As college application season comes to a close, like many other seniors, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Our plans for the future are finally decided and secured, but it wasn’t an easy path getting here. There were plenty obstacles and almost near panic attacks along the way. But, so many of these could have been avoided, but nobody seems to tell incoming seniors about these problems as so much of the pressure is put on actually getting into the college. So, as a future college freshman and a senior nearing the end of her high school career, here are some tips of reality I actually learned throughout the gruesome college application process, that will hopefully help the Class of 2018 and beyond.
1. Start early. This is a given, and I’m sure all of your teachers and college counselors have already ingrained this in your brain. But still, students seem to keep procrastinating it every year. Ideally, students should start brainstorming their essays beginning in the summer before senior year, but it is essential that the actual applications are started at least around August. Once the school year, especially if you still have a rigorous schedule, you will become extremely overwhelmed and too busy to devote the time needed to applications. Finish chunks of it earlier, so that you have more time later on to look back and revise. And then when it comes time to submit, it will feel more like a relief, than a stressed last minute attempt.
2. Go beyond the brochure. When colleges are giving prospective students presentations or tours, of course they will all be impressive. This is their chance to recruit students, they have to put on a show! It is important to appreciate what a school has to show off, but also to make sure you also gain the real image of the school. This can be done with extensive internet research about the school from sources outside the university itself, and also from current students’ own experiences. Also try to ask adults you know in the career fields you’re interested in, about what the reputations of those schools may be. This will give you a much more holistic view of the college.
3. Apply smartly, not everywhere. While it may be tempting to apply to dozens of colleges to increase your college acceptances, this isn’t the best way to go about things. It does give you a larger selection as you have a higher chance of getting into at least some of them, the choice can then become harder. Save yourself the time and resources, and only apply to schools you really identify with. Definitely have some “safety” (remember that no schools are guaranteed), match and reach schools, but it is better to have that perfect amount; not too little and not too much.
4. Know your financial limits. This one is extremely important, and one of the most overlooked characteristics when considering colleges. What seems to happen every year, and the hardest decision, is when students get into their dream school–but can’t afford it. This is the reality of life, and frankly, it sucks. But, there are ways to prevent yourself this heartbreak. First, you have to communicate with your parents or whoever will be financing your education and come to a consensus on how much exactly can be afforded for your tuition. Also, try not to rely too much on financial aid. Just because a college is known for giving a generous amount of aid doesn’t necessarily mean that they will do the same for you. Each college and individual case is different, so try to take colleges at sticker price and only apply to colleges that are realistic in terms of cost.
5. Waitlist does not equal rejected. In this day and age, colleges are changing the way admissions work. It used to be either a yes or no, but now the idea of a wait list comes to play. There are many theories on what exactly a wait list means, whether it means the student was borderline, or that it just means the university did not have space but still wants the student. Either way, do not be disappointed. A waitlist offer is becoming more and more common as colleges are putting more qualified applicants on it, to ensure they have enough space for everyone and don’t overload their resources. If it’s a college you want to go to, definitely opt in, as for some colleges almost half the waitlist gets admitted to the college. It depends by school though, so look up past years’ waitlist data to get a more accurate picture of your chances. And remember whether or not you get accepted, make sure to commit to another school by the May 1st deadline to make sure you have somewhere to go in the fall.
Obviously these tips aren’t a huge secret, and many people have mentioned them before. But, with my own experience, I see these are the most overlooked things that can end up hurting you and making the whole process more stressful overall. So, if you’re reading this for next year or even if college application season is very far away, just remember to let yourself breathe. You will get through this, as cliche as that sounds. You’ve worked hard enough to get here, and you didn’t come this far, to only come this far. Good luck and give it your best!
