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Preparing for college applications can really be a hustle. But your worries are over because this article will serve as your ultimate guide for college preparation!
If you’re in your last year of high school, you might come across the option to further extend your education. If you’ve chosen to go to college, there are quite a few things you must do before you can apply to a program you’re interested in.
Keep in mind that the application process is certainly not an easy task: there are lots to prepare for, and the process requires lots of work, dedication, and good decision-making. But before you get discouraged, here is an ultimate checklist that will give you all the information and helpful tips you need to apply to the colleges of your dreams!
Many people have the false impression that preparing for college involves locking yourself in your room and spending every waking moment studying as hard as you can.
While academic performance is certainly important, and you do need to spend lots of time to raise your grades and maintain them throughout your school years, colleges care about much more than simply how well you can study.
Getting ready for college is very multifaceted. In addition to academic prowess, colleges evaluate candidates’ experience, extracurricular activities, achievements, and awards and honors To prepare sufficiently for your college applications, you must spend time away from your desk and manage that time wisely.
Make sure to have a planning for college checklist ready—it's a great way to keep track of everything you need to do before sending off those applications. Below is a list of everything you need to keep in mind when preparing for college applications.
Download a free checklist below! We’ve got custom checklists for Grades 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, & 11 students!
Sophomore year is the recommended time to begin your college prep so you can build the most competitive profile. Here’s our suggested college prep checklist for sophomore students:
The PSAT and pre-ACT provide students with an opportunity to practice test-taking strategies, identify areas for improvement, and gauge their potential performance on the SAT or ACT.
Begin preparing in your sophomore year by taking these exams. These will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and develop effective study strategies.
There are more than 1,000 colleges in the United States, and you need to make choices. Set goals and guidelines for yourself as you begin your research. What career do you want to pursue? Which schools offer the best programs in your field? Where do you want to study?
Consider acceptance rates, median unweighted or weighted GPAs, and average SAT/ACT scores. See which courses your desired schools expect students to take and plan the rest of your high school career accordingly.
It’s best to sort your college list into three categories: ideal schools (or reach schools), like the Ivy Leagues, target schools that match your profile, and safety schools that you’re almost guaranteed admission to. Keep organized by creating an Excel sheet of the tuition costs, application requirements, and deadlines for each school you’re interested in.
Part of preparing for college is having a realistic idea of how much it’ll cost and having a financial plan. Luckily, many schools offer financial aid and scholarships to help alleviate the burden of tuition.
Involve your parents and explore options such as scholarships, financial aid, and savings plans together to make informed decisions about how to fund your education.
While you may not have many experiences to add to your resume in your sophomore year, be proactive by creating a template that you can fill in as you gain more experience. Include any achievements you have or are expected to have in the near future.
Your resume should include extracurriculars, internships, work, community service, research, summer programs, and notable academic or professional accomplishments.
As we stated, college is expensive! To kill two birds with one stone, consider picking up a part-time job your sophomore year or during the summer to start saving up for some of your college expenses and begin building your resume!
The junior year stands as a pivotal stage in your college application journey. Let our junior year preparation checklist guide you this crucial year!
While you’ll ideally be involved in extracurriculars throughout high school, junior year is essentially your last chance to join them and show your dedication.
Selecting the right extracurricular activities for you demonstrates self-awareness, maturity, and smart decision-making; whereas excellent performance shows passion, drive, skills, work ethic, and capabilities. Stick to these extracurriculars until you graduate!
You’ll want to write the SAT/ACT in your junior year in case you have to retake it. Create a comprehensive study schedule that incorporates content learning and practice tests. Regardless of whether you take the ACT or SAT, it’s essential you begin your studies as early as possible to give yourself the best chance of scoring high!
You want to stay on top of every part of your application. It can be easy to forget about scholarships and miss their deadlines. Begin the application process by writing your essays and submitting them as deadlines come up.
