5 Common Application Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

College application season is upon us!

Yes, we know it is difficult to keep your unbridled excitement in check, but we ask that you do refrain from whooping—it scares the Admission Counselors (they're rather twitchy this time of year).

Though AVID and AP classes and general experience have no doubt made you an expert already, we at Marymount California University thought it might be helpful to let you know about five common application mistakes we see almost daily...and the best way to avoid them.

So, yeah. Here they are.

Marymount California University Sustainability - We're into being green

This summer our campus underwent some massive changes. First, we ungraded from Marymount College to Marymount California University. Which was pretty epic. Then we built a brand new website. Also epic. We could have stopped there, but we're nothing if not achievers, so our new Office of Sustainability made some other pretty nifty upgrades. Check 'em out below!

Our Newest Campus Addition Deserves Its Own Glamour Shoot

Yeah. I know. There are those of you out there who say that there is nothing glamorous about a parking lot. 

Those of you who say that have obviously not tried to park on our Palos Verdes campus during finals week. Think Hunger Games meets Fast And Furious 6.

[It was never actually our fault—our footprint in the beautiful Palos Verdes hills was necessarily restricted to preserve the land around us—but that didn't change the fact that one of our top complaints from students, staff and faculty was a lack of available parking.]

Check out a video about all our campuses here. 

Mariners, we have heard (and felt) your pain! Now, as part of the school-splosion we've been undergoing since 2010, we've transformed what used to be our practice field into the world's most beautiful parking lot.

Rejoice! Rejoice as you ease your car into a comfortable spot without making enemies of your fellow Mariners! Rejoice as you stroll about 8 1/2 feet to the door of your class! Rejoice, Professors, as the "I-was-late-to-Biology-because-I-couldn't-find-parking" excuse will soon go the way of Potorous platyops! 

Seriously, though. I've never been so excited about asphalt. Check out the pictures after the jump and let us know what you think. 

Something Has Been Eating Our Campus...

Through the banks of nearly gelatinous fog (also known as "June Gloom," the So Cal curse for being able to get a tan in December), you can glimpse an invading army of ravenous creatures marching inexorably up the hill to our campus. 

They are devouring everything in their path.

Nothing can stop them....

Except the little fence we put up.  

Marymount Media Studies Student Headlines the LA Harbor International Film Festival

If the name Johnnie Jenkins Jr. isn't meant for the film industry, nothing is. 

Each spring, the LA Harbor International Film Festival (LAHIFF) showcases film projects that embrace the culture and heritage of Los Angeles Harbor cities. The festival is by invitation only, and this year a short film directed by one of our Media Studies students, the eminently talented and academically astute Johnnie Jenkins Jr., made the cut.

Johnnie's film, The Aesthetic Spirit of San Pedro, explores the community and culture of the vibrant city of San Pedro, and is lauded by the LAHIFF as "connecting the festival to the cultural, historical, and business interests of San Pedro on the tenth anniversary of the LAHIFF and during the city's 125th anniversary celebration."

We congratulate Johnnie on this honor (and want to remind him that, if he ever needs a writer when he makes it big, he should look no further than this blog's author...Ahem), and are thrilled that he is representing Marymount College.

Here is the schedule of events so you can check out his film. 

Marymount College Changes Its Name To...

Don't worry, we aren't going to change it to a symbol or anything.

But, we are thrilled to announce that the institution formerly know as Marymount is now officially known as.......

...Wait for it..........

.....Waaaait for it...

We asked our students: "What Makes A Mariner"

...And here is what they said: 

So...What defines you? 

Happy Valentine's Day From Marymount College!

Need a Valentine card? Use one of ours.

Finding Nemo is property of Disney /Pixar. 

Brought you to by the wacky minds of Marymount College Admission.

Admission Essays: The Good, The Bad, and The Embarrassing

I love this topic, because personal statements are my favorite part of reviewing a student's application. Sure, it's fun to look at a transcript and piece together a "high school story" from the grades and activities listed (I always feel like Sherlock Holmes when I do that...the one from BBC, not the bromantic Holmes from the awful sequel with Jude Law), but I do prefer reading the personal statement for two reasons: 

The really good essays, and the really bad essays.

Read on for examples of each.