A: There is no single answer to this question. The traditional wisdom is that every student should make application to schools which are probable to admit her, likely to admit her and a “reach” for her credentials. This formula is not exact and doesn’t account for uncertainties in preferences, ambiguities in a record, financial aid requirements or tolerance for risk. Your best strategy is to identify a range of schools at which you could be happy. The best advice is to work closely with the College Guidance Office and your advisor.

A: Absolutely. Over 250 colleges and universities have agreed to accept the Common Application, which is available and may be submitted on line at www.commonapp.org. Individual colleges retain the right, however, to require material in addition to that provided in the Common Application and care must be taken with each and every application to ensure the requirements of the particular college are met.

A: Whether or not you will have to submit other applications, you should certainly prepare other applications. An analysis of the response and due dates makes it plain that if you wait to prepare your other applications until after receipt of an Early Action/Decision response, you will need to write 5,6,7 or more short and long essay responses in less than a week, which is not enough time to do a careful and thoughtful job. In addition, certain schools have shortened their application deadlines, now requiring application prior to the notification by the early responses. So, even if you are applying early, you will need to complete your other applications and watch the dates carefully.

A: You shouldn’t do anything, ever, just to enhance your record. That kind of “packaging” is inauthentic and often apparent to admissions officers. On the other hand, you should certainly do something worthwhile and stimulating during your summers. Follow your passions; explore your interests; hone your skills. There are many programs which encourage and develop intellectual or artistic skills; there are also many programs in leadership and cross-cultural experiences. A listing of many of these programs is available in the College Guidance Office. But you don’t need to attend an expensive program: volunteer in a veterinary office, work in a band camp, tutor at summer school. What matters is that you do something to expand and discover yourself.

A: Arrange for your teacher recommendations early; choose your colleges with care and after consultation with the College Guidance Office; track all deadlines; write a thoughtful, candid essay; proofread; arrange for interviews; submit your applications a month before the final deadline and turn your paperwork in to the College Guidance Office early enough that this can happen. Finally, keep up your academic work—those first semester grades count.

A: Mail the postcard accepting the wait list immediately and write a letter expressing your strong commitment. Let the College Guidance Office know of your interest. Submit an additional letter of support; consider a second visit to the campus. Keep the college apprised of your grades, honors and activities. Remember that colleges generally start to look at their wait list in May and will continue to admit through August. Not all colleges rank their wait list; some will admit to fill openings in specific areas to diversify a class. The number admitted from the list depends upon the specific yield that year.