What to Expect During the College Application Process
In order to attend college, most schools require a college application that asks for information about yourself, your story, and your interest in the specific college. The college application process can be confusing and requires a lot of steps, but hopefully, we can provide you with some basic guidelines.
Types of College Applications
MULTI-SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
Multi-school applications are accepted at multiple colleges. This type of application allows you to submit everything in one place and select all the colleges you want to apply to. The most common multi-school applications are as follows:
1. The Common Application
The Common Application (often called the Common App for short) is accepted by over 900 colleges/universities. For those interested in going to an Ivy League, the 8 Ivy Leagues all take the Common App.
2. The Coalition Application
The Coalition Application is also very prominent for multi-school applications but is accepted by fewer colleges/universities than the Common App. Schools that use the Coalition Application include the University of Maryland and the University of Washington.
Usually, a college that takes the Coalition Application also takes the Common app, but this is not always the case.
PRO TIP: Most large public university systems (for example: the University of California System) require their own application. Make sure you check each and every college to see what application is accepted.
ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS
Sometimes, you may have to complete an additional application for a specific school. Here are some examples.
1. College-Specific Applications
Some colleges require that you fill out that college’s specific application. Many public universities only accept their own system’s application (examples include the University of California System and the University of Texas system), and a few private schools require their own application, such as Georgetown University.
2. Alternatives to Traditional Applications
Some schools allow students to submit a non-traditional application to the college. For example, Goucher College lets applicants pick whether they submit a traditional application or submit a video. This is a really cool opportunity for students who may excel in different areas!
PRO TIP: Make sure to make an organized list of what college requires what application. You want to make sure you submit all the required information to your dream schools!
HIGHLY COMPETITIVE NATIONAL PATHWAYS
1. QuestBridge Application
QuestBridge is a full-ride scholarship program for low-income students that partners with 48 institutions in the US. Students who chose to apply using QuestBridge will submit this application directly to the college. This must be completed by late September.
2. Posse Foundation
POSSE is a leadership program for high school students from certain major areas. If accepted into POSSE, the student will participate in many rounds of interviews. 10 students are selected and given a guaranteed full-tuition (not room and board) scholarship to one predetermined partner college. Students will need to complete an application for POSSE.
PRO TIP: Check with your high school or high school counselor to see if you qualify for these.
Components of College Applications
Although not all college applications look the same, most ask for the same general information.
General Information
This includes, but is not limited to:
Your name and any nickname
Do not invent a nickname! For example, if your name is William, but you go by Bill, put that as your nickname.
Do not put an online username (i.e. Vikkstar123) or something funny your friends call you on this official document.
Your home address
Your cell phone number
Make sure that you put a number where you can be easily reached.
Make sure your voicemail is activated and checked every day.
Your email address
Make sure you check this email every day!
It is highly recommended that you create a new email account for your college application journey. You will lose access to your high school email once you graduate, so you want to make sure you can access all this information!
Example emails: firstname.lastname@gmail.com, college4firstnamelastname@gmail.com
If you have a parent/guardian that is helping you with your applications, giving them access to your email account may help keep you on track.
PRO TIP: It is super helpful to memorize this information, if you haven’t done so already! It will help you type out your applications faster.
Academics
This includes, but is not limited to:
Your high school transcript
Transcripts from any other academic venues (i.e. community college classes)
Test Scores (SAT and/or ACT), if applicable
Many schools were SAT/ACT optional even before the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, even more schools have gone test optional. Make sure to check the requirements with each school you apply to!
In general, you should not list your scores for test optional schools, unless your scores are above the average score for each school.
AP and/or predicted IB scores, if applicable
Extracurriculars and Student Leadership
Colleges want to know more about you and what you can bring to their school! Here are some examples of extracurriculars and leadership activities:
Part-time work
Athletics (high school team(s) and/or club sports)
Student government
School clubs and academic extras (examples: Mock Trial, Speech & Debate, Science Bowl, Academic Decathlon)
Community service & volunteering
Role/involvement in church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious venue
Other obligations (example: taking care of siblings)
Awards and Honors
Any awards and honors received, whether academic/school-related or an outside organization (examples: religious organization or community organization).
