It can be of great help for you to plan early for your college applications and stay organized as you get acquainted with the application process. The application process to colleges has many parts and deadlines, which can be intimidating to some students. Consequently, leading experts have asserted that prospective students often multitask with high school classes and activities alongside college applications, thus making them fall behind or simply postpone applications.
Procrastination is a stress response, and it makes sense that some students who are anxious about the college process will avoid working on their applications in a timely fashion. In addition, sometimes, students wait too long to request transcripts, test score reports, or letters of recommendation since they need other people to submit these materials. Hence, students should try as much as possible to give these individuals enough time before deadlines. There are exceptions where some schools accept late applications, and for those seeking last-minute options, schools with rolling admissions may come in handy.
We prepared some essential tips that can help students keep up with college applications. The following tips can help students complete their college applications on time:
- Think ahead;
- Make a checklist that includes everything;
- Do not wait until the last minute to ask teachers for recommendation letters and other documents;
- Find enough time to write application essays.
Planning Early is Important
Starting early is the best way to minimize stress since applying to colleges requires several steps that involve getting support from others. It is impossible for students to officially submit their Common Applications through the platform before the first of August every year since it opens on that date. Nonetheless, those who would like a head start can create an account in junior high and be acquainted with it. However, students should consider using the summer months before the last year as an opportunity to begin or complete tasks related to college applications, including but not limited to writing and extracurriculars sections, rather than spending all the time hanging out with friends at pools.
Create a Detailed Checklist
A checklist helps keep track of the many application requirements and deadlines. Checklists can be provided by school counselors and independent college counselors or from College Board for students and their parents. Applicants can also find a checklist for admission on their school’s website with specific information or directives which may be unique to them.
Also, you need to learn about common reasons college applications are not accepted. For instance, if applying to more than one university, students and parents can make a consolidated Excel sheet or other document where they can keep track of deadlines and check out after certain deadline are achieved. Experts recommend that digital calendars should have reminders for important dates including test deadline time, application deadlines, deadlines for submission of letters of recommendation, and main scholarship dates.
Ask for Recommendation Letters and Do Not Wait Until the Last Minute
These documents provide useful overview on applicants and give the admission officer some sense of who this person is more than what grades and test scores alone can reveal. Like personal essays, they can help humanize applicants and give schools an idea of whether a student would succeed academically or fit in socially within their campus culture.
A strong recommendation could make all the difference towards getting admitted especially when there are academic blemishes. On the other hand, experts say that weak or vague recommendations might reflect badly thereby causing an applicant to stand out but not necessarily in a good way. They should ensure the right individuals are selected to work on their letters, like teachers or counselors who know them better. Besides, they need to give those writing recommendations sufficient time so that they do not have to be requested for a hastily done letter.
You need to give teachers or tutors at least two weeks to complete the letter but sometimes it is better to ask before this time. This provides them the time to think about your achievements and personality and write a comprehensive letter. Some teachers are limited in their time and agree to write a certain number of recommendation letters each year. The more you give your teacher time to write, the better.
Find Time to Write Application Essays
Personal statements are normally the most burdensome part of an application. This is another area where students can get a boost during their junior year or the summer before their senior year. Experts advise that young people begin working on essays in early June before senior year to have ample time for peer editing and seeking help from the essay writing service at https://cheappaperwriting.com/. Regarding schools that require supplemental essays, the prompts will change each year. Still, it is better to learn the basics and train in advance.
Find common themes and topics that many colleges offer, such as what you would like to study in college and what community means to you. You can change them based on a particular school, but they still cannot be completely rewritten. Do not waste your effort. Commencing the essay way ahead of time can be particularly beneficial for students who might be struggling or need additional assistance in essay writing; thus, those who put off writing their work till late may be tempted to depend on another person or an artificial intelligence software like ChatGPT. Although AI is being used by some students in admissions, colleges expect the personal statement to be a student’s authentic writing. If students try to use AI as a shortcut, colleges use AI detectors and experienced readers to detect derivative material. This could mean anything created by an AI tool, and the use of such language in essays can have detrimental effects on student’s chances of admission.