Applying to College
So you have finished exploring the many different colleges at your disposal and it is now time to apply. There are so many things that go into a college application, it can be very overwhelming for students. Do not panic. Below are some steps to help you manage the stressful college application time and guide you in the direction to make an awesome college application.
Helpful Links
Four Useful Things to Consider Before You Begin the Application Process
1. Get Informed
Colleges want to know the real you. When you apply to colleges, you don’t have to try to make yourself look better by listing the kinds of accomplishments or writing the kind of essay you think they want to see. If you’re honest about who you are and what you’ve done, you’re more likely to end up at a college that’s a good fit for you.
What else can you learn before you get going?
- More important truths about college admission
- The components of a college application
2. Talk to People
Tell your family, your school counselor, your teachers and anyone else you’re close to that you’re applying to colleges. Talking about what you want for the future — and the ways college will help you get there — is a great warm-up for college applications.
Colleges want to know the real you.
3. Brainstorm
Most applications ask you to describe what you’ve done in and out of the classroom. Start thinking about your activities, honors and awards, and make a list of those that mean the most to you. You can also write down some notes on your favorite classes and the reasons you like them.
4. Get Organized
If you can keep track of everything you need, you’ll be ahead of the game. For each college you’re applying to:
- Create a real and a virtual folder for storing documents.
- Print a checklist to track your progress on each part of the application.
Gather these numbers and resources:
- Your Social Security number
- Your high school code
- A copy of your high school transcript
- Your score report from a college admission test
Now you’re informed, inspired, organized and ready to begin. For more details on the college admission process, visit Applying to College: FAQs.
For more information on applying to college, finding out information about college, or how to pay for college, please visit the Big Future website.