Even perfect attendance is worth mentioning! This is the place for you to BRAG about all the awesome things you have done and accomplished!
Other examples:
Your local newspaper’s Athlete of the Week
National Honor Society
Volunteer of the Month at your local library
Student Resume
Although a resume is not typically a mandatory section of the application, it is often a good idea to provide a resume. A resume is basically a summary of the entire application, without the personal statement or other essays.
Write your resume before starting to fill out applications. This puts all of your activities, achievements, and accomplishments in one easily accessible place.
Having a resume is a great life skill, as you will likely have to submit one for future internships and jobs. Your resume can always be updated and used later!
PRO TIP: Check out UPchieve’s student resume template to help you get started!
Letters of Recommendation
Many schools require at least one Letter of Recommendation (LoR). However, this depends on each school, so make sure to check the number of letters required and from whom the colleges want these letters from.
Always ask for your letters EARLY! Give at least 4 weeks for teachers/counselors to write them. Here are some examples of who you can source letters from:
Letter from High School Teacher: Core Subject
Many colleges ask for at least one of this type of LoR. A core subject means Math, English, Science, or Social Studies/History.
TIP: This letter is often best from an 11th grade teacher.
Letter from High School Teacher: Any Subject
Some colleges allow a supplemental letter to be from a teacher who knows the student well. This could be from a music teacher/band director, art teacher, Yearbook, and more!
Letter from a High School Guidance Counselor
Even though colleges know that students often go to public high schools where counselors haven’t met every student, universities may still require a LoR from a High School Guidance Counselor.
TIP: Ask your counselor what information they need for your LoR. It can be helpful to provide them with your resume or details of your academic and/or extracurriculars.
Letter from Others
Some schools require a letter from an additional person in the student’s life (and at some schools, this letter is optional). Look for specific instructions on who can write this letter.
Typically, people who write this LoR include athletic coaches, part-time job supervisors, supervising teachers of activities/clubs, or religious leaders.
PERSONAL STATEMENT/ESSAY
The personal statement (also called the “Common App Essay” or the “College Essay”) is the part of the application that you have complete control over. The personal statement can be scary and intimidating, but have no fear!
This is your opportunity to show how unique and awesome you are, and for you to express your voice.
For the Common App, there will be a list of prompts and you will choose only one to answer in 650 words or less. Pay close attention to the word limit! Don’t go over the limit, but also don’t go under the limit by more than 150 words.
Give yourself plenty of time to write your essay and revise your work.
Here are a few quick tips:
Always check for spelling and grammar
There is no need to restate the prompt in your personal statement
Use your own voice!
COVID-19
This is a new section of the Common App & Coalition App where you can discuss how you were affected by COVID-19. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to revise and edit this section.
It is recommended that you don’t use your Personal Statement to write about how you were affected by COVID-19, unless you had a transformative experience directly as a result of the pandemic and lock down.
DISCIPLINARY HISTORY & OTHER MATTERS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE
Make sure to be honest in this section when you discuss any disciplinary history that appears on your high school record. This section can also be used to explain any life events that may have impacted your high school performance, such as the death of a family member, a big move, parents’ divorce, or any medical issues.
COLLEGE-SPECIFIC ESSAYS
Both the Common App and Coalition App will ask which colleges you want to apply to, and will display the additional short answer/essay questions that are specific to that college.
College-specific questions often ask you to explain why you want to attend that college or what you hope to contribute to the school. Just remember to give yourself plenty of time to revise and edit your response before submitting.
Here are a few tips for your college-specific essays:
Be as specific as possible when responding to the questions. Show that you have researched the school!
Name specific programs/majors/departments that the college has and why they are interesting to you
Mention names of professors or research that is happening at that university
Discuss any extracurricular clubs, teams, etc. that you would be interested in joining
College Application Plans
So you’ve got all your application materials ready to submit. Now what? You will then select which type of decision or action you want to take with your applications.
