They often say that college will be the best time of your life. After all, it marks your first true taste of independence, all while making lifelong friends and studying something you are truly passionate about. In addition to this, it can help you lay the groundwork for a successful career in your chosen field.
However, before you can reap the benefits of college life, you need to get accepted into your chosen school. While admittance rates vary from institution to institution, this can be challenging, especially if you aren’t sure where to start.
As such, if this is something that you’re currently worried about – you aren’t alone. In fact, a recent report found that “74% of students feel overwhelmingly stressed about applications.” Fortunately, there are plenty of steps that you can take to ensure you’re on the right track when applying for college.
Figure out what you want to study.
While some people have known what career they want to pursue from an early age, others do not have a clue. This, in turn, can make it difficult to figure out which program you’d like to apply for, or what you’d like to major in. The good news is that there are hundreds of different options to choose from, which means you are sure to find something that catches your eye through a little bit of research.
When choosing what you want to study, you should take into consideration the classes you currently get the best grades for (or those you find most interesting), whether or not you’d like to focus on STEM or liberal arts, and the industry you could see yourself in in the future.
Find your dream school(s). Before kickstarting the application process, you should have a clear idea of where you’d like to study. There are many different things you should take into consideration when choosing a college, including:
- Location
- The courses/programs they offer
- Their required GPA
- Tuition fees and scholarship opportunities
- Size of the student body and diversity
- Dorms and on-site amenities
- Extracurricular offerings and societies
- Greek life opportunities
- Sports teams
Determining what’s important to you based on the list above should help you narrow down the list of colleges or schools you’d like to apply to. While there is no limit to the number of applications you can send out during this time, it’s typically advised to send out between 4-8 applications. This will ensure that you’re putting together quality applications each time that are tailored specifically for the course/school, as opposed to using the same cookie-cutter application over and over again.
Work with a college counselor. Reaching out to a company that offers college counseling is perhaps the easiest way to put your best foot forward when applying to college, especially if your chosen program(s) are competitive. This is because they will be able to guide you through the entire process while also helping you build a stellar application that stands out from the crowd. For example, they could help you strengthen your application by participating in relevant extracurricular activities and volunteering programs.
For the most part, students who work alongside college counselors have a higher chance of being accepted to their dream school than those who do not.
Look into scholarship opportunities. There’s no denying that going to college can be expensive. So, if you have money on your mind at this time, you could put yourself at ease by researching the different scholarships that you may be eligible for.
You can increase your chances of being awarded a scholarship by applying early, compiling letters of recommendation from teachers and applying to multiple different scholarships.
Get started as early as you can.
For the most part, college applications close in January (though this can vary). However, you should not wait until the last minute to start sending applications. This is because you’ll then have to rush to get everything together, which means that the quality of your application and any accompanying essays will drop quite considerably.
Conversely, when you get started on the college application prep early, you’re giving yourself plenty of time to put together a killer application that will help you stand out from the crowd. You can also ensure that you’re then able to increase your chances of success by taking on additional challenges outside of school, such as internships or volunteering roles that relate to the course/career you are pursuing.
When researching colleges, be sure to take note of admission opening and closing dates so that you know exactly when to work on each application.
Put time and effort into your essays.
The essay is one of the most important parts of your application. This is because it will help you set yourself apart from other applicants while also proving to the reader why you deserve a place on the course. In short, it is an opportunity to:
- Showcase your personality
- Demonstrate your interest in the course/program
- Highlight your skillset and what makes you right for the course
- Discuss any extracurricular activities you participate in that will help you to stand out
Remember, you should tailor your essay(s) each time you send out a new application, ensuring that you’re referring to the specific course/program you are applying for.
It goes without saying that you should also ensure that your essay is well-written, with perfect spelling and grammar. While you may consider yourself something of a pro at this, it helps to get a few extra sets of eyes on the essay before sending it off. This ensures that you aren’t missing out any crucial information.
Ask your teachers for letters of recommendation in advance.
Asking teachers for letters of recommendation is another important part of the application process. This can help the admissions team at your chosen school(s) to find out more about you and your approach to learning. For this reason, it is important that you gather these recommendations in advance – especially when you consider the sheer number of letters each teacher will have to write! Ideally, the letters should come from teachers who are covering the courses that align with your major. For example, if you’re hoping to study classics, this could include your classics and literature teachers!
Try to keep your cool.
While it is perfectly normal to feel as though your stress or anxiety levels are a little higher during this time, finding ways to relax and keep your cool is crucial. After all, this can impact everything from your academic performance to the quality of applications you are putting together.
There are many ways in which you can relax during this time, from hanging out with friends to making time for your hobbies and interests. In addition to this, you may want to reach out to a counselor or therapist, especially if you feel as though you are struggling to keep your feelings in check. While this may seem a little daunting, they will be able to provide you with practical guidance and stress-management techniques that can help to boost your well-being.
Final thoughts. If you’re currently dealing with anxiety or sleepless nights at the mere thought of the college application process, you aren’t alone. This is something that everyone goes through! However, there are plenty of steps that you can take to ensure that you succeed at this task, from putting time and effort into your essay to working alongside counselors who can help ensure your application is as high-quality as possible.
