The Foreign Service Journal, December 2011

80 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT • Take SAT 2 subject tests , esp- ecially those in subjects in which you are studying for the AP or IB exam. You may take up to three subject tests on the test day. You may not take both the SAT and the SAT subject tests on the same day. • Ask two teachers for letters of recommendation to go into your file . By asking for these in the spring, when teachers are not as rushed, you should end up with more thoughtful letters in your file. The most popular teachers sometimes have to turn down student requests in the fall because they are swamped. Be sure to send a thank-you note after the teachers have written your letters. J ULY -A UGUST Sorry, but you don’t get the sum- mer off! Summer is the ideal time to finalize your list of colleges, finish your resumé and write your applica- tion essay. • Now is the time to write your personal essay , if you weren’t lucky enough to have an English teacher who assigned a rough draft of it in the spring. Aim for about 500 words, and try to write about something that will illuminate your character and not just repeat what’s on your resumé. You have a real advantage by hav- ing lived overseas, so be sure to work in a reference to where you’ve lived or, better yet, write about an unusual overseas experience that will set you apart from the crowd. By the way, every year, the Com- mon Application, and many other college applications, will give you the You do not need to wait to see the application for your specific college before writing an essay. Continued on p. 88