan - many ezcellent universities have  Jan 15 or Feb 01 deadlines.
 Washington University, Case Western Reserve University and  Michigan  are thr first that come to mind  but ther eare  more.   Keep reading for details.

Last mint minute advice

 Her s some last minute advice before you click on the submit buttom.


 1. Proofread   Make  sure you do not   eliminate yourself with silly errors. 

2.  Do a word count on all your essays. Be under the  word limit for al essays.If its not specified stick to under 250 words.
3.  make sure questions are answered correctly . Its easy to make stupid errors. Some applications ask you to rate how likely are you to change your major on a 1-5 scale.  Dont make it seem as if you are  fickle minded and very likely to change when you   have only one real interest and have even written your essaays on this.

4. stay calm
5.    take a print out or save the form as a pdf file for your records.

The Supplementary Essay

The Supplementary Essay

 The supplementary Essay aspect of the Common Appication is one of the most feared  parts of the application and chances are  it is the part you have been putting off until the last minute possible.  Many schools have a "Why us"  essay requirement   But now it is the last week and you need to get that essay  done. 

 Here are my tips

 First    be specific. Dont copy and paste things. Even if you are applying to  10  universities.  

Talk about  your interests and  how they complement/ fit the  university. Mention names, if  you have visited the campus - talk about it, it need not be flattering- you can say that " even though the dorms look like dull concrete blocks-  I could sense a real feel of community and belonging"Mention people by name  if thry have  any connection tio the university.

   Make sure the  reader gets a good idea of who you are and how you can fit in.     Accepting a class of students is much like  creating a team.  The admissions department  wants people from different majors, clubsm hobbies  and  passions,   They want someone who will be a  computer geek, a  sports jock, an easy going artist, a political activist, even a class clown.

 By portraying yourself as realistically  as possible  - they can see if you  fit the university team.

 Read this  post on The Optional Statement  from the  Tulane University  to get a feel of an admission officers perspective.

 

 

One week left

ONE Week

There only a week left to get your applications in.   That means about 100  working hours.


 Even if you are a serious procrastinator by now you need  to have  asked for recommendations and    done some basic research on universities


 This is what you need to get done in the last few days:

1.  Finalise a list of universities to apply to. Select   5 to 10.  2 or 3 should be  aspirational where you know you probably wont make it but there is no harm in being optimistic. 2-3 are realistic and 1or 2 are safe.
2.  Start the common application.
3.  Write your common ap essay
4.  Start writing supplementary essays for each college. Many essays are the " Why  this college" type of essay. Avoid the copy/pate temptation.   You need to  write individual essays that are focused on each school.
5.  get your recommendations confirmed for the schools you are applying to
6. click submit on the applications. remember to take print outs  for your own reference  before submitting. You  can recycle in April.
7.  Now wait - focus on enjoying the remaining part of the school year.  
8.  Admission responses come in  late  March /Early April. 

Dartmouth College

Founded in  1769 , Dartmouth is one of the nine colonial colleges. It is the smallest member of the Ivy League and with just over 2000 undergraduates  Dartmouth  has the feel of a small liberal arts campus , rather than a major research university. Dartmouth College is comprised of the undergraduate arts and sciences and engineering departments and four graduate programs, which include the highly ranked Tuck School of Business, Thayer School of Engineering and Geisel School of Medicine.Dartmouth functions on a quarter system, operating year-round on four ten-week academic terms. The Dartmouth Plan (or simply "D-Plan") is an academic scheduling system that permits the customization of each student's academic year. All undergraduates are required to be in residence for the fall, winter, and spring terms of their freshman and senior years, as well as the summer term of their sophomore year. The professors at Dartmouth are among the leaders in their fields, yet they remain fully committed to teaching. Even the most senior professors teach first-year courses. 
 Dartmouth is ranked  #11 among universities and also scores highly on   rankings of student life. and has an acceptance rate of 11%..
 Apart from the Common App  essay , Dartmouth requires the following:

1. Please respond in 100 words or less:
Oh, The Places You’ll Go is one of the most popular books by “Dr. Seuss,” Dartmouth Class of 1925.  Where do you hope to go?  What aspects of Dartmouth’s curriculum or community might help you get there?
 Do your resesrch before writing this. try to reach out to   current students ( especially if they come from the same school as you).
2. Please choose one of the following prompts and respond in 250-300 words:
A. Shonda Rhimes, Dartmouth ’91, creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, recently documented her Year of Yes; for one year she vowed to say YES to everything that scared her. Share a moment when you stepped out of your comfort zone, and describe how it helped you grow into who you are today.
B. Celebrate an example of excellent teaching and how it illuminated the subject you were studying. Why did it resonate with you and excite your intellectual curiosity?
C. In the wake of World War II, Dartmouth President John Sloan Dickey proclaimed, “The world’s troubles are your troubles…and there is nothing wrong with the world that better human beings cannot fix.” If you could tackle any of the world’s “troubles,” which one captures your imagination and inspires you to act?  What would you invent or devise to mitigate it and how might your coursework at Dartmouth inform your ambitions?
D. “It’s not easy being green” was a frequent lament of Kermit the Frog. Discuss.
E. “Three things in human life are important,” said the novelist Henry James. “The first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” Share a moment when kindness guided your actions.
F. “Won’t you be my neighbor?” was the signature catchphrase of Fred Rogers ’50, the creator and host of Mister Rogers Neighborhood. What kind of neighbor will you be in our undergraduate community at Dartmouth? What impact have you had on the neighbors in your life?

