When to Start College Applications?
The college application season is an exciting time. You've built your college list, explored campuses, and delved into the academics and resources that will help you excel.
Now, you might be wondering: When is the best time to apply? How do I stay organized? What are the dos and don’ts? So many questions! But don't worry, we have some helpful tips to encourage you to stay on track while applying to colleges.
Quick Tip on Your College List
The best way to start applying to colleges is by creating a list that aligns with your academic and career goals. This helps narrow your focus and streamline the application process.
To get started, consider joining the Student Search Service™. This allows you to connect with 1,200 four-year colleges and access $300 million in scholarship programs.
Additionally, did you know that creating a college list or applying to colleges can qualify you for a $500 or $40,000 BigFuture Scholarship? Earn entries into monthly drawings by completing the six qualifying steps on BigFuture.
Getting College Applications Organized
Preparing for college application season is about staying organized. Applying for schools is much easier these days. Online applications are standard. They're quick to process and usually have built-in checks to ensure you provide all the necessary materials. Nevertheless, you must stay on top of the process to submit the application and supplementary documents correctly and on time.
Start early. Set deadlines for completing essays, collecting recommendations, and filling out forms a few weeks before they're due. Mark these earlier deadlines on your calendar. You can also track dates by setting up a spreadsheet. Gather dates from all your college applications so that you can view everything from one document. College websites are the best place to find accurate deadline information.
Be consistent. Using the same name on all your forms makes things easier for admissions officers. It's also wise to use your full legal name. Doing so will avoid mistakes, delays, and discrepancies when matching data across other systems for, among other items, test scores and FAFSA®. Some applications have space for preferred names, but it's best to stick to your legal name everywhere else. Switching names─going from Bill to Billy, for example─increases the odds that your materials will get misfiled.
Be careful. Careless mistakes on your application can hurt your chances of getting accepted. A strong piece of college application advice is to set your application aside for a day before checking it for errors. You can view it with fresh eyes and spot errors more efficiently. If you can, have a teacher or parent proofread it as well. Save and review online applications before you submit them.
Alert your school. Follow your school's process for submitting transcripts. Most schools use an online platform, making things much more efficient and easier to manage. The same goes for letters of recommendation. Usually, writers can submit letters electronically through an easy-to-use linked platform. If paper documents are necessary, provide accurate addresses and follow up to ensure everything goes out when needed.
Completing the Application Package
Once you’re completed your college application, follow these tips to make sure all the parts get where they’re going.
Don't wait. Submit online materials a few weeks before the deadline. Send anything that needs physical mailing several weeks before it’s due. To stay on track and get everything in on time, we recommend creating an application checklist.
Submit once. When you apply online, you'll usually get an automated response saying the school received your materials. If you don't, contact the college's admissions office. Don't apply online again or mail in another application.
Keep copies. Save a copy of each piece of each application. Save personal identification numbers, passwords, confirmations, and email notifications from admissions officers. Having this documentation for future reference can save you if a problem arises.
Get confirmation. If you mail documents, put a stamped postcard addressed to your house in each package so that admissions officers can let you know that your materials have arrived. The U.S. Postal Service also offers a similar "return receipt" service and online tracking.
If you get an email or notification saying something is missing, don't panic. Read the email closely. It should list what you still need to submit and detailed instructions on what you can do to get it in. If the information is unclear, don't hesitate to call the admissions office for guidance.
Monitor your email. When preparing for college application cycles, create a professional-sounding email account exclusively for college matters. Use it for your applications. Check it regularly so you don't miss anything important regarding your submitted applications.