Become an Expert in Applying to College

Summary:

Universities have many similar — and many differing — admission requirements for their applications. Understanding the application process for each school you hope to apply to is key to a successful application journey. Here’s a snapshot of how to get started:

• Meet with your school counselor for guidance.
• Start early.
• Use Prelum’s planning documents as a support system.

Did you know that there’s more than 10 million college applications to the more than 4,000 U.S. colleges each year? And, that it is suggested that students apply to between 4 to 8 schools? Let’s face it: applying to college can be a daunting experience. But, by approaching the journey with patience, planning, and a bit of research, you can achieve a college of your choice. 

If you are a high school student working through the process of applying to college, this guide is highly beneficial. You’ll discover statistics about applying for college, plus tips and tricks for how — and when — to start the application process. Plus, we’ll review tips to help your application stand out, such as taking college prep courses online. 

First up, how to choose your list of schools. 

How to Determine Which Schools Are Right for You 

There are a number of factors to weigh when selecting which colleges to apply to. These factors include the school‘s size/population, cost, notable majors, your educational interests, school location, Greek life status, acceptance rates, etc. Specifically, a study by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), as reported through Reasearch.com, found the following about students’ school-choice preferences: 

• More than 7 out of 10 think an institution’s academic reputation and quality is a very important factor.
• 74% of students see the availability of their desired program in an institution as another very important deciding factor, while 24% think it is somewhat important.
• 73% of students think the job placement rate from an institution is very important.
• The cost of attendance is considered a very important factor by 67% of students.
• A school’s location is also a factor. 12% of students see the idea of being far from home as a very important deciding factor and 41% think it is somewhat important.

Interestingly, the availability of distance learning is also a rising factor to students, as the NCES also reported that more than 6 out of 10 undergraduate students (9.4 million) enrolled in at least one distance education course in 2021. In addition, the percentage of undergraduate students who took distance education courses exclusively was 28% (2.2 million) that same year. 

If adding distance learning to your education interests you, perhaps testing out a few pre-college online programs while you’re still in high school makes sense for you. Offered by renowned universities across the country (think Georgetown University, Rice University, University of Notre Dame, and William & Mary). These college prep courses run the gamut of topics, and could really help you start narrowing down what your future career might look like. In addition, adding these courses to your college application is one of the many ways you can differentiate yourself from other applicants. 

Once you’ve taken all these factors into consideration and narrowed down your search to 10 schools or less, it’s time to dive into parceling out the specific application process of each school. 

Knowing The College Application Process for Your Desired Schools

Your first step should always be to visit your school counselor — preferably starting your junior year. School counselors are experts in helping students like you tackle the college registration process. They can answer any questions you may have, help you start narrowing down your potential school list, and get you started thinking about whether you plan to take either the SAT or ACT, among many other helpful considerations. 

Next step is to research each potential university’s application process. Some schools have devoted application portals, others have portions of their website devoted to applications. Also, keep in mind that keeping ahead of the application process, even applying relatively early, is beneficial. Application boards review thousands of applications. It is possible that they may experience a bit of burnout by the end of each year’s application period.  

Another handy tool we suggest is Prelum’s college application tracker, where you can organize all the pertinent information for each school to which you plan to apply. In it, you’ll discover a comprehensive overview of each intended school, including the school name, acceptance rate, deadlines; even ACT and SAT details and deadlines. This will help keep you organized and ensure no details fall through the cracks.

In addition, we’ve created a handy timeline checklist that you can use to ensure you're acting in a timely manner to honor each potential school’s application process. Find it here.

A third useful resource provided by Prelum is our glossary of terms. In it, you’ll be able to familiarize yourself with the many terms used in the college application process. 

As a high school student, the college application process can seem confusing and daunting. But remember, universities aren’t looking for perfection. They seek future leaders that demonstrate that they’ll best represent their institution. Using our aforementioned tools and tips will help you approach the process with confidence. Good luck!