Advice About College Applications

Applying for college is about far more than grades. College applications are about showing yourself as a valuable member of the campus community at the university or college of your choice. When you are filling out applications for college, you ought to keep that in mind.

First, a few dos and don'ts for your high school senior year:

Make it a point to take your SAT and ACT tests at the beginning of the school year. Particularly, if you don't feel like you did well, allow yourself the time to take them a second time when they are offered in January. These college related exams are extremely important in deciding which institution you can attend. Some schools also will require you to send them your end-of-first-semester grades to check up on your application process.

Do keep doing well in your high school classes. Though grades and academics aren't the only admission requirement, they're a very important segment of the admission process. If you are a home schooled student, be certain that you speak with the schools you are thinking about and see what they will need as confirmation for passing classes such as Chemistry and Civics.

If you're signed up for Advanced Placement (AP) classes offered by your school, be sure that you take the AP tests. If you get a chance to take AP exams apart from the class, the money spent on them is inconsequential, and very much worth the gamble. Furthermore, taking a CLEP test can save you money on tuition and help get you admitted to the school of your choice.

Do take the time to evaluate the list of possible universities or colleges you would like to attend. Schools that are a safe bet should be included on the list, as well as academic challenge schools and reach schools. Do your research and get as much university information about the school that you are thinking about applying for. You should never be afraid to go for the top end or ivy league schools. There is very little to lose by filling out an application. Purchase a week-at-a-glance calendar and write down the deadlines for applications for each institution.

Begin honing your essay for admissions early. This admission essay is the only chance you're going to get to state, in your words, the reasons you should be attending this college. Use the essay to discuss two or three things you have done that you're proud of, and relate those things to ways you would interact in the college or university community. Highlight what you can bring to the school, that go beyond tuition. Be sure your essay is proofread many times, before mailing it off. Be sure to include any open letters of recommendation from advisors and your instructors. This essay is, ultimately, your job interview for being a student at the college, so take time to make it as perfect as you possibly can.

Get recommendation letters from guidance counselor, employers, your instructors, and anyone you do extracurricular or after school activities for. Make certain you give them a decent amount of time to write your letter, and remember that letters of recommendation aren't the easiest things to write. Be certain to provide them with a stamped and addressed envelope to send them along.

Do check into the financial aid that is open to you at the university you're thinking about. It may very well be the perfect school, but are you going to be able to pay for it? Determine what type of student aid you qualify for and start going after it as early as possible. Are there scholarships available to you? Educational grants? Should you look into student loans to pay for your education?

Now, the don'ts. Do not be tempted by senioritis. Make sure you go to all of your classes in your last semester of high school; this is something college admission boards screen for, because students who get senioritis in high school are likely to become lazy students in college as well.

Do not worry too much if something doesn't work out like you think it should. Allow yourself extra time to do things again. The only thing that you can't do again is mail applications once the deadline has passed. Do not ignore submission deadlines either.