Filling out and submitting college applications can be nerve-wracking, but if you plan ahead of time the process can be much easier. While there are tons of things to do before you submit that application, a visit to your high school counselor is a great way to get some of the help you need, but you shouldn’t rely on them for everything. Instead, it’s a good idea to proactively do some research and college application prep planning on your own as well. Different schools require different items to be submitted during the college application process, which is why thoughtfully curating your college list (the schools you want to apply to) and learning of their college application requirements checklist will set you up for the most success and make applications as stress-free and successful as possible.
What Should You Include With Your Application?
Regardless of the school you’re applying to, there are certain items that need to be included when you send in your application. The first thing you need to be aware of is the application deadline, and learn for sure if that deadline is a regular deadline or an early decision (or early action) deadline. This is crucial, as the different types of admissions have both differing deadlines, as well as differing implications, and you want to make sure you’re pursuing the type of admission that will prioritize your top choice schools to increase the odds of acceptance, which may mean early decision for your dream school, early action for your safety schools, and regular decision for your other schools. Below are a few of the things that most colleges require you to send in with your college application.
- An application form that is filled in completely and signed
- All standardized test scores (ACT, SAT, possibly SAT subject tests)
- Your official transcripts from high school
- A supplemental essay to allow admissions officers a chance to get to know you better
- Letters of recommendation – aim for at least 3 (two core subject teachers and a supplemental recommendation often works well)
- Information on any extracurricular activities you participate in
- A school profile (if the high school provides one)
- The required fee or a fee waiver
Of course, in addition to SAT or ACT scores and recommendation letters, some schools will require one or more extra items and additional information, especially if you’re an international applicant. In fact, an international student often has a completely different application form and numerous additional materials that have to be submitted along with that form. Regardless of the type of prospective student you are, it’s important to learn everything that the school is expecting you to send to them along with your application.
While we’re on this subject, if you’re still taking AP exams, make sure you send them that information as well (or arrange to have the testing center or exam board forward those scores to your schools of choice), along with any unique characteristic that you have, including if you are fluent in a foreign language.
Admissions counselors want to know everything about you, and the more things you have that set you apart from the other students, the better off you’ll be. Make sure you include everything that you spend time on, including extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and anything else – even if it doesn’t seem all that important. Oftentimes these non-academic outside-the-classroom differentiators can be the difference of acceptance or rejection for students who are on the verge of admission to more selective schools, so they’re well worth highlighting on your resume and in your personal statement.
First Things First
One of the first things you should do before you do anything with your application is to write down all deadlines and dates in your calendar, or put them on your virtual calendar. After all, you’ll need to be aware of your deadlines at all times, as well as reminders about what you need to do next. A very detailed calendar is needed so that nothing important is overlooked or forgotten. Make sure the following dates are recorded:
- Any application deadlines for Regular Decision (RD), Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), and if applicable, Rolling Admission
- All regular and federal student aid deadlines, including Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), CSS profile, scholarships, etc.
- Dates that standardized tests are given (SAT, ACT)
- Dates for college admissions tests, if the university you’re applying to has its own entrance exam
You also have to get all of your financial information together, whether you’re paying for your schooling yourself or you need some type of need-based aid or federal student loans. In addition to other required documents, you’ll likely need proof of your parents’ income, which includes their most recent tax returns, as well as bank statements that show them their cash balances and maybe even investment information. Some schools need items such as W-2s and the CSS Profile as well, but this will vary with each school.
Things That Impress College Admissions Departments
Making sure your undergraduate application looks its best is important, especially if you’re applying to a prestigious school with a lot of competition. The college admission process can take a while, but while you’re paying extra attention to required items like your academic records, your next letter of recommendation, or your official high school transcript, there are some proactive and supplemental things you can do to increase the odds that you’ll get admitted, and they start with these:
- Pay Close Attention to Your Supplemental Essays
Supplemental essays give your college board a chance to get to know you a little better, but keep in mind that they not only want to hear about your academic and extracurricular life, but also about your personal life. What motivates you? What are your main goals in life? What do you like to do in your personal time? While first-year applicants might not consider these things important, they can make a big difference when it comes to getting into the college of your dreams.
- Go Ahead and Self-Report or Submit Your Test Scores
ACT and SAT scores can be self-reported by prospective students to many colleges, but you’ll have to check with them first to see how they want you to submit this information. If the school allows for self-reporting of these scores, you can keep the scores on file at those colleges and then formally submit the fee once you get the notice that you’ve been accepted. Many colleges will accept the scores without the fee until they make the decision regarding your admission.
- Always Double Check Everything
Before submitting an undergraduate admission application, always double- and triple-check all of the application materials to make sure that (1) everything is there, and (2) everything looks spectacular. Make sure that everything requested is there, all required documents are signed, everything is grammatically correct and error-free, all additional paperwork is there, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) waiver is attached. Everything has to be impeccable if you want the admissions counselor to take your application seriously, especially as the admissions process becomes more selective and the successful candidates pool more competitive.
Getting Organized Helps With the Application Process
If you know how to use a computer and create a spreadsheet, this will help a lot if you’re applying to several different colleges. You can also create folders to put away brochures and any notes you take for each college, which can denote any special programs you might want to apply to, academic programs you may highlight in that university’s application, or any specific requirements they’ve mentioned to gain admission into their honors program. Remaining organized is the best way to keep track of everything going on until you start getting accepted by colleges. Under the folder or spreadsheet should be the following information:
- Name of the college
- A copy of the completed application or a link to the online application if applicable
- The type of deadline (regular, early, rolling, etc.)
- The application fee or application fee waiver
- Any application requirements (essay, additional documents, etc.)
As soon as you learn of any deadlines or have a question answered by the school, you’ll want to make a note of that in your file. The process of submitting applications to various colleges can be hectic and time-consuming, but if you’re organized and write down everything that happens along the way, it’s much easier for everyone involved. It’s also a good idea to give your parents access to these files so that they can know the status as well.
Presenting the Right Image
When you are applying to colleges that are extremely competitive, anything you can do to make yourself stand out will end up making a difference in the end. The school official in charge of your application will go over everything with a fine-tooth comb, so you have to make sure all of your T’s are crossed and your I’s are dotted. The final admission decision takes everything into consideration, not just test scores or essays, but that doesn’t stop the fact that you can do certain things to make yourself look better in their eyes.
If you have any type of unique situation, such as a disability of some sort, you need to research your schools even more thoroughly. If you have trouble walking, for instance, you might want to choose smaller campuses or schools with better disability services. If you already know what you’re going to major in, you should try to find schools that have extra high-quality programs in that area. Naturally, the earlier you start looking into these things, the more time you’ll have to make sure everything you submit to these colleges is just perfect.
Keep in mind that time is not your friend when applying to college, especially as you reach your more hectic junior and senior years of high school. If you can start in your freshman or sophomore year of high school, you’ll have more time to get everything done on time, which helps ensure you won’t forget anything important, and you’ll successfully set up a promising academic record. It’s never too early to begin your college application requirements checklist, and your future self will thank you for being so proactive today. Furthermore, the earlier you begin, the more time and headspace you have to seek out scholarships and awards that can make paying for college much more tolerable, the benefits of which you’ll feel for years to come.
