How to answer the Fall 2016 short essay COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

How to answer the Fall 2016 short essay COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Last week, I shared some tips on what NOT to do when responding to the personal statement (aka long essay). Today, Im tackling the short  essay. Like the personal statement, the short essay question has changed this year (as it does every year), so its understandable why applicants might be stumped. Short Essay (Essay 2):  What one policy (national or local) would you create or change and why?  (200 words maximum) In general, be specific with your response. Briefly explain to the Admissions Committee  what the policy is, how it affects the community and why you would want to change it. While the prompt doesnt ask you  how  you would change it, it can show us your resourcefulness if youre able to succinctly address the  policy from every angle.  Keep in mind you have a limited amount of space, so be strategic in what you  write. If youre telling us how you would change a policy, you should also be somewhat detailed in what your recommendations would be. For example, Five percent of college students have homesickness so severe that it causes symptoms of anxiety and depression. To combat this issue at my alma mater, I would like to create a policy at Columbia University that allows the Center for Student Wellness on the Morningside Heights campus to regularly host human-animal interactions (aka interactions with therapy dogs). Why pet therapy to help students cope with homesickness? The Journal of Creativity in Mental Health reports that spending time with a therapy animal resulted in decreases in self-reported anxiety and loneliness in college students, according to the Columbia University Medical Center. While the International Journal of Stress Management reports that simply petting a dog during study breaks reduces student anxiety and sadness. Thus, by creating a safe space for students to connect with one another, while interacting with trained service animals, theyll be healthier individuals who are able to dispel their frustrations without hurting someone else or negatively impacting their academic performance. To achieve this, I would establish relationships with therapy organizations, coordinate with Columbias health services staff to schedule the sessions and ensure liability coverage, and connect with student affairs and press departments to promote the sessions on a routine basis. (Can you tell I have a thing for animals?) While this isnt a fool-proof formula for writing your essay question, I wanted to show you how I personally answered it in a limited time frame. (1.) I started by describing the problem, (2.) I stated a potential solution, (3.) I explained why the solution is valid, (4.) I described how I would implement the policy.  Keep in mind, this is just a first draft (based on 30 minutes of research and writing time). When it comes to writing the next draft, I would definitely focus  more on how I would want to implement the policy, or how I would go about creating the change. Your essay format is going to vary wildly from mine, and thats more than  fine. (In fact, if someone else on the Admissions Committee were to write this blog post, theirs would vary as well.) Experiment with how the short essay flows, add  a statistics or omit them altogether.  Ive also read essays that shuffle this order around, so do what works best for  what youre trying to write. And yes, as my sample suggests your policy doesnt have to change the world as we know it. Your policy can be as big or small as you can dream up. Have fun with it, shoot for the stars, be impactful, and share with us a policy youd really want to create or change in  your community, city, or country.  And keep in mind its part of your admission application, so it should be  reflective of your application as a whole. I hope this has been helpful. If you have any additional questions about the essay requirements, feel free to email us at sipa_admission@columbia.edu.

