Once students have completed First Steps and School Selection, the next step is to apply.

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BEFORE YOU APPLY

You need to make sure understand basic college admission information, factors toward college admission (see below), possible components of applications, and basic admission ethics.

You will also need to prepare and/or gather documents that need to be submitted with your applications.

Research

IMPORTANT APPLICATION/ADMISSION TERMINOLOGY

Admission Tests- Also known as college entrance exams, these are tests designed to measure students’ skills and help colleges evaluate how ready students are for college-level work. The ACT and the College Board’s SAT are two standardized admission tests used in the United States. The word "standardized" means that the test measures the same thing in the same way for everyone who takes it. Read more about admission tests. 

Articulation Agreement- An agreement between two-year and four-year colleges that makes it easier to transfer credits between them. It spells out which courses count for degree credit and the grades you need to earn to get credit.

Candidates Reply Date Agreement (CRDA)-An agreement many colleges follow that gives applicants until May 1 to accept or decline offers of admission. This agreement gives students time to get responses from most of the colleges they have applied to before deciding on one.

Class Rank- A measurement of how your academic achievement compares with that of other students in your grade. This number is usually determined by using a weighted GPA that takes into account both your grades and the difficulty of the courses you’ve taken.

Coalition Application- A standard application form accepted by members of the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success. You can use this application to apply to any of the more than 90 colleges and universities that are members of the Coalition.

College Application Essay- An essay that a college requires students to write and submit as part of their application. Some colleges offer applicants specific questions to answer, while others simply ask applicants to write about themselves. Colleges may refer to this as a “personal statement.” Learn more about college application essays.

College Credit- What you get when you successfully complete a college-level course. You need a certain number of credits to graduate with a degree. Colleges may also grant credit for scores on exams, such as those offered by the College Board’s AP Program® and CLEP. Learn more about AP and CLEP.

Common Application- A standard application form accepted by all colleges that are members of the Common Application association. You can fill out this application once and submit it to any one — or several — of the nearly 700 colleges that accept it. Go to the Common Application.

Deferred Admission- Permission from a college that has accepted you to postpone enrolling in the college. The postponement is usually for up to one year.

Early Action (EA)- An option to submit your applications before the regular deadlines. When you apply early action, you get admission decisions from colleges earlier than usual. Early action plans are not binding, which means that you do not have to enroll in a college if you are accepted early action. Some colleges have an early action option called EA II, which has a later application deadline than their regular EA plan. Learn more about applying early. 

Early Decision (ED)- An option to submit an application to your first-choice college before the regular deadline. When you apply early decision, you get an admission decision earlier than usual. Early decision plans are binding. You agree to enroll in the college immediately if admitted and offered a financial aid package that meets your needs. Some colleges have an early decision option called ED II, which has a later application deadline than their regular ED plan. Learn more about applying early. 
Financial AidMoney given or loaned to you to help pay for college. Financial aid can come from federal and state governments, colleges, and private organizations. Learn more about financial aid. 

Grade Point Average (GPA)-A number that shows overall academic performance. It’s computed by assigning a point value to each grade you earn. See also Weighted Grade Point Average.

Legacy Applicant- A college applicant with a relative (usually a parent or grandparent) who graduated from that college. Some colleges give preference to legacy applicants (also called “legacies”).

Need-Blind Admission-A policy of making admission decisions without considering the financial circumstances of applicants. Colleges that use this policy may not offer enough financial aid to meet a student’s full need.

Open Admission-A policy of accepting any high school graduate, no matter what his or her grades are, until all spaces in the incoming class are filled. Almost all two-year community colleges have an open-admission policy. However, a college with a general open-admission policy may have admission requirements for certain programs.

Placement Tests-Tests that measure the academic skills needed for college-level work. They cover reading, writing, math and sometimes other subjects. Placement test results help determine what courses you are ready for and whether you would benefit from remedial classes. Read more about placement tests. 

Priority Date or Deadline-The date by which your application — whether it’s for college admission, student housing or financial aid — must be received to be given the strongest consideration.
RegistrarThe college official who registers students. The registrar may also be responsible for keeping permanent records and maintaining your student file.

Rolling Admission- An admission policy of considering each application as soon as all required information (such as high school records and test scores) has been received, rather than setting an application deadline and reviewing applications in a batch. Colleges that use a rolling admission policy usually notify applicants of admission decisions quickly.

Sophomore Standing-The status of a second-year student. A college may grant sophomore standing to an incoming freshman if he or she has earned college credits through courses, exams or other programs.

