College Prep 101

The actual college application can be very scary for students to fill out for the first time. They usually have tons of questions about what is required and what they can get away with not doing. As educators we can help students simplify this process and make it less intimidating.

Blakenship (2011) states "students should think of their college application as a full page advertisement" (p.1).  It is important that we make sure they are making a good first impression with presenting themselves for the first time to the college (Blakenship, 2011).  Students must remember that the college application is only piece of information that might be used when colleges are deciding who to accept. 

The college application usually includes essays, recommendation letters, SAT and or ACT test scores, and a transcript (College Counseling Sourcebook, 2006).  Below I have listed steps on how to walk students through each item that is required. 

 1. Get Organized: The first thing students need to do is organize all of their college applications and materials they will need. I encourage students to purchase colored folders for every college they are applying to or because this is a technology world it might be better for them to make folders electronically on their computer.

 Big Future created by College Board has a great College Application Checklist they can use for each school to make sure they have sent in all materials. Students also should have a College Application Timeline handy so they can see what they should be doing each month of their senior year (College Ed, 2010). This helps with students staying on track with all the other academic, and extracurricular responsibilities.

2. The Application: A large number or colleges/universities now have their application online (National Association for College Admission Counseling, 2009).  These schools encourage students to fill out an electronic application if it is available. Students might be able to still print out the application to practice on before they do the real thing. 

Some states such as North Carolina also allow their students to fill out any public state college application online through The College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC).   Students can also opt to fill out one standard college application that they can send to all the colleges they apply to through The Common Application. There are over 400 colleges/universities that allow students to complete their application through this site (The Common Application, 2012). 

3. Essays: Most colleges require some sort of essay or personal statement. " Your essay reveals something important about you that your grades and test scores can't" (Big Future, 2013). I often tell students if they want to explain a reason as to why they have a low grades during a particular year or class or if they have low test scores this is where they can give an explanation. Sometimes students have unpredictable circumstances during high school that cause their transcript not to reflect who they really are academically. 

3. Recommendation Letters: Colleges/Universities often ask students to provide 2 letters of recommendation. One from a teacher and one from a school counselor. If there are no limitations on who provides a letter of recommendation students can choose who they would like however, they should make sure they know them well. "Students with mediocre grades, or low scores on college admission tests can benefit from an honest presentation of their potential for success in college" (College Board Counseling Sourcebook, 2006, p. 149). 

Students should ask for recommendations at least 2 months in advance of the application deadline. Some school counselors and/or teachers ask their students to fill out a form or give them a resume to help them with writing about their achievements. 

4. SAT/ACT Scores: Students can choose to take the SAT and/or the ACT. Whatever tests they take they can go to their website for a lists of test dates, locations, and prices. These test apply a common standard to everyone (Big Future, 2013). "This helps colleges evaluate and compare the preparation of students who go to different high schools" (Big Future, 2013). Students should make sure the college/university that they are applying to receives their scores. This can be done at the same time the register for the tests. 

One of the mistakes students often make is waiting to send their scores to the college/university until they get them back and they know how high or low they scored. They also often delay applying to a college/university until they take the SAT and or ACT. Students should be encouraged to send the scores as soon as they sign up for the test so it does not delay the admissions process as well as applying to a college and taking the SAT and or ACT can be done at the same time. 

5. Transcripts: The transcript includes every course and grade a student has earned while in high school. In addition it shows a students grade point average (GPA) and a students class rank. Some schools might have a weighted and unweighted GPA. A transcript might also display a students class rank, however not all high schools opt to rank their students. The transcript for some students is the most important document they will send to a college because of their academic performance (College Board Counseling Sourcebook, 2006).

Students should go their school counseling department to find out the process of requesting transcripts to send to colleges/universities. This should be done months in advance of the application deadline.

North Carolina allows students to send their transcripts electronically through CFNC to any state college/university. Students should check to see if the state they live in allows transcripts to be sent electronically. This is an  fast and efficient way to send transcripts. 

These are just a few tips that will get you started. Your school counseling department can purchase more resources, find free ones on the internet or make their own.

References
Blakenship, R (2011). College applications simplified. Retrieved from http://www.education.com

College Board (2013). Big future. Retrieved from https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-
search

College Board (2010). College Ed. Plano, TX: College Board Publications.

College Board(2006). College counseling source book:advice and strategies from experienced school counselors. Plano, TX: College Board Publications.

The Common Application (2012). Retrieved from https://www.commonapp.org