Getting to Know the College Admissions Process: From Applications to Acceptance Letters

Step 1

Create Your College Shortlist

Many factors go into the decision-making process when considering the college you want to attend. Those include:

• Location and distance from home
• Campus culture
• Available degrees
• Extracurricular programming
• College type (e.g., public or private)
• Overall cost
• Alumni resources and outcomes

If you plan to attend in person, scheduling a campus visit can give you a feel for the school’s culture and help ascertain if it’s a good fit for you. Cost should also play a significant role in your considerations, so applying to a school with few funding options probably isn’t the best choice if you want to graduate with as little debt as possible.

Step 2

Gather Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation show admission panels a side of you that often isn’t apparent on a general application. Teachers, mentors, and others who know you well can highlight the unique qualities and experiences you offer. Start asking for these recommendations as soon as possible in your senior year, giving those writing your letters ample time to carefully consider what they write. Most schools typically ask for two to three letters from former or current teachers, supervisors, mentors, and others who know you well. Family members are usually prohibited from writing letters of recommendation.

Step 3

Give Standardized Tests Your All

When preparing for college, you’ll likely take the PSAT your junior year and the ACT/SAT your junior and senior years. These tests help determine factors like acceptance to college, qualifying for merit-based scholarships, and acceptance into individual programs at your chosen university. Taking the SAT and ACT multiple times helps you figure out which test best speaks to your skills and identifies areas needing improvement. The average SAT is 1051, and the average ACT score is 20.6. These scores will help you get into some schools, but you’ll need higher scores for more competitive programs.

Step 4

Get Going on Your College Essays

Your college essay can cause an admissions panel to look at your application more closely, making it vital that you spend ample time on this component. Begin brainstorming ideas for your essay by thinking about your objectives, values, and experiences. Then consider your structure. Do you want to focus on challenges and overcoming them a vision for your future or some other unique hook? As important as it is to write a solid first draft of your essay, leave plenty of time to edit and revise extensively based on feedback. Ask your English teacher or your school’s writing center, if it has one, for help.

Step 5

Determine Which Applications You Need & Create Online Accounts

While some colleges still maintain individual applications tailored specifically to the institution, more than 900 schools now accept the Common Application. This allows you to submit one application to multiple schools, saving you time filling out multiple applications, writing different essays, and asking references to send letters to numerous locations. While the Common Application is widely used, you may still come across the Universal College Application or the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success Application. Once you know which ones you’ll be using, create accounts with each. The cost of applications can add up quickly so don’t forget to look into college application fee waivers.

Step 6

Double and Triple Check Everything

Preparing your college application requires a lot of moving parts. You need to collect all your required transcripts, test scores, and other documentation and write your essays, personal statements, and other required writings. After collecting all these materials, leave some time to review everything carefully. Ask someone else to look over everything, too, and consider reading each page out loud to help you catch mistakes or errors you previously missed.

Step 7

Apply for Financial Aid & Scholarships (Optional)

While not all students need this step, most will. Once you are accepted into a college, you need to know you can cover the cost and getting financial aid for your degree can be a huge help. While it isn’t required as part of the application process, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is still critical because it qualifies you for federal grants, work-study, and loans. Many schools also use details from your FAFSA to make decisions about institutional scholarships. Also consider researching awards offered by your state or school, professional associations, or other groups related to your chosen major.

If you’re thinking of entering a profession aimed at helping the public, check out the top 30 scholarships for public service students.

