The Calm Before the College Application Storm

There’s a sweet spot in the college process between “I have plenty of time” and “Oh no, when is that deadline?” It’s the stretch at the start of senior year, when college applications may still feel comfortably far away, but the work of putting together a strong application is already beginning.

This is not the time to panic. The hard work and big decisions are still ahead, but there is enough time to prepare without feeling rushed. Students can use this relatively quiet stretch to get organized, make some decisions and take a few important steps forward. They don’t need to have everything figured out. They just need to start.

Here are 9 tasks we recommend seniors tackle before the application season gets busy.

1. Create a well-researched and balanced college list.

A college list should be more than a collection of schools your student has heard of. Take time to explore each college's academic programs, campus culture, location, size, cost and admissions requirements.

Visit college websites, take virtual tours and read student publications and admissions blogs. If possible, visit campuses in person. Encourage your student to think carefully about what they want in a college and whether each school on the list actually offers it.

A college list should also be balanced. Make sure it includes colleges where your student is likely to be admitted as well as target and reach schools. 

If you need help with college research, check out this guide.

2. Determine Your Testing Strategy

If your student hasn’t taken the SAT or ACT yet, now is a good time to do so. Most students take at least one of these two tests, and colleges that consider test scores generally accept either without a preference. Students can also take both to see which test suits them better.

Once you have scores, decide whether to submit them to each college. At test-optional schools, we recommend looking at the college’s most recent Common Data Set. Section C9 provides the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile scores for enrolled students. As a general rule, we recommend submitting scores that fall above the 50th percentile. Students below the 25th percentile typically choose not to submit, while those in between have a more nuanced decision to make.

Don’t assume that one testing strategy will work for every college on your student’s list. The same student might submit scores to one college and leave them out at another. You should decide, school by school, whether your scores add something to your application.

3. Create a system to keep track of deadlines

Keep application deadlines, scholarship deadlines, interview appointments, testing dates and financial aid deadlines in one place. Some students prefer a spreadsheet, while others use a calendar with reminders set well in advance. Either system can work well.

4. Fill out the Common Application.

If the colleges on your student’s list use the Common Application, have your student create an account and review the entire application so you understand what lies ahead. Most students find that the application takes longer than they think it will, especially because there are questions where the answers need to be researched and decisions need to be made.

Students should pay particular attention to the activities section. Students have limited space to describe their extracurricular involvement, so they should think carefully about how to use those descriptions to communicate what they actually did and accomplished.

The application is your student's opportunity to present the strongest and most complete picture of who they are. Don't compromise that opportunity by leaving everything until the last minute.

5. Complete your personal statement.

The essay is one part of the application that students still have significant control over. By senior year, grades, course selection and many activities are already largely set. The essay provides an opportunity to show colleges something they cannot learn simply by looking at a transcript. A strong personal statement does not need to be about an extraordinary accomplishment or dramatic life event. Instead, it should give the reader insight into your student's personality, perspective, values or way of seeing the world.

Students often need support writing their personal statement. In our experience, this is the part of the application that students struggle with the most and the part that they procrastinate on the most! We recommend starting early and asking for feedback from someone who understands what admissions counselors are looking for such as your school counselor.

6. Ask for letters of recommendation.

The Common Application will indicate how many letters of recommendation you need for each college.

Think carefully about which teachers know your student well and can speak meaningfully about their character, intellectual curiosity, growth or contributions to the classroom. 

Most students should ask core subject teachers for letters and not elective subject teachers. They should ask early and respectfully. 

7. Make sure senior-year courses meet college requirements.

November of senior year is not the best time to discover that your student is missing a course required for admission to a particular college or academic program.

Review the admission requirements for the colleges and programs on your student’s list. Pay particular attention to colleges with specific high school course requirements, as well as programs such as engineering, nursing, business or other specialized majors.

Your high school counselor can be a useful resource here. Make sure your counselor knows your student's plans and the colleges being considered so they can help identify any potential problems at the start of senior year.

8. Research scholarships and financial aid.

Research each college's financial aid policies and merit scholarship opportunities. Some scholarships require separate applications, while others are automatically considered as part of the admission process. Deadlines can vary considerably.

Also familiarize yourself with the FAFSA and determine whether any of the colleges on your list require the CSS Profile or other financial aid forms. The FAFSA process has changed considerably in recent years, so don't rely on what you remember from an older child's college application. 

9. Demonstrate interest.

A key step in the college admissions process is showing colleges that you are interested in attending. Colleges know that students who have “demonstrated interest” are more likely to attend if accepted. Colleges prefer to accept students who are likely to enroll because accepting these students allows colleges to accept the least number of students to fill their freshmen classes. The fewer students the colleges accept, the more selective they appear. Colleges use sophisticated data and predictive analytics to determine which applicants are likely to enroll. 

Demonstrated interest is not equally important at every college. Find out whether the colleges on your list actually consider demonstrated interest in their admissions decisions. If they do, take meaningful steps to show your intention to enroll by opening emails from colleges, following their social media platforms, writing optional essays, visiting campus, meeting with admissions reps and attending optional interviews. 

How The College Spy Can Help

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We would love to help your student understand the current admissions landscape, build a college list and write their college essays. Check out our packages for individuals and group workshops on our website: www.thecollegespy.com