Getting Through College Applications

This week, we're discussing sources of students' stress. A comment from KaurA123 serves as a reminder that the SAT and ACT aren't the only stressful parts of applying for college:

i'm a senior...and college apps r like due at the end of this month which is totally strssing me out!!! I hv started filling the apps out but they r pretty confusing ....idk WHT 2 DO!!!!!

Applications can vary a little from school to school, but the basics are pretty consistent across the board. You send in the processing fees and fill out some forms, telling the schools what they need to know—as long as you know your address, social security number, and GPA, you should be fine. Here are four big tasks that you can start preparing for ahead of time:

1. Submitting SAT and/or ACT scores and high school transcripts. While there might be a place in your application to record your scores and GPA, schools still need to receive the official word from the test companies and your high school. Double check that you’ve arranged for the appropriate forms to be sent to all of the schools you’re applying to.

2. Writing application essays. If you're applying to multiple schools, look at all the essay prompts before you start writing. Different schools may give you similar options for what to write about. If possible, save some time by writing essays that can work for multiple applications. Yes, you may have to tweak them a little (it wouldn’t do to write in your Bennington application, "And that's why I know Kalamazoo is the school for me!"), but that will take less time than starting from scratch for every application.

3. Securing recommendation letters. Some undergraduate programs make recommendation letters mandatory. Others don't require them, but do accept them. Some schools absolutely don't want another piece of paper to look at, and will be grumpy if you submit them after they told you not to. If you do need recommendations, ask you teacher, coach, or boss, or whomever you think will do the best job of convincing the school that you are an amazing person. Make sure to give this person a minimum of two weeks’ notice before the due date. If you spring the request on them the night before you need it, your recommendation might be a little less glowing than it would be otherwise. If you've already waited too long, a nice box of chocolate might soften any annoyance your last-minute request might cause.

4. Applying for scholarships. Oftentimes, you include scholarship applications along with your regular admissions application. Make sure you're aware of any scholarship-specific deadlines: sometimes you’ll need to get your application in early.

For more information on all of these topics, or on college in general, check out our college advisor blog. If you come across something puzzling on an application, you can also talk to your high school guidance counselor. It's also a good idea to visit the admissions section of the university’s website; that site should have phone numbers and email addresses that will connect you with people who can answer your questions.

Finally, make sure you're keeping a calendar for your application deadlines. If you're feeling under the gun to get your applications done, treat them like homework and set aside a portion of your nightly study time to work on them. Waiting until the last minute pretty much guarantees a few careless mistakes—and it would be a serious bummer to watch your friends receive their admissions packets while your application is delayed because you forgot to sign something.

Send your questions to us at testpreptutor@sparknotes.com.

Related Post: Can I Get into the School of My Dreams Without A Great SAT Score?