The college application process is complex and demanding, yet
necessary and ultimately rewarding. There are so many different
forms to complete, questions to answer, and documents to gather
before you can send in even one application — and the College
Board recommends students submit
five to eight applications!
If you need help navigating your way through this process, you’re
not alone. In fact, 52% of college applicants who responded to a
recent survey1 said that applying to college was more stressful
than anything else they had done academically.
Stay
organized with your college applications with this step-by-step
guide. You’ll find an overview of the entire application process
along with insider tips about what college admissions officers are
looking for.
For even more help with college
applications,
contact us
to learn how CAPS can advise you through the application
process.
The first step for organizing your college applications is to look
up the application deadline for every college you’re applying to
and write it down. You can include the deadline as a column on a
spreadsheet, write it on a Post-It Note and stick it on a paper
application, or something else that will help you keep track of
it.
While many colleges and universities have
application deadlines on January 1st, some operate on non-standard
calendars or employ a rolling admissions process. You must also
consider the earlier due dates of
early decision and early action
applications, which are typically in November.
Once you
know all of your upcoming deadlines, make a plan around them. You
don’t want to be stuck spending your New Year’s Eve completing
your applications that are due January 1st. To make your plan,
review what each application entails and estimate how long it will
take for you to complete it. Then, add the time for all your
applications together and work backwards from the due date to
create a schedule. If you work with CAPS, we’ll help you put this
together!
Ensure you fill out all of your applications completely. In
addition to the personal essay, many colleges include
additional short answer prompts. Admissions officers typically use these extra questions to
understand how you will contribute to their college community as a
whole, so be sure to do your research on each school and convey
details that showcase your understanding.
Colleges
typically ask for two to three
letters of recommendation
with your application. In addition to letters from a core subject
teacher and a guidance counselor, consider requesting
recommendations from other people who can speak to your strengths.
A letter from the coach of the sport you’ve dedicated every year
to, the adviser of the club where you have a leadership role, or
your manager at your after school job can provide the admissions
committee with a more robust, well-rounded view of you as an
applicant.
Don’t forget to fill in the Additional
Information section as well! This optional section can be used to
add more details about your background or experience. For example,
you can disclose that you have a learning disability or
developmental disability that has impacted your academics, or if
you’ve had family or religious obligations that have stopped you
from participating in activities. You can also use this section to
expand on any notable successes, like a school club that you
founded, a piece of software or an app that you developed, or a
fundraising event you led.
Ensure that your most important extracurricular activities stand
out by listing them in priority order. If you founded a club or
held a leadership position, include it at the top of your
application. Activities that you’ve participated in for a long
time are also key, as they demonstrate your commitment and
passion. Include all of your extracurriculars on your application
to show off the breadth of your interests, but keep the ones with
limited participation at the bottom of your list.
As
you write your activity descriptions, do so in complete,
grammatically-correct sentences. Highlight any key accomplishments
associated with your role in that club, sport, or job.
Make
your application stand out by adding a resume. This is generally
an optional supplement, but including one provides more context to
your application for admissions officers. A resume demonstrates
your commitment to a job, and is especially important if you’ve
had any significant accomplishments or you’ve gotten experience in
your targeted major subject.
Finally, be sure to
thoroughly check your entire application for any spelling,
punctuation, or grammatical errors. Use a browser plug-in or app
to run spell check, and read through it yourself out loud to make
it easier to catch errors.
If you’re a high school student who feels overwhelmed by applying to college or you’d like expert advice to maximize your chances of getting accepted by your dream school, or if you’re a parent who could use a partner in guiding your child through the process, CAPS is here to help. For over 20 years, we’ve been helping students and families navigate the complex college admissions process. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.