The college process can seem daunting at first, especially because some colleges can require a lot of different aspects. There is a lot to unpack about the college process, and many people do not know where to start.
As someone who is going to college next year and going through this process right now, I have felt overwhelmed by the amount of information put upon me. Something that has been super helpful is breaking it down into different parts. By doing this I have reduced my stress.
I set certain goals for myself when I wanted to finish each task, and then I set smaller goals to be able to get to the larger goal, which was completing my application. I wanted to finish my Common Application by the end of August, so I work a little on each section everyday. This helped me feel less overwhelmed because I was not worrying about a million things at one time.
The first thing I did was look over the Common App and determine what schools that I wanted to apply to. When searching for colleges, it is important to note different things about the college such as:
- Closed or Open Campus
- Location
- Size
- Division/ Sports (If applicable)
- Prices
- On Campus vs Off Campus living
- FAFSA
- Scholarships
Some colleges are still requiring a teacher recommendation for admission. (Common App)
Many schools require a letter of recommendation from one of your teachers. Finding the right teacher to do this can be hard. Maybe you liked a teacher but did not do well in their class, or maybe you just have no idea at all. It is important to find someone who always considers you as a person, not just as another student to grade. You may have not done as well with them as you did in other classes; however, if you believe they know you well, then I would say go for it.
Ranking the schools can be super helpful to knowing which ones you really want over the others. If you like a school such as Clemson over Coastal Carolina, you may want to apply differently to each. Know what each school wants, when they want it, etc.
There are different types of deadlines to apply for colleges:
- Early Action: This means that you have the option to submit the application before the regular deadline, getting the decision much earlier than usual. It is non-binding, which means you can apply to multiple schools this way. You can’t wait to accept or decline this offer.
- Early Decision: This is also an option to submit your application early; however, this one is binding, which means you automatically have to enroll in the school if you get in. You can only apply to just one early decision college.
- Rolling Admission: Colleges can release admissions decisions regularly instead of sending them all out on one target date. You usually get this decision pretty quickly, and will not have to make a decision until May 1st.
- Regular Admission: This one typically has a deadline, and allows for students to apply to as many colleges as they like. Many choose this option because you do not have to commit to a school early.
Some people think that you have to know exactly what you want to do before you go to college. However, the average incoming college freshman is still so young when the decision to go to college is made. Many people are undecided and that is totally okay. According to research done by The University of Tulsa, about 80% of students in college end up changing their major at least once, and many end up changing their major multiple times.
Selecting a college can be super stressful; however, by following a few of these steps, and better understanding everything, it can become less of a stressful process.