 
.

Vanderbilt University

 I have already mentiomed vanderbilt in my list of Elite Universities and good choices for Early Decision Applications. Vanderbilt is a highly academic, top ranked ( #15)  university in Nashville, TN. It is  often referred to as "the Harvard of the South".
 Vanderbilt has an ezcellent liberal arts  college of arts  and Sciences and strong pre-professional programs through its graduate schools.
 Vanderbilt is comprised of 10 schools and colleges covering disciplines from the humanities to music to engineering. Among its graduate programs are the top-ranked Peabody College of Education and Human Development, which also offers undergraduate programs, and the highly ranked Owen Graduate School of Management, School of Engineering, Law School, School of Medicine and School of Nursing. Vanderbilt is also well known for its undergraduate Blair School of Music, and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center is ranked one of the best in the nation.
 With around 12,000 students Vanderbilt  gives one the feel of a big university yet is personal enough that a student never feels lost. Classes tend to medium sized and  student- faculty  interaction is amongdt thre highest of any university.
  Admission to /vanderbilt is amongst the most selective with an acceptance rate of just 12%.
 Vanderbilt requires a "Personal Statememt" essay along with the common app.
 The key to this is make it truly personal.  The reader should have learned something about you  after reading it. Also connect yourself to the university in some way - by academic interest, club activity or  even a love for  Nashville and country  music.

Tulane University

The university was founded as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834 partly as a response to the fears of smallpox, y cholera in the Southern United States. The university became only the second medical school in the SouthTulane University is one of the country's most respected universities. With top-ranked programs in the academic and professional schools, research and educational partnerships that span the globe, and its location in historic New Orleans.
ane is organized into 10 schools centered around liberal arts, sciences, and specialized professions. All undergraduate students are enrolled in the Newcomb-Tulane College. The graduate programs are governed by the individual schools. Tulane is unique among universities in the United States in its academic organization in that all undergraduates are enrolled in Newcomb-Tulane College as well as being registered in the School which houses their major.


 Tulabe is ranked #39 and has a very selective admissions process,accepting just  31%.Tulane has an optional 'why are you applying to Tulane?' essay. a growing number of colleges and universities are now including this as a part of their application. As students apply to more and more schools, it becomes more difficult for us as admission officers to gauge students' level of interest in our school. The optional statement is a perfect time for you, the applicant, to express to  the application reader, just why you are selecting us as one of your potential schools. The more specific you can be to the school you are applying to, the better. We can see right though the generic answers. So be specific.

Southern Methodist University SMU

Southern Methodist University  is a medium sized   research  institution based in Dallas, Texas.
 It was founded by the Methodist Church.  SMU cultivates well-rounded leaders with a strong liberal arts foundation and a comprehensive curriculum. The University offers nationally competitive undergraduate, graduate and professional programs through seven degree-granting schools in humanities and sciences; business; engineering; performing, visual and communication arts; education and human development; law; and theology. The undergraduate business program at the Cox school is particularly well known. SMU is one of only 95 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada with an endowment of $1 billion and above.he campus is also home to the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which comprises a Bush administration museum, library and public policy institute, and frequently hosts speakers.
 SMU retains a distinctly "Southern"  culture and is considered one of the most conservative campuses in the country.

 SMU is ranked #56 and has an acceptance rate of 49%. SMU uses both the common app and ApplyTexas applictions and has its own online application.
 The deline is  January 15  giving  you a fe extra days than most schools.

Pepperdine University

Pepperdine is  a  medium sized  research university  overlooking the Pacific Ocean in  Malibu, California. It is consistently  rated as one of the most picturesque campuses. It is affiliated to the Churches of Christ.  The Malibu campus is primarily undergraduate  while ther are separste campuses in  Los Angeles for the professional Business school an Law school. n addition to its main campus in Malibu, Pepperdine University offers graduate courses at California campuses in Los Angeles, Irvine, Santa Clara, Encino and Westlake Village. The school also has facilities in Germany, England, Italy, Switzerland, Argentina and Washington, D.C. Beverly Hills is 24 miles away and Disneyland is 54 miles away from Pepperdine’s Malibu campus. Los Angeles is about an hour’s drive away.
  The main undergraduate college is the Seaver  College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

 Pepperdine  is ranked #50 and the acceptance rate is 38%
Pepperdine has two  supplementary essays. The promps are as follows:

1. Write a letter to your future roommate at Pepperdine. Tell them what characteristics would make you a good roommate and what you are looking forward to most in college. (50-300 words)


2. As a Christian university, Pepperdine expresses its Christian principles through all aspects of academic life and administrative policy. The university affirms that truth, having nothing to fear from investigation, should be pursued relentlessly in every discipline. Students, faculty, and staff members of all faith traditions are welcome to become part of the Pepperdine University community. Please tell us a little bit about how faith has influenced your life.

