I am gonna be completely honest with you say that the process to get into college along with lining up all the details is truthfully more daunting than college life itself. Therefore, let’s dive into 10 tips for the college application process that you NEED to know…
1. Apply BEFORE you even visit!
To be honest, I always had this concept flip-flopped. See, I thought that it was always smart to visit the school and THEN apply to it if the visit went well, but in reality, the opposite works wayy better. There are a few reasons, but most obviously, if you really think about it, you should probably know if the school is even going to accept you BEFORE you make the trip to go and visit it. Not only will this make you seem more committed (which will normally open up some extra privileges while on the visit) but it will also save you an unnecessary trip in case of rejection from a college.
2. Submit your Deposit to your TOP 2-3 schools ASAP
Now, with this one, I didn’t see the point of it until it was too late. So- that is why I am URGING you to do it as there are a couple of major pros that can come as a cause of it! One major thing to do before you submit any deposit though is to…
- Make sure that your school will refund you in case you don’t end up choosing it!! … Most schools allow you to receive a full refund on your deposit up until May 1, and by then, you definitely should already have a school decided on.
Now, in regards to the perks that can come with submitting your deposit early…
1. Housing Preference!
Normally, housing goes off of enrolment which is based on the time of the submission of YOUR DEPOSIT. And friends, let me just say, college living is NOT at all glamorous; therefore, if submitting a risk-free deposit could guarantee you better housing… why not do it?!
2. Classes
This one is basically the same as the housing, but as a freshman coming into college, getting into classes can be rough as you are the last class on the priority list to get heard from, but, if you could get to the front of the line even within your class, it will definitely make a difference!
Finally, let us look at WHEN is the best to submit that deposit!
- From my experience and what I’ve seen, the best time to submit your deposit is within the first couple of months of your senior year. (Now, if your junior year you are visiting colleges and already have an idea on where you’d like to go, then DEFINALTY submit it that early!) I submitted mine at the beginning of October of my senior year, and though I wasn’t in the first round of housing, I was in the second round, and I still got into the dorm building and floor I wanted! Honestly, what it boils down to, is that it is never too early to submit a deposit, but it can definitely be too late.
3. Make your essay STAND OUT and STAY FOCUSED!
College essays might just be the most repetitive form of writing to ever exist. Seriously, most all prompts ask either why you could benefit the university, a monumental story from your lifetime, or some other very plain, dull, and simply boring question. I used to wonder why the universities’ applications were always so similar and straightforward, but then it hit me that most colleges do this in order to spot the unique and stand-out responses within their thousands upon thousands of applications. So… here are a few things that you NEED to know in order to make those repetitive essays an eye-catching gem for the admissions teams.
1. Focus on a moment in life that is unique to you!
What I mean by this is get more creative than the middle school mission trip you took or the time where your high school sports time lost a tournament. Instead, find a time in your life when there was a distinct shift in your perspective or your purpose, and elaborate on it. Make a few minutes of your life so detailed that the admissions team can practically visualize it!
2. Write it as if you were saying it!
- Ignore all the formalities that high school forced down your throat, and personalize your essay. Now, don’t go using texting abbreviations, but what I’m saying is allow the university to truly get a piece of who you are through the essay!
4. DON’T declare a major if you don’t know
For some reason, most college freshmen feel the pressure that they need to know from the beginning what they want to do for the rest of their life, and I’m here to tell you, that is so so very wrong. Truthfully, most everyone I know in college has switched their major at some point. Because honestly, when you are going into college, no one has really had a taste of the higher academic world, and therefore, most people end up drastically changing their plans.
Now, with that said, give yourself a break and realize it’s OKAY to go into college undecided!!
This allows you to do your first couple semesters in a “buffet” style where you have the opportunity to pick and choose classes from different fields and careers that potentially intrigue you! Like, if you are drawn to both the medical field AND business, then take a class in anatomy along with a marketing class! From that, you will have a pretty solid idea of what type of classes you are going to want to take for the next four years of your life.
5. ACT, in the end, matters WAYY more than your high school GPA
The gap in financial awards between ACT and GPA is crazy! You could have a 4.0 GPA and a 25 ACT but they will only focus on your ACT and ignore your perfect high school GPA. So… STUDYYYY for that ACT, and though you still need to keep that GPA high, don’t stress too much about your GPA.
6. The *Cover* Price
NO ONE EVERRRR pays the cover price for college. Seriously, if I was told to pay $46,000 a YEAR for a college education, I’d probably just not go. So keep that in mind, and never count out a college based on its cover price. 🙂
7. DO NOT settle on the 1st Financial Aid Package they send you
College admissions are competitive. Seriously, they are trying to get you to attend THEIR university, but they are also going to see HOW EASY they can get you there.
What I mean by this is that your admissions team isn’t going to award you extra grants and scholarships simply because they feel nice that day. Instead, they are going to look at your FAFSA, your high school academics/ reports, your sports or music involvement, and that’s about it. So, if you are like me and receive your first and what you will think is the “final” financial package and you want to cry because you see that the price of your tuition is still insanely high... don’t be frightened. Instead, go back to your admissions team with your RESPONSE to the financial letter you received.
After you respond to it, meaning after you describe to them your honest reaction (do not cave during this part either), also describe to them- and do this part sincerely- anything that you would love for them to work with you on.
For example, after I received my first financial aid package, I reached out and thanked them for the gracious academic scholarship I was awarded, but then I also asked them if there was anywhere else that financial aid could be found. I told them my story as well. Seriously, admissions counselors can’t read your mind… so you have to tell them the truth in full.
For me, I went through three financial award letters before accepting my final one, and because of that, the cost of my year was significantly lowered!
8. TRIPLE check your financial package
This one SAVED me!!! Once you settle on a financial package that you are both comfortable AND satisfied with, then look over your FAFSA, financial aid awards, scholarships, and all other documents that are involved with this process.
Because let’s be real… humans make mistakes. Therefore, when a guy or girl tries to manage hundreds of high school senior’s financial packages in order to make all transitions smooth, it can be easy for them to make a simple mistake.
From my experience, I was triple checking my finances before I moved in my freshman year and I noticed that a scholarship that my high school had awarded me was missing. I called my admissions counselor, and we found out that he had simply forgotten to apply the scholarship to my total tuition.
Even though a couple thousand was a small amount in the grand scheme of the cost of college, everything adds up and matters!
So TRIPLE CHECK!! Because hey- it can’t hurt… if anything- it could save you from losing out on money you’ve already been awarded!
9. The Admissions Team is THERE for you!
Not much to elaborate on for this one, but I’m serious. Admissions Counselors are literally getting paid because people like you are interested in their college. So... utilize them! Reach out, text them, ask them questions, literally talk to them about anything when it comes to the college transition.
10. Ask for the PRE move-in checklist
This one is something I never really heard about, but it’s super simple! Just ask our admissions team if they have a pre- move-in checklist because they most likely have one! This will explain dates that you will need to remember, packing lists for your dorm room, what to expect for your freshman year, and simply a guiding tool to help ease the nerves and anxiety that can come with moving into college!
I hope these 10 tips for the college admissions process helped! Like always, give your day to God, and go be great!!
In love, HalieKay