Transcript-The official record of your course work at a school or college. Your high school transcript is usually required for college admission and for some financial aid packages.

Transfer Student-A student who enrolls in a college after having attended another college.

Undergraduate-A college student who is working toward an associate or a bachelor's degree.

Universal College Application-A standard application form accepted by all colleges that are Universal College Application members. You can fill out this application once and submit it to any one — or several — of the more than 3,044 colleges that accept it. Go to the Universal College Application.
Waiting ListThe list of applicants who may be admitted to a college if space becomes available. Colleges wait to hear if all the students they accepted decide to attend. If students don’t enroll and there are empty spots, a college may fill them with students who are on the waiting list. Learn more about waiting lists.

APPLICATION FEE WAIVERS

Financial hardship should never be a barrier to applying for school! There are several ways to get a college application fee waiver. 

SAT
Students who qualify for an SAT exam waiver also receive a college application fee waiver for up to four colleges.

NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling)
offers a college application fee waiver for up to four colleges.

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Common Application
Many college applications, including the Common Application have a field where you can indicate that you want to be considered for a fee waiver. (See Common Application and Coalition Application section for more details).

College Admission Office
Some colleges give out codes for a free application to students who attend their college fairs or visit the campus. Call the admissions office yourself or ask your high school counselor to help advocate in your favor.

Colleges with No Application Fee
Many colleges don’t charge application fees at all. The College Board has a list of colleges that have no application fee and those that accept fee waivers.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE COLLEGE ADMISSION DECISIONS

Each institution has their own formula for weighting admission factors.  You will need to research each institution on your list to find out how how much weight they give the individual factors. 

Many small, selective colleges pay greater attention to personal statements and essays, teacher and counselor recommendations, leadership experiences and the individual talents of applicants. They typically offer the chance for a face-to-face interview. Large, public state university systems often use a mathematical formula based on a student's grade point average (GPA) and scores on the SAT or ACT.

Regardless of the college's evaluation system, you should present a well-rounded picture of your skills, experience and personal traits. Applications should highlight your ability to succeed at each particular institution and what you can contribute to student life on campus.

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Factors that influence admission decisions may include: 

Courses & Grades
A student's grades in college-preparatory classes remain the most significant factor in college admission decisions.
Selective colleges look for students who:

• Complete core academic requirements
• Take more challenging courses (even though they may have slightly lower grades than they would achieve in lower-level courses!)
• Enroll in college-prep or college-level courses (Advanced Placement, College in the High School, and Running Start) and perform well
• Take 2-4 years of a world language (the more the better)

Test scores
Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) remain important at many colleges.

Essays
Personal statements and essays are both a measure of writing ability and a window into each student's background. Admission officers want to hear an original voice in the student's own words. 

Recommendations
At selective colleges, strong recommendations from counselors and faculty members has become more important than ever. Carefully select who you want to write these letters. Make sure that the faculty member knows you well and would write a strong letter! 

Extracurricular activities
Evidence of extracurricular activities is important to the admission process. Being heavily involved in one activity is more impressive than limited participation in multiple activities. You should document long-term involvement with organizations, highlight your activities related to a major or career goal, and opportunities you have had for leadership.

Class rank
Although still reviewed by many colleges, class rank has declined in significance as many private and religious schools have eliminated student ranking.
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Additional factors to consider
Many colleges set aside spaces for students who may not meet traditional criteria but will add to the class diversity. Geographic location, racial or ethnic background, extenuating or unusual life circumstances and experience living or studying overseas may all be influential. ​

BASIC ADMISSION ETHICS

1. Do NOT fabricate or exaggerate activities and accomplishments
2. Do NOT have someone else write or substantially rewrite application essay
3. DO disclose all disciplinary infractions if asked directly
4. Do NOT tell more than one college that it is the first choice
5. Do NOT mislead a college about intended major to gain admittance
6. DO notify the other colleges applied to when you accept an admission offer
7. Do NOT Double Deposit ( Double depositing means putting down a deposit, and therefore accepting admission, at more than one college. ​

TYPES OF COLLEGE ADMISSION

Never assume that all institutions have similar application requirements and/or deadlines! You need to research the type of Admission Option each institution has. The option that the institution uses can determine if you can apply to multiple institutions, deadlines for each application, and when you can expect your acceptance (or rejection) notification.
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Early Admission
If you have one or two schools that are your absolute dream colleges you can consider one of the early admissions options. This option lets universities know they are your top choice. (See TYPES OF EARLY ADMISSION below for more information).

