College Application Advice

Applying for college is about much more than just grades. College applications are about showing yourself as a valuable part of the community on campus and being capable of the college degree program that you choose. When going through the process of applying for college, you should keep that mind.

First, some dos and don'ts for your senior year of high school:

Get some letters of recommendation from your guidance counselor, teachers, your boss, and anyone that you do extracurricular activities for. Make sure that you give them plenty of time to write your letter, and bear in mind that letters of recommendation aren't always the easiest things to write. Be certain you provide them with a stamped and addressed envelope to send them along.

Continue to do well in your high school classes. Though academics and grades aren't the only admission requirement, they're a significant segment of the admission process. If you are a home schooled student, take the time to consult the colleges you're thinking about and check to see what they will require as confirmation for passing classes like Chemistry and Civics.

Do check into what financial aid is available to you at the school you are thinking about. It might be a perfect school for you, but are you going to be able to pay for it? Learn what sort of student financial aid you might quality for and start going after it as early as possible. Could you be awarded a scholarship? What about education grants? Do you need to look into applying for student loans to finance your education?

Do take time to go through the possible colleges or universities you would like to attend. Include safe schools on the list, additionally with reach schools and academic challenge schools. Do some homework and obtain as much university information articles about the college that you are applying for. You should not fear going for the better colleges or universities. There's not much to lose for filling out an application. Get a week-at-a-glance calendar or planner and keep the deadlines for applications for each school.

Take your ACT and SAT tests in the beginning of the school year. In particular, if you do not feel you did well enough, allow yourself some time to take them another time in January. These college test exams are extremely important in making a determination about which school you will be able to attend. Some schools also will require you to send them your first semester grades to check up on your process for application.

Begin perfecting your essay for admissions early. This admissions essay is the one opportunity you'll get to say, in your words, the reasons you should go to this particular institution. Use the admission essay to talk about two to three things you've done that you are proud of, and relate them to how you would interact within the university or school community. Illustrate the things you are bringing to the school, beyond a tuition check. Be sure your essay is gone over multiple times, prior to mailing it off. Include it with open letters of recommendation from advisors and teachers. Ultimately, the admissions essay is your job interview for being a college student, so be certain that you make it as perfect as it can possibly be.

If you are signed up for Advanced Placement classes, make sure that you schedule a time to take the AP exams. If you get a chance to take Advanced Placement exams apart from the class, the money you will spend on them is insignificant, and well worth the gamble. Furthermore, taking a CLEP test can save you tuition money and help get you accepted to the college of your choice.

And now, the don'ts. Don't get senioritis. Make sure you go to all of your classes in your final high school semester; college admissions boards will screen for this, because students that get senioritis might become lazy college students as well.

Do not get discouraged if something doesn't work out like you think it should. Leave yourself extra time for do-overs. The only thing that can't be done again is send off applications after the deadline has passed. Do not forget about submission deadlines either.