How To Get Ahead This Summer With The College Application Process?

Summer is a great time to get ahead on your college applications. This is a great way to reduce stress during senior year and produce the best quality work for applications. Here are some ways to get ahead…
College Applications & Essays
  • You need time and a clear mind to present your best quality work to colleges. Writing your essays and filling out your applications over the summer will provide you with the quality time you need.
  • Start with writing your Common Application essay and then work on your college supplemental essays.
  • The Common Application and all of the college essay supplements will go live on August 1. The Common Application usually shuts down during the last week in July, but you can fill out the personal information prior to August 1. If you fill out the Common Application prior to the shutdown, then your information will be saved and rolled over. At times, they re-format the application and minor information can get lost, so it is easiest to fill out the Common App after August
  • Create a plan to stay organized and still have fun this summer. On your schedule, block out both work time and fun time. The most successful essay writing happens when you set aside an hour or two per day for three to four days in a row to work on essay drafts.
College List
  • Over the summer, spend time doing more research on the schools on your college list. On the college’s website, read about the academic experience and campus life. Also, you can learn more about the school culture/student perspectives through www.unigo.com/, https://colleges.niche.com/, and www.campusreel.org.
  • Make it a goal to have your final list of colleges completed by August 1, so you have time to write college supplemental essays prior to school starting. The ideal number of colleges to have on your final list will be 5 to 10.
  • Stay organized by creating a college application spreadsheet which will include: 1) name of the school, 2) application deadline, 3) required documents – transcripts, letter of recommendations, test scores, 4) essays prompts and length of essays, and 5) financial aid and school-based scholarship deadlines and required forms.
Testing
  • The September ACT and October SAT are the last tests you can take prior to Early Action and Early Decision school deadlines at most schools.
  • If you are taking a test in the fall, don’t forget to register over the summer.
  • Studying for fall testing over the summer without the distractions of school can benefit you and maximize your opportunity to do your very best. Create a personal study plan so you can stay consistent.
Private/Third-Party Scholarships
  • Start your private scholarship research and application process over the summer after your junior year. Every third-party scholarship has its own deadline, application, and required materials, so it is important to start early.
  • Private scholarships can take a lot of work to research, so staying organized is crucial. Consider creating a private scholarship spreadsheet, similar to the college application spreadsheet, to help you manage the scholarship application process.
College Visits
  • School may be out on college campuses, but admissions offices are open and they expect visitors. It may be the most convenient time to visits schools so you may want to visit some colleges over the summer. Many colleges and universities have summer classes in June and July, so you may see college students still on campus.
  • Interviews – some colleges offer interviews as a part of the admissions process. If you are visiting colleges over the summer and they offer interviews, feel free to schedule interviews. Many schools do not offer evaluative interviews anymore, so check to see if the interview contributes to the admissions decision or if it a just an informational interview where you can learn more about the school through an admissions representative.
Networking with College Admissions Representatives
  • Reaching out to the admissions representative that represents your high school is a nice way to interact with the college and demonstrate your interest in the school.
  • Go onto the admissions website of each college you are interested in and find the email of the admissions representative the represents your high school, state, or country. If you can’t find the email, then email the general admissions email and ask for the representative’s information.
  • Send them an email to introduce yourself (name, grade in school, high school name), express your interest in the school, ask them if they are visiting your high school in the fall, and list any questions you may have (keep it to 1 or 2 questions to not overwhelm them).
  • Consider following the social media account of the schools on your list and interact with them there.
  • Also, make sure to sign up for the email lists on the admissions websites of each school as that is how they will announce future programming to you.
To read more, visit: How To Get Ahead This Summer With The College Application Process - The Best U
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