BY JOSIE HOLT 

Let’s be honest, most students have no idea how to apply to college. Hopefully this list can lessen your fears.

DO:

Write your essay as soon as you can…

• Yes it may be difficult, especially coming up with topics, but it’s good to have a draft (or drafts) so you can receive feedback as soon as possible. 

Get a second opinion…

• Make sure you have a couple people read over your essay. This can be a teacher, parent, sibling, friend, writing consultant, really anyone. 

Narrow down that college list…

• The prospect of going to college is exciting, but don’t get carried away. A good rule of thumb is to have at least one safety, one target, and one stretch school. A safety school would be reasonably easy to be accepted. A maybe school would be possible to get in, but isn’t definite. A stretch school has an unlikely chance of being accepted, but it has many appeals that other schools may not.

Ask for recommendation letters early…

• A common mistake is asking teachers/staff for letters of recommendation too late. Don’t forget that teachers/staff are significantly busier during the school year, so asking them the summer or school year before applying gives them ample time to write your letter, the common time frame is about fo

Find the right path for you…

• College is all about finding yourself. So researching a college can help eliminate fears of uncertainty or cement your future plans. Taking the time to look up data about certain colleges can give you a good picture of what a college is like. Do they have greek life? What is the diversity of students like? What’s the teacher to student ratio?

Visit campuses…

• Seeing a campus can help narrow down your list of colleges, as well as give you an idea of what the college feels and looks like. 

Know your parameters…

• It’s important to keep in mind that college is expensive. Sometimes choosing an in-state college for tuition reduction is a better choice, but it’s determined by your financial situation. Remember that scholarships are available too. 

Apply for scholarships…

• There are literally thousands of scholarships available. Some are determined by your gender, major, and place of residence so remember specific things about yourself when researching scholarships. Keep in mind that applying to a lot of scholarships can increase your chances of receiving one. 

DO NOT:

Write too generic…

• While everyone might have a different perspective on a topic, you have no guarantee it hasn’t been done before. Think about specific experiences you’ve had, or topics you find mesmerizing. Stay away from sports, traveling, and community service. Unfortunately these topics are very common and are too ubiquitous. 

Procrastinate…

• The greatest enemy of college applications has to be procrastination. It is daunting, thinking about the future is difficult especially when you’re directionless. My best piece of advice is worry about one thing at a time. Start writing a college essay, just start with something you’re passionate about even if it’s generic. Maybe you’ll find a subgenre within that essay and you can explore that topic more. 
• Another piece of advice given by Olivia Simpson is to focus on one thing each week, “either a section of the CommonApp or a particular type of essay”.
• Or, if you can’t bring yourself to write, start looking up colleges. Locations, demographics, and programs are great places to start. Find opportunities that some colleges may offer and compare them to others. Starting small can help contextualize just how much work you actually have to do. Writing down or typing the research and personal thoughts will also help organize your thoughts. 
• Stay upbeat about the process. It’s long and dull at times, but getting it done early will take so much off your shoulders. 

Remember that teachers and counselors are always there for you. If you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask or email Mrs. Leszczuk.