Brandeis University

Brandeis University is an  research university in Waltham, Massachusetts, just  9 miles (14 km) west of Boston. It was Founded in 1948 as a non-sectarian, coeducational institution sponsored by the Jewish community, Brandeis was established on the site of the former Middlesex University. Brandeis is a medium sized university with a total enrollment of 5,532 students on its suburban campus spanning over 235 acres. The institution offers more than 43 majors and 46 minors, two thirds of the undergraduate classes have 20 students or fewer. Iyt is a part of the Boston Consortium which allows students to cross-register to attend courses at other institutions including Boston College, Boston University and Tufts University.
Brandeis is comprised of the College of Arts and Sciences and four graduate schools. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers highly ranked programs in English and history, and The Heller School for Social Policy and Management is notable for its programs in social policy, health policy and management, and international development. Nearly 50 percent of students participate in study abroad programs. It ranks  among the top 10 in the country for undergraduate economics. The university is also home to the Heller School, ranked as one of the top 10 policy schools in the United States.
 Brandeis is ranked #34 among universities. Admission is competitive with am acceptance rate of 34%
 The supplementary essay for the comon ap is as follows:
 Please include a short response to one of the following prompts (250 words or fewer).
1. Why would you like to attend Brandeis?
2. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis said, "If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable." Tell us about an unjust law
(written or unwritten) that you believe should be broken.
3. A package arrives at your door. After seeing the contents you know it’s going to be the best day of your life. What’s inside and how do you spend your day?

 

George Washington Universiy

The George Washington University (GW, GWU, or George Washington) is a private research university located in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C., , with two other campuses including the Mount Vernon campus in the Foxhall neighborhood, as well as the Virginia Science & Technology campus in Loudoun County, Virginia. GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia.
The university has ten colleges and schools. GWU's professional schools are highly reputed and include the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, the School of Media and Public Affairs, and the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration); the School of Business, the Elliott School of International Affairs, the Milken Institute School of Public Health, the College of Professional Studies (which includes the Graduate School of Political Management), the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, the Law School, the School of Nursing, and the Graduate School of Education and Human Development. The most popular majors at George Washington University include: Social Sciences, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Health Professions and Related Programs and Psychology. Undergraduates   at GW  have several opportunities to be involved in  research. Being in the heart of DC    allows students tp intern with think tanks and federal institutes.


 GWU is ranked W#56  and the aceptance rate is about 46%.    GW requires a Why GWU  essay. Use this to  show how you fit in a multicultural, international   campus.

 

George Mason University

George Mason University (known as Mason), located in Fairfax, Virginia, United States, is the largest public research university in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The university was founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1957 and became an independent institution in 1972.^[ Today, Mason is recognized for its programs in economics, law, creative writing, computer science, and business.
 As  the largest  university in the metro Washington DC area , Mason grants students unparalled access to   federal research labs and institutes. Mason has established far-reaching research partnerships with many government agencies, non-profits, health systems, and international finance organizations. Among others, Mason researches computer systems and networks with the Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA); investigates climate issues with the National Aeronautics and Space administration (NASA); explores underwater archaeology with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); partners on conservation and biological matters with the Smithsonian institution; studies brain neurons with The Allen Institute; ^and conducts economic research with the International Monetary Fund.


 Mason is ranked  #243 and the acceptance rate is 80%.  A very underrated university,  I  personally recommend it as a  good "safety" school . Mason  has an optional, but strongly encouraged Personal Statement of approximately 250 words
 :Explain to the Office of Admissions why You want to go to college. Tell us about yourself and your experiences that have led to this decision."

College of Wiliam and Mary

The College of William & Mary in Virginia (also known as William & Mary, or W&M) is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. Royally founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III and Queen Mary II, it is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States.
W&M has more than 30 undergraduate programs and more than 10 graduate programs and professional degree programs. Its highly ranked graduate schools include the Marshall-Wythe School of Law, the School of Education and the Mason School of Business. William and Mary was the first school to create a student honor code, and its Marshall-Wythe School of Law is nation’s first law school.
W&M's Mission Statement  is to facilitate the transition, and ultimate persistence, of new students (either first-time-in-college or transfer) into the W&M community through opportunities that promote academic, social, and personal growth. The student-faculty ratio at College of William & Mary is 12:1, and the school has most of its  of its classes with fewer than 25 students. The most popular majors at College of William & Mary include: Social Sciences, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Psychology and Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
 Admission to W&M is very selective with an acceptance rate of  34%. William and Mary was ranked #32 among research universities and is considered botha "public ivy" and "souther ivy".

 The supplemtary essays prompts are as follows.
Prompt #1 (Essay): You get rejected from every college to which you’ve applied. Now what?
Prompt #2 (Video Submission): Pick one prominent piece of literature/art/cinema and explain how you would change it. Leaving it unchanged is not an option.

 It should be obvious that W&M is a very holistic admissions process. The commitee selects people who feel they belong  at W&M.