Early Decision (ED)
Early Decision is BINDING, meaning that students must generally attend the school if admitted, provided the school meets full financial need.
Most schools require you, a parent/guardian, and your High School Counselor to sign an ED agreement with the plan’s conditions
You can only apply to one school early decision
ED applications are typically due in late October or early November. Decision notifications occur in mid December.
Some schools have EDII, with applications due January and decision notification in March/April.
If you are admitted ED, you must withdraw all other applications to American private universities
Exception: If the student cannot afford tuition due to lack of financial aid, an ED commitment could be broken. In these cases, the university usually gets to decide how much the family can afford.
PROS: Shorter waiting period between submission and decision, potential to save time and money associated with multiple college applications, often higher admission rates for ED applicants.
CONS: Pressure to commit to one school early (the decision is BINDING), applications must be ready sooner.
Early Action (EA)
Early Action is NON-BINDING, meaning that you don’t have to attend this school if you are accepted, and have until May 1 to make a decision. EA applications are usually due earlier in the admissions cycle (October/November), and you are typically notified in January or February.
There are two types of EAs:
1. Restrictive EA: You can only apply to one school through early action, and all other colleges must be applied to through Regular Decision or EDII. Examples include Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, and Princeton.
2. Open EA: You can apply to other schools through early action.
PROS: Shorter waiting period between submission and decision, potential to save time and money associated with multiple college applications, allows you more time to decide what school you want to attend, non-binding
CONS: Application must be ready sooner, your fall semester grades and extracurriculars won’t be on this application
PRO TIP: There are very few cons with EA, so this is typically a great option to look into!
Regular Decision (RD)
Regular Decision is non-binding and you can apply to as many schools as you want.
You apply to your desired schools by a certain published deadline (often around January 1), and all applicants are notified on the same decision date (usually by April 1). This gives you more time to work on your applications and apply to more schools.
NOTE: The Common App caps at 20 school applications
After being notified of school decisions, you will have about 1 month to choose a school. Most decision deadlines are May 1.
RD can be more competitive! There are more applicants trying to get the remaining spots in each school’s incoming class. This is why acceptance rates are usually lower for RD than ED.
PROS: More time to prepare applications (SAT/ACT, edit essays), ability to apply to more schools with non-binding agreements, ability to compare financial packages between schools
CONS: Longer waiting period (usually March), more competition, and often lower acceptance rates than ED
ROLLING ADMISSIONS
Some schools chose to use rolling admissions instead of regular decision.
You submit your application any time within a large window (usually 6 months).
Applications are reviewed once they are received. You are notified once your application is reviewed, instead of on a single decision date.
Rolling Admissions is non-binding and you can apply to as many schools as you want
Policies can vary from school to school
Some schools have a published “end date” to apply, while others may close admissions when all spots are full
Some schools have priority/non-priority cycles (chances of being accepted are higher if you apply before the priority deadline)
PROS: Non-binding, earlier applications allow you to be notified earlier of admissions decision.
CONS: Typically need to apply early in the admissions cycle to ensure a seat, priority deadlines to receive scholarships/housing/financial aid
Final Thoughts on College Applications
This is a lot to keep track of! There are so many deadlines in so little time. Here are some tips to help you through the process:
Create an organization system that works for you
Research the requirements of each school
SAT/ACT scores, types of essays, etc.
Create and edit your resume to showcase your accomplishments and extracurriculars
Brainstorm who to ask for letters of recommendation
Plan backwards
Ask yourself: “If I have to submit a transcript to my college, how long will it take?” and figure out your personal deadline dates from there. This will also help you build time management skills for college!
You got this!! Good luck!!
Need more help learning how to prepare for college? Download our college prep checklists for 9th-11th grade, or the version for high school seniors.
Prefer to work through your college plans with an academic coach? Sign up today to get free college counseling through UPchieve!