Applying to College

The summer before your senior year is a good time to start organizing what needs to be done for the college application process. Applying to college is already stressful enough so the more time you give yourself the easier and less stressful the process will be. Each step for applying to college deserves a solid amount of dedication, time and effort. Below are the basic steps a student must follow:

RESEARCH

Research the colleges that you have always wanted to attend. Don't just apply to a colleges because of its name brand. Make sure you thoroughly research each college using the internet, student reviews, Facebook, brochures, books...etc. If you don't know the college you are applying to, you won't know if you are a good fit and if you are not a good fit for the college, your chances of being admitted are minimal.

Besides fit, there are practical things you should research about the college. For instance, if you can not stand the cold weather, you probably should not apply to colleges which have harsh winters. Some students don't consider that in choosing their college and end up transferring in the middle of their college career.

Through this research you will be able to create a preliminary list of colleges, divided into 3 categories: safety, match, and reach schools. A safety school is a college that you will almost certainly get into because your test scores, class rank and/or high school grades are well above average when you look at the school's profile. A match school is a college that you are pretty likely to get into because your test scores, class rank and/or high school grades fall right into the middle range when you look at the school's profile. A reach school is a college that you have a chance of getting into, but your test scores, class rank and/or high school grades are a bit on the low side when you look at the school's profile.

Make an appointment early in the fall with your high school counselor. Share your short list of colleges that you want to apply to. Ask him/her questions about these colleges. Ask them if they could refer you to any high school alumni that have attended these colleges.

COLLECT APPLICATIONS AND NOTE THE DEADLINES

Gather all of the applications for all of the colleges on your list. Most of the applications are online and available for easy download. Use the common application whenever possible. Copies may be found in your Career Center at your high school or at www.commonapp.org.

Some colleges have different application deadlines, and some schools might even want your application in early Fall. So make sure to make note of each college's specific application deadline, so you can get your application in the mail before the scheduled deadline.

Early Decision/Early Action

Below is a chart that lays out the difference between Early Decision and Early Action.

Application Type	Binding/Non-Binding	Can Apply Early to Other Colleges?
Early Decision	Binding	No
Early Action	Non-Binding	Yes
Single Choice Early Action	Non-Binding	No

I recommend the Early programs if you have done your research thoroughly and know exactly where you want to go. Sometimes, students who apply under these programs have a better chance of getting into those colleges. So if you know exactly where you want to go and that #1 choice is a reach school, I highly recommend utilizing the Early Action/Decision program. Note: If financial aid is a CONCERN for you, do not apply Early Decision. You will want to weigh your college options based on your financial aid packages. If you apply Early Action, you can still weigh your options with the other colleges you get accepted into but with Early Decision, you are bound to that one college.

FILL OUT THE APPLICATION

Fill out your college application forms and proofread it several times to make sure you do not include typos or grammatical mistakes. See Admissions Checklist. Include everything the school is asking for. Do not overlook any details and ask 2-3 people to proofread it as well.

APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID/SCHOLARSHIPS

Go to Paying for College for a full list of financial aid opportunities.