Clark University

Clark University in Worcester, Mass., is a small liberal arts institution in the midst of 11 other colleges and universities. The university offers 46 majors, minors, and concentrations in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering and allows students to design specialized majors and engage in pee-professional programs. It is noted for its programs in the fields of psychology, geography, physics, biology, and entrepreneurship. Clark has received widespread media coverage for its "Fifth-Year Free" program. Under Clark's BA/MA program with the fifth year free, undergraduates who maintain a B+ average are eligible for tuition-free enrollment in its one-year graduate programs, meaning that they can get a Master of Arts degree for the price of a bachelor's degree. Students apply to master's degree programs in their junior year, begin meeting requirements in their senior year and typically complete those requirements in the fifth year.Research is a particular focus for students at Clark University. Undergraduates are encouraged to get involved, and students showcase their work each semester during Fall Fest and Academic Spree Day. The school's research expertise is a century-long tradition.
 Clarm is ranked # 74 among uiversities and has an acceptabce rate of 55%. Clark is also a test optional admissions process. The deadline is Jan 15,2017.
 The admissions proces is holistic -  They aim to offer a liberal education in a dynamic urban environment and are looking for creative individuals who think deeper, accept differences and challenge the norm to successfully become part of our local and global community. We’re interested in more than just test scores, and our Admissions Committee wants to get to know you as complete, holistic candidate.

 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI is one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Today, WPI is a midsize research university centered on engineering, science, technology, and mathematics, with strong academic programs in the arts and humanities, the social sciences, and business. The university's 14 academic departments offer more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.WPI's undergrad schedule is also unusual compared to most universities. Instead of a normal semester, WPI has 7-week terms, labeled A-D, with an optional E-term in the summer. A-term typically begins on the second to last Thursday in August, while D-term is usually scheduled to end on the first Tuesday of May. Each term is claimed to be roughly equivalent to a third of a year at another university. Thus, students are able to complete a year's worth of Chemistry, Physics, and Math in only a semester and a half. This faster pace allows for more study
WPI offers a variety of majors in engineering, science, management, liberal arts, and social science at the undergraduate and graduate level. It is most well known for its engineering disciplines and is one of the top-ranked schools to attend for engineering in North America. Each WPI undergraduate must complete at least two significant projects, one in the major field of study and one that addresses an open-ended problem at the intersection of science, technology, and society. Through these projects, which are often sponsored by major corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations and professional societies around the world, students demonstrate their ability to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world problems. 
 WPI is ranked #60 among  universities and the acceptance rate is around 50%.  It is worth noting that the application deadline is Feb 01 not Jan 01. WPI is also test optional.

 

Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute - RPI

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ,best knwn as   RPI, is a private research university and space-grant institution located in Troy, New York,  It was founded in 1824 by Stephen van Rensselaer and Amos Eaton for the "application of science to the common purposes of life" and is described as the oldest technological university in the English-speaking world.Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is organized into six main schools within which there are thirty-seven departments: the School of Architecture; School of Engineering; School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; School of Information Technology and Web Science; School of Science; and the Lally School of Management & Technology. The "Rensselaer Plan"was  announced in 1999. Its goal is to achieve greater prominence for RPI as a technological research university. Various aspects of the plan include bringing in a larger graduate student population and new research faculty, and increasing participation in undergraduate research, international exchange programs, and "living and learning communities". Financially speaking, the plan allocates half of its money for research, a quarter for scholarships, and a quarter for campus platforms, such as athletic facilities. So far, there have been a number of changes under the plan: new infrastructure such as the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, and Computational Center for Nanotechnology Innovations (CCNI) have been built to support new programs, and application numbers have increased. In fact, in the three years between 2005 and 2008 application numbers doubled from 5,500 to 11,000.RPI is  ranked #39 in the USA.In 2016, the School of Engineering was ranked 32nd in the nation for undergraduates, and 39th in the nation for graduates.^] Four of the graduate engineering programs are ranked in the top 20 (electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, industrial engineering and mechanical engineering), seven of 11 are ranked in the top 25, and all are ranked in the top 40 in the nation.
The most popular majors at RPI include: Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Biological and Biomedical Sciences and Physical Sciences. 
Admission to RPI is competitive with an acceptance rste of 42%.
 RPI uses the common application and rewquires a supplementary essay  depending on the program you apply to s follows:
Accelerated Programs (Law/Medical)
State your reasons for aspiring to a career in law or medicine.
Architecture
State your reasons for choosing architecture as your profession.
Electronic Arts
Discuss your interests in the field of electronic arts and state how this is reflected in your portfolio.
Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences
State your reasons for choosing the field of games and simulation arts and sciences, making reference to your portfolio if one has been submitted.
Electronic Media, Arts, and Communication (EMAC)
State your reasons for choosing the field of Electronic Media, Arts, and Communication, making reference to your portfolio if one has been submitted.

