Applying to college is sooooo many things. It's exciting, stressful, nerve-wracking, a new opportunity... all rolled into one. You're trying to keep your grades in tip top shape, fill out more paperwork than you've ever seen in your life before, not to mention figure out what you want to do with your life. No problem right?
Okay, so it's a little overwhelming, but take a deep breath! When you understand the process and what to look for in a prospective school, applications are the fun part. Each one you complete is a new potential future, and when you get all the results back, you can sit down and start to figure out which one is really the option you want to pursue. But for now, let's start at the beginning.
We'll cover it all, including:
- The savvy student's guide to selecting a college
- Basic timeline information you should have on your radar
- What to do when you get that acceptance letter
College Selection 101: Class is in Session
There are tons of resources to help you narrow down your choices.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when making your selection:
Location
Consider the school’s location. Do you want to be further from home or as close as possible? Or even somewhere in between? Another aspect within this point to consider is the campus’s environment, be it rural, urban or suburban, and how that affects the school’s activities, nightlife and even parking.
Visit
First and foremost, always visit at least one or two of the school’s you are looking to select. You can learn quite a bit about a school just by spending a few hours on its campus, as you cannot really “get a feel” for the school’s environment and surroundings without actually being there.
Diversity
Diversity is another thing to look for. Many students make the mistake of selecting a school simply because most of their friends are attending that same school. While this may make the transition easier, it will not help you meet a variety of new people nor will it help you branch out yourself.
Size
A school’s size is a key factor. While a big school with hundreds of thousands of students may sound like a good time, the vastly uneven teacher-to-student ratio may make your classes more difficult.
Academics
The majors offered at each school. Whether or not the courses will be challenging enough for you.
Extracurriculars
The programs and activities offered in addition to academics. May include sports or hobbies that are of interest to you.
Cost
Be sure to look at the Total Cost of Attendance. Not just tuition, which by the way is at an all time high, but also the cost of room and board, books, fees, and other college-related expenditures. And let's not forget that we will be going for more than one year.
Once you know what you're looking for as it relates to these types, you can start to browse various college selection resources.
College Selection Resources
1) The U.S. Department of Education has a great College Finder to start narrowing down your list of schools. College Board also has a College MatchMaker that may be of assistance.
Now that you have a good-sized list of schools (maybe 20 or so), you can start to learn more about each school. Check out some comprehensive guidebooks.
2) The Fiske Guide and The Princeton Review are the two extraordinarily large guidebooks to get more in-depth information about prospective schools.
3) Talk to alumni, visit campus (if possible), and ask people you trust. College Niche publishes great student-to-student guidebooks that offer insider information about campus life in its entirety. Now that you've selected your schools of interest, you can start Filling Out Applications and Obtaining Financial Aid.
As you look into selecting the perfect school, keep in mind that different schools will offer different financial aid packages. Make sure that you prepare to fill out the financial aid applications well in advance and seek the assistance of a financial aid consultant to ensure that you are preparing financially to go to school.
College Application Timeline
Quick caveat, this is a general guide to give you an idea of what the application process looks like. If there are schools you really care about, make sure to research them individually and get their deadlines in your Reminders app ASAP.
Junior Year (Spring)
- Start researching colleges
- Take SAT/ACT (or plan test dates)
- Build your college list
- Begin thinking about essays
Summer Before Senior Year
- Finalize your college list
- Start writing your personal statement
- Gather materials (transcripts, resume, etc.)
- Ask for letters of recommendation
Senior Year – Fall (Aug–Nov)
- Complete and submit applications
- Submit Early Action / Early Decision (usually Nov deadlines)
- File your FAFSA as early as possible
- Apply for scholarships
Senior Year – Winter (Dec–Feb)
- Submit Regular Decision applications (often Jan deadlines)
- Continue applying for scholarships
- Monitor application portals
Senior Year – Spring (Mar–May)
- Receive admissions decisions
- Compare financial aid offers
- Choose your school by May 1 (Decision Day)
After Decision (Summer Before College)
- Accept financial aid
- Complete loan counseling (if needed)
- Register for classes and orientation
Congrats, You're In! Now What?
Contrary to popular belief, preparing for your first year of college involves more than just taking the SAT’s and filling out applications. During your senior year of high school, it is easier than not to give in to that temptaion to coast and relax after signing that acceptance letter. However, do not assume that your college acceptance is set in stone simply because you have been admitted.
The College Board offers some frightening statistics pertaining to first year college entrance that are uncomfortably high:
- Half of all college students do not have adequate academic preparation and therefore must take remedial classes.
- Over one quarter of the freshman at four-year colleges do not make it to their sophomore year.
Most colleges make it clear that acceptance is contingent upon continued academic success. This includes your entire senior year. Letting your grades slip and becoming less involved may cause a school to reconsider your admittance, even retracting it. After all, do not forget that a final transcript is sent to your select school after you graduate, so the school administrators are able to review your final grades. This being said, these grades can make a big impact on the amount of classes you will have to take once beginning school, as well as your acceptance.
- Stay Active and Involved: Keeping involved in extracurricular activities in your high school, such as sports, clubs and other forms of community service will boost your résumé, as well as give you experience in working with others. Also, try to gain some work experience, whether it be through a part-time job or some sort of internship.
- Challenge Yourself: Do not assume that you should take easy classes just because it is your last year of high school, and you have already been accepted to college. Taking challenging courses, like AP courses, and getting good grades will improve your academic image to a college, as well as allow you to opt out of certain classes if you score exceptionally on the AP Exams, saving you money.
- Apply for Financial Aid Early: While most colleges require that you fill out financial aid forms like the FAFSA or the CSS Profile, filing for financial aid as early as possible will increase your chance of receiving the optimal amount of aid. This also pertains to scholarships, grants and things like that, which you should focus on applying for your senior year of high school. Your school guidance counselors can assist you in this process.
- Get Insight: Try to obtain as much insight as you can to the college experience before actually going to school. Talk to current college students, and ask them about various aspects of college life (what they like or dislike, mistakes to avoid, any recommendations they may have, etc.). Taking a college course at a community college during your senior year could also give you some idea of what college courses will be like, as well as potentially give credits toward college.
And don’t forget to stay on top of your financial aid by filling out your FAFSA and CSS Profile accurately and in a timely fashion.
