These days, it is becoming more challenging, competitive, and expensive to be accepted to one’s top college or university. Here are some tips on how to get a head start on the college application process. I know these tips would have come in handy during my application process!
- Research, research, research! It is important to figure out what you want and need in a college or university. Every campus is different. The good news is that it is very easy to research schools via the Internet, and you can receive all kinds of important information about each school with a few clicks of the button. If you have a school in mind, go directly to the school’s website and just explore for a bit. Research the Cost of Attendance, including the breakdown of tuition, room & board, transportation, etc., student to professor ratio, class size, student population, housing, sports and athletic programs, your intended major and programs, and surrounding city or town of the school of interest. If you don’t have a school in mind, check out www.collegeboard.org and click on College Search. This will lead you to a very helpful breakdown to finding the right school for you.
- Get Your Grades Up! Most colleges award academic-based scholarships based on high school GPA and SAT scores. In order to get the greatest amount of academic scholarships, do consistently well in school and do well on the test. Challenging yourself academically by taking Honors or Advanced Placement classes also help you to stand out in your college applications. Most colleges even offer course credit for high Advanced Placement exam scores so be sure to take the AP tests.
- Make a School Comparison Chart! Grab an old notebook or folder and write down all the information about each school that you have researched. This helps you to stay organized and updated on each school, and gives you a place to easily compare each university. Don’t forget to jot down and meet deadlines for applications, scholarships, and housing!
- Take the SAT’s…then take them again! I’m not sure if the saying about re-taking the SAT’s and scoring higher is true or not, but it doesn’t hurt to try again, especially if the first round of scores were a little disappointing. I do know that the second time you take the test, it’s a little more comforting because you already know what to expect format-wise, but definitely don’t expect it to be any easier content-wise. The earlier, the better when it comes to preparing for and taking the SAT’s.
- Take the ACT’s! Most colleges and university’s accept both the SAT or the ACT as appropriate entrance tests. The big difference between the SAT and the ACT is that the SAT is an aptitude test whereas the ACT is more of an achievement test. Also, the ACT has a science section, whereas the SAT does not. You can find more information on the SAT versus the ACT at http://www.princetonreview.com/sat-act.aspx.
- Apply Using the Common Application! This online college application allows you to submit one application to 488 Common Application member schools in 46 different states, the District of Columbia, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. You can view all participating colleges and universities at www.commonapp.org. Keep in mind that although this is one application, it still takes a great amount of time to complete, including Teacher Evaluations & Letters of Recommendations, a School Report, and of course an interesting Personal Essay. Check to see if your school accepts the Common Application. This will make applying to college a lot easier with less paperwork.
- Ask your Teacher or Coach for an Evaluation Early! Be sure to politely ask early on if your teacher or coach would be willing to write a recommendation for you and give them ample time to write it. It takes time to write a personalized, glowing recommendation letter. Chances are, your classmate, teammate, and even your best friend will also be asking your teacher or coach for a letter of recommendation for their college applications and scholarships. Get a head start, or risk losing a great recommendation because teachers will say no if they have already agreed to a number of requests.
- Talk to People! Talk to parents, siblings, teachers, church family members, college students and other adults about your college search and ask a lot of questions. You are not the first one applying to college and you certainly won’t be the last. Talking with other people may lead to some other great tips in your college search, application process, or transition into college. The only way I found out about the university I am happily attending now was through talking with another adult about my college search. It really does help!
- Apply, apply, apply to Scholarships! College is a very expensive investment and most of the time, students often choose the school they can afford over their top choice. You should try to avoid this route by applying to as many scholarships as possible. Check the high school counselor’s office for scholarship forms, peruse the newspapers for scholarship opportunities, and search for scholarships on the Internet through the many scholarship search engines. A popular one in Hawai’i is the Hawaii Community Foundation Scholarships online at www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/scholarships.
- Do Everything You Can to Get There! College acceptances have become more competitive in the past few years. Use your strengths and talents in academics, athletics, music, or the arts, anything to help you to achieve your goals!
