If you find yourself disappointed and confused in this position, I want to assure you that it’s completely normal. Rest assured, you’re not out just yet. Writing a compelling letter of continued interest might just boost your chances.

With Christmas around the corner, the countdown to January college application deadlines is officially on. In the rush to hit “submit” and check applications off your to-do list, it’s easy to overlook small but critical details.

Maybe you’re halfway through the process, scrolling through endless college websites and trying to make sure every detail is perfect. Sound familiar?

You’ve perfected your personal statement, listed your extracurriculars in the best way possible, then you come across the mysterious Additional Information section. Naturally, the first question is “do I have to fill this out?”

With so many things going on, timing is essential when it comes to applying for college. You don’t want to miss important deadlines or miss out on valuable opportunities. I hope this checklist will create some breathing room (and sanity!) for you.

One of the ways colleges get to know you is through your personal statement — a 650-word essay that shows who you are, what you value, what you could bring to the college community, and in some ways, whether you and the school fit together. 

Since writing a list is so simple, some students rush ahead with the task without really thinking it through. You only get a limited number of characters. How do you make the most of them? 

The first hurdle often is just finding the right colleges to apply to, and the sheer range of educational institutions in the US can make it really difficult to be aware of the options available.