February is the shortest month of the year for a reason: it stinks. Snow piles up and begins to turn mysterious shades of yellow and brown. We finally use up the lotion we bought to ward off dry skin. And don’t even get us started on Valentine’s Day. Who thought it was a good idea to leave a baby alone with a bow and a quiver of arrows? Unsafe.
Anyway, dear students, as you stare down this year’s extra-long February slog (yes, it’s a leap year), you can take comfort in the upcoming admissions deadlines. Really! You may still be catching up on sleep from the January 1 deadline, but this is different. Although February is the harshest month of the year, its deadlines are the gentlest. Schools with February deadlines, March deadlines, and later rolling deadlines all give you the opportunity to include some of your most recent senior year accomplishments on your application and, more importantly, in your essays. If you’ve taken on new leadership positions, won awards, or done an awesome job at improving your GPA, let those achievements shine.
Demonstrating academic improvement will be especially important and meaningful if your junior year grades were not what you had hoped. If you had any major life issues that impacted your grades during your earlier high school years – family trouble, serious illness, an undiagnosed learning difference – and you have made strides during your senior year, now might be the perfect time to write that “additional info” essay the Common App offers. This option is not for everyone! Only students who have major issues or changes to explain should use this essay. That said, an “additional info” essay that can explain past problems AND demonstrate improvement can make a huge difference in these later applications.
Because we love you, we have compiled a list of all the schools on the Common App with February deadlines. Now it’s up to you to show them how awesome you are.
If your cumulative high school GPA is less than 2.9, if you have D or F grades, or if you are not satisfied with your ACT or SAT test score(s), please address the circumstances that impacted your academic record. Your response will be used in the evaluation of your application. (300 words)
Why have you chosen to apply to Dickinson? (no word limit, up to 1000 words)
As part of Gonzaga’s Presidential Speaker Series, the University brings to campus individuals whose scholarly research and commitment to social justices inspire students to action. Who would you choose to speak at Gonzaga and why? (word limit 50-300)
Answer two of these five questions (650 words per response)
1. Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (25 word minimum)
2. How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (Respond in 100 words or fewer.)
3. Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (Respond in 100 words or fewer.)
1. If you could only do one of the activities you have listed in the Activities section of your Common Application, which one would you keep doing? Why? (Required for all applicants. Approximately 100 words)
2. Essay #1 (Required for all applicants. Approximately 250 words): Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.
3. Essay #2 (Required for all applicants. 500 words maximum): Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?
Why are you interested in Wofford College? (250 words)
Please tell us about your future academic interests and how attending WPI would fulfill them. (500 words)
Alfred University (Alfred, NY)
Bryant University (Smithfield, RI)
DePauw University (Greencastle, IN)
Ohio State University (Columbus, OH) – essay is required for honors
Saint Joseph’s University (Philadelphia, PA)
Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, NJ)
University of Mary Washington (Fredericksburg, VA)
One of your opportunities in completing this application is to assist the Earlham Admissions Committee in getting to know you in ways that may not be easily discernible from your academic record or list of activities. What would you like to share with us about your interests, personality, aspirations, etc. and why you think Earlham is a good fit for you?
1. Please choose the three most important factors that influenced your decision to apply and that you feel set Wagner apart from other colleges and universities. (250 words or less)
2. If you have visited campus, please describe what aspect of your visit experience most positively affected your impression of Wagner. (250 words or less)
Iona College (New Rochelle, NY)
Lake Forest (Lake Forest, IL)
Merrimack College (North Andover, MA)
Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA)
