The college application can be very stressful. All the outside opinions from people can be frustrating, so it is important to know that everybody's process is different. Some people will apply early decision to a school and that will be their only application, but other people will end up applying to a lot more. Here are 9 tips for the college application process:
1. Start early
The last thing you want during your college application process is to be scrambling at the end. Everything you submit should be thoroughly looked over, so you don't want to run out of time.
2. Have multiple people read over your essay
This is another reason you want to start your process early. The more drafts you have of your college essay, the better. Have as many people as you can read it over and give feedback. The best people to ask to check it over would be any of your English teachers. They will be able to look at your writing structure and point out mistakes that you would never notice.
3. Have everything organized
If you are submitting applications to different schools, it will be easy to get things mixed up. Create folders on your computer for each of your schools to make sure nothing gets lost or mixed up.
4. Be prepared: Know your deadlines
Make sure you have everything in your calendar for your applications. Many schools have the same deadlines, but some schools are different so you will have to be aware. You don't want to miss out on a school because of bad scheduling.
5. Proofread EVERYTHING
Yes, you should proofread your college essay and the short essays if the school requires them. However, you can't forget the smaller things. Make sure you don't make any spelling or grammar mistakes when it comes to applications, emails, etc.
6. Choose good teachers/staff for your recommendations
It is very important to choose teachers, guidance counselors, or other staff who really know you. It won't be as beneficial to you to ask someone who doesn't know you very well for a recommendation. Admissions officers want to see that you made an impact on people in high school.
7. Be honest, but don't see yourself short
It can feel weird to brag about yourself for applications. The whole concept is about you marketing yourself to a school. You don't ever want to exaggerate your accomplishments because this could really come back to bite you in the butt if they find out. However, you don't want to leave anything else out either because it feels like bragging. Be proud of your accomplishments!
8. Don't apply to too many or too few schools
Applying to too many schools will be a waste of time and money, but applying to too few could leave you without many options. The right number of applications will be different for everybody, so make a list of schools and evaluate them. Do you have enough or too many safety schools? Do you want to add more reach schools? Are you happy with the schools on your list? Are there any on the list that you really don't want to go to?
9. Try not to compare yourself to others
As I previously said, everyone's process is different. People might get into college before you even start applying to schools, but don't stress. There is a right school for you out there. At the end of the day, a degree is a degree, so don't concentrate too much on school status or acceptance rates. You will eventually land in the right place.
