College Applications Open August 1st
It’s August! This has been one of the craziest years ever and has had many changes. It almost feels comforting that some things remain the same. One of those is that most college applications on August 1st each year.
If you are a rising high school senior, it is critical that you keep up with the dates that will soon be coming at you quickly for many events, deadlines and opportunities.
If you are a rising Junior, it is time to get college on your radar. The Junior year is critical in the college admissions process and a great time to get started with each step of the process as well as begin looking for scholarships.
If you are the parent of a high school student, it is also a good time to become acquainted with the college admissions process and how you can encourage your student along the way and how you can help set your student up for success in this adventure.
Many students have no idea where to start in this process. We are here to help. In fact, we offer many ways to help with each step from college admissions, applications, essays, financial and our favorite part…. scholarships!
Sometimes students have no idea what they want to do with their future. This is a completely normal part of the process. My own daughter who is a high school junior felt this same way. Being in the industry, I have a lot of resources and wanted to help my daughter find her natural path and direction that would be the best fit for her unique gifts, talents and interests. I ultimately was able to score a spot on Elisa Anderson’s calendar for my daughter to do some aptitude testing with her. I can’t tell you what an amazing job she did helping my daughter with identifying her strengths and giving her several ideas on directions that would be a good fit for her to pursue. I can’t recommend her process enough if you are needing some guidance in finding your best career path and selecting a major. You can contact her here: https://www.crossroadsmentors.com/ You’ll be glad you did!
I encourage students to not delay getting their applications submitted. The sooner the better. I tell my students that I don’t start feeling scared until Halloween. My goal for my students is for them to have all applications submitted before Halloween each year.
I also like to advise students that there are several ways to submit applications. Some of those have higher application fees while submitting to the same schools can be sometimes be free if a different application is used. It is a good idea to be aware of all of the hidden costs associated with the application process.
Which College Application to Choose
Many students have no idea where to begin with the application process. There are 3 general types of applications and they get progressively more intense in difficulty.
3 Options of College Applications
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School Application – This Application is my favorite when it is offered. Schools often allow you to apply directly from their website. This is often the cheapest way to apply and the least difficult of the applications.
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State Specific Applications – For example: Apply Texas is the official application for Texas residents.
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Applications that cover many schools. There are 2 applications that cover thousands of schools. This is extremely helpful when you don’t want to fill out an application for each school individually. The Common App, which has over 800 schools in their member school list. The Coalition App which also has a large member base who accept their application.
Different applications have different fees and you would be wise to find out the least expensive way to submit your application. These application fees can add up quickly if you aren’t careful.
Be sure to keep up with application deadlines. This is important because missing opportunities will only limit your options of where you can attend college. When applying, also be aware of the different options for submission such as Early Acceptance, Early Decision, Regular Decision etc…. These options all have different deadlines and different ramifications of the choice. For example, Early Decision is a legally binding contract and one that has many pros and cons that should be considered.
Another great tip is being prepared with needed information before you begin your applications. What you will need:
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Transcript
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Resume
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Recommendation Letters
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Essay
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Test Scores
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School Report
Different Applications will require different documents but the list above is a great start!
This is such an exciting time with great possibilities ahead. If we can help you in any way in the application process, please reach out to us, we are excited to watch your college journey!
