Video Transcript - "Figuring Out the College Application Process"

APP GUY
Hey there. You can call me App Guy. (The old-school kind
—college app---lications.) Why? Because I KNOW 
college applications like I know the back of my own hand.

APP GUY
So why am I dressed like this? Nope, I didn’t lose a bet 
with the mattress guy down the street. And no, I don’t like 
being extra flammable. I just care THIS much about high 
school students being ready for the college application 
process. That’s why I’m taking it to the streets…

APP GUY
Excuse me, I was just wondering if you had your college 
application deadlines in there.
   
PHONE GIRL
Uh, no…

APP GUY
OK, people. Deadlines are not something to mess around
 with. You need to be on top of all your application 
deadlines—and know the timelines for each school you’re 
applying to. Colleges don’t care who totally embarrassed 
themselves at last night’s football game—you’ve gotta 
get stuff in on time.

Yo, guys. Nice shoes. Hey, have you taken the SAT or 
ACT yet?
      
SHOE GUYS
Nope. Not yet.

APP GUY
It’s true—voluntarily taking a test on a Saturday may 
seem a little crazy, but, hey, it’s gotta be done. Before 
senior year, you should sign up to take the SAT or the 
ACT at least once, because you’ll need those test results 
to be sent to the schools to go with your applications. 
The good news? You can retake the tests to aim for 
higher scores if you want. It’s a little like a do-over 
button, and you’re welcome.

APP GUY
Pardon me, but I was wondering if you could direct 
me to the Civil War history section…and if you’ve 
written your college application essay yet.

LIBRARY GIRL
What? No…

APP GUY
The college application essay is your big show-off 
moment. That’s where you can dazzle and make them 
HAVE to have you at their school. So leave yourself 
plenty of time to write your mini-masterpieces. (And a 
little tip…be sure to check your grammar and spelling.) 
Then let two other people whose opinion you trust read 
it and give you feedback. After all, genius is a process, 
right?

APP GUY
Quick! Where do you stand on salty vs. sweet?! Just 
kidding. But have you gotten letters of recommendation 
for your college applications yet?

CAFÉ GUY AND GIRL
Not exactly. No.

APP GUY
You know how sometimes it’s better to be humble? 
This isn’t that time. You need to request recommendations 
to submit with your application. You can ask teachers, 
coaches, activity or volunteer leaders—think of people 
who can say something glowing about some of your skills. 
(And your grandma doesn’t count, just for the record…)

APP GUY
Hey man, don’t worry—I’m pretty sure I imagined that 
fin over in the water. But more importantly, have you 
filled out your financial aid forms? 

POOL GUY
Um, I haven’t yet.
	
APP GUY
Newsflash: There’s college money out there for the taking
—you just need to make sure you get your financial aid 
paperwork filled out and sent in. It’ll be submitted separately 
from your application, but that deadline is just as important.
 This is one party you don’t want to be late to...

APP GUY
Once you’re sure you’ve dotted all the i's and crossed all 
the t’s on your application, you’re ready to submit it online 
or mail it in. Then you can breathe a huge sigh of relief, 
and just sit back and wait for those acceptance letters to 
come your way. 
App Guy starts walking out of frame on “I can…”

And that means my job is done here, which means I can 
finally put my arms down…