I am currently ¾ of the way through the college application process, having applied to 11 schools and to date, having heard from 6 of them. March seems so far away… juniors will slowly begin to research schools and study for standardized tests, so I wanted to share some insights about the college application process. Here are my top 10 tips.
- Start researching in June
While it seems early, based on when applications are due, it’s good to get a sense of what type of school you are hoping to attend. Do you want to go to a public or private school? How large? What type of students attend? How important is school spirit, or sports? And most importantly, what do you want to study?! Which schools will offer and provide you with the best overall experience? Once you start narrowing in on what appeals to you, you can really identify which schools would be a good fit.
2. Start writing drafts to all of the colleges you are interested in in July
So you figured out what types of schools you want to attend, yay! You probably haven’t finalized your list, don’t worry, you still have plenty of time! One of the most important steps I took in my college application process was starting to write my essays in July. I mainly focused on my main Common Application essay and began to write a little and brainstorm for all of the other essays I (potentially) had to write.
3. Finalize your list in August and try not to apply to too many schools!
Finalizing my list was very hard. I was confused about what I wanted vs. what my friends and family wanted for me. I originally had 22 schools on my list but cut it down to 13 and I am SO grateful I did that. It saved me DAYS, even weeks of work. Some of my friends applied to 20+ schools and really regretted it. One of my friends applied to 4 schools but that was because those were the only schools that she really loved. Only apply to schools that you would actually want to attend. I know for sure that I would go to all of the schools that I applied to. Of course I have my top 5, but always be prepared. Try to avoid paying that many application fees!
4. Finish writing in September
I worked very hard to complete all of my writing by the end of September… September 24th to be exact. I didn’t want to have to deal with college essays on top of all of my school and extracurricular activities. I worked about 5+ hours a week during the summer and beginning of the school year so I could complete my goal! I also suggest having a family member, friend and/or counselor take another look at your essays before you submit them.
5. Submit all applications early October
Some of your schools might not offer Early Action or Early Decision, only Regular Decision, but submitting all of your applications at once is very convenient, mainly because you no longer have to think about it… it takes a huge weight off of your shoulders! On the other hand, if you apply Early Action to all of the schools that allow it, you can hear back as early as December! In my case, I found out about 6 of my applications before winter break! I was able to really relax knowing that I had 6 great options. I also got to take a REAL holiday break because I didn’t have any applications to complete.
6. Don’t be stuck on one school, have a couple favorites
Having one favorite school is fine, but don’t be set on it because plans can change. Going into this college process, the school I thought was my top choice didn’t even make the cut! Now, I have 3 top choices so when I hear back, my heart won’t be broken if I don’t get in. However, I’m going to remain positive and optimistic because I believe I’m a qualified applicant!
7. Apply early action to as many colleges as you can
Submitting applications Early Action was great because waiting is stressful. It was super exciting to hear back from schools. Some of the colleges I applied to were rolling admissions so I actually heard back two weeks after submitting. One of the schools I heard back from in late October and the other in mid November. It certainly calmed my nerves.
8. Reach out to admissions officers, and don’t be afraid to ask them questions
Some schools base part of their decisions on demonstrative interest. If you reach out to admissions officers not only can get your questions answered, but you will show that you are interested in the school. Try to attend virtual campus tours, meetings and events. Make sure that you ask more interesting questions than “do you offer this major.” Ask about what you want to do and any specific programs that the school has to offer related to your major or a club you want to be a part of. Do your research first!
9. Be positive
Don’t be discouraged if an admissions officer doesn’t email you back, they are probably swamped. Also, don’t overthink decisions before you hear back. Don’t worry about the “what if” because the decision process can be very random. Keep in mind that you will end up where you are meant to be.
10. Film your reactions
I love college reaction videos and so far, whenever I get an email about a portal update and decision, I film my reaction whether it is good or bad. You can have it as a memory and it can be a very exciting one! I am going to make a YouTube reaction video which I will post in May once I make my decision. I am not going to tell anyone any school decisions until I commit to one in May. It will make everything more exciting and will be a fun surprise!
With all of that being said, remember your worth. This can be a brutal process and it is hard to not compare yourself to others. If you go to college, whether it is community college or a larger university, you will have a good time and be sure to make the most of it. Even though I haven’t heard back from nearly half of my colleges, I think the months I spent working on my applications allowed me to receive great advice that I wanted to share. Stay safe, be confident and best of luck!