High school students and their parents are often intimidated when applying to colleges. The admission process can seem complex, with a lot of moving parts. If you fumble on one, you could jeopardize your whole application.
Which major should you pursue? How do you decide on a college? What are the online application deadlines? How do you handle personal essays and letters of recommendation? How about high school transcripts and standardized test scores? Is there a cost for applying? And the list goes on.
To successfully navigate this process, think about your options as you near high school graduation. It's a good idea to start your research and decision-making in your junior year and take advantage of the services of your high school counselor (although it's possible to do this in your senior year).
Read our step-by-step guide to the application process so you know what to do to get into the university or college of your choice.
How to apply to college in 7 steps
You can simplify the college application process by following these steps. (Keep in mind that the application process for international students differs from the one for U.S. citizens.)
Step 1: Decide on major(s) you're interested in
Before deciding where you want to go, determine what major(s) and programs you want to study. For example, deciding whether you want to be a plumber or an English major could have you looking at different community colleges and universities.
To pick a major, consider your interests and passions. You should also research salaries in your proposed field and job prospects.
In choosing a major or a school, it's good to get advice from people who have gone through the process of getting a college education, preferably in your intended area of study or a similar one. Start with college-educated family members and high school counselors who offer college admission counseling.
Step 2: Decide which schools you want to apply to
Once you pick your major or area of interest, it's time to look for schools.
For example, you might check some of the college rankings on College Rover to see which might suit you. You can also attend college fairs held all over the country or look for college admission officers visiting your school, telling you what they have to offer.
Other factors to consider in prospective colleges are the location, size, and culture of your possible choices. For instance, you might want to go to a smaller college close to home but discover that it lacks the selection of programs of a larger university.
You also have to take into account your likelihood of getting into a particular university. Do you have the marks and test scores to gain admittance?
For the schools you can't go to physically, check out their websites for virtual tours, pictures of campuses, information about programs, and testimonials from graduated students. Of course, if you can, we recommend you do an in-person tour of the campus.
Some colleges offer financial aid to qualifying students. If you need this help, be sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility.
Step 3: Research application deadlines
Submit your application before the school's deadline. Since different colleges have different deadlines, keep up with deadlines for your choices.
Some schools may have early decision deadlines, typically asking for applications in November and often releasing their binding offers of admission in December. Some schools might even have a second early decision deadline, perhaps taking applications in January and putting out their offers of admission in February.
Regular school admission deadlines are often at the beginning of January but can be as early as late November. Students who apply this way usually hear back from schools in mid-to-late March or the first part of April.
Some colleges also have "rolling admissions" - applications are judged as received, and admission decisions are made continuously.
Step 4: Prepare application essays or personal statements
Many schools ask applicants to write essays or personal statements. Since this may take time to plan, write, get feedback on (from friends or family, for example), and revise, you should start them well before the application deadline. Some students even work on them in the summer between their junior and senior years.
The college essay or personal statement allows you to show who you are and why you're a good candidate for a particular school - going beyond the basics of marks and test scores.
Step 5: Ask for letters of recommendation
Most schools ask for recommendation letters. It's good to get these a few months before they're due because teachers might get overwhelmed by the number of requests for these letters at the end of the year.
These letters are best written by a teacher who knows you well so that they can give a good and accurate view of your character and strengths. Be prepared to provide them with any requested information to help in the writing, such as your GPA or a copy of your transcript.
Step 6: Get test scores and transcripts
Many colleges require you to take an entrance examination. The two most common are the SAT and ACT. You might want to take one of these tests early - say, in the second semester of your junior year - so you have a chance to improve your ACT and/or SAT scores a few months later if your score report isn't as high as you'd like.
To see if you qualify for enrollment, almost all schools ask for a copy of your official high school transcript (or your community college transcript if you're transferring to a university) to see how you performed academically.
Admissions offices usually request these transcripts directly from the school, so you can make a request through your high school guidance counselor. Or, if you've graduated from high school, you can often get transcripts by filling out a request form from the school in-person or online.
Step 7: Fill out and review your application(s)
Besides all the application materials you need to submit for each target school, you'll need to fill out the application, taking care to provide all requested information.
You might be asked for general information about yourself, such as your extracurricular activities and contact information for your parents or guardians. You could be asked questions that need some thought, such as an explanation for why there was a drop in your grades one semester.
It's good to have this completed at least a week before the application deadline so you have time to double-check the application requirements to make sure you've done everything. Also, make sure you've put your best foot forward - highlighting your achievements in a way that makes you stand out.
Keep in mind that colleges charge application fees, usually ranging from $50 to $90 but sometimes higher than $100.
Easily compare colleges and universities with College Rover
To simplify the college application process, take advantage of the tools and resources College Rover offers. We make it easy to find information about the schools you're interested in, including doing customized searches.
We can help you make a head-to-head comparison of all your picks, exporting the results to a spreadsheet you can use to pick the best college for you - perhaps sharing it with family and friends to get their feedback.
College Rover does the homework so that you can get the education you deserve.
