…as reported by college admissions officers across the United States.
* Not taking ownership of the process (This is your journey, so students, 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 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 details about difficult circumstances that affected your grades (very important, they won’t know unless you tell them!)
* 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 (Check financial aid pages for each college your student applies to for deadlines)
* Not checking your university email once you are accepted (cannot emphasize this 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!)
