J. Avoiding Disasters As You Use Online Applications
Online applications have made student lives a lot easier. Imagine what it was like just a few years back to sit in front of a typewriter, parceling out each letter and using white out to cover up mistakes on application form after form. Thank God those days are gone!

But online applications are not free of missteps and an occasional disaster. Here are some things you can do to avoid them:

1. Usernames and Passwords
In a safe and known place, be sure to keep a record of your Usernames and Passwords for each college application. (If you can, use the same names and passwords for all applications.) Keep login information in a logical place on your computer and also on a piece of paper near your computer or on your cell phone so that you can easily find it. Also, tell one of your parents the names and passwords, in case you are away from your home computer, need the login info and can’t remember it.

2. “Save” Everything, And Often As You Work Online
As you work with online applications, always “Save” whatever you do every 15-30 minutes to avoid losing what you have just typed. Most online applications automatically shut down after awhile, which means that everything you have done simply disappears. Is that annoying or what!

3. Writing Short And Long Essay Drafts
Write both short and long essay drafts away from the actual online application. Once you have a final, edited draft, then copy and paste or upload it into the online application space.

adMISSION POSSIBLE® TIP! If you now use aol or hotmail email systems, it would be useful to change to yahoo, gmail, cable or other services so that you can make full use of on-line college applications. Also, download the highest level of Internet Explorer or Netscape, the browsers that college applications require.

4. Email And IM Addresses
Admissions offices often communicate with students (and students with them) by email or instant messaging. One frequent complaint is that students’ email and IM addresses are incorrect or change. On your applications, make sure that you provide a correct email and then stick with it throughout the admissions process. If for some reason you have to change your addresses, be sure to let the admissions people know.

A word of advice: Email or IM communications with admissions offices should involve proper English--not Internet slang such as “ur” (you are), “B4” (before), “TIA” (thanks in advance). Communications should also use formal salutations (Dear Mr. X: or Ms. Y:), and be written as a formal letter.

Also, take a careful look at your email address to make sure that it doesn’t give the wrong impression of you, as in “slackerguy,” or “boycrazy#1.” Also, stay away from anything that is sexual, profane, or illegal, e.g., “sexylady,” “f___u29,” “coke-lover.” While your email address might not make or break your admission, why risk raising someone’s eyebrows?