At this point, except for the waiting, the worst is basically over! However, the way you submit the students stuff is just about as important as the stuff thats being submitted!

The correct order is: (1) The application is first (2) followed by the essays, which should be attached to the application unless there are specific instructions to the contrary; (3) Next is the resume, which should be stapled together, but not to the application or the essays; (4) The special essay(s) follow and should be paper clipped to the resume as opposed to being stapled to it. Attach a large paper clip to all of the above to ensure everything stays in the proper order, and then send the entire package overnight or 2nd day with a signature guarantee. Whew!

If by any chance youre planning to submit the application electronically, consider this very carefully before you click the submit key. You may accidentally send the application before its completed, or send it with errors. What will you do then, and how will you get a copy for your records?

Im a firm believer in Murphys Law, that if anything can go wrong, it will. No, thats not pessimism, its realism. The transmission could get garbled, arrive incomplete or disappear from the face of the earth, all without your knowledge. The application could arrive with your name on the address line, and all the rest of your information pushed down, out of place, never to be processed!

As I said in a previous article, despite claims that all of these bugs have been exterminated, if it were my student, Id mail it. Any risk is too much of a risk that the application will not be received, be received with errors and inconsistencies, or be received incomplete. In any case, if anything goes wrong, anything at all, whatever the excuse is, it will not be acceptable to the school and an otherwise qualified applicant will be called out on strikes before they even get up to bat! Dont let this happen to you!

The following actually happened to one of my students. He applied over the Internet, received an email confirmation and shortly thereafter received a hard copy acknowledging that his application would be processed. No reason to be concerned yet.

The following April, the college sent out its letters of acceptance and rejection. His friends, who had all applied around the same time but not online, received their notices, yet he was still waiting. Just to be on the safe side, he called the admissions office, but alas, it was too late! He was politely informed that there had been an unfortunate computer glitch at the time he applied, and that his application was among several dozen that had been permanently lost!

Needless to say, the family was devastated. How such a thing could happen, how often accidents like this occur, who or what was responsible, and all of the apologies in the world make absolutely no difference whatsoever youre still up the creek without a paddle! Just learn from this and act accordingly.

Another submission problem that should be mentioned here is, if for any reason you cant make the deadline, the student, not the parent, must call the school in advance of the deadline and give a valid reason why it will be impossible to meet it. They will almost always extend it another two or three weeks. Admissions officers are not totally without compassion. However, I strongly suggest that the student ask for a written or email confirmation and write down the name of the person who granted the extension. As I have said in many of my articles leave nothing to chance!

OK. Youve prepared all your stuff, completed all requirements, checked and re-checked that everything is letter perfect, mailed all the applications and have confirmations that everything was received by each school applied to. Take a deep breath, but dont get too comfortable. Its time to prepare for the student interview.

This is one of a series of articles by college admissions and financial aid expert, Reecy Aresty, based on his book, Getting Into College And Paying For It! For further information or to contact him, please visit www.thecollegebook.com.

Reecy Aresty

For almost three decades, financial advisor Reecy Aresty, has helped thousands of families protect their assets, increase their wealth and reduce their taxes. During the 1980’s, he mastered the complexities of college admissions & financial aid, and by the end of the decade, he was already saving his clients thousands of dollars on a college education!

In 1986, made possible by a generous gift from the Aresty family, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania established the Aresty Institute of Executive Education. So began the Aresty family legacy; a dedication to the pursuit of knowledge through higher education for all.

In 1999, Reecy founded College Assistance, Inc., dedicated to helping parents provide their children with the best possible education for less than they ever imagined! He is the author of the groundbreaking new book, “Getting Into College And Paying For It.” Filled with trade secrets, insider information and innovative money saving strategies, it is guaranteed to legally cut the costs of a college education!

Reecy’s SPECIAL REPORT on page 126 reveals the trappings of the Tuition And Fees Deduction which Robin-hoodwinks middle and lower income families by taking from them and giving to the rich! Reecy alerts families to what even many accountants have missed - how those who chose the Deduction in 2002, 2003 and/or 2004, who qualified for either of the Education Credits, are guaranteed refunds from the IRS! Knowledge of this prevented countless families from making the same mistake, and Reecy has been instrumental in recovering tens of thousands in overpaid taxes!

In 2004 alone, overall, he saved families hundreds of thousands of dollars! His clients receive a free financial evaluation that reveals how they can legally eliminate or reduce costly assessments from the schools and the federal government. This significantly lowers their Expected Family Contribution, the minimum amount each family must pay at any college (for each student), and maximizes their eligibility for financial aid. He even helps families negotiate with the schools to obtain the absolute best possible financial aid package!

Reecy Aresty has become a major factor in obtaining affordable, quality educations for America’s students. In doing so, he has restored the faith people used to have in one another by proving that there are still people who care, people who can be trusted, and people who actually do what they promise – and get results.