The idea of applying for college is crazy and stressful! I know! This is the application that will determine your acceptance into your future college...so let's make it count. I understand the stress of the process because I am going though it at this very moment. Actually, I have a few applications done, but have about 2 more to go. So here are my tips on getting through this intense and possibly stressful process that will make it easier and more do-able!
First! Let Me Make this a Little Easier for You!
There is a website known as the Common App. https://www.commonapp.org/Login ⬅ This is the website to find it at. Once there press create an account. This website is an application that many colleges accept so you do not have to go to all of your colleges' websites and fill out 5 different applications! (trust me, it gets exhausting) So once you have an account look for your colleges to see if the Common App caters to that college, if so add it to your college list on the website. The website shows you all the ins and outs. It is not hard, I promise! However not all colleges are on with the Common App, so you might be stuck with filling out 5 different applications. I only had to fill out an extra 3 because the Common App had two of my other colleges. Trust me, this is a time saver and will make your life easier. CHECK IT OUT!
Your Information
Firstly, you need to know that college applications will be asking a lot of personal information. Not nosey information, but information that they will need to take into consideration. So here is a checklist of things you need to be prepared to give these applications. (most college applications are similar, but some are different. These are just the common things that my college applications have asked) ✿This list is long....prepare yourself!✿
1. Your Full Name will be required, as will be your sex, and your birthday.
2. Next your address will be required, and any alternate mailing address.
3. Your email and your preferred phone number. And then an alternate phone number.
4. Next they ask your religion. And if you were in the armed forces. Followed by if you are Hispanic or Latino. Next they ask your ethnicity (white, native american, african america, etc.). And then they may ask the background of your ethnicity (european, middle eastern, etc.) ☆ Answer these truthfully. They will affect your ability to be accepted.
5. Next they ask what county you were born in, which city, the state you were born in, and the amount of years you have lived in/or out of the United States. (if applying to a college in the US)
6. The next possible question is the language you are proficient in, and how you are able to use it. (i.e. read, write, talk)
7. Your Citizenship. (social security number)
8. They then ask about your family...whether you have a parent or guardian. There are many options for this section. But whomever is your parent or guardian, you have to give information on their 1. full name, 2. place of birth, 3. contact information (phone # and email, home address), 4. their occupation and whether they are employed, 5. their college life (if they had one) where they went to college and for how many years, plus their major
9. Another question asked will be about your siblings. How old they are and where they are going to college or have gone to college and what major they are in for (only if they are old enough to be in college....haha)
10. Next they ask about your high school information. They ask your high schools name, your entry date to the school, and then your graduation date. (if you transfered schools this option is available...no worries.)
11. They will ask your guidance counselors information. (their name, email, phone number) This information can typically be found on your schools website. At my school we have a college counselor and a regular counselor for our grades and classes. The counselor information is for the counselor that will be sending of your transcript. (this was my normal grade and class counselor)
12. The application will then ask if you have already been to college, or if you have had any skipping grades or interruptions during your high school education.
13. Next they ask your graduating class size, whether your class rank is reported, your GPA scale, or if your GPA scale is weighted. (All of this information can be found out by your college counselor. Just email them!)
14. And they will ask your weighed GPA.
15. They will ask your courses for your senior year. They may ask how much they weigh towards your GPA and whether they are an all year course or just a semester.
16. They may ask for a certain amount of honors classes you have taken. Put these down, but if you have none then do not fill this out.
17. Typically they will ask for your plans in college. ( your major and the degree you wish to make it to.)
18.They will then ask about your SAT and ACT scores. These tests are very important, so when you take them you need to take them seriously. But for the application you put in your highest score for each section. (most colleges will let you super score meaning you could have taken the SAT 3 times and you can put in your highest score for each section from each of those three tests and that will be counted your SAT score!) They will also ask the last time you took the test, or the dates of each test.
19. Next they ask about activities such as volunteer work, or your occupation you have had through your high school years. They may even ask you for awards or great honors you have achieved. Do not be afraid to brag here. This is important. You want to look your best to these colleges, so be truthful, but also give note worthy information.
20. Lastly they will typically ask for an essay. They will have question options available. Pick the question that will show yourself off more. While writing these essays try to show intelligence and truth, but also your personality and your voice. This is a lot to do, but it is important. The colleges will read these, so take it seriously.