University of Delaware

The University of Delaware (colloquially known as  "UD") is the largest university in Delaware. The main campus is in Newark,. It is medium-sized – approximately 18,500 undergraduate students.
The university's programs in engineering, science, business, hospitality management, education, urban affairs and public policy, public administration, agriculture, history, chemical and biomolecular engineering, chemistry and biochemistry have been highly ranked with some drawing from the historically strong presence of the nation's chemical and pharmaceutical industries in the state of Delaware, such as DuPont and W. L. Gore and Associates. It is one of only four schools in North America with a major in art conservation. In 1923, UD was the first American university to offer a study abroad program. While Newark may seem like a small   and dul place Wilmington is about 12 miles away. Philadelphia is a 45-mile drive and Baltimore is 55 miles away. Both New York City and Washington DC  are    also within driving distance.The University of Delaware offers more than 150 graduate degree programs, including some through the highly ranked School of Education and College of Engineering.The University of Delaware was the first American university to begin a study abroad program, which was later adopted by many other institutions. The program began when a professor took a group of 9 students to Paris, France during the fall semester of 1923. Since this initial trip, the University of Delaware has expanded its study abroad program, which now encompasses over 80 different programs in more than 40 subjects to over 45 countries making it one of the largest programs in the country. As of 2006–2007, approximately 45% of all Delaware undergraduate students take advantage of study abroad experiences prior to completing their baccalaureate degrees
The University of admits all Delaware residents whose academic records predict success, and about 65 percent who apply will be accepted. About half (45-55 percent) of all out-of-state applicants are admitted.
  UD uses the common application and ther is no supplementary essay requirement.

Virginia Tech

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech, is a public,  research university with a main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Virginia Tech has  a long history as a technical institution, graduate offerings include programs in the highly ranked College of Engineering centers – including the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science and the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute – that offer research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students alike.Virginia Tech is among three public universities in the Commonwealth of Virginia to rank among the top 30, with the University of Virginia at No. 3 and the College of William & Mary at No. 6.
  V ginia Tech is also a senior  military college



,
Admission is considered selective with an acceptance rate of 73%. It is ranked #74 nationally but it held in very high regsard for its Engineering and Science programs. The College of Engineering undergraduate program is ranked 15th in the nation among all accredited engineering schools that offer doctorates, and sixth among engineering schools at U.S. public universities, tying with Texas A&M University. Several Virginia Tech undergraduate engineering specialties ranked among the top 20 of their respective peer programs
  With more than 20,000 applications for admission, Virginia Tech neither requires nor grants interviews.
While we do not require essays or personal statements, applicants do have the opportunity to submit any one of the optional personal statements provided on the undergraduate admission application. If there is anything in the school record or testing scores that requires explanation (for example, a dip in grades that occurred during a personal crisis, etc.), tit is  recommend that applicants use the optional personal statement field to let us know about it. There are also other optional statement choices that we encourage applicants to fill out if there is something special that the applicant can bring to Virginia Tech (in addition to a strong academic record).

University of Connecticut

The University of Connecticut ( known as UConn), is a land grant public research university in Storrs, Connecticut, Uconn offers more than 120 academic majors in 14 schools and colleges.
The intellectual and cultural resources of UConn, and a  location close to the major hubs of New York City and Boston, make for a stimulating and inspiring environment for students. UConn is one of the nation's leading public research universities, and serves as a center of academic  research.UConn is one of the founding institutions of the Hartford, Connecticut/Springfield, Massachusetts regional economic and cultural partnership alliance known as New England's Knowledge Corridor.

 Sports are a big part of student life and UConn is best known for  its Huskies  Basketball teams.

The university was ranked  20th among Public Universities and  60th among National Universities in the 2017.

 Admission is selective and the acceptance rate is just 53%.  UConn requires a brief essay answer to one  of thes promps:

Please describe what makes you a unique individual

and how these qualities can benefit the

University of Connecticut community.

or

Describe a person or event that has had a profound

effect on your life. 

 

Rutgers University

Rutgers  is the  large public university located in New Brunswick, NJ  and the flagship campus of   the   state of New Jersey.  Just as the University of  Marylands is he unofficial public school for the  Washington DC  region, Rutgers is the primary public school in thr grester New York area.
Rutgers is the 8th oldest university n the USA founded in 1766 and  became the official State University of New Jersey . The flagship campus of New Jersey's state university, based in New Brunswick, is actually split into five mini-campuses known as Douglass, Cook, College Avenue, Busch and Livingston. Each campus has a unique setting and identity, from the hip student feel of the College Avenue campus to the farmland and science buildings at Cook Campus. Each mini-campus has its own student center and dining options. Prior to 1982, separate liberal arts faculties existed in the several separate "residential colleges" (Rutgers, Douglass, Livingston, University, and Cook colleges) at Rutgers–New Brunswick. In 1982, these five institutions were centralized into one college, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, This collegiate structure  gives Rutgers a unique collegiate feel for a large university Because of its location in  .the New York City region,  Rutgers students have access to  a variety of internships and  job options.

 Rutgers is  considered a selective institution. It is ranked #70 and the aceptance rate is 58%.
  The application requires a supplemental essay as follows:


The first-year essay for the application for 2017 will be new. Rutgers requires that you provide a short essay that is your original work. Please address one of the topics:
• Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
 • Describe a time you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.

• Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?

• What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)

University of Maryland

 The University of Maryland - College Park is a large public school and the flagship of the University of  Maryland system
Located between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, the University of Maryland offers students a suburban lifestyle within easy reach of big-city experiences. The flagship campus in College Park, which has its own subway stop on the D.C.-area Metro transit system, is often considered a commuter school. It is the largest  university in the Washington DC urban area and  is very prominent and  popular in the regio.Undergraduates select from nearly 100 majors and 25 living-learning programs with 30 areas of focus. Undergraduate education is centered on both a student's chosen academic program and the selection of core coursework to fulfill general education UMD helped pioneer living-learning programs, including launching the nation s first program devoted to entrepreneurship in 2001 and the first focused on cybersecurity in 2013.Half of UMD's fall freshmen enroll in these and other honors or scholars programs.  Marylands prominent stature in the DC area means it  offers studnts excellent access to the government and  related industries. For example  Maryland jas a very strong Robotics program funded by various defense contractors.


