college application checklist 2022

Application guide for first-year students

Get tips and best practices to give yourself the best chance at success.

What is Common App?

Each year, more than 1 million students apply to more than 1,000 Common App member colleges worldwide through our online college application platform. Learn more about applying through our first-year application by following our step-by-step guide below.

Gather materials

The information you’ll need to complete your applications

Filling out your application takes time.

And if you have to keep interrupting your progress to find information, like a certificate for a continuing education course or the address of your last internship, it can take even longer. Get a head start by collecting this information before you begin.

In the Education section you will enter your high school grades and current courses. Some colleges also need you to self report your high school transcript. You can check out your Courses & Grades section to learn more.

You can share your interests and who you are outside of the classroom in the activities section. You can share information about things like work, hobbies, clubs, and community engagement. And don't forget, family responsibilities can be important to share as well. This is the place to show colleges what makes you unique!

You may self-report scores for any standardized tests in the Testing section. Every college has different testing requirements. Some colleges will always need your test scores. Other colleges may be flexible or have a test optional policy. Be sure to check the Testing policy of the colleges on your list.

Many colleges collect this information in the Family section for demographic purposes. We will ask for your parents occupation, employment status, and education level. If applicable, we will also ask which college(s) they attended and how many degrees they have earned.

The Activities section isn't the only place to show your passion and where you excel! You will also have the chance to share any academic honors or achievements from high school.

Create an account

Get started at any time

Creating a Common App account is easy and should only take a few minutes.

You can create a Common App account even if you don’t plan on applying for another few months or another few years. You can answer questions in the Common App tab and build a college list at any time.

• If you haven’t yet attended college, select “first-year student”
• If you have college credits from dual enrollment high school courses, you should still select “first-year student” 
• If you have already attended 1 or more colleges after graduating high school, select “transfer student”. We also have a separate transfer student guide to help you out. 
• You check regularly
• Does not use inappropriate language 
• You will have access to after you graduate from high school 
• We will need some basic information about you like your name, home address, phone number, and date of birth.
• Be sure to use your legal name as it appears on official school documents and standardized tests. This will make sure colleges can match documents to the correct person.
• At the end, you will adjust your communication preferences and accept the Common App privacy policy.
• Select "create account" and you’re done!

Account rollover

Common App accounts can roll over from year to year!

With account rollover , you can start exploring Common App and save answers to questions in the Common App tab at any time.

Add colleges

Start building your My Colleges list

Once you’ve created your account and explored the colleges that accept the Common App, you're ready to start adding colleges.

The College Search tab is where you will search for and add the colleges you want to apply to. If you have a school in mind you can search by name. If you want to keep exploring, you can use the more filters button. Some filters include:

• State or country
• Distance from a zip code
• Enrollment term
• Application deadline
• Application fees*
• Writing requirements
• Standardized testing policy
• Recommendation requirement

Adding a college is easy! You may add a college using the add button in the search results list. You can also select a college and add them using the "Add to My Colleges" button from their info screen.

Once you've added colleges, you can see them on your Dashboard and in your My Colleges tab. Keep in mind you may only add up to 20 colleges. You may adjust your list of colleges at any time. Once you've submitted, you will not be able to remove those schools from your My Colleges list.

* While some colleges may charge an application fee, others have no fee to apply. And, many will offer fee waivers under certain circumstances, including financial need, veteran status, and more. 

A request to the college to remove the application fee. Using either the Common App fee waiver, which your counselor must confirm, or a college-specific fee waiver, you will not be required to pay the fee to submit your application.

Coed is a term used to describe a college or university that offers the integrated education of male and female students in same environment.

Engage supporters

Collaborate with counselors, teachers, and more

All colleges need things like official school forms. Many colleges will also ask for letters of recommendation.

Counselors, teachers, and recommenders will submit these kinds of forms on your behalf. Here are the types of recommenders you can invite in the Common App.

Counselors share their perspective using the context of the entire graduating class. They also submit the School Report and transcripts.

Parents will only need to submit a form if you apply using a college's early decision deadline. They will fill out part of your early decision agreement.

