How to Plow Down Application Hurdles

Earlier, I wrote about how people let barriers stop them from applying to the school of their dreams, and how big of a mistake this really is. To help those who might be feeling this way out, I’ve created this quick list of tips on eliminating the barriers that stop most people from making the leap and applying for the schools they really want to attend.

1. Application Fees
Now, to some it may seem silly that a $50 application fee would stop someone from applying to a school that costs thousands a year, but if you’re applying to a lot of schools, these fees can add up really quickly. The good news is that many schools can waive the application fee if you ask them. Simply call up the the admissions office and explain your situation, and most of the time they will waive the fee. You have nothing to loose by trying.

2. The Essay/s
This is a big one for a lot of people. I’ve written previously about writing application essays, but even if you know what you’re doing, the shear number of applications essays that need to be written can make it a daunting task.

Here’s what to do. Look through all of your applications, and see what the essay requirements are. You may find that some of the are similiar to each other. Once you’ve identified these similarities, you can “modularize” your essays in order to save time. Once you have these, you can simply copy, paste, and modify the sections into the appropriate essay. Just be sure to change any references to the school name, or else the Duke applications people might be puzzled about why it has been your life long dream to attend Columbia!

3. Letters of Reccommendation

These are easy to automate. When you’re asking for the letters, simply request that the letter be generic enough to swap a few words (preferably just the school name) out for different schools, and give them a list of schools you’re applying to. Then, give them pre-addressed and stamped envelopes to send the letters out in (and maybe pay them another favor for doing all this for you). This will be much faster if you can “batch” the letters rather than constantly hastling people to get letters written for you.

I hope that this helps a bit to take the sting out of the applications process. Remember, you can’t get in unless you apply! This may not get you into your dream school, but you’ll always have the satisfaction of knowing that you tried.

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