TYPES OF EARLY ADMISSION

Early Decision
You apply to your top-choice school. You agree (in advance) to attend this school if you are accepted. You must withdraw your application to all of Universities if you are accepted. You can not change your mind and attend somewhere else.
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*Caution: Make absolutely sure you want to attend before submitting this type of application! If you’re relying on financial aid to pay for college, you may not want to apply early decision because you’ll receive your acceptance before you know what financial aid package you’ll receive. (However, a college admission counselor can give you an estimate of the financial package you will receive before you apply).

Process:

• Apply early (usually in November)
• Receive an admission decision from the college well in advance of the usual notification date (usually by December)
• Agree to attend the college if accepted and offered a financial aid package
• Apply to only one college early decision
• Apply to other colleges under regular admission plans
• Withdraw all other applications if accepted by ED
• Send a nonrefundable deposit well in advance of May 1

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Early Action
You apply to your top-choice school. However, you are not bound to attend if accepted. You can apply early action to more than one university. You can accept an offer as soon as you receive it or wait to make your final selection in the Spring.
*Some schools have begun to offer single-choice early action where you are not bound to attend if admitted-but you are only able to apply early to one school.*

Process:

• Apply early
• Receive an admission decision early in the admission cycle (usually in January or February)
• Consider acceptance offer; do not have to commit upon receipt
• Apply to other colleges under regular admission plans
• ​Give the college a decision no later than the May 1 national response date.

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Early Evaluation
You can apply early to find out whether your changes for acceptance are good, fair or poor. Your application usually needs to be submitted by November, and you’ll be sent a determination by December or January.

Regular Admission
All students must submit their applications by a specific date. Acceptances and rejection letters are sent on the same date.

Rolling Admission
Students apply at any time during their admissions period. The school evaluates each as it is received and sends acceptance letters to students who meet their requirements.

Open Admission
Allows high school graduates to be admitted provided they have a diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.

​Deferred Admissions
You have been accepted to a particular college or university but want to defer their enrollment for a year.

INTERVIEWS

Interview Overview
Some institutions require an interview. Interviewing is a way for you to display a strong interest in a college and allows the interviewer get to know the personality behind the grades and test scores. An interview is also a chance for borderline students to present themselves as winning candidates by virtue of sincerity or their personality, to explain any extenuating circumstances that affected academic performance, and describe the ways they will contribute to the college.

There are two types of interviews:

1. Evaluative interview is intended to help assess the student as a candidate. The interviewer speaks with the student, takes notes and reports all impressions to the admission committee. This evaluation becomes part of the student's application file. Interviewers are often admission officers but may be faculty members or alumni.
2. Informational interview is intended to give the student information about the institution. This can be a one-on-one talk with a college representative or a group information session for applicants. Interviewers may be admission officers but might also be faculty members, alumni or even current students at the college.​ Although the informational interview's main purpose is to answer student questions about the college, it is quite possible that the college representative will also evaluate the student and pass an opinion on to the admission committee. Students should therefore always be aware of the impression they are making.

ADMISSION ESSAYS

The college essay is your opportunity to reveal your best qualities and to show an admission committee what makes you stand out from other applicants. Colleges look to the essay for evidence that a student can write well and support ideas with logical arguments. They also want to know something about the personality of the student.

There are 3 types of essay questions:

The "You" question

• This question is the "tell us about yourself." The college wants to know students better and see how students introduce themselves. This type of direct question offers students a chance to reveal something about themselves other than grades and test scores. However, the open-ended nature of these questions can lead to an essay that's all over the place.

     Tips

• Focus on just a few things and avoid the urge to "spill everything" at once
• Do not write out their resume in paragraph form. It's better to develop one small event, person, place or feeling with a lot of narrative and specifics.
• Individualized: you should tell a story that only you can tell
  

The "Why Us" Question

• Some institutions ask for an essay about a student's choice of a college or career. They're looking for information about the applicant's goals, and about how serious the student’s commitment is to this particular college. This type of question provides a focus for the essay and the answer to that should be clear. However, any factual errors in the essay will reveal that the student really hasn't thought deeply about the choice. On the other hand, an upside is that while working on the essay, the student might realize that the college is not a good match

      Tips:

• Make absolutely sure you know the subject well
• Do not to go overboard with flattery-should sound sincere but not ingratiating

The "creative" question

• The goals of the "creative" question are to evaluate a student's ability to think and write creatively and to assess the breadth of the student’s knowledge and education. This kind of question gives students an opportunity to convey their personalities and views. However, some students may take the "creative" aspect of the question as license to be obscure, pretentious or undisciplined in their writing.