The Tragedy Of Othello The Moor Of Venice Essay - 1743 Words

‘Without setting, characters are simply there, in a vacuum, with no reason to act and most importantly, no reason to care.’ The setting gives place for a narrative to begin and evolve from, without a strong setting some texts may be difficult to interpret without extra contextual and historical knowledge of the time period of which it was written. Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice written 1603 was set in Italy, in the Venetian Republic . This setting was gaining popularity with Elizabethan writers, maybe as a form of escapism, to have a crypto - catholic approach, as this country was the largest and still is the largest Catholic country. Or a more general form of escapism from the society at that time. Writing for a predominantly working class audience, Shakespeare’s work is an escapism from the audiences hardship of life. The play is set in two principle locations, Cyprus and Venice. ‘Renaissance Venice was both a city and a world’ (David McPherson Shakespeare, Jonson and the Myth of Venice). Italy is the world’s largest Catholic country, It has been hinted that William Shakespeare was a Crypto - Catholic.(Clare Asquith s, Shadowplay) Some believe that he spent time in Italy studying abroad, as he disappeared from the local parish role (which is how the Government kept track of the people that lived in the country). He reappeared on the parish role when Elizabeth stated that every English person should return to England. Which explains whyShow MoreRelatedThe Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice Essay1142 Words   |  5 Pagesscholars, but also appears on modern historical events and newspaper as well. Playwright and poetry are an art that appeals to the conscious mind, but the best classical playwright such as Othello not only appeals to conscious mind, but also to the subconsc ious mind. â€Å"The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice,† written by William Shakespeare from the sixteenth century is a tragic love play, and it is an excellent example of â€Å"Renaissance humanism,† said Paul A. Jorgensen, author of the Twayne PublishersRead MoreOthello, The Moor Of Venice, Is One Of The Principal Tragedies1180 Words   |  5 PagesOthello, the Moor of Venice, is one of the principal tragedies by Shakespeare. This tragedy contains many themes which are important in society today. Many aspects of people s lives have changed, but the way people think is still the same . Shakespeare s Othello wants to underline the psychological and social impact of racism; and the power of manipulation as well as jealousy. These are the most important themes throughout this drama. Othello takes place in Venice, Italy. He was a black generalRead MoreDesdemona as a Victim in the Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare1065 Words   |  5 PagesThe Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare William Shakespeare is widely known for his famous plays, sonnets, and other works including the tragedy. In The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, many characters are unjustly victimized. Throughout the play, Othello’s wife, Desdemona, is a victim of many false statements that lead to her ultimate death. In the beginning, Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, believes that Desdemona is a victim under a spell of the Moor Othello. AsRead MoreEssay The Tragedy of Othello1292 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare masterfully crafted Othello, the Moor of Venice as an Aristotelian tragedy play. The main protagonist of the play, Othello, is the perfect example of a tragic hero. Shakespeare was influenced by Aristotle’s concept of a tragic hero and used Aristotle’s principles to create Othello. William Shakespeare attempted to create an Aristotelian tragedy play with a tragic hero and succeeded in Othello, the Moor of Venice by weaving in pity and fear into eac h line and action. The powerRead More Othello, The Moor of Venice Essay examples1319 Words   |  6 PagesOthello, the Moor of Venice is one of the major tragedies written by William Shakespeare that follows the main character, Othello through his trials and tribulations. Othello, the Moor of Venice is similar to William Shakespeare’s other tragedies and follows a set of specific rules of drama. The requirements include, following the definition of a tragedy, definition of tragic hero, containing a reversal of fortune, and a descent from happiness. William Shakespeare fulfills Aristotle’s requirementsRead MoreOthello : An Aristotelian Tragedy And Tragic Hero1604 Words   |  7 PagesOthello, an Aristotelian Tragedy and Tragic Hero When reading a story, specifically a tragedy, what stands out? Tragedy often enables its audience to reflect on personal values that might be in conflict with civil ideas, on the claims of minorities that it neglected or excluded from public life, on its on irrational prejudices toward the foreign of the unknown (Kennedy Gioia, 2103, p. 857). Readers feel sympathy for the characters, especially the tragic hero. Othello, the Moor of Venice isRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello, The Moore Of Venice1520 Words   |  7 Pages Othello, The Moore of Venice is a production, adapted from one of Shakespeare’s plays. Shakespeare has written many plays, The Moore of Venice is one he wrote during a dark time in his career in between his most famous works Hamlet and King Lear the profound re-workings of old plays. According to Kristin Johnsen-Nashati (Aug. 8, 2005), â€Å"some scholars have speculated that Shakespeare wrote Othello to please King James I. The setting of this play takes place during the ancient Greek renaissance sometimeRead MoreOthello: The Tragedy of an Aristotelian Tragic Hero Essay1531 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeares play, â€Å"Othello, the Moor of Venice,† is a powerful example of a tragedy and it’s main character, Othello, is an excellent illustration of what Aristotle constitutes as a tragic hero. The play imitates life through basic human emotions such as jealousy and rage. In addition, Othello is far from being a perfect character - another quality that meets Aristotles requirements. Othello also matches Aristotles ideas of tragic hero because our Othello realizes the error of his ways, causingRead MoreThe Protagonist in Willima Shakespeare ´s Othello810 Words   |  4 PagesThe central character, or protagonist, in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, The Moor of Venice is Othello. Aristotle defined the concept of a tragic hero as the destruction of a noble person, usually with a personal flaw, and thi s flaw determines their fate. Othello is a tragic hero with a tragic flaw in one of Shakespeare’s most known tragedies. Shakespeare so prominently exhibits the tragic flaw Othello obtains, allowing implications and thoughts, to overrun reality and show how just the insecurityRead MoreDeath and Everyman640 Words   |  3 Pagesbackground and overview of Aristotle’s concept of tragedy/the tragic hero and drama. This chapter also contains critical information on Sophocles and the play Oedipus. You may use any of the critical material as a secondary source, but remember to cite it correctly. 2. Discuss William Shakespeare’s Othello, the Moor of Venice as a tragedy. As defined by Aristotle, is it correct to label Othello a â€Å"tragic hero† and to classify the play as an Aristotelian tragedy? Review Chapter 34 of your textbook for