If you didn’t take the SAT/ACT in the fall, the winter is the perfect time to do it!
Depending on the scholarships you’re applying to, you may have to submit applications throughout your junior year. External scholarships have varying deadlines, but you can expect some to be due around December-February.
When your first semester of classes is complete, reflect on the term. Think about what you did well and what you can improve on. Your final semester of your junior year is your last chance to raise your GPA, so assess your performance and set goals for the next term!
Make the most out of your final summer before your applications are due by pursuing useful programs, jobs, or extracurriculars that can further strengthen your application.
Students typically begin asking for letters of recommendation at the end of their junior year to avoid stressing about it their senior year. Think about the teachers you connected with most, the classes you excelled in, or the ones you showed the most growth in! These are the experiences the admissions committee will want to hear about!
Take a final look at your college list and ensure you feel confident in your choices. Feel free to adjust them if you’ve changed your mind about your major or preferred location. Now is the time to modify your list because you’ll have to start submitting applications sooner than you think!
Pursue programs, internships, community service opportunities, or other extracurricualrs to keep busy and add to your resume.
Your personal statement may seem like it won’t take long, being only 500-700 words, but it will! You’ll need to take time to brainstorm ideas, find inspiration, and pinpoint the exact experiences you want to share before even typing your first word. Begin the brainstorming process near the end of your junior year while your memories from it are still fresh!
Consider attending summer tours offered by the colleges you plan to apply to. These visits will help you confirm your choices and provide a more immersive experience of their campus atmosphere.
If you received a score on your ACT/SAT that was lower than anticipated, use the summer to hone in on your studying, rectify your weaknesses, and retake and ace your test!
Here’s a checklist for college prep for seniors:
If you haven’t already, reach out to a few teachers for your letters of recommendation and have them completed in the early fall.
Begin the writing phase of your personal statement and any other supplemental essays, and spend a few weeks perfecting each one. Revise your essay several times until it’s perfect, and consider getting feedback on it from teachers, peers, or counselors. If you’re having trouble, consider getting inspiration from example essays written by successful students.
Remember to stay true to yourself. Too many applicants worry about whether they’re writing “what schools want to hear,” so they put on an act in hopes of impressing the admission committee.
However, schools only want to hear your true, honest voice for personal statements. Listen to your heart and express your true self. There’s an old adage you should consider: “No one is better at being you than you!”
If you’ve decided to apply Early Decision to a program, the deadline will likely be in November. Review your application a few times before submitting it, and pat yourself on the back! You’ve just sent out your application to your dream college!
Complete any FAFSA or other financial aid documents early, even if they aren’t due for a few months. These applications tend to take longer than expected, and you may be asked to provide additional information. If you are struggling financially, consier also contacting your schools to ask for any accommodations.
Put the final touches on your essays and Common Applications. Refine them until you’re absolutely content with them and are confident they portray your best, most authentic self.
Add any last extracurriculars or achievements you received on your resume, and edit it one more time before submitting it.
Complete your regular decision application on time, and take a deep breath! This is the final step in the application process. Now, all that you have to do is wait (which is probably the hardest part!).
Hopefully, by the springtime you’ve received several acceptance letters from the colleges you applied to. Take the time to celebrate these acceptances and the hard work it took to receive them!
You may be asked to submit your final transcripts or additional essays/addenda to the schools you applied to, so ensure you do this on time.
By this last step, you’ve officially completed the college application process and will be nearing the end of your high school career! While it will be a bittersweet moment to leave behind your childhood and enter your new adult life, rest assured this next chapter will be exciting and promising!
Starting your college prep early, from freshman year, really helps smooth out the application process later on. Our College Preparation Timeline tool outlines key steps: focus on getting good grades, dive into extracurriculars, start prepping for tests like the SAT or ACT, and begin researching colleges.
By senior year, you’ll be ready to fine-tune your applications and hit those deadlines. It’s all about building a strong profile and keeping the stress low as you head towards your college goals.