     Tips:

• Use common sense ("creative" doesn't mean eccentric or self-indulgent)
• ​Do not to write about high-minded topics or exotic places just to try to impress

Prepare/Gather

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Choose the people who know you best
The more detailed, personalized a letter is, the more likely it is to make a strong impression on a selection committee. Ask your instructors with the most extensive, personal knowledge of you and your work.

Ask early
 It is common courtesy to allow recommenders at least three weeks to prepare and submit their letter.

Provide materials
 The following items will help them write accurate and purposeful letters:

1. Photocopies of key pages from the application brochure, describing the nature and purpose of the scholarship, internship, graduate program or other opportunity
2. A copy (or a draft) of your application essays, or a summary of your career and educational goals
3. A list of your activities (sports, organizations, leadership and volunteer positions)
4. A description of pertinent work or research experiences
5. A copy of your transcript
6. ​If a number of quarters passed since you worked with a recommender, also provide a copy of your paper or class project

Helpful Tools: Brag Sheet Template

Download and complete this Brag Sheet. You can print it out or fill it out digitally. Send a copy of this to every person you are asking to write a letter of recommendation.

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HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS

Official vs. Unofficial Transcripts

• Official: has an official seal and is sent directly from BVA to the institution. Most colleges want an official version.
• Unofficial: does not have an official seal and is given to you. If you just want a copy of your transcript for your own personal use, an unofficial version is fine.

Make sure you know whether you are requesting an official or unofficial version when you order! Most schools and employers who need an official version will not accept an unofficial version, and sending the wrong version could cause you to miss important deadlines.

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When To Order Transcripts

You will order an official transcript twice during your college application process:

1. When you submit your initial application. This transcript typically ends with 1st Trimester of 12th grade. It gives the school information about your GPA, rigor of courses, and an overview of your high school experience.
2. At the end of the school year. The school still needs a copy of your completed transcript showing all of your graduation requirements and courses. You will order a second copy at the end of the school year once your final Senior year grades have been posted.

**Also see Transcripts & Fines for information on how to order transcripts**

SAT & ACT TEST SCORE REPORTS

Some schools require an official copy of your SAT or ACT exam scores. See Entrance Testing page for more detailed information.

​You will need to order these directly from your student account on the company website.

ACT: here

SAT: here

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ONE APPLICATION FOR MULTIPLE SCHOOLS

There are two online applications that students can use to apply to hundreds of schools with one application! Their names are the Common Application and the Coalition for College. Read about this below to see if these are an option for your schools before starting on individual applications.

THE COMMON APPLICATION

The Common Application (Common App) is a non-profit organization representing nearly 900 institutions. We connect applicants and those who support them to a wide array of public and private colleges and universities across all 50 U.S. states, and 20 countries.

Click here for a list of schools that accept the Common Application.

Introduction to the Common App

Step-By-Step Guide to the Common App

THE COALITION FOR COLLEGE

The Coalition for College is a diverse group of more than 150 distinguished colleges and universities across the U.S. that is committed to making college a reality for all high school students through its set of free, online college planning tools that helps them learn about, prepare for, and apply to college.

The Coalition’s online toolkit, MyCoalition, is designed to engage students in the college application process early and easily. It is comprised of a convenient digital storage Locker, interactive Collaboration Space, and easy-to-use application, which is accepted at all member schools.
​
Click here for a list of schools that accept the Coalition for College.

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GET ORGANIZED

Now that you have the foundation knowledge and prepared the necessary documents, it's time to get organized and apply! You will need to track: each institution's admission type, deadlines, and all components of the applications including (but not limited to):

• Application Fees
• Application
• Official Transcript
• Admission test scores
• Letters of Recommendation (if required)
• Interview (if required)
• Personal Statement/Essay (if required)​ ​

Helpful Tools: SchooLinks Application Tracker

APPLICATION TRACKER

SchooLinks has a college application tracker to allows you to list all the individual application components, their due date, and mark tasks complete as you finish them.

The College Application Tracker allows you to customize and organize your applications.

Search and add a school. 

Customize the components and save application

You can access the application trackers anytime from the College Applications page.

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READY, SET, APPLY!

Whether you are using a fee waiver, have to complete an interview, are using the Common App or are tracking an individual application, you're ready to begin! You should have all the required paperwork gathered and now it's a matter of sitting down to fill out the applications.

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Congratulations! You're done applying! Soon you will start to receive acceptance letters and financial aid packages. Time to Finish Strong!