Over schools currently accept the Common App, and that number grows every year. When you create your account, your email becomes your username. You may want to create a separate email address for your college applications. A good format for is firstname. After you create your Common App account, you can fill in the biographical information and begin thinking about your essay.
The essay forms part of your application and is sent to every college where you submit your Common App. These suggestions can lead you to each school's website, where some colleges offer virtual tours. Students seeking information about distant colleges can also attend college fairs.
Typically held in the spring or fall, college fairs bring together dozens sometimes hundreds of colleges, allowing you to shop around and ask questions about programs, campuses, and financial aid options.
Be sure to ask your school counselor for a schedule of college fairs near you. One of the best ways to learn more about colleges is to attend a high school visit , which is when an admissions officer comes to your high school to talk about their instutition. These visits allow you to ask about important issues and talk with someone from the admissions department.
As you approach the end of your junior year of high school, you should finalize a list of schools you want to apply to. How many schools you'll want to apply to depends on your circumstances. It's always good to have a backup school, but if you're confident that you have the right grades and test scores for your preferred choice, you may only need to apply to one college. Conversely, if you're only applying to very academically competitive schools, you may want to submit applications.
For most students, four or five schools is about the right number. Your list will grow and change over time, but it's good to have a strong starter list by February of your junior year.
When preparing to apply to these colleges in the fall of your senior year, make sure you have all of the necessary application materials. Every school requires a copy of your high school transcripts, which you can request through your high school records office. Below are a few other items to take care of as you apply. Many colleges require a college entrance examination, although some schools have recently dropped this requirement. While similar, they do have some important distinctions.
Nearly every college that wants test scores will let you submit results from the ACT or the SAT, so it's up to you to decide — you may also take both. Most students take the ACT and SAT early in the second semester of their junior year, which leaves room to retake the test in May, June, or later in the summer if needed, before senior year starts.
Some schools will also ask you to take SAT subject tests , which measure what you know in specific subjects you studied in high school.
If a college asks you to take these, it's best to take them at the end of your junior year. Grades and test scores tell a college what you've learned, but they don't speak to your individual experiences.
To address this, many colleges ask students to obtain letters of recommendation from their teachers, which provide a more complete picture of the student. These letters allow the college to get a better sense of your character. Most colleges want letters of recommendation from teachers who worked with you in an academic subject in 11th or 12th grade. It is best to ask teachers for letters of recommendation at the end of 11th grade, since that allows them to compile their thoughts over the summer.
Make sure you choose a teacher who knows you well; if you're just another face in the crowd, they may struggle to paint an accurate picture of your work as a student. You can also request letters of recommendation from other adults who know you well. For example, you might request a letter from a coach; a supervisor or manager at your job; a pastor, rabbi, or other faith leader at your church; or another adult mentor from outside the school system.
In addition to letters of recommendation, most colleges will also want to hear from you. They're eager to hear about your thoughts, interests, seminal experiences, perspectives, challenges you've faced, and aspirations.
Most students start working on their essays in the summer between junior and senior year. When planning your essay, be sure to consider what colleges want to know about you, and work with an adult who can offer feedback and suggestions on your writing. This can take some time, but it's well worth it. Your senior year of high school is an exciting and meaningful time -- don't ruin it by spending your fall semester stressed out about applying to college.
Doing a little thinking, planning, and organizing over your summer break will help you create strong applications and allow you to enjoy your senior year.
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The content on CollegeData. We recommend that you refrain from acting or not acting on the basis of any content contained on CollegeData. We will not be liable for the content on CollegeData. Share: Want to avoid college-app chaos senior year? Finalize Your College List The number of colleges on your list -- and their specific application requirements -- will determine how much work you have ahead of you.
Here are some questions you may want to consider: Do the colleges have the qualities that matter most to you and offer the majors and courses that match your interests? Are they good financial and academic fits?
Does your list have a good mix of reach, match, and safety schools?
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