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Q: What are some ways student  

applications

  get immediately chucked into the "no" pile? How can that be avoided?

Make sure the facts - your report card and recommendations - add up.
A: "Never have someone write a recommendation unless they can speak honestly. The recommendation that glows about your academic Work when you are a 2.5 student will get tossed. Also, never blame poor grades on a teacher. Always take responsibility, and offer a reason why you think you should be admitted in spite of them, and what your plan is to better your work."

-- Joyce Luy, dean of admission, Westmont College (Santa Barbara, CA)

Be careful what message you send about yourself.
A: "If Iget an application from somebody with the e-mail address "AggyIn05@aol.com" or "Longhorn10@yahoo.com," I don't have quite as much interest in reading their applications because it's obvious that they favor a Texas school other than ours. An e-mail address like "LivinLaVidaLoca@hotmail.com" doesn't really come across that well either -- be aware of what message you're communicating about yourself."

-- Jay Evans, director of admissions, Austin College (Sherman, TX)

Don't bother pandering.
A: "Don't regurgitate your personal narrative with details from a tour you've taken at our school. I can tell when someone is just restating something they heard about what we look for in students at one of our open houses or on our Web site. We like to see a real narrative [enhanced by] a strong writing style that's true and honest, explaining why they want to be here. We don't like canned narratives."

-- Joyce Haynie, associate director of admissions, A.T. Still University School of Health Sciences (Mesa, AZ)

Carefully match your applications and addresses.
A: "The worst thing that happens is when we receive an application that's meant for another college. The student is sitting at home, filling out a pile of applications, and just sticks one in the wrong envelope."

-- Steve Zenko, director of admissions, Delaware Valley College (Doylestown, PA)

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