 Admission is competitive.


 Maryland is ranked #60 and the acceptance rate is 45%


You need to answer the following essay prompt:
 answer one of the following essay questions in your application. Make sure to include the question itself at the start of your essay. Your essay should be no more than 500 words; the question will not be included in the essay total word count.
1. Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
2. Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
3. Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?
4. What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?

University of Washington

The University of Washington, commonly referred to as simply Washington, UW, or popularly  "U-Dub", is a public flagship research university based in Seattle, Washington.

 The University of Washington receives a largeamount of federal funding( over  5 billion) each year to further its mission as a public research institution. Much of this is allocated to the Medical School. UW is also the largest recipient of federal research funding among public universities and second among all public and private universities in the country,True to its roots in research, the school hosts an Undergraduate Research Symposium every year for students to present their work to the community. The school has a highly ranked School of Medicine, College of Engineering and Michael G. Foster School of Business. Computing  and Information Technology is also a prime focus at UW, not surprising consider Seattle i home to  both  Microsoft and Amazon along with several startups.  The acceptance rate is  around 50%.  Washington is ranked #54 among universities ( #16 among public schools)

 UW hs an excellent Honors program. Applying to this requires two separate essays answers:

1. The Honors Program’s core curriculum is comprised of interdisciplinary courses, experiential learning, and reflection via a portfolio. Why do you think an interdisciplinary education is important and how do you think it will impact your undergraduate experience?
2. What global challenge keeps you up at night? What is your responsibility towards meeting that challenge?

 All lstudents have to coplete the folowing short answer essay:

 Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds.  Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc.  Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington.

 Do your research for this.  Look up clubs and groups at UW that you can get involved in- keep in mind that Washington  seeks to crete a community of diverse viewpoints  and backgrounds.   Talkabout how you fit in  and what makes you different

University of Texas - Austin

 The University of Texas - Austin or simply Texas is one of the bet and biggest  universities in the USA.  It is ranked #56 and is the 7th biggest school by enrollment. 

The University of Texas at Austin offers more than 100 undergraduate and 170 graduate degrees. In addition, the university has eight honors programs that span a variety of academic fields: Liberal Arts Honors, the Business Honors Program, the Turing Scholars Program in Computer Science, Engineering Honors, the Dean's Scholars Program in Natural Sciences, the Health Science Scholars Program in Natural Sciences, the Polymathic Scholars Program in Natural Sciences, and the interdisciplinary Plan II Honors program. UT Austin attracts more federal research grants than any American university without a medical school. UT is divided into 18 schools and colleges, the largest of which is the College of Liberal Arts. UT’s graduate programs include the highly ranked McCombs School of Business, College of Education, Cockrell School of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, School of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and School of Social Work, The most popular majors at University of Texas--Austin include: Engineering, Social Sciences, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services and Biological and Biomedical Sciences.  Texas is a true "public ivy"

 and What sets Texas apart is the sheer amount of excellence everywhere  Several departments are ranked in the top 10  as are the university sports teams.

Sdmission to trxas is competitive with an acceptance rate of 39%. Texas  uses the Applytexas application. The same applicayion can also be used for other Univrsity of Texas campuses  as well as  Tr=exas A&m

 The Essay   trequirements are as follows:

Topic A (Freshman and International Freshman): Use this topic if you are applying for admission before the Summer 2017 semester.

Describe a setting in which you have collaborated or interacted with people whose experiences and/or beliefs differ from yours. Address your initial feelings, and how those feelings were or were not changed by this experience.

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Topic A (Transfer, Transient, Readmit) Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose will provide an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that you feel could add value to your application. You may also want to explain unique aspects of your academic background or valued experiences you may have had that relate to your academic discipline. The statement of purpose is not meant to be a listing of accomplishments in high school or a record of your participation in school-related activities. Rather, this is your opportunity to address the admissions committee directly and to let us know more about you as an individual, in a manner that your transcripts and other application information cannot convey.

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Topic B (Freshman and International Freshman): Use this topic if you are applying for admission after the Spring 2017 semester.

Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.

Topic B (Freshman and International Freshman): Use this topic if you are applying for admission before the Summer 2017 semester.

Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?

Topic B (Transfer, Transient, Readmit)

If you are applying as a former student and were suspended for academic reason, describe briefly any actions you have taken to improve your academic abilities and give reason why you should be readmitted.  If you are applying as a nondegree seeking or postbaccalaureate applicant, briefly describe the specific objectives you wish to accomplish if admitted, including the courses in which you would like to enroll.Topic C (Freshman and International Freshman): Use this topic if you're applying for admission after the Spring 2017 semester.

You've got a ticket in your hand - Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

Villanova University

Villanova ( or  just "nova" as it is often called)  is one of the oldest catholic universities in the USA.

