Around this time of year, high schoolers all around the country are applying to colleges. This is a process that becomes overwhelming and stressful; although it doesn't have to be that way. I honestly wish that people told me that it was OK to take a deep breath when I was selecting my schools, writing my essays, and compiling my applications. Even though high school seniors are given a full plate of important tasks that they need to accomplish and deadlines seem scary, everyone is in the same boat as you. The key to success is time management.
Something I highly recommend is making a list for yourself. It may seem tedious as you're making it, but in the end it becomes a lifesaver. Having an outline can help you calm down when everything becomes overwhelming and stressful. It will keep your mind in order, allow you to track deadlines, and make sure you don’t forget to do anything important that could affect your chances for acceptance.
Once senior year begins, most people have an idea of a range of schools they are interested in applying to. I found it helpful to make a spreadsheet and list all of the schools I was going to apply for. Then I made columns for important information related to each college such as location, tuition prices, open houses and tours dates, and application deadlines. Once you compile this list, this is your reference for everything. I printed mine and highlighted it, wrote notes on it, and checked things off as I went.
After that, the next step is setting up dates to tour campuses. This is crucial when it comes to final decision-making about where you are going to live for the next four or more years of your life. I took a day just devoted to tour planning. One afternoon, my mom and I sat down with a printed calendar and looked up campus tours for the schools I planned on applying to. We filled out the calendar with dates, times, and locations for the days that worked best for the both of us. Especially if you are all over the map, make sure to plan college visits strategically. If you are applying to a few schools all in the same area, try to coordinate the visit to avoid unnecessary traveling. Also, pay attention during tours. My mom and I took notes and I even recommend taking pictures of important things such as dorms, dining halls, classrooms, etc. because the colleges you visit all blur together after awhile. You want to remember what colleges had the great dorms, the spacious dining hall, or clean bathrooms and not mix it up with a college you hated, just because you can’t remember.
After you plan your trips, it’s time to apply! The Common Application is a life saver. It helped keep me organized and allowed the process of applying to be so much easier. Don’t rush through this process, however. Know your due dates and work on your applications a little at a time. This is a college’s first impression of you so you want to represent yourself as best as possible. If you wait until the last minute you will feel overwhelmed and your work will show it. It also helps to have a parent nearby while filling it out because there will be questions you won’t know the answers to. Overall, you should always be honest on your applications and make sure it completely describes you. Colleges want well-rounded students at their schools so show them that that’s you! I personally filled out my applications for the early application deadline because I was eager to hear back as soon as possible. However, if you feel like you need more time to figure out where you want to apply, raise your grades a bit, increase your SAT or ACT scores, etc. regular decision is still a great option.
The writing that goes along with college applications is something that often stresses students out, especially if writing is not a strong suit. This does not have to be scary, however. At my school, we wrote a standard college essay in our first semester english class. If your school does similar, take advantage of it. I had my english teacher and previous teacher proof read my essay and give me feedback. Even if your school doesn’t offer something like this, writing it on your own doesn’t have to be scary. If you find a topic that you are passionate about, a life event that shaped you, someone who inspires you, etc write about it. Colleges want to hear about you. This is an opportunity to be completely selfish and talk all about yourself. I took the route of an event that shaped me, and throughout the paper I got to tell the colleges a little about me. I got to share a story that showed the human side of an application. Colleges will get thousands of applications will read through that many essays. You need a topic that makes them remember you. If you show a glimmer of passion, inspiration, or realness, it will get their attention. Additionally, when it comes to writing supplements that are separate from the standard essay, work hard on them. If a college is having you talk about a certain topic, they value your opinion and response. Answer them fully and completely, and again, show the real side of you.
Overall, the process of applying to colleges does not have to be intimidating. You can tackle almost every situation if you organize your thoughts, set goals and due dates for yourself, and stay calm. Once everything is finished you can take a deep breath and know that you gave it your all. In summary, here are a few important things to remember: make a list of all your colleges, due dates and important information, mark your calendar with your tour dates early, take your time filling out the Common Application and show colleges the real you, and show passion or inspiration through your college essay and supplements. If you keep all those things in mind, the process should run as smoothly as possible. Good luck and happy applying!