FUN TIP: I like to listen to music when filling out my applications, but even more so when I am writing. However music with words can slow me down, so I like to listen to music that is good for studying and writing. I find it all on YouTube. Here is one of my favorites. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxqSdr_vZIs This really allows me to focus and get the writing and work done so I can move on with my life. Haha I am even listening to this right now as I write this post. I might be a little bit of a nerd...✎
1. Your Full Name will be required, as will be your sex, and your birthday.
2. Next your address will be required, and any alternate mailing address.
3. Your email and your preferred phone number. And then an alternate phone number.
4. Next they ask your religion. And if you were in the armed forces. Followed by if you are Hispanic or Latino. Next they ask your ethnicity (white, native american, african america, etc.). And then they may ask the background of your ethnicity (european, middle eastern, etc.) ☆ Answer these truthfully. They will affect your ability to be accepted.
5. Next they ask what county you were born in, which city, the state you were born in, and the amount of years you have lived in/or out of the United States. (if applying to a college in the US)
6. The next possible question is the language you are proficient in, and how you are able to use it. (i.e. read, write, talk)
7. Your Citizenship. (social security number)
8. They then ask about your family...whether you have a parent or guardian. There are many options for this section. But whomever is your parent or guardian, you have to give information on their 1. full name, 2. place of birth, 3. contact information (phone # and email, home address), 4. their occupation and whether they are employed, 5. their college life (if they had one) where they went to college and for how many years, plus their major
9. Another question asked will be about your siblings. How old they are and where they are going to college or have gone to college and what major they are in for (only if they are old enough to be in college....haha)
10. Next they ask about your high school information. They ask your high schools name, your entry date to the school, and then your graduation date. (if you transfered schools this option is available...no worries.)
11. They will ask your guidance counselors information. (their name, email, phone number) This information can typically be found on your schools website. At my school we have a college counselor and a regular counselor for our grades and classes. The counselor information is for the counselor that will be sending of your transcript. (this was my normal grade and class counselor)
12. The application will then ask if you have already been to college, or if you have had any skipping grades or interruptions during your high school education.
13. Next they ask your graduating class size, whether your class rank is reported, your GPA scale, or if your GPA scale is weighted. (All of this information can be found out by your college counselor. Just email them!)
14. And they will ask your weighed GPA.
15. They will ask your courses for your senior year. They may ask how much they weigh towards your GPA and whether they are an all year course or just a semester.
16. They may ask for a certain amount of honors classes you have taken. Put these down, but if you have none then do not fill this out.
17. Typically they will ask for your plans in college. ( your major and the degree you wish to make it to.)
18.They will then ask about your SAT and ACT scores. These tests are very important, so when you take them you need to take them seriously. But for the application you put in your highest score for each section. (most colleges will let you super score meaning you could have taken the SAT 3 times and you can put in your highest score for each section from each of those three tests and that will be counted your SAT score!) They will also ask the last time you took the test, or the dates of each test.
19. Next they ask about activities such as volunteer work, or your occupation you have had through your high school years. They may even ask you for awards or great honors you have achieved. Do not be afraid to brag here. This is important. You want to look your best to these colleges, so be truthful, but also give note worthy information.
20. Lastly they will typically ask for an essay. They will have question options available. Pick the question that will show yourself off more. While writing these essays try to show intelligence and truth, but also your personality and your voice. This is a lot to do, but it is important. The colleges will read these, so take it seriously.
FUN TIP: I like to listen to music when filling out my applications, but even more so when I am writing. However music with words can slow me down, so I like to listen to music that is good for studying and writing. I find it all on YouTube. Here is one of my favorites. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxqSdr_vZIs This really allows me to focus and get the writing and work done so I can move on with my life. Haha I am even listening to this right now as I write this post. I might be a little bit of a nerd...✎
What if My College is not on The Common App??
Easy! You will go to this colleges website and you will go to the Admissions section of the website. There you will find some sort of application button. (this might even be on the front page of the website) So go there and fill out the information that it asks for. Majority will be quite similar to the info I put on this post!
Hey, I know that this is a lot to take in, but I hope the information I gave your can better prepare you for what is coming your way. YOU CAN DO IT!! Just persevere because it will all pay off when you get into the college of your dreams!
Maybe this cat will make you feel better....☺ teehee
Maybe this cat will make you feel better....☺ teehee
-Krissi♡