Teachers give a firsthand account of your intellectual curiosity and creative thought.

Other recommenders are usually non academic recommenders like coaches, employers, and peers. They give insight into your interests and activities outside of the classroom.

Advisors do not submit any forms. They track and check in on your application progress.

Every college gets to choose their own recommendation requirements. You can find more details on each college's "College Information" page.

If you're planning to apply this school year, you can start inviting recommenders. If you don't plan on applying until next school year or later, skip this step for now.

How to invite and assign recommenders: 

From the My Colleges tab select a college and open their "Recommenders and FERPA" section.

If you have not done so already, you will need to complete the  FERPA Release Authorization .

Invite recommenders using the invite button from each section. You may also use the "Invite Recommenders" button at the top.

Select the type of invitation you would like to send. For each invitation you will need information like their name and email address.

After you add a recommender, you can view their info using the Manage Recommenders button.

Note that teachers, parents, and other recommenders will not receive an email invitation until you assign them to a college. To assign these recommenders, go to their section within this screen. Select their name from the dropdown and use the assign button.

If your high school uses Naviance or another partner software, you will not invite your counselor or teachers here. There will be instructional text on this page explaining what to do next. You will still add other recommenders and advisors using the steps above.

In general, each college has their own recommendation requirements. For example, one college may need two teacher recommendations. Some colleges may not want any teacher recommendations. Colleges can also determine what kinds of other recommenders they want. Some may allow for any recommender type, whereas others only allow an employer recommendation.

Understanding requirements

Keep track of each college’s unique application requirements

It's important to stay organized as you work on your applications.

Each college needs you to complete common questions and add counselor. Beyond that their applications vary. Each college can determine their unique requirements for:

• Application Fees
• Personal Essay
• Courses & Grades
• Test Policy
• Writing Supplements
• Recommendations

Here are some places where you can find each college's specific requirements:

Each college's Explore Colleges profile provides lots of information about the college. You can find details on application information, campus culture, scheduling visits, and more.

In the My Colleges or College Search tab, you can learn more using a school's college information page. Here you can see requirements for testing, writing, deadlines, and more.

The  requirements grid is a comprehensive PDF that lists all the colleges that use the Common App and their requirements. You can also find the grid within the application.

We maintain a list of all Common App colleges and  their essay prompts . This resource will help as you begin planning your essays. For more help on planning essays, check out our essay planning worksheet.

You can save answers to Common App tab questions year over year. So you can get started on things like your personal essay or the activities section at any time.

Responses to questions in your My Colleges do not stay year over year. Only get started on things like college-specific questions, writing supplements, or portfolios if you intend to apply this school year. For more info, check out our account rollover FAQ .

Plan essays

Organize and plan for your writing prompts

Sometimes writings essays can feel like the biggest part of your application. With a little bit of planning, organizing, and drafting, we can help you make this task more manageable.

As you work on your applications you can find essays or short answer questions in three sections:

Colleges can either make the personal essay optional or required. In the writing section of your Common App tab, you will see a table that lists each college's requirements.

Many colleges include short answer questions or essay prompts within this section. You can find specific information about each college's individual writing prompts  here .

Some colleges use a separate writing supplement. Not all colleges have a writing supplement. Some colleges only request this supplement based on how you answer other questions. You can find more information about writing supplements on the Dashboard or your My Colleges tab.

Counselor tip

Tools like Google Drive can be very helpful when planning or writing essays. When you’re ready to apply, you can upload the text of your essay(s) using the Google Drive icon in any of Common App’s writing questions.

Use our essay best practices FAQ for more help.

Submit your application

Review and submit your application

Submission is a three-step process: 1) Reviewing your application. 2) Paying the application fee (if applicable). 3) Submitting your application.

Get ready to begin your journey

Walk through the application with us before you apply.

Need help? Contact our Solutions Center.