Four of Villanova's five schools serve undergraduate and graduate students, and graduate programs include those in the Villanova School of Business and School of Law. Undergraduates can enter the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Villanova School of Business, College of Engineering or College of Nursing. Villanova is very small for a comprehensive university with only 6000 undergraduates.    This gives Nova the feel of a  northeastern liberal arts college. Nova is well known for its  professional undergraduate  programs in business and nursing.
  Villanova invested heavily in its  infrastructure and academics to  transition from being a regional institution to one of national stature. The success of the Wildcats Basketball team has  brought a lot of national  media attention to the campus.

fter World War II, Villanova expanded, returning veterans swelling enrollments and the faculty growing fourfold. Additional facilities were built, and in 1953, the College of Nursing and the School of Law were established. Villanova achieved university status on November 18, 1953. Between 1954 and 1963, 10 new buildings were built or bought on land adjacent to the campus, including Bartley, Mendel, and Dougherty Halls.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Villanova worked to become a nationally recognized university. The quality of faculty and students improved dramatically and international studies programs were introduced. Additional residential and recreational facilities were constructed, and efforts to increase the endowment were undertaken.

Admission is competitive with an acceptance rate below 50%. Villanova is ranked #50 among national universities which is very commendable given its relative size.

Villanova requires one essay to be written from one of the 3 prompts.

Option One:
At Villanova, we believe that it is our similarities that make us strong, but our differences that make us stronger.  Please tell us about a relationship that you have with someone who is different from you and how that has changed who you are today.

Option Two:
"Become what you are not yet"
       - Saint Augustine
When you daydream, who do you hope to become in the future?

Option Three:
Describe a book, movie, song or other work of art that has been significant to you since you were young and how its meaning has changed for you as you have grown

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, also known as UNC, is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. After being chartered in 1789, the university first began enrolling students in 1795,  which makes it one of the oldest universities in the USA.UNC is divided into a number of schools and colleges, the largest of which is the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences. Graduate programs include the highly ranked Kenan—Flagler Business School, School of Education, School of Law, School of Medicine, Gillings School of Global Public Health, School of Social Work, Eshelman School of Pharmacy and School of Government.  While At least 82 percent of each freshmen class must be from North Carolina, as dictated by state law the University i a very diverse place with students from all patrs of the country and even a  large interbational population.  UNC is best known for its fampus  Basketball rivalry with nearby Duke University.
  UNC, Dule and  North Carolina State University  are the the vertices of the North Carolina Research  Triangle  ( known locally as  "the triangle".  The triangle has  created many jobs in the region for  university graduates  and conpanies like IBM, Verizon and  Bauer ar  major employers.

 
University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill is ranked #30 in National Universities.  but is in the top 10 public schools. Admission is very competitive with an acceptance rate of only 30%
UNC has one supplementary essay as follows:
 choose one prompt and respond in an essay of 400-500 words. Here are the questions:

1. Teen activist and 2014 Nobel Peace prize winner Malala Yousafzai said, “I raise up my voice-not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard”. For whom have you raised your voice?
2. Students learn both inside and outside the classroom. What would other members of the Carolina community learn from you?
3. You get one do-over of any moment in your life. What would you do over, and why?
4. You’ve been invited to give a TEDtalk. What is yours about?
5. There are 27 amendments to the Constitution of the US. What should be the 28th?

Purdue University

 Purdue is a large public university in  West Lafayette, Indiana.It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 29,497. It is one of the nation's premier institutions with more than 200 areas of undergraduate study and renowned research initiatives. Purdue is known for  having a small college feel despite its size. Purdue's programs in a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate disciplines consistently rank among the best in the country. Over twenty of America's astronauts hold Purdue degrees. Purdue is best known as an engineering institution.  Given its strength in Engineering and busines related fields,  it is not surprising that Purdue has one of the largest foreign student  populations  It started as an Agricultural and mechanical  training school. The local press referred to  a Purdue team as   the "boilermakers  from Lafayette" and the school adopted the moniker.
The most popular majors at Purdue University include: Engineering, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities and Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields.

  Admission is selective with an acceptance rate of 59%.  It is ranked #60 among national universities and is considered  one of the best public universities for  STEM programs. Purdue also has a rolling deadline.

University of Pittsburgh

 The University of  Pittsburgh ( or Pitt as it is commonly known) is a large public research university  based in Pittsburgh, PA. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,908, The university earns national accolades for its highly ranked School of Medicine, School of Education and Swanson School of Engineering. The School of Medicine is particularly well regarded for its research, working in conjunction with the highly ranked University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and the institution receives one of the highest amounts of funding from the National Institutes of Health.
 Most depaetments are in the College of Arts and Sciences  and  many students start in CAS before switching to a  department in a professional college.
Pitt has some  very strong  departments in the humanities such as Philosophy, creative writing ans psychology,  Undergraduate students  have  opportunities  to be involved in research  and  obtain research scholarships.  The Engineering program is particularly strong  and got a boost after receiving a large naming gift from Swansom.   Energy research is a major focus  especially considering Pittsburgh's location near the Marcellus Shale Oil deposits.Pitt is best known for  the Cathedral of Learning  - a 38 floor building at the center of  campus. This is the  tallest university building in the USA.Pitt's history of commitment to international education is illustrated by its unique collection of 30 Nationality Rooms on the first and third floors of the Cathedral of Learning. As a further demonstration of this commitment, Pitt is one of the country's leading producers of both Fulbright scholars and Peace Corps volunteers.
 Admission to Pitt is  selective with an acceptance rate of 54%. Pitt is ranked #68 among national universities and   the #22 public school.  Pitt is considered to be a "public  ivy".

