The College Application Process

Applying to college can be an incredibly anxious ordeal for the entire family. High school students across the country are told to fear application pitfalls and inflated applicant pools, and that they should stress and worry over details as fine as the placement of semicolons. They will hear terrible tales about the process, and that there are only six spots open at Lucky University this year. They shouldn’t believe rumors and urban legends regarding college admissions. They need to trust their internal detector and understand that no two students are alike, and the key is to find the school that best matches their abilities, interests and aspirations.

The key is to start the process early. Ideally, a college search should begin no later than the middle of the junior year in high school. This allows the student to take SATs and other achievement tests required for admission to most two- and four-year schools. However, a student can begin to plan for the future as early as the ninth grade, by entering high school determined to have a superb experience academically and personally. A ninth grade student can develop academic skills by taking challenging courses, getting involved with extracurricular activities and by reading often to strengthen vocabulary. Summer is an important time to either volunteer or, if you are old enough, to get a summer job. Now is the time to try something new and explore it;

too often students tend to try too many new activities in eleventh and twelfth grade to pad their resume unsuccessfully.

In tenth grade, students are introduced to college admission testing by taking both the PSAT (preliminary SAT) and the PLAN (preliminary ACT) tests. Having taken both of these preliminary tests not only assesses a student’s strengths and weaknesses, but also can identify which test better showcases their strong points. A tenth grade student should consider taking one or more SATII tests upon completion of the subject in school, keep on top of academic work and remembering that the quality of involvement in activities is more important than the quantity. If a student excels in a class or has a favorite teacher, maintain this important relationship; students need teachers who know and like them to write college recommendations. Have a productive summer by getting a job, volunteering or attending an educational summer program.

In eleventh grade, students should start college research by developing a preliminary college list. It is important to maintain strong academic and personal records and extracurricular involvement. Register for appropriate college admission testing—SAT I, SATII, and/or ACT—to be taken no later than the end of their junior year, especially if applying Early Decision or Early Action. Students should be familiar with the standardized tests and, if eligible, students should take Advanced Placement exams. However, a student must not spend so much time preparing for these tests that academics and extracurricular commitments suffer. Start investigating scholarship and financial aid opportunities. Student athletes participating in fall sports should send college coaches their fall schedule and contact programs, stating an interest to attend. Summer work experience is important; however, make time to visit a few college campuses. While visiting college campuses in the summer may be easier, try to schedule a few visits during Spring Break or Teacher Workdays while colleges are in session.

In twelfth grade, students begin applying to college, deciding where to matriculate, and graduating from high school, celebrating their academic and personal accomplishments. Begin the application process the summer before senior year by writing drafts of required essays, requesting information from colleges and visiting campuses. Keep investigating scholarship opportunities and prepare Financial Aid Forms. Students in the twelfth grade should still be serious about academic records and extracurricular commitments. Many colleges require mid-year transcripts and personal records until graduation.

Remember, starting this process early will enable a student to thoroughly investigate the schools in which he or she is most interested. Students who approach this process with sincere intention, open-mindedness, and commitment, and who communicate openly, are ultimately the most successful at finding a positive college match.