The Steps Towards College

By Juliana Clifford

As most seniors know, college is approaching quickly. College applications are approaching even faster. The first thing that should be done in applying to colleges are knowing what colleges to apply to. The second step is finding out the deadlines and picking which deadline to use. The third step is filling out the college application, and doing the essay. The fourth and final step is sending in the applications and pray to get accepted. 

While picking colleges find at least five colleges to apply to. Apply to one or two safety, two match, and one or two reach schools. A safety school has a lower GPA and/or SAT score than what you have. A match school is a school that has an equal GPA and/or SAT score. A reach school has a higher GPA and/or SAT score that is close to your scores but still above. Make sure while applying you keep in mind each schools tuition fees because some schools have higher tuition rates than others. Don’t be afraid to look out of state because some states have lower tuition fees.
Each school has a different deadline schedule. Most schools have Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular. Early Decision is when applying, if accepted, you are agreeing to go there, even if you are excepted into other schools. So don’t apply to more than one school in Early Decision. Early Action is just being accepted before the regular admittance students. It shows that you are dedicated to college and ready for it, it usually has a higher acceptance rate as well. Regular is just applying in February or march and finding out with a larger pool of students. Look out for Rolling Admission, this is when you find out if accepted within four to six weeks of sending in your application, so get it in earlier!
Filling out College Applications is a tedious process that will test the limits of any sane persons patience. Don’t freak out just yet though, the essay is what will have you pulling your hair out. The essay is supposed to tell the admissions officer who you are, so essentially you are defining who you are in less than 650 words. Some good ideas is to tell a story of a choice or a person that either changed your life or showed who you are as a person. It is definitely hard to pick just one moment in time for that, but it helps looking at example. All you need to do is google “great college personal statements” make sure you don’t plagiarize though, it won’t start college off on a good foot. 
After all of this is done, all that needs to be done is submit the applications and pray to any thing you believe in that you get accepted. I wish you all good luck on the insane college application process.