Around this time every year, students are starting or submitting their college applications. This can be a very stressful time for seniors, especially if they are not prepared prior to applying. High schools try their best to help students through this process, but are only able to assist every student so much. Recently I have started applying to colleges and learned strategies and measures to take when applying. Here are some tips that I wish I could have been told before applying.
Prior to applying to universities, you must know what you want to study. Once you figure out the field you intend on majoring in, you must research which schools have strong programs in that field. You should have three categories to help you figure what schools you want to apply to, safety schools, realistic schools, and reach schools. Safety schools are schools you will more than likely be admitted to because you surpass their requirements. Realistic schools are schools that are a good fit for you and you have a good chance of getting into. Reach schools are schools you are not more than likely to be admitted to, but have a small chance and would be a great school if accepted. You should find schools that meet each category but all have a decent program in the field you want to study.
Another thing to consider before applying to schools is the setting you want the university to be held. Many students have preferences on where they want to study. Making sure the college in which you apply to is a place where you feel comfortable is very important. Some things to consider are: distance from home/family, the urbanization of the city, the college’s ideologies, and the demographic of people at the college. After all, you want to feel comfortable in the place you are staying.
Once you have figured out where you want to apply, make sure to start early. Many students, including myself, have procrastinated through applications and waited until the last minute to apply. Starting early and relieving that stress will assist in ensuring that you meet all the requirements and have a strong application. Most colleges will accept “Early Action” applications. These are applications that are due earlier than the usual January deadline and should be submitted by the beginning of November. I would recommend following through on Early Action applications because most colleges have a higher acceptance rate for those who apply early. Early Action applications allow for the person applying to be more individualized and have their application be reviewed more thoroughly.
Applying to colleges and universities may get expensive, so one final tip is to apply to scholarships and special programs. Students often don’t check or research scholarships that they may meet the requirements of. Though many scholarships may not be for high sums of money, after applying and getting accepted to several, the money begins to add up. One other thing you can apply to is special programs. Special programs are ways to carry out your college classes in non-traditional ways that may be more beneficial to you. Some of these may include honors programs, distance learning, accelerated graduation, and many more.
Overall, to have a successful college application process, you have to prepare properly and know what you want. Colleges are looking for people who have strong applications but show character.
