UCLA

College Applications—Biggest Mistakes Students Make…

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…as reported by college admissions officers across the United States.

* Not taking ownership of the process (This is your journey students, so dig into college research and figure out what you want!)

* Not using the same spelling/name/email on everything submitted. (can cause multiple accounts!)
Not reporting correct SS# (check for typos on everything, re-check for typos, then ask someone else to check for typos)

* Not reading applications carefully and therefore not following directions.

* Not reaching out to ask questions when confused or frustrated by something on an application.

* Not reporting classes or grades earned accurately (work directly off your high school
transcript!)

* Not checking and reading emails (Needs to be done REGULARLY during application season and into adulthood!)

* Not explaining low grades/shortened course progressions–OR contextualizing them in a way that blames someone else (usually teachers or counselors)

* Not sharing enough info about difficult circumstances

* Not spelling majors correctly (or anything else) – psychology is often misspelled.

* Not hitting application deadlines (No matter how talented you are, if you miss the deadline, nobody will read your application!)

* Not filing financial aid before deadline (a lot of money gets left on the table—check financial aid pages for each college your student applies to for deadlines)

* Not checking your university email once you are accepted (cannot emphasize enough!)

* Not setting up portals when asked to by a university (again and again—check your email!)

* Not notifying admissions offices if phone number/email/home address gets changed.

* Not notifying admissions when visiting a campus (you want them to know you came by!)