• Ensure your credits will transfer
  After months or even years of completing college credits, you want to make sure as many as possible transfer to your new school. Most community colleges maintain articulation agreements with four-year universities, and some schools provide online tools for predicting eligibility. You can also send your transcripts to your new school for a transfer assessment. If too few credits transfer, consider looking at a school that accepts them.
• Visit your new campus
  Visiting your new campus as a transfer student helps you feel more at home and gets you comfortable with the different academic buildings before classes begin. Try scheduling meetings with your professors and administrators to familiarize them with your story and objectives. Since many of your classmates will already be acclimated, these activities can help put you on a level playing field.
• Understand the requirements for transfer students
  While every university sets its own requirements for transfer student admission, most mandate similar materials. You won’t need to submit SAT/ACT scores again, but you will need to demonstrate completion of minimum high school course requirements and possess a minimum GPA in already-completed college-level courses. Your transfer school will also want transcripts from your high school and college, letters of recommendation, and an admissions essay.
• Choose a major that aligns with your existing credits
  If you’ve already started working towards degree-specific coursework, consider how those credits might transfer with you. Choosing a different major may result in credits not transferring or even applying toward general education requirements. Remember that the more credits you can transfer to your new school, the more money and time you can save.
• Don’t forget financial aid and scholarships
  Even though you may have saved money attending a community college, financial aid can still help you avoid taking on a lot of debt at a four-year institution. Also, scholarships received at your previous school do not necessarily transfer with you, so check to be sure. Awards specifically for transfer students and scholarships for juniors and seniors do exist, making it easier to fund your education. Start your search early since scholarships and grants tend to be competitive.

Who is considered nontraditional?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nontraditional students typically fall into at least one of seven categories. These include:

• Delayed enrollment into postsecondary education
• Part-time enrollment
• Full-time employment
• Financial independence for financial aid purposes
• Married with dependents
• Single parent
• No high school diploma

With their unique combination of these categories, nontraditional students also typically bring a higher level of experience, discipline, and focus to a college campus. As a result, they often stand out in the classroom as leaders both to students and professors.

Is the application process different for nontraditional students?

The application process for nontraditional students often mirrors that of more traditional students. However, the process typically differs in two key ways, financial aid and examinations.

Students over age 24 automatically file as independents on their taxes, meaning they do not include their parents’ financial information on the FAFSA. This can affect the types of financial aid students are eligible to receive.

In addition, nontraditional students don’t need to submit ACT/SAT scores. They may be able to take CLEP exams, however, and test out of some general education courses based on life and professional experience.

What documents do I need as a nontraditional student?

For the most part, documents required of nontraditional students are the same as those for all other applicants. Begin by submitting a completed application and paying your non-refundable application fee. Other required documentation often includes:

• Evidence of a high school diploma, GED, HiSET, or TASC
• Transcripts from high school and other schools attended
• Recommendation letters
• Goal statement/personal essay
• Evidence of any CLEP exams passed
• Independent financial aid information
• Immunization certificate
• Verification of Lawful Presence form if seeking in-state tuition

Though the documents may be the same for all students, they also provide opportunities to set yourself apart from other students. Use them to showcase the unique perspective you bring to the college as a nontraditional student.

• Campus Visits: Before You Go

  CollegeBoard provides this guide to help you prepare for and get the most out of college visits.

• College Application Fee Waivers
  

  Learn how you can cut the cost of getting into college with valuable application fee waivers and other student discounts.

• College Interviews: Practice Questions and Strategies
  

  If one of your prospective schools requires an interview, go into it feeling strong and confident with these tips and tricks.

• Crafting an Unforgettable College Essay
  

  The Princeton Review offers this resource to ensure your story gets told effectively.

• How to Apply to College with the Common App
  

  Common App provides a step-by-step guide to help you navigate this process and apply to multiple colleges simultaneously.

• How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation: Complete Guide
  

  PrepScholar provides a fail-proof plan to reduce the stress of asking for recommendation letters.

• How to Finalize Your College List
  

  BigFuture aims to help make the process less stressful by laying out step-by-step guidance on picking prospective colleges.

• How to Win A College Scholarship
  

  With these types of awards being particularly competitive, use these tried-and-true methods to stand out.

• SAT & ACT Study Guide
  

  Kaplan provides test overviews for each exam along with proven study methods and expert tips for acing them.

• Transferology
  

  This free program helps search equivalency to ascertain which credits are likely to transfer from your old school to your new school.