Essay Christians And Non-christian Culture - 917 Words

In the world today there are believers and non-believers. There are those who devote themselves whole-heartedly to God and those who choose the lukewarm approach to Christianity. Regardless, humans are all from God and God is in all of them. It is the duty of the human race to unite as one under God and rise up against the evil forces of the world. In order to do this everyone, both religious and the not religious, need to be aware of and recognize the lifestyles of each other. Non Christians should at least study the Philosophy of Christianity, as Christians should explore the philosophy of infidelity. Justin Martyr found discussion with Tryphno very stimulating because the two ended up sharing similar viewpoints on important religious†¦show more content†¦nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Next, when God send Jesus into the world to save the human race from sin, Jesus lived as a believer in an unbelieving world. He saw the views of both his followers and all the sinners who refused to accept him and he embraced both sides equally. It was not until Jesus came and experienced a human life for himself that humans could a real feel for Him as a divine being. It is necessary for non-Christians to live their life devoted to Christ but also to experience the same things that the rest of the people in the world are even if they happen to have religious differences. People can become wiser to the benefits and all the good that God is when they have seen how foolish the world is. (Tertullian, On the Flesh of Christ, Ch.5)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;To continue, as there are certain stages to understanding the Bible and religion as whole, there should all be certain stages to understanding the world and its people. Looking at the world and religions as a quest from a lower level to a higher level, it is necessary to be aware of the lower level to understand how to get to the higher one. Then it is easy to go â€Å"advancing through each stage to a better condition.† (Origen, On First Principles, Ch.6) Once Christians use their knowledge of the non-Christian culture as a basis for understanding their own, they can achieve those higher levels ofShow MoreRelatedKing Jesus Gospel Book Reflection1924 Words   |  5 Pagesdeath and resurrection. As I was growing up I also learned about the great commission. While I learned about the great commission I realized all Christians are required to go out and take the gospel and share it weather as a missionary in a f oreign country or the work place such as a school teacher. I grew up in the church and went to a small private Christian school where I was immersed in the teaching of the gospel. The gospel to me was very important as I was growing up. Although as I entered intoRead MoreAn Analysis of Tite Tienous Christian Theology in an Era of World Christianity790 Words   |  3 PagesTienou, Tite. Christian Theology in an Era of World Christianity. Chapter 1 in Globalizing Theology. Ed. By Craig Ott and Harold A. Netland. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic. Tite Tienou asserts that Christian theology does not seem to be greatly affected by globalization, (38). Globalization might have an impact on evangelical missions and ecumenical cooperation between the various manifestations of the Christian church throughout the world, but not on theology itself (Tienou 38). If it seemsRead MoreThe Decline Of Western Culture896 Words   |  4 PagesThe purpose of the book is to discuss the decline of Western culture by analyzing history from his perspective from Rome to his present day (the 1970’s). Schaeffer (2005) presents the idea that to redeem society Christians must live as God desires and completely live by the Bible’s teachings of morals and values. The intended audience would be Christians, because the entire tone of the book comes from a Christian worldview. Although, non-believers may read the book, they may not glean insights fromRead More Christmas as a Federal Holiday Essay1262 Words   |  6 Pagesundeniably December 25th, Christmas. Most people acknowledge that the â€Å"Christ† in Christmas is representative of Jesus Christ, Son of God, and for Christians, the day is set aside as a celebration of his birth. Many people in the United States (and world) however, either do not believe in the Christian view of Christmas, have different non-Christian religious beliefs or celebrate for other reasons, if at all. Because of the multi-cultural differences that incorporate our country, Christmas shouldRead MoreIslam and the West in the Middle Ages838 Words   |  3 PagesIn Samuel Huntington’s thesis, Clash of Civilizations, he describes the post-Cold War world as one that would now base its conflicts on people’s culture and religion. As among one of his few reasons why civilizations will clash, Huntington explains that these religious conflicts will come about because of the ideals of Islam and Christianity where they are willing to kill people who do not convert because each believes that only they have the correct religion. He also mentions that the introductionRead MoreChrist in Catholicism and Other Religions1684 Words   |  7 Pagesunprecedented. Christians are aware of the existence of many other smaller religions apart from the mainstream Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism. Statistics from the World Christian Encyclopaedia indicates that there are more than one billion people who practice Islam, over 650 million people who practice Hinduism, more than 300 million Buddhists, over 200 million people who practice the Chinese folk religion. The followers of these religions, when combined, are more than the 1.6 billion Christians foundRead MoreIndividualism and Collectivism1052 Words   |  5 Pagesextreme use of this can be unhealthy for Christians – like the solitary monastic communities that have developed over the centuries. From that, we have seen examples of homosexual behavior practiced in secret At the same time, God expects us to operate collectively. The Christian faith is one of community. Any quality ecclesiology will emphasize the necessity for Christians to fulfil many of their faith commitments in community with other Christians. Much of the Bible emphasizes the communalRead MoreReligious and Belief Systems in Australia938 Words   |  4 Pagesadherence since the end of the Second World War. At the end of the war many Australians still had British ancestors and so most people were Christian. With immigrants arriving in Australia after the war we started to see new religions grow. Orthodox Christians came from places like Greece, for example. The Catholics have continued to grow in numbers while some other Christian faiths have decreased in size. One reason why the   Catholic Church is growing is because of the arrival of immigrants from places likeRead MoreAnglican Adherence From 1947 to 20111696 Words   |  7 PagesHow has Anglican adherence changed from 1947 to 2011? Anglican adherence has seen a dramatic decrease from 39% in 1947 to 17.1% in 2011. Which Christian denomination had the highest percentage of adherents in 2011? In the 2011 Religious Affiliation in Australia census data, ‘Catholic’ recorded the highest percentage of adherents, at 25.3%. The 1971 Census included the option of describing yourself as having ‘no religion’ if this applied to you. Why and how has this category changed since 1947?Read MoreA Research Project On Christ Calls Us Essay985 Words   |  4 PagesGroup, non- Christians aged 16-29 years old when asked ‘What is your current perception of Christianity?’ 91% said antihomosexual, 87% said judgemental, 85% said hypocritical, 78% said old-fashioned, 75% said too involved in politics, 72% said out of touch with reality, 70% said insensitive to others. In addition 84% of non-Christians who are friends with Christian, only 15% said that the lifestyle of the Christians is not different from their own. In identifying, the truth about Non-Christians, roughly

