The College Admissions Process from start to finish!
Preparing for College The first step in applying to college is to sit down and think. During the long and complicated college application process you'll be faced with a seemingly endless number of decisions to make. Some of the questions you may ask yourself along the way include: Where and when should you apply? Should you use the Common App? What if you don't get accepted to your top choice school?
Use the resources listed below to help you get a clearer idea of who you are, what your college admissions goals are, and how you can achieve those goals efficiently and confidently.
One of the first things many students do when starting their college search
is to put colleges on their “list.” However, are the reasons those colleges are
going on the list the right reasons to consider a college? For many people, a
college will go on the college list because of its name and reputation. But,
does that college have what you need in a college? Maybe or
maybe not. Instead of starting your college search by putting college names
on a list, consider getting to know yourself first and then building your list.
just because a college has a big name doesn’t mean it is a good fit for you.
A good college fit means that it matches you academically, socially, and
financially. Therefore, when starting your college search, consider these questions:
- What locations are you willing to consider?
- Will you consider colleges in urban, suburban, and/or rural settings?
- What majors are you considering? If you do not know exactly what you want to study, are
- Are there subjects you are leaning towards? If there are multiple areas you enjoy, keep all of
- those in mind when considering colleges.
- Are there specific extracurricular activities that are important to you and you want to participate in college?
- Do you want to be a college athlete and compete competitively for the college? If not competitively, do you want to play intramural sports?
- Do you want to attend a religiously affiliated college? Or, do you want to stay away from them? Or, maybe you don’t mind either way.
- Do you want to attend a college that is the size of your high school? Or, do you want to attend a college that is the size of a city?
- Will you need financial aid to help pay for college?
The questions above are important to consider when thinking about the college you will attend in the future. You may also have other things that are important to you – if they are important ask those questions and search for colleges that meet your wants and needs. Some of those big-name colleges you thought you might want to attend might not meet your needs. This is the reason it is so important to get to know yourself and what you need in a college.
STRATEGIZE
Making The College Connection in High School: Junior PREP A To-Do List for a free guide
How to Choose a College Admissions Consultant
3 Mistakes Successful College Applicants Don’t Make
College Admissions: Applying Early
IMPLEMENT
10- Tips Completing your college application
A Five-Item Checklist before Hitting “Submit”
College Admissions: 3 Tips for After You Submit
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