Can siblings help with the college admission process?

My older sibling is in college already. Does anyone know how they might help me with my own college admissions process? Are there ways they can offer guidance or support that have worked for others?

Absolutely, your older sibling can be an invaluable resource during your college admissions process! Let me explain how.

1. Leveraging Their Experience: As someone who's been through the process, your sibling can share their experiences and insights about the application process - deadlines, stress points, university norms, and their own strategies that worked. They can also guide you about standardized tests, essays, and extracurricular activities based on what they learned from their own applications.

2. Proofreading: Not every high school student can afford an essay editor, and here is where your sibling can be of great help. They can proofread your applications and essays - checking your grammar, and punctuation, and making sure you answer the question effectively. Their feedback can help you to refine your essays and make them stand out.

3. Campus Insight: If your sibling attends a university you're considering, they can give you first-hand insight about the campus, the culture, the strengths and weaknesses of the college, and important information that you might not find on the official website or brochures. They can provide insider tips on specific programs or courses at their school.

4. Preparation for Interviews: If the colleges you're applying to conduct interviews as part of the admissions process, your sibling can help you prepare. They can conduct mock interviews, giving you a chance to practice your responses to common interview questions.

5. Emotional Support: The college application process can be stressful, and your sibling likely has an understanding of what you're going through. They can provide emotional support and encouragement throughout the process.

Remember, while getting help from your siblings can be beneficial, it's still important to be authentic and stay true to yourself in your applications. You want to ensure that your individual personality and interests shine through. For example, avoid choosing an extracurricular or writing an essay about something just because your sibling did so. Find your own spike and go after it.

Finally, while your sibling's advice based on their own experiences is valuable, remember that the admissions process can change from year to year, so staying up-to-date with recent application guidelines and requirements from your desired colleges is also critical.