Types of Applications/Admissions
Rolling Admission
A large amount of colleges use the rolling admissions process. This means that colleges consider applicants as they receive applications/required paperwork. This means that there are no deadlines to apply, but the earlier you apply the better. Often times you can apply as early as you would in an EA or ED plan and don't have to worry about the commitment or policies in place. A decision is usually made shortly after review of the application.
Click here for more information on Rolling Admissions. |
Regular Admissions
This type of admission requires you to apply by a deadline (different for each college). Once you have heard back from the college and financial aid department, you have time to think about your decision. You can wait until you hear back from all other schools to make a decision.
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Early Action
Early Action (EA) plans allow students to receive a decision of acceptance before the standard response date. Most EA deadlines are in November, December, or January with responses coming a few weeks later. A student can wait to hear back from all the other colleges they applied to before making a decision under EA.
Note: Single Choice Early Action plans limit your application to only 1 EA school. This means you can apply to as many schools as you wish, but you can only apply to 1 EA plan. Make sure to check the college's policy before applying. |
Early Decision
Early Decision (ED) plans are stricter than EA. If you apply to an ED plan, you must attend the school if accepted and if the financial aid package works for you. Students commit to enroll at the college if they are admitted under an ED plan. Deadlines are typically early November with the decision coming by late December.
Note: You should be 100% that you want to attend a school that you apply for an ED plan. Wondering if you should apply under an ED program? Read this short Q&A article. |
Parts of an Application
For a quick overview of each piece of the application, click here.
To help keep yourself organized, download this College Application Checklist. You can check off each step and piece of the application as you complete it. Make sure to do this for each school you are applying for.
To help keep yourself organized, download this College Application Checklist. You can check off each step and piece of the application as you complete it. Make sure to do this for each school you are applying for.
The Actual Application
The Essay/Personal Statement
-Dos and Don'ts on Writing the College Application Essay
-Choosing an Essay Topic
For more information, visit these two links:
Peterson's Essay Advice
College Board- Getting In: Essays
Recommendations
-Letters of Recommendation: How to Stand Out From the Crowd
Have you been asked to fill out a student self-assessment form? Download the Recommendations: Student Self-Assessment form and return it to your counselor or teacher.
Parents: To help your student's teacher/counselor with writing a recommendation letter, fill out the Recommendations: Brief Questionnaire for Parent or Guardian form.
Transcripts
Parents: Please fill out the Transcript Release Form. We cannot send your student's transcripts until we receive written permission from you.
Student Athletes: Planning to play NCAA D1 or D2? Your transcript must be released through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Make sure to tell your counselor if this applies to you!
Other Materials to Consider
- The application will ask you basic information about yourself like birth date, gender, race, etc., but it will also ask you questions about the classes you've taken in high school, extracurricular activities, and part-time jobs.
- Every school will have slightly different applications, but they all contain similar information. It is important that your application is accurate, thorough, and free of grammatical errors!
- It can be filled out online or in paper format. (I recommend the online format)
The Essay/Personal Statement
- The essay is designed so that colleges can not only evaluate your writing skills but also for them to learn about you in a way they haven't gathered from your application, transcript, or resume. They look for insight, creativity, and organization when reading your essay. This is the part of the application where you sell yourself!
- There are two basic types of essays: open-ended, which asks you to write creatively from a prompt, and a closed-ended, which asks you to describe yourself and reasons for wanting to attend college. With either type, the goal is to show the admissions officers who you are- you're allowed to show off here!
- Your essay should be COMPLETELY FREE of error. EDIT, EDIT, EDIT!
- I have attached some handouts to help you in this process.
-Dos and Don'ts on Writing the College Application Essay
-Choosing an Essay Topic
For more information, visit these two links:
Peterson's Essay Advice
College Board- Getting In: Essays
Recommendations
- Letters of recommendation are another portion of the application that shows admission representatives who you are. These are designed to give the college another viewpoint from which to view your abilities, grades, or commitment to success. Your teachers and counselors can serve as sources for your recommendation letters. Check the application to see what kind of recommendation the school prefers.
- It is important to start making connections with your school counselor and teachers early on in high school. The more they know you as a person, the more of a case they can make for you in their recommendation. GET TO KNOW YOUR COUNSELOR!!
- You must give your teacher or counselor a MINIMUM of two weeks notice for writing a recommendation letter. It is best to give them a month or longer.
- Read over these pdf's for some helpful information about who you should ask, when you should ask, and how you should ask.
-Letters of Recommendation: How to Stand Out From the Crowd
- Check out this website for information on how to get a great letter of rec!
Have you been asked to fill out a student self-assessment form? Download the Recommendations: Student Self-Assessment form and return it to your counselor or teacher.
Parents: To help your student's teacher/counselor with writing a recommendation letter, fill out the Recommendations: Brief Questionnaire for Parent or Guardian form.
Transcripts
- Colleges look for evidence that you will succeed at their school. Transcripts are one way they do that. Transcripts include all the classes you have taken in high school and the grades you received.
- It is your responsibility to tell your counselor what colleges you are applying for so that s/he may send your transcripts to each college.
Parents: Please fill out the Transcript Release Form. We cannot send your student's transcripts until we receive written permission from you.
Student Athletes: Planning to play NCAA D1 or D2? Your transcript must be released through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Make sure to tell your counselor if this applies to you!
Other Materials to Consider
- Applying to a Fine Arts school?
When Should I Start Applying?!?
The summer before your senior year is a great time to start the application process for college!
Additional Information
College Application FAQs: Students Ask, Counselors Answer
Peterson's "How to Get In"- Info about the application process, essays, letters of recommendations, and much more!
College Board "Applying 101"- A wide array of short articles about applying and getting into college.
Peterson's "How to Get In"- Info about the application process, essays, letters of recommendations, and much more!
College Board "Applying 101"- A wide array of short articles about applying and getting into college.
Sources:
College Counseling Sourcebook
College Counseling Sourcebook