We are in the middle of the chaos and excitement known as the college admissions process. While students are aware that their applications and essays are essential pieces of the process, there are several other elements that must be finished before an application is considered completed. So if you are a high school senior getting ready to submit, or even to start, your college applications, use this piece as a guide to make sure they are submitted properly and completely.
• Official college application: Whether you submit your application through the common application, universal college application or through a school-specific application, this is the piece that starts your file in the admissions office. It is also the piece where you are putting your interests, ideas, hopes, and experiences on paper for the admissions officers to learn about you.
• College essays: These will go in with your applications. Colleges have made it nearly impossible for you to forget to submit your essays, so you don’t need to worry about forgetting to do so. But do remember to spend time working on these pieces of writing. They are your opportunity to share with colleges what is important to you. Essays done at the last minute tend not to be your best work. So if you have not already gotten started, there is no time like the present.
• Teacher recommendations: Many schools require up to two letters and some up to four. These letters give admissions officers information about you from others who know you well. Be honest with your teachers about what you want to emphasize, and more than anything, be respectful of their time and effort. These letters are not easy to write, so do what you can to help them out.
• Optional recommendations: Some schools will accept letters from coaches, bosses, mentors — essentially whoever knows you outside of the academic setting. These letters show strengths in different areas. If the colleges you are applying to will accept these letters, don’t feel compelled to send them in. These are truly optional. But if there is someone who knows you well, has seen you work and can write a great letter, by all means submit it.
• Official test scores: Submit test scores through the official agencies — College Board for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests and ACT Student for the ACT. You do not need to send PSAT and Advanced Placement scores. English language proficiency exams like the ILETS and TOEFL must also be submitted. Make sure to submit these by the college deadlines.
• School report and/or transcript: Most colleges will want official grades from your school.
Some public schools do not want transcripts now, and will ask you to complete a self-reported academic record. Upon admission, you will be asked to submit an official transcript so that grades can be verified.
Along with the transcript, some colleges will require that high school counselors also submit a school report. The school report will address basic information about the school and your progress within it. Additionally, the counselor can also send in a letter on your behalf. Colleges are aware that counselors do not know all of their students well. But if you know your counselor well, then find out from your school what you need to do to get the letter.
• Interviews and supplementary information: If you plan to submit a portfolio or participate in an interview, be sure to follow the deadline and submission requirements.
• Payment: Colleges make this piece of the application mandatory and completely obvious. But make sure that you don’t close your browser before payment is complete.
College applications do not have to be as complicated as they seem. The most important thing you can do is follow directions and submit your applications as early as possible.
Purvi S. Mody is co-owner of Insight Education, an educational consulting firm that helps students throughout the Bay Area to achieve their educational goals. Email her at purvi@insight-education.net.
