Attention, bamboozled senior Blazers applying to college! Print or online, early decision or early action, FAFSA or 401K, the college application process is positively daunting with all of its various options. Here is a checklist that might make life among the essays, personal information forms, and scholarship application papers a little bit easier.
So you've picked your colleges. If you haven't, resources like the online Princeton Review or the College Board can help you narrow your search and find those colleges and universities that best fit you.
- First, using resources such as the colleges' websites or the two abovementioned general sources, research and record the following information for each of your chosen schools:
- DEADLINES: Both early action, early decision, and regular decision deadlines for the application. Also check to make sure if forms need to be postmarked or received by the listed dates.
- COMMON APPLICATION?: Find out if the colleges you are applying to accept the common application (which can be found here). You only have to complete the Common Application online once, regardless of the number of colleges you are applying accept it, and either submit it online or print and send it via snail mail. Usually, colleges that accept the Common Application have a supplement that is specific to the college that can usually be found on the college's website, or even on commonapp.org.
- ADMISSIONS CONTACTS: For each of the colleges you are applying to, make note of the undergraduate admissions address so that you have easy access to it when writing out envelopes for your transcripts, teacher recommendations, and other application materials. It's also a good idea to write down the email address and/or phone number of the admissions office, in case you come upon any specific questions later in the process.
- TRANSCRIPTS - You must submit transcript requests to the registrar's office at least one month (20 school days) before the admissions deadline. To prepare the proper, transcript request packets, make sure to include these items:
- FEE: You must enclose $3 with each transcript request for processing and postage. Pay this fee at the financial office window, and get your transcript request form stamped before going to the registrar's office.
- TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM: Extras of these can be found outside and inside the registrar's office. They require you to write personal information, such as your name and student ID number, as well as the name and address of the schools you want your transcript sent to, as well as the materials you want included in your transcript packet (i.e. guidance counselor letter of recommendation, standardized test scores, etc.) and the date by which the items must be postmarked/received. There are three sheets in this packet; you will be given the pink sheet after your transaction with the registrar's office is complete.
- ADDRESSED 9” x 12” ENVELOPES: Write your name on the upper left hand corner of the envelope as the return address, and the address of the Undergraduate Admissions Office of the school to which your transcript materials are being sent. Don't worry about postage—the registrars will weigh your outgoing envelope and affix the proper postage to it for you.
- INFORMATION SHEET: If it is the first time you are requesting a transcript, you must fill out the yellow half-sheet that your guidance counselor gave you and include with your first request package ONLY. This card includes information such as your name and social security number, and a place for your signature that serves as a waiver allowing the registrar's office to release your records.
- TEST SCORES - Although some colleges and universities accept your high school's record of your standardized test scores (SATs, SAT IIs, ACTs), some require that ETS sends the scores directly to the admissions office. Make sure you are aware of your chosen colleges' policies.
- TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS - Present the proper packets to the teachers that you would like to write your letters of recommendation at least six weeks before the recommendations must be received by the colleges of your choice. Ask your teachers politely if they would like to write you a positive recommendation to the colleges of your choice.
- TEACHER RECOMMENDATION REQUEST FORM: These can be acquired inside or outside the registrar's office. They require you to fill out your name, date, social security number, as well as the colleges for which you want a particular teacher to write recommendations. You also have the option of signing (or not signing, as the case may be) a waiver so you do not review the recommendation before it is sent out.
- TEACHER FORM FOR THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR: This form, found in or out of the registrar's office, must be given to two of your teachers (from eleventh or twelfth grade) and in turn submitted to your guidance counselor. These forms are basic evaluations that help your guidance counselor write a more detailed and appropriate letter of recommendation to those schools that require it.
- TEACHER RECOMMENDATION FORMS: If you are using the common application, you can print out as many copies as necessary from commonapp.org to give to your teachers to fill out. If the schools to which you are applying use their own particular application, make sure that you have the proper forms and include them in the packet.
- ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPES: For each college that you request a recommendation for, address an envelope to its undergraduate admissions office, put on a stamp, and make sure the school's address is written as the return address in the upper left corner.
- INTERVIEW - Find out if any of the schools you are applying to require or strongly encourage an interview. Usually, schools do not require them if you live far away, or if they are a large university. However, sometimes interviews can add to your chances of acceptance, and you might want to consider one even if it is not required, especially for reach schools.
- ESSAYS
- Essays are a pivotal part of your college applications. Sometimes essays can be the deciding factor in your acceptance or rejection. They are often the only part of the application (unless you have an interview) that allows your personality to shine through and allow admissions officers to see you as more than a GPA, SAT score or list of extracurriculars.
- There are several options on the common application for potential essays, but sometimes colleges that accept the common application have specific subjects they want you to write about. It's a good idea to thoroughly research the required essays, and make a list of all the essays you need to write. Sometimes the list will overlap, which will mean less writing for you.
- Common essay types include:
- Why you think a particular college will be perfect for you, and what you think you will bring to the college community
- What was a defining moment in your life
- What a first experience of yours was, and what kind of effect it had on you
In the frenzy that is applying to college, it's important to make sure that you are organized. The materials that you send out yourself—like print/online applications, essays, etc.—are your responsibility, but items that you give to others to send out—teacher recommendations, counselor recommendations, transcript requests—are also your responsibility. You should check in with your teachers and the registrar regularly to make sure that everything is happening on schedule. You can also contact the admissions offices to find out what has been received and what has not yet been received, so as to stay on top of the process. Keep the receipts (the pink copies) of your transcript and teacher recommendation requests in case of conflicts.
As long as you keep these processes and rules in mind, your college application process will be a little bit smoother and a little bit less stressful. Good luck!