The College Application Process: What to Do and When to Do It

The college application process is an arduous one; it can seem like there is so much to get done during your senior year but the truth is that if you get a head start and do everything, having it all done at the time when it should actually be done, you are left with hardly anything to do during your senior year but enjoy it and wait for it to end, perhaps checking the mail frequently along the way.

The Timeline

Summer before senior year-start visiting prospective colleges. Talk to other students and alumni.

September-Talk to your counselor and start work on your applications-they make take awhile.

October-November-Start taking standardized tests. Start requesting letters of recommendation. Submit Early Decision applications.

November-December-College applications should be about finished by now. Start submitting them and do so before winter break!

After this point in your year, the rest is about waiting it out and making that decision.

SATs and ACT Exams

SAT exams and ACT exams are a vital part of the college applications process. Standardized tests are a largely weighted portion of each college application, and many students need to start taking these exams as early as the end of their sophomore year, or during their junior year. The reason why is that it takes some time for the results to come back, and not all good students are good test takers. For this reason, it may or may not be necessary to take the standardized test over, whether it is ACT or SAT. You may take the tests as many times as you see fit or necessary, so long as the necessary fees are paid and so it is important to get the first test out of the way so you can start working on that top score!

College Applications

Unless you are going for Early Action, also known as Early Decision, you don't need to fill out your college applications until you are in the end of your junior year or the beginning of your senior year. Most schools specify when they would most prefer to see applications sent in, and sending them in early does not necessarily increase your chances of being accepted. For normal decision applications, wait it out until around fall of your senior year, and then start banging out the applications, writing the essays, and begging for the recommendations. Until then, take it easy.

Make That Decision

There is no use in making a decision until you absolutely have to, unless that is you have been accepted by Harvard or Yale or some other school of your dreams that just might change their mind (or not). Most schools specify when they would like to hear back about your acceptance or decline of their offer to attend their school, so there is no rush to let them know you will be attending right away. Your spot is already reserved; breathe easy.

It's okay to want to rush into the college thing, but enjoy high school while you can. Don't do anything you have to do way beforehand, and don't forget to do the things that need to be done.