All the hard work is about to pay off; college application due dates are just around the corner, and yet everything still seems kind of daunting. So just in case you’re still stressing about it like I am, or you’re a junior or underclassmen wanting to prepare yourself, here are the most helpful tips I’ve learned from my extensive research as an overachiever applying to way too many schools. (I tried like ten different ways to break this sentence up and none of them sounded right to me, so if you have an idea lmk)
Know the difference between application dates
One of the most important and yet most baffling details about college applications is deadline options for different schools. How do you know what to do for each school? It’s based on a few simple factors. If you have a school that you are positive you want to attend, you should apply Early Decision if the school offers it. Early Decision typically gives you a higher chance of getting into the school in exchange for your commitment to go there if you are accepted. Applying and getting accepted for Early Decision means that all other applications to other schools will be immediately canceled. One downside is that it is sometimes harder to get financial aid if you apply Early Decision, so make sure you have a plan to pay off tuition before committing to this option.
Early Action is the other option of the two early choices, and by far the more popular one. Early Action allows you to apply to the schools that offer that choice early and get their decisions back sooner, without the commitment to attending. This option also often yields a higher percent chance of acceptance, but not as much as Early Decision. Early Action is usually the ideal time to apply if you’re also applying for merit-based scholarships to those same schools. The deadline to apply early to most schools, whether it be Early Decision or Early Action, is typically between Oct. 15 and Nov. 15, so make sure to check for your schools of interest and know when the deadlines are. Regular Decision is the final way to apply, and applications are usually due sometime between December and February. There’s no special benefits like applying early, but it can be a great option if there’s a school you want to apply to at the last minute. Keep in mind as well that the week of Oct. 16 is Free Application Week for many participating North Carolina schools, so be sure to check to see if any of your colleges of choice apply.
Have your college application materials organized
There are a lot of documents and writing pieces you need to apply to college. If you don’t have them organized right off the bat, your application process will become more and more confusing. What I’ve found helpful is to create a folder for all my college documents in my Google Drive, and within the general folder, create individual folders for each school. You don’t want to leave it up to CommonApp to save that essay you worked so hard on, so write and revise it all in a Google Doc so you can simply copy and paste the passage you wrote into the corresponding box when you’re ready. You may also find that the topics of supplemental writing questions for different schools can be very similar, if not the same, so having the questions you’ve already submitted to previous schools saved in a place where you can easily access them may allow you to use an already written response as a structure for a different response question.
Do your research
This is so simple and yet it’s truly the most important thing to remember: don’t apply to schools simply because it sounds cool. That’s $50+ wasted on an application fee for a school that you don’t even want to attend in the first place. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to tour many of the colleges I’m applying to in-person, with plans to tour more, but if you’re not able to do that, at least do a virtual tour online and research the subject area you’re interested in for that particular school. It also can be helpful to reach out to the admissions offices at those schools, who may be able to get you in contact with a current or former student to talk about their experiences.
The college application and admission process is truly different for everyone, and each person has their own path to follow. Regardless of how stressful this process can be, if you’re prepared, organized and knowledgeable, it’s guaranteed to be easier to maintain a level head when the college season gets crazy.