In lieu of an essay or personal statement, we ask interested applicants to answer a series of short answer questions.
Answering the following questions is optional, but strongly encouraged. Your answers may increase the likelihood that you are considered for scholarships, guaranteed admission to graduate or professional school, or given special consideration due to extenuating circumstances. The Admissions Committee reviews responses for quality rather than length. Keep your answers concise and purposeful. The most effective response typically ranges from 250-500 words in total for all three questions. Responses that are longer or shorter are acceptable. If you decide to submit short answers, please answer all three questions:

How have you overcome failure and what did you learn from it?^*

How have you exhibited outstanding leadership?^*

Why is Pitt a good choice for you?^*
 The application deadline is roling .

University of Minnesota

tThe University of  Minnesota  ( U Of  M)  is a public research university in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses are approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) apart, Minneapolis is the primary campus.he University offers 143 undergraduate degree programs and 200 graduate degree programs.The University of Minnesota is ranked among the top 25 of the nation's top research universities by the Center for Measuring University Performance. In 2016, the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities ranked 33rd out of 500 international institutions rated by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, and is considered a Public Ivy, which recognizes top public research universities in the United States.The university’s Carlson School of Management, College of Education and Human Development and law school are each ranked highly. The public research university begins to engage students at the undergraduate level. Some university applicants will even be guaranteed the opportunity to research when they receive their acceptance letters, and undergraduate researchers are paid for their work.
 The twin Cities is  a great cosmopolitan urban area with all the atractions and distractions of a major city but much friendlier  and accessible.  Winters can be brutally cold but the city  and camous are designed to  remain accessible.

 Admission is competitive. The cceptance rate is only 45%. Its worth noting that the admission  cycle deadline id December 15 and not the 31. The applicatiom requires students to   elaborate on their goals:

Please include on a separate sheet a description of your academic

and/or career goals.

 

Pleaes connect your goals to resources at the U of  M  in your writeup.   Make it specific to  Minnesota and the twin cities.

University of Iowa

 The university pf Iowa in Iowa City  is the flagship university of the state of Iowa. It is a large , well reputed  academic institution  with a long tradition of innovation and excellence.The University of Iowa is organized into eleven colleges offering more than 200 areas of study and seven professional degrees Iowa was the first institution to offer a  MFA degree and continues to host the prestigious  Iowa  Writers Workshop.The University of Iowa offers top-notch academic coursework in more than 100 areas. Students looking to hone their leadership skills have many options, too: They can enroll in the LeaderShape Institute, a six-day getaway workshop; attend the Leadership Development Series, which meets three times a semester; or participate in one of the many programs offered through the Center for Student Involvement & Leadership.  The University of Iowa is organized into eleven colleges offering more than 200 areas of study and seven professional degrees The most popular majors at University of Iowa include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies, Social Sciences and Engineering.  Undergraduate students have access to over  $50 million for research  funding.


 Admission to Iowa is considered highly selective, the acceptance rate is 81% ( a figure inflated by its in tsat popularity). Iowa is ranked #82 among national universities but #33 among public  universities. With over $75million in undergraduate  scholarship funds , Iowa is regularly considered a best buy  school. Iowa has a  late application deadline of  May 1 ( March  1 for international students). Iowa's professional programs( such as business, medicine, nursing and pre-law) have separate program specific  applications.  The essay is a  "Why major and why Iowa: essay.  Do be specific

Indiana University

 Indiana University(IU), Bloomington is the flagship campus of the state.
 It  is a large research university with   excellent facilitiess, strong academic programs and a lively social scene. In terms of academics and other criteria, IU Bloomington ranks in top 100 national universities in the United States and the top 50 public universities in the country.
The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest of the University's academic divisions and home to more than 40 percent of IU's undergraduates. In addition, the College offers many electives and general education courses for students enrolled in most other schools on campus. There are more than 50 academic departments in the College, encompassing a broad range of disciplines from the traditional (such as Anthropology, Art History, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Classics, English, Economics, Geography, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Religious Studies, and Sociology) to more modern and specialized areas such as gender studie and incognive science.  IU also has vdery strong professional and pre-profession undergraduate mahors. The most popular majors at Indiana University--Bloomington include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences and Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies.
The Midwestern college town of Bloomington, or B-town, as it is known to many, is home to a lively cultural scene. 
The Midwestern college town of Bloomington, , is home to a lively cultural scene.
  
 Admission to IU is selective with an acceptance rate of  78%(naturally  much lower for out of state  students). IU is ranked #86 among national universities but is one of the best public  universities and an excellent "safety" option  for many - especially Indiana students.

  IU requires an essay as follows:
  As part of your application, regardless of which platform you choose, you will need to submit the IU-specific essay (Writing Supplement for the Common Application). In 200–400 words, you’ll be asked to describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. Also, if you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, you may share those experiences and how you overcame them. Please note that this essay may be used for scholarship consideration.