With college application deadlines quickly approaching, there’s no question that the month of October is crunch time for seniors. However, the various steps of applying to college can be overwhelming and confusing for those who have never gone through the process. Here is an all inclusive guide on how to get those applications completed before the looming deadlines.
The first step, and objectively the most important one, is deciding where to apply. This can be tricky when facing it head on as there are thousands of colleges and universities all over the world to choose from. However, there are many ways to narrow it down depending on personal preference. If applicants know their major, looking up schools that have the best programs for that area of study is a good place to start. It is also important to consider preferences regarding location such as in-state versus out of state, proximity to major cities or metropolitan areas and weather. Other factors include tuition, school size, admission rates and safety statistics. Once seniors have selected schools that they are going to apply to, it may be helpful to combine this information in a document or spreadsheet that includes important deadlines.
After deciding where to apply, it is time to begin the applications, starting with the ones that have the earliest deadlines. Some schools are a part of Common App or Coalition, applications that may be used to apply to multiple schools under one platform. Checking these applications to find out if any of the selected schools are on them is a great first step in the admissions process. This way, students can finish numerous applications at once rather than completing a separate application for each school.
Most applications begin by asking questions that contribute to an overall student profile. Questions included in this section will most likely ask about family, contact information, education, and anything else that the college may need to get a comprehensive view on who the applicant is. Many applications require a self report of all the classes students have taken and the grades they’ve received, as well as any SAT or ACT scores. This first half is fairly easy but can be very tedious. It is important to get through this section as fast as possible so that there is more time available to focus on the creative aspects of the application.
Every application is different; however, most will move on from this basic student profile to asking questions about how students have spent their time in high school. Depending on the application, it may ask you to briefly describe work experience, community service, extracurriculars, honors and awards, leadership positions or any scholarly programs you may have been a part of. Since these sections often have word limits, it is important to include only what is essential for colleges to know about these topics. When answering questions that only ask for a brief description of one of these activities, it is not important to be creative; just make sure that the responses flow nicely and accurately depict the activity.
Finally, most applications have a section for personal statements. While this is optional for some schools and nonexistent for others, it is generally highly recommended to complete the personal statement section if it is available. Each application is unique in this section, with some asking for short responses, some asking for long essays, and some asking for both. This is the portion of the application that takes the longest amount of time as applicants should go through many drafts of their personal statements before they submit them.
When writing a college essay, it is essential that applicants be honest and make the most of the space provided. Find a creative angle and let unique personal qualities shine through the writing, while making sure that everything that is written conveys the main message. This part can be very tricky but having multiple people read and edit the work can go a long way, especially if it is possible to get professional opinions.
Once everything is proofread for typos or misinformation, the hardest part of the process is over and the application can be submitted. However, there are still a few things that need to be completed before the process is over. Depending on the school, applicants may need to send transcripts, scores, residency information or a Self-reported Student Academic Report (SSAR). To find out what your school needs, applicants should receive an email explaining what to do next and go onto the school’s website where they can check which parts of the application still need to be received.
Many schools require an official high school transcript. This can be sent by going onto Naviance and requesting transcripts for the schools that have already been applied to. Transcripts may take a few days so it is important to check to make sure that the school receives it. Sending scores can also be completed online by going onto the SAT or ACT website and selecting “send scores.” Unless one is eligible for a fee waiver, students will be charged for each score report. If the college requests a SSAR, the applicant will need to make an account on the Self-reported Student Academic Report website and self report their classes and grades.
Once all parts of the application are completed, the final step is to look into scholarships. Seniors should fill out applications for the FAFSA, CSS Profile and Bright Futures scholarships. These scholarships determine how much financial aid you will get from the national government, from the college you are applying to, and from Florida. While these are a minimum of what seniors should look into, there are tons of scholarships available. After scholarship are applied for, the college application process is completed and seniors can finally relax- until decision days of course.
Photo by Sabrine Brismeur