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• Knowledge Base
• College essay
• How to Apply for College | Timeline, Templates & Checklist

How to Apply for College | Timeline, Templates & Checklist

Published on October 18, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

Most US college application deadlines for undergraduate programs are between late November and mid-March, and you should start thinking about applying for college the summer before junior year. Your application should typically include the following:

• Personal information, extracurriculars, and awards
• Transcripts
• Standardized test scores
• Recommendation letters

In this comprehensive guide, we show you how to organize deadlines and stay on track throughout your college application process.

We’ve also created a free Google Sheets template that you can use to organize and track your college applications.

Table of contents

College application timeline, research schools, apply for financial aid, take standardized tests, write college application essays, complete college applications, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Use our timeline to make sure you’re on track with all the different parts of your college application.

To save the timeline and refer back to it throughout your application process, you can download the PDF below.

College application timeline (.pdf)

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Most students apply to several different schools. After researching schools and deciding which ones you’ll apply to, you should keep track of their deadlines and requirements.

Make your college list

Begin compiling a college list the summer before your junior year. Start researching schools based on their academic programs, financial aid packages, clubs and activities, and geographical location.

You should have a final list of your top schools by the second semester of your junior year, so you can plan for college visits that same semester. To maximize your options, aim to apply for eight schools:

• Two reach schools where it might be difficult for you to get accepted
• Four match schools where you have a good chance of getting accepted
• Two safety schools where you feel confident you’ll get accepted

Visit schools

Take time to do on-campus or virtual visits to prospective schools, but avoid visiting in the summer, when less faculty and staff are available to meet on campus. For highly selective schools, you should consider visiting campuses during the second semester of your junior year to meet and demonstrate interest to admissions officers and professors before you apply in the fall.

You can attend in-person or virtual college fairs to talk with current students and alumni. High school visits, where admissions officers from universities visit high schools, are also useful to learn more about a particular university.

Consider where you’d feel most happy learning and living based on the school and class sizes, academic programs, and geographical location.

Note requirements and deadlines for each school

In the summer before your senior year, note all deadlines and requirements for your prospective schools in a college tracker spreadsheet .

Choose early decision, early action, regular decision, or rolling admissions

In August or September, you should choose an admissions plan for each university. Most students choose the regular decision process, with deadlines spanning from late November to mid-March.

Early decision (ED) and early action (EA) plans allow students to apply for and receive admissions decisions earlier than regular decisions. Some schools’ early decision and early action rounds are less competitive, admitting a higher percentage of students than in regular decision rounds. However, you should only choose early decision or early action if you have thoroughly researched schools and are committed to attending a particular college.

Early decision is binding: you must attend that college if accepted, unless the financial aid package is insufficient. Some universities offer two rounds of early decision deadlines (ED I and ED II), one in fall and the other in winter. The ED II round in winter gives you more time to prepare a stronger application package, research and visit colleges, and explore financial aid options.

Early action is non-binding: you have until the May 1 deadline to choose which college to attend. It also allows you to explore more financial aid packages from schools you are accepted to. Some highly selective private schools offer restrictive early action, which is also non-binding, but prevents students from applying ED/EA to other private schools.

Students should prepare application materials for other schools’ regular decision deadlines if their early decision or early action applications are rejected.

Some schools also offer rolling admission , which offers a flexible six-month application window and a decision response around four to eight weeks after submission. However, rolling admission favors early applicants, since admission stops once the class reaches capacity.

You can alleviate some, or even all, of the financial burden of college by applying for federal student aid, application waivers, or scholarships from schools, corporations, or charitable foundations.

Apply for the FAFSA

As early as October 1, you can file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility for loans, grants, and work study. Your Student Aid Report (SAR) should be mailed to you about four weeks after you file the application.

International students should check with the US Department of Education for financial aid opportunities.

Apply for application fee waivers

An application fee waiver removes the application fee, typically for students who demonstrate financial hardship. You or your guidance counselor can request an application fee waiver.

Complete scholarship applications

Ask your school counselor, local community groups, and prospective colleges about scholarship opportunities as early as the beginning of your junior year. Throughout your high school career, continue compiling a list of scholarship opportunities in a scholarship application tracker spreadsheet