Starting college is a big step, and getting ready for it means more than just packing your bags. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you hit the ground running:
First off, prepare to take charge of your life. This means staying on top of your coursework and making sure you’re meeting all your academic requirements. It’s a good idea to regularly meet with your academic advisor to keep everything on track. Also, try to team up with hardworking classmates. They can be great allies when it comes to group projects and studying for exams.
The transition to college comes with a significant increase in workload, and unlike high school, you won't have constant reminders to complete your tasks. It's important to establish a self-discipline routine early on. Proactively managing your assignments and projects can prevent the stress and extra effort required to catch up later.
Ensure you are technologically equipped for your studies. If a laptop is necessary, obtain one that suits your program's requirements.
If you’re planning on using campus resources, like computer labs or library tech, get familiar with their availability and any necessary reservations. Sorting out additional needs, like extra storage or specific software, before classes start can save you a lot of hassle.
Understanding and managing your finances is key to a successful college experience. If you have financial support from family, that’s great, but you still need to budget carefully.
Make sure you know how much you need each month for essentials like tuition and rent—and yes, remember that rent is due every month without fail. Look for scholarships and consider a campus job to help with expenses.
College life can often lead to poor diet choices due to convenience and cost. Fast food might be convenient, but it's often unhealthy and expensive over time. Try to find time to cook some simple meals—it’s healthier and cheaper. Keeping active is also important, not just for your physical health, but it’s a great way to meet people and reduce stress.
Stay disciplined and steer clear of the less healthy temptations that can come with college life. Whether it’s partying too hard or other distractions, they can throw you off your game and mess with the schedule you’re working hard to keep.
Getting ready for college is about preparing yourself in various ways, from your mindset to your meal plans. It’s a blend of being responsible for yourself and making smart choices. If you start strong and stay organized, you’ll be setting yourself up for success right from the start.
Here's a summary of the most common mistakes to watch out for when applying to a university:
By steering clear of these pitfalls, you're more likely to submit a strong and sincere application that resonates with admissions committees. Tailor your approach to meet each university's specific requirements and ethos.
Still got questions? This section will provide the answer to the most frequently asked questions when it comes to preparing for college!
The testing dates for the SAT can be found on the official College Board website, while the testing dates for the ACT can be found on act.org. You can also find the registration deadline for each testing date of both tests.
Yes, community service tells colleges that you want to improve yourself, your environment, and the people around you. It gives you valuable experience, and many universities, such as Harvard and Stanford, value students with a sense of civic responsibility.
The biggest restriction for Early Applications is that they’re binding. If you’re accepted, you’re obligated to enroll and must decline any other acceptances. You will also be restricted from applying for Early Action anywhere else.
Time management is key. Try to build a schedule that will maximize your efficiency. Experiment to see what works best for you. Can you focus on the same task for hours, or do you need to switch it up?
Another tip is to focus more on extracurricular activities during your grade nine and grade ten school year, as your grades during that time are relatively less important. Once you move into grade 11, shift your focus more on studying. Above all else, remain realistic. Don’t overcrowd your schedule! Extracurriculars are great, but you only need a few!
Even though colleges won’t see your final grades for your grade 12 school year, they are still important. Once you’ve graduated, they will request you to send in your final transcript. If no major discrepancy is found, you will maintain eligibility to attend the program you were admitted to, otherwise, they can withdraw the admission.
It might feel like you have a lot on your plate. And while college application is certainly complicated and time-consuming, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed! As long as you manage your time correctly and be sure you can complete everything on your checklist.
Starting early really is the best option an applicant can take; it’s also the best way to alleviate stress. And remember: when you’re in doubt, always ask for help. This can be parents, friends, student assistant departments of your school, and so on.
Remember: the purpose of the college application is to let the schools know who you are, so think of it as showcasing yourself and your profile and have fun with it!
