Applying to college can be overwhelming, to say the least. Because it’s so involved, it’s something you should start thinking about as early as your freshman year. While we admit the process is complex, we’ve broken the basics down into 10 steps -- consider it your checklist for the college application process. Remember that no matter what step you’re on, there are plenty of people and resources to help you along your way to the next.
Step 1: Make sure you’ve taken all your college preparatory courses. Unfortunately, some students get tracked into non-college prep courses as early as freshman year, and this can affect their chances of getting accepted into a good school. Don‘t let this happen to you. As early as your freshman year, you should be meeting with your high school guidance counselor and asking if you’re on the college preparatory track. However, if it’s already your junior year, take heart -- there’s still time to catch up. Just don’t delay that meeting. A simple issue, such as taking pre-Algebra instead of Algebra 1 your freshman year, or not taking a third year of French your senior year, can mean the difference between getting into your school of choice or getting rejected.
As Julie Black* says, “I remember when I applied to a state college -- you really just needed a pulse to get in. I was a B student, but I didn’t make it into the ‘real college.‘ I got tracked into the pre-college ‘university college’ courses that were incredibly easy. I couldn’t believe it! I’d taken all college prep courses, except for that one extra math class.”
Step 2: Start looking at schools as early as freshman year. Check out the latest
Peterson’s Four-Year College Guide from your local library. This is one of the most comprehensive college guides out there, and will introduce you to colleges by levels of difficulty, geography, and quality of life (including the social life on campus).
Become familiar with the school’s requirements -- for instance, are they seeking well-rounded candidates with a wide variety of extracurricular activities? Then you need to start getting involved in some of those your first year of high school so you can get accepted. Also, since most schools are looking for community service, consider volunteering for at least three organizations within your community starting as early as your freshman year.
Step 3: Start getting experience in your major now. This may seem ambitious, but it may be just what you need to separate yourself from other candidates. Also, if you want to major in anything creative -- film or writing or journalism -- it helps to build up a portfolio in high school. Let’s say, for instance, you’re considering majoring in drama, then you should be trying to land the lead roles in all your school plays, taking private acting classes, and trying to land roles in community theater. Or if you’re considering accounting, then you should be taking advanced math courses, and even interning with an accountant or volunteering to help a nonprofit with accounting. The more ambitious and focused you appear to be, the more likely you are to get accepted to your ideal school. Talk to your teachers and guidance counselor about this. Also, contact your local Chamber of Commerce and see if you can find someone in your field willing to act as a mentor.
Step 4: Ask for help. If no one in your family has ever gone to college, then you need as much support as you can get in applying. Tell your high school teachers -- “I want to go to college, but I have no idea how to do it, because no one in my family has gone.” Most will be happy to help. But do this as early as your sophomore or junior year. Also, get help from your local college access program. Your guidance counselor can give you this contact information; if not, you can contact the
National College Access network for help. Find out more about going to college as a
first-generation student.
Step 5: Investigate financial aid options early. Go to your guidance counselor or college access network and discuss financial aid as early as your sophomore year so you can be prepared. Assuming you don’t already have one, you may decide to get a part-time job to help pay for books and other costs.
Step 6: Schedule visits. Choose the top 5 colleges and universities you’re the most interested in, and schedule visits (if possible). If you’re not able to cover this expense, at least visit those that are closest to you. Do this at the beginning of your junior year, so that you have plenty of time to fulfill the requirements you find out about on your visit.
Step 7: Take the SAT or ACT. You’ll need one or the other to get in to your school of choice. Check the admissions requirements of the school you’re applying to -- some may require the SAT, while others may be okay with either. If you get a choice, go to the official Web sites for the
ACT and
SAT to determine which is best for you. The SAT tends to value critical thinking and problem solving, while the ACT values the curriculum you studied in high school. Review the questions and consider what type of thinker you are and where you strengths lie -- one or the other will be more “intuitive” to you (go with that one). Take a practice test, and be sure to schedule your test dates a year in advance, so you have time to take the test again if your score isn’t what you expected.
Find test dates and centers for the ACT.
Find test dates and centers for the SAT
Step 9: Apply to the 10 schools that you’re the most excited about and that are the most affordable. Make sure you include at least one or two long shots -- you never know. Find readers for your essays. This is really important. Ask your English teacher, your class’s future valedictorian -- anyone who’s smart and good with words -- to read your essays. Apply the feedback and ask them to read your revisions. You’ll want to write these at least six months before they’re due so you have time revise. You’d be amazed at how important the essay is to getting accepted.
Step 10: At the same time, call each school’s financial aid office to find out about applying for scholarships and financial aid. They should be able to guide you through this process. Each school will have its own deadlines but you’ll also need to meet federal deadlines.
See
Federal Financial Aid deadlines.
See
every step of the FAFSA process
* This name has been changed to protect the privacy of interviewees.