Tips from a Senior: Applying to College

How many times have you heard a teacher, parent, or even another student mention college? Since you’re probably a student here at Carlynton, it is likely that college has been the topic of several conversations for you. Although the word “college” evokes a sense of liberation and excitement, it might also inspire anxiety or overwhelming feelings. Not to worry, these feelings are pretty typical - and you are not alone! As a high school senior who has gone through the college process, I would like to share some tips with you for applying to college. 

First things first, you need to ask yourself if college is right for you because, no matter what anyone tells you, college is by no means a path for every individual. Simply because you choose not to go to college, does not mean that you cannot be successful - you can be! One of the initial steps you should take is considering what type of career you see yourself in throughout the years after high school. This is an important step because some careers require college degrees, so if you are set on a specific job, then you might also need to go to college. 

Once you have decided “Eh, college really doesn’t seem right for me” or “College? Absolutely!” then you should next seek out an advisor, in the form of a teacher or guidance counselor. This advisor should be someone who you are close with, and who can help you with anything regarding college. Because your advisor has already gone through this process, they will be able to discuss any concerns about college or offer you advice.

Now that you have decided college is in your future and you have found an advisor, you should register for SAT or ACT prep classes to prepare yourself for these important tests. You do not need to take both tests because most colleges only require one or the other; you should look into some colleges that you are interested in to see which they require.

After you have taken your SAT and/or ACT, you should start thinking about the kind of colleges you are interested in attending. You should consider school size, location (in state or out of state), tuition costs, the majors they offer, study abroad opportunities, if they accept AP credits, etc.  You also might want to consider a nearby campus to live at home and save some money while you attend.

Once you have answered some of these questions, you should begin compiling a list of potential colleges; this list will become shorter and shorter over time, so don’t worry if you have a lot of colleges listed. I recommend visiting colleges during your junior year so that you stay on track and are not visiting colleges a week before applications are due. Once you have visited the schools you are interested in applying to, your list of potential schools should become shorter. My strategy when applying to college was to apply to five schools: one that I was certain I would get into, three that I could probably get into and would not mind attending, and one reach school that I might not get accepted to, but it would be cool if I did. 

The next step is really important, and you should work closely with your advisor to complete it: The Common Application. The Common App is an online application that allows you to apply to multiple colleges with a single application; this prevents you from filling out a ton of separate applications later on in the college application process. Filling out the Common App can seem daunting and time consuming, which is why I recommend starting it during your junior year. During this process, you should organize all of your high school achievements into an academic resume, so that you have it for quick reference while filling out the Common Application. Additionally, you should reach out to teachers you have a good reputation with and ask them to write letters of recommendation for you; make sure you give them ample time to complete these letters, as they are taking their own time to complete them for you. 

Once your Common Application is complete with your academic resume and letters of recommendation, you should begin applying to the colleges on your shortened college list, and await your decisions in the mail!

Written by senior Dakota Mayfield