College Applications Made Easy
You’ve got the grades, the test scores, and the extracurricular activities. You know where you want to apply to college and have a pretty good idea about a major. Then, at the end of junior year, you realize that you don’t know who will write your letter of recommendation. Or you’re finishing applying to your dream school with only a few days left to spare when you suddenly realize that they require an essay.
Don’t let this be you. The pesky details of the college application process can sneak up on the most meticulous student. We’re here to help. We’ve highlighted some of the more important sections of the college application process and broke it down by junior and senior year.
Junior Year
- You’ve been working hard, right? Keep it up. Junior year is a crucial year for maintaining a solid grade point average.
- Begin researching colleges. Collegeboard.org is a good place to start because it helps narrow down potential colleges and gets you thinking about majors. Make sure to make plans to visit your favorite schools in person. Visiting a college is the best way to decide if you truly want to attend. Also, try to talk to current students to get their unfiltered take on the school.
- Think about who you want to ask to write your letter of recommendation(s). Teachers are always safe bets, but you might want to consider community leaders, coaches, people who know you well and who can present a different side of you. If you already know who you want to ask, it’s a good idea to let them know now. You want to give them plenty of time to write a glowing recommendation!
- Prep for the SAT or ACT. Our tutors can help you decide which to take and can help get you ready!
Summer between junior and senior year
- Depending on your circumstances, you might take part of the summer to visit your favorite schools. Have some free time? A summer job or volunteering will look good on any college application.
Senior Year
- After you’ve narrowed down the schools where you want to apply, break them down into three categories: sure things, middle of the road, and reach. This way you won’t be putting all your eggs in one basket and, once accepted, will be able to choose from more than one school.
- Find out the deadline for your schools’ financial aid applications. Get a head start by gathering any information or documents you need now. Interested in scholarships? Check out Fastweb.com to see what scholarships might be available for you.
- Once you’ve decided on what schools you want to apply to, take your time filling out the applications. Many colleges have similar applications that allow you to recycle the same information. Don’t gloss over the applications too quickly. Your favorite school might have a few additional requirements you don’t want to overlook.