College Guide 2008
Each year, Maru-a-Pula School is helping to get students into top quality universities around the world. Our MaP American College Guide, prepared by Harvard student, Daniel Liss, provides a clear road map on how to gain access to American Colleges and Universities.
The MaP American College Application Guide
Updated August 2008
Introduction
The American college application system is, without a doubt, challenging to navigate. Nevertheless, every year hundreds of thousands of students successfully apply. If you want to do it, you will do it. You will take the right tests and send the scores. You will fill out the proper forms. You will put in the time to write thoughtful essays. You will succeed!
While applying is do-able, it is not going to be easy. Gaining acceptance or “getting in” to an American College is a long and arduous process, one that requires hours of effort beyond the grades and scores that make up the core of other applications. American colleges seek to evaluate each student as a whole. What does that mean? It means that such intangible qualities as character and citizenship are evaluated through extracurricular activities, recommendations, and essays. It means that anything is fair game.
This guide is here to help, but remember that there are hundreds of other resources that you can and should consult. You should use the internet, your teachers, and your friends and family. There will be more information about resources at the end of this guide.
The following is a five part guide intended to be a helpful but by no means completely exhaustive informational tool. Its first version was written in August of 2008 by Daniel Liss, an American student working at MaP in the counseling office. He can be reached at DLiss32@gmail.com and will always, no matter how many years since 2008 you are reading this, find the time to answer any and all questions you might have.
Good luck!!