Chicago Analysis Free Essays

â€Å"Chicago† Analysis â€Å"Chicago† by Carl Sandburg is a poem written to describe the everyday lives of Chicagoans. Sandburg uses poetic devices such as similes, personification, and imagery to emphasize parts of the poem, which helps him show his love and pride for the city of Chicago. Imagery played a very important part in the poem because it gave the reader an image in there head of the city and the environment with the people who lived there. We will write a custom essay sample on Chicago Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now The main purpose of this poem is to defend the common theories that are directed toward the city of Chicago. Sandburg talks about the corruption of the city, which shows he is honest about what he says, but also points out the flaws of other cities and their people. He also points out that even though Chicago is corrupt and bad on the outside, it still has good people on the inside. In the first stanza Carl Sandburg gives details about the jobs of the city and the things most noticed about it. The first stanza states the name HOG butcher of the world which gives the person an image of a butcher in the city; it also states toolmakers, Stacker of wheat and railroad workers. The details of the city make you think of a stormy, husky, brawling, city with big shoulders. This all means that the city is windy, full of fighters and destruction. Imagery in the poem state that things are very bright and out spoken in the city but even though the city is seen as dark and evil on the outside it’s people are very bright and filled with happiness. Chicago† is filled with personification. By the end of the poem, Chicago seems to be way more like a man than like a city. It has shoulders, a heart, a pulse, and it laughs. Sandburg paints a portrait of a city that is, in some ways, very human. It’s flawed and it’s beautiful, it’s rough and intense. It’s vibrant and adjustable. It turns out that the best way for Sandburg to comprehend the city is to com pare it to a human being, that way we have a frame of reference for all the beautiful, strong, messiness. Lines 1-5 is the perfect example for a personification. â€Å"Here, the city is described as various types of workers; it is a hog butcher and a toolmaker and so on. The city resembles the very people who live in it. † In the poem â€Å"Chicago† Carl Sandburg uses similes to create an idea in the readers mind. For example Sandburg writes,†Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action as a savage pitted against the wilderness. † Here the poet want to compare the city of Chicago to a fierce dog. This really helps the reader imagine Chicago as a wild and crazy city that is ready for action. Sandburg does an excellent job on demonstrating his love and pride for the city of Chicago. The poetic devices not only make the poem a lot more understandable, but also more interesting. The personifications Sandburg uses make the city seem like a man. He also uses great similes to compare Chicago to other places (which is nearly impossible), and imagery to help those who have never been to Chicago understand what Chicago is like. How to cite Chicago Analysis, Papers

Unique Museums Writers Can Appreciate - The Writers For Hire

UNIQUE MUSEUMS WRITERS CAN APPRECIATE As writers, we have a great appreciation for the arts. Be it the art of the written word, visual arts such as painting and photography, or musical arts and dancing—we just love creative expressions! But, is all art beautiful or good? The answer to that question can be found in the basement of the Somerville Theater in Sommerville, Massachusetts. Although currently closed for renovations, for the past decade the theater has been the host to the MOBA: The Museum of Bad Art. The museum, which was founded in 1993, is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of bad art. With over 700 art pieces in its collection, the MOBA has everything from a sports section to nude paintings and religious works. Although the museum is not currently accepting visitors, there is still a way for you to experience the interesting and hysterical works of art in their collection. Just go to their website, and click on â€Å"collections.† There you can take a virtual tour, that will forever change the way you look at art. Now, you may be wondering why someone would open up a museum just for bad art. That was not the strangest museum that we have stumbled across, though†¦ If you ever find yourself in Malmo, Sweden, and have an appreciation for the culinary arts, you may want to check out the Disgusting Food Museum. According to this article from HuffPost.com, the museum showcases 80 of the world’s most disgusting foods. Contrary to what you may think, though, the goal of the museum is not to gross people out. Their mission is actually to challenge people’s basic assumptions about food and test the theory that â€Å"disgust is cultural and contextual.† While delicacies such as Chinese mouse wine and maggot infested cheese do not sound exactly appealing to us, we have to admit that the idea of a disgusting foods museum is quite intriguing. And for those who are fans of Franz Kafka’s literary works (or just interesting museum designs), The Kafka Museum in Prague is sure to be a hit. The museum is full of weird, discombobulating elements, aimed to represent the chaos of Kafka’s life. Exhibits include a maze made out of filing cabinets, a â€Å"pissing statue,† and 3-D installations, among other things. The museum also features first editions of almost all of Kafka’s works, correspondence, diaries, manuscripts, photographs, drawings, and studies from literary research. There is, of course, also amuseum shopthat offers Kafka’s complete works, as well as his biographies.

JFKs inaugural address and Dear Mr President Essays - Chivalry

JFK's inaugural address and Dear Mr President Essays - Chivalry JFK's inaugural address and Dear Mr President On January 20, 1961, as on most presidential inauguration days, the nation was governed by one president until noon and by another afterward. The contrast between outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his incoming successor, John F. Kennedy, was dramatic and visible. The youngest man ever to be elected president (Kennedy was forty-three) was replacing the oldest man yet to leave the office (Eisenhower was seventy). A Democrat was replacing a Republican. A celebrated World War II combat hero was replacing the celebrated World War II supreme commander. A professional politician who had served three terms in the House of Representatives and less than two terms as the junior senator from Massachusetts was replacing a career military leader whose first and only elective office was the presidency. Most importantly, perhaps, Kennedy's election replaced a defender of caution, prudence, and restraint with an advocate of change and energetic leadership. Kennedy was the type of man that reached out to the audience and showed them that his role as president was the way to bring about change and freedom to the world. adversary during the Cold War: "Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate." But he also pledged that "we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." In the best-remembered phrase of his presidency, Kennedy summoned the idealism of the American people: "ask not what your country can do for youask what you can do for your country." The call was broadly appealing. It "resonated with liberals who shared Kennedy's belief in public service, and with conservatives who were weary of government handouts.

The Complete College Application Process Expert Guide

The Complete College Application Process Expert Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you want to successfully complete the college application process and make yourself as competitive for college admission as possible, you’ll be directly or indirectly working on your college applications well before the deadlines approach. In fact, if you have any intention of applying to selective colleges, this process can really begin as early as your freshman year. In this article, I’ll describe all of the tasks you should complete to maximize your chances of getting into the best possible college. Furthermore, I’ll let you know when you should be completing these tasks so that you’re able to stay on top of the process. Feature image source: Scott Savage/Flickr Overview of the College Application Process The major components of your application that will be evaluated are your transcript, your standardized test scores, your recommendations, your personal essay, and your extracurricular activities. I'll walk you through all the steps you need to take to strengthen each component of your application. If you follow my advice and timeline, you'll make yourself an extremely strong candidate for any college. Read on to learn the specific things you should be doing and when to do them. Take the Right Classes When to start: Before freshman year Colleges will evaluate you based on the classes you’ve taken. The most selective schools want to admit students who have challenged themselves and are willing to push themselves academically. You don’t have to take every single honors and AP course that’s offered at your school, but if you want to get into a top college, you should be able to demonstrate that you can excel in some of the hardest courses that are available to you. Also, it's best to take the most difficult classes in the subjects related to your academic strengths or your intended major. You should begin thinking about whichclasses totake before your freshman year of high school. In many schools, the math or foreign language class you take during your freshman year will determine what level you’re able to reach when you’re a senior in high school. Spend ample time considering which classes to takeand whether those classes will allow you to pursue your academic interests and reach your college goals. Specifically, consider whichscience, math, history, foreign language, English, elective, and AP classes you should take. Challenging yourself makes you stronger. Get Good Grades When to start: Freshman year I think this is pretty obvious, but your grades matter to colleges. The majority of colleges will focus on your sophomore and junior year grades, but schoolswill also look at your freshman and senior year grades. Also, your high school GPA is typically calculated from your grades from all four years of high school. You should try to maintain the mentality that every semester counts, and do as well as you can each year of high school. For inspiration and useful information, check out our article on how to get a 4.0 GPA and better grades. Excel in Extracurriculars When to start: Freshman year Other than your grades and test scores, your extracurricular activities probably have the biggest influence on the quality of your college application. Colleges, especially the most selective ones, want their students to have exceptional achievements outside of the classroom, and they’re looking for individuals who use their leisure time to pursue their passions. You should participate in extracurricular activities throughout high school. Colleges prefer to see a sustained commitment to your activities; it’s more impressive to do one activity for four years and continue to show growth in that activity than it is to do four activities for one year each. Some students believe they need to be well-rounded and do a ton of extracurriculars; however, for college admissions, it may be more advantageous for you to develop a â€Å"spike† and exhibit excellence in a particular activity or field. Instead of playing every sport, writing for the school newspaper, participating in speech and debate, and joining student government, you may be better served to focus your extracurricularefforts on becoming a superstar field hockey player. Or, if you're passionate about science, you may want to spend your free time creating an award-winning project for science fair or competing in Science Olympiad. If you have multiple interests, it's perfectly acceptable to explore all of them; just keep in mind that you don't have to do every possible extracurricular to get into a great college, and, generally, reaching the highest level in a given activity requires such an incredible time commitment that you won't have time to participate in many other activities outside of school. Learn what to do if you’re struggling to find extracurriculars. Also, when you’re filling out your college applications, know how to write about your extracurriculars. Maybe the marching band is a good extracurricular for you. Image source:Utah Department of Transportation/Flickr Rock Your Standardized Tests When to start: Sophomore year Even though some colleges have minimized the importance of standardized tests in admissions, your standardized test scores are still a crucial component of your application to most colleges. I advise starting your studying for the SAT/ACT during your sophomore year. Also, you may want to take the PSAT or PreACT during your sophomore year to familiarize yourself with standardized tests. To give yourself the best chance of reaching your target score and to decrease your stress level, we recommend first taking your SAT/ACT in the fall of your junior year. If you don’t reach your target score on your first attempt, you can do more studying and retake the test in the spring of your junior year. If you achieve the score you’re hoping for by the end of your junior year, you’ll have more time duringyour senior year to focus on your schoolwork, extracurriculars, and college applications. If you’re still unsatisfied with your score at the end of your junior year, you have more time to study over the summer and retake the test in the fall. Make sure you know when is the last time you can take the SAT/ACT. Your deadline for taking the SAT/ACT is dependent upon the specific schools you apply to and whether or not you apply early. For most schools, for early decision, you have to take the SAT/ACT by October or November of your senior year, and for regular decision, you have to take the SAT/ACT by December of your senior year. However, there are a few colleges that will accept the January SAT or the February ACT. If you’re considering applying to a school that requires SAT Subject Tests, I also recommend taking those by the end of your junior year. Research Colleges When to start: Junior year Before you apply to college, you need to know which colleges to apply to. You can start learning about colleges as early as your freshman year, especially if you want to get an idea of what you need to do to be a competitive applicant, but you should actively research colleges starting in your junior year at the latest. Use college search websites, finders, guidebooks, and ranking lists to help find colleges that would be a good fit for you. You can also use college fairs and tours to gain more exposure to different colleges and get a better idea of what you’re looking for in a school. By the start of your senior year of high school, you should have a list of colleges to apply to. I recommend applying to reach schools, target schools, and at least a couple of safety schools. College Fair fun. Image source:Patrick Giblin/Flickr Get Superb Recommendations When to start: Spring of junior year Recommendations are also an important part of your college applications. Colleges want assessments from others on your abilities as a student and your character. Be aware of what constitutes a good recommendation and how to ask for a letter of recommendation. It’s best to initially ask teachers to write your recommendations in the spring of your junior year. By asking early, you’ll be able to get your teachers to agree before they become inundated with requests during your senior year, and they’ll have more time to think about what they’re going to write. Make sure you know whom to ask to write your letters. At the beginning of your senior year, you can submit formal requests for your recommendation letters. Also, for your reference, check out these recommendation letters that got a student admitted to Harvard and other Ivy League schools. Write Outstanding College Essays When to start: Summer before senior year Writing your college essays is the most challenging and time-consuming part of the actual application process. Learn everything you need to know about the college essay and how to come up with great college essay ideas.I recommend starting to work on your college essays during the summer before your senior year. The absolute latest you'd want to wait isthe beginning of your senior year, as soon as you’ve finalized thelist of colleges you’re applying to. Even though college essays aren’t particularly long, in my experience, they do take much longer than you’d anticipate, and you’re less likely to be able to write good essays if you wait until the last minute to start. Give yourself enough time to have a trusted teacher or counselor proofread your essays. And you’ll also need time to revise them. Obviously, the essays have to be completed before you submit your applications. If you’re applying early, most deadlines are in mid-November. If you’re applying regular decision, most deadlines are around January 1st. Make sure you keep track of deadlines forthe schools you’re applying to because deadlines will vary. For example, the application deadline for University of California schools is November 30th. Final Thoughts and Additional Steps For most students, the steps listed above are the major components of the college application process. However, some of you may have to do extra work depending on your situation and the colleges you apply to. For example, if you're an aspiring college athlete, you may participate in the athletic recruiting process. If you're applying to an art school or program, you may have to make an art portfolio. Also, some colleges recommend or require interviews. If you interview, know what questions to ask and prepare for. For those of you seeking financial aid, you’ll have to go through the financial aid process, and you may want to apply for scholarships. You should find out the status of earlyapplications in mid-December and regular applications by late March. Then, you may find yourself with multiple options and have to face the task ofchoosing a college. While the application process can feel overwhelming and incredibly stressful, you can minimize your stress by having a plan and avoiding procrastination. Don’t worry too much. Regardless of what you do, there’s no absolute guarantee that you’ll get into the most selective colleges, but if you try hard and follow our advice, you’ll get into a good college and develop the attributes that will enable your future success. What's Next? If you're looking for an example of what you need to do to get into the best colleges, check out this successful Harvard application. Perhaps you've heard people reference Ivy League schools, but you're not exactly sure what they are. Learn about Ivy League colleges and read our article ranking the Ivy League schools. Finally, figure out where in the country you should go to college. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: