These rec letters — especially the good ones — can take three hours to write. The first thing you need to do is figure out where you want to go to school. A competitive STEM program, however, will understandably look for mastery in Math/Science but undeclared majors can submit scores from any subjects -- as long as they’re good scores! This site is the product of many, many hours of research. If you need help paying for college, technical, or career school, check out the options you may be eligible for from the federal government and other sources. Apply Now; Not interested in classes for college credit? Compare colleges on factors like tuition, financial aid, reputation, and location. Make sure you choose a teacher who knows you well; if you're just another face in the crowd, they may struggle to paint an accurate picture of your work as a student. For many prospective students, visiting a college campus is a good first step in the application process. College Application. Most students take the ACT and SAT early in the second semester of their junior year, which leaves room to retake the test in May, June, or later in the summer if needed, before senior year starts. Opt-in for (or opt-out of) the essay during registration and take note of what’s required (and forbidden) on test day. Based on these two answers, take a look at this chart and see which essay approach might work for you: It’s important to remember that these categories are interchangeable and you can move from one to the other upon further brainstorming or reflection. The Short Version: If you want a really quick way to sort through your college must-haves and deal breakers, a great resource to check out is www.corsava.com. You shouldn't entirely dismiss pricier schools right away, particularly if you have a strong academic background and could earn a large scholarship. Hopefully this step-by-step guide will give you a good sense of what you should be expecting from the college application process and how to make it as smooth as possible. Get expert advice from former NACAC president Patrick O’Connor. I call this a “Super Essay.” A great way to find one is to consider the activities, projects, or clubs that either a) you’ve spent a lot of time on, or b) are impressive. Second, create an activities list that highlights the projects you’ve worked on, clubs you’ve been a part of (or founded), jobs you’ve worked, etc. Why bother? I’m Luci Jones (Brown Univesity, CO ‘23). Don’t just add the name of your teacher, counselor, or boss to your Common Application. Don't forget to have someone edit your essay before you submit! Make a list of 2-3 of these. Submit your application and become part of the SUNY family. CSS Profile collects information used for financial aid decisions. Here’s our guide for the Common App Additional Information Section. Applying to college is exciting, but you'll need to stay organized. Basically, they’re really important and you want to make sure you get good ones. Deciding Where to Apply Map out the application process with a timeline. These visits allow you to ask about important issues and talk with someone from the admissions department. Try making a list of about 20 objects. Seek assistance from your high school if you’re unsure how to seek those accommodations. While many online platforms do this, my favorite is www.CollegeXpress.com. Give them a chance to get to know you and vice versa. It’s smart to complete at least one ACT or SAT before the end of junior year and remain open to retesting in the summer or early fall of senior year. With over 6,000 colleges in the United States, the first step in applying to college is to do some research and make a college list. Test date selection should be based on academic readiness, test preference, desired preparation timelines, date conflicts, and application deadlines. For most college applications, candidates need to provide high school transcripts, recommendation letters, and ACT or SAT scores. For the Montage Essay, you want to start developing what’s called a “focusing lens.” This is normally an interest, object, career path, or some other theme that connects several of your interests or values. Don’t ask your priest on Sunday after mass or your boss on the busiest day of the week. When evaluating schools, there are a number of factors to consider. I’d suggest doing the card sort to get a sense of what you’re looking for in colleges before you start diving into research. Below, we'll cover the process of applying to college in more depth. Heads-up: You don’t have to spend 10-15 hrs creating your preliminary list because you’ll do more research later. Setting: Do you want to be near a city, or do you not care? Since most students qualify for grants, do your research and find out what you are eligible for. Here’s the link to that. And are these insights obvious or unpredictable? Be sure to ask your school counselor for a schedule of college fairs near you. It’s free too. You got this. You will most likely complete your college apps online, either through the Common Application or on a school's website. In like 10 minutes. The college application process is pretty standard at most schools. So you’re applying to college. Pretty much a step-by-step guide on how to apply to college. Don’t forget to say thank you. Handle the print submissions. Once you’ve found a topic you feel personally invested in and a structure that your excited to explore with your topic of choice, you’re ready to start writing! School Spirit: Do you love the idea of cheering at football games or not care if you ever see another football game in your life? How? and instead strive for uncommon connections. Your path to college begins your first year in high school as you make yourself … Before you ask anyone to write a letter of recommendation for you, you want them to know who exactly they’re recommending! This will give you a sense of how a specific story in your life connects to your broader needs and values in a college setting. Many colleges require a college entrance examination, although some schools have recently dropped this requirement. Applying to an ED or EA plan is most appropriate for a student who: Has researched colleges extensively. Ideally, candidates should aim to complete their applications in August, before senior year starts. Once you’ve done some brainstorming, it’s time to move on to thinking about how you want to organize your essay. Alternatively, try to set aside 1-2 hours every weekend to focus on your college applications. They can also tell you where students from your school and with your profile (scores, grades, extracurriculars, etc.) Start by going on a "gas-tank tour" to visit nearby colleges. But then maybe you see a few schools you didn’t know had great film programs, like LMU, Emerson, and Columbia College in Chicago. Tests are not offered at every high school, so you may need to travel to another school in your region. At the most basic level, there are two types of essays you’ll be writing … (In fact, here’s a College Application Timeline to give you a sense of where we’re headed). Graduation requirements (which can differ wildly between schools) offer another look at a school’s values. If you want to read more about the nitty gritty details involved in this part of the process, see the blog post here. Start by asking yourself a few questions about what matters most to you. This can take some time, but it's well worth it. They're eager to hear about your thoughts, interests, seminal experiences, perspectives, challenges you've faced, and aspirations. What lessons/values/skills did I develop? Step 2: Research Schools (Based on Your Interests and Preferences). Say you type in “Northwestern” because you’re interested in film; as luck would have it, you see a list called “Colleges with Great Programs in Film and Television.” Score. What about a school that embraces your racial and cultural identity such as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or a tribal college? As you explore commercial alternatives, it’s good to be armed with questions to help you determine the best fit. The most important thing to remember is to set aside time to complete your applications. The first step to applying to college is deciding where to submit those … Share something you’ve never told anyone. Once you’ve got a solid list of schools you’d be excited and able to attend, you’re ready to move on to the next step. The Slightly Longer Version: Here are some important factors to consider as you look into potential schools: Climate: Ask yourself: To be happy, do you need warm weather, easy access to skiing, four seasons, lots of sunshine, low humidity? Count the number of weeks (and conflicts) you have leading up to different test dates. Search for scholarships for college students with our free matching service for scholarships. I’m alive and still very much a healthy, functioning human being (on most days). Applying early to college is an increasingly popular option among students, but the majority of students still apply under regular decision. Is absolutely sure that the college is the first choice. Explore ways to make your college application rise above the crowd and secure admission at your ideal school. Pause for a second. So, you’ve got to get another human’s stamp of approval. To do this, pop in to see them when you know their day hits a lull. Frame your testing window and then pencil in what you already have on your plate in that timespan, whether that’s weeks, months, or years. That way, you can focus on being a student during the week and still complete your college applications in a timely fashion. This is a pretty fun free association game to get your creativity flowing. Use the CFNC Application Hub to apply to NC colleges, send official high school transcripts, and monitor your progress in a single place. The Common App makes it easy to apply to multiple schools with just one form, but each college will have different requirements for essays and test scores. Better yet: you’ve got you. We believe in you. More topic-relevant resources to expand your knowledge. Ready to apply for admission? Typically, you take the required tests, write a personal statement, then submit your application. Research & Visit Colleges. Don’t ask your counselors during lunch. Actually speak to them. Most colleges want 1-2 letters of recommendation from teachers who worked with you in an academic subject in 11th or 12th grade. (They’re humans. Senior year can feel like crunch time, with the pressures of the final two semesters of high school aligning with the demands of college admissions panels. Another great brainstorming activity is the Values Exercise. It’s not all about what you can give to them. Ask them two questions: “Do you feel closer to me?” and “What did you learn about me that you didn’t already know?”. After getting an idea of what you want in a potential college, you’ll want to create a preliminary list of around 20 schools. I also say “cool beans” a lot in real life because it’s just objectively a great go-to expression. To address this, many colleges ask students to obtain letters of recommendation from their teachers, which provide a more complete picture of the student. A word of caution: Subject Tests should be used to demonstrate mastery of a subject. Do you care? Maybe spend an hour or two creating this initial list. Note that this section was written by Bruce Reed and Adam Ingersoll from Compass Prep and will appear in Ethan’s forthcoming book, College Admission Essentials. Essay, How To Start a College Essay: 9 Effective Techniques. Grants vary from hundreds of dollars to full-rides, so take advantage of grant opportunities. If you take the PSAT, you’ll set up a College Board account, which you’ll use to register for the SAT and Subject Tests, access those results, and eventually submit those scores to colleges. By learning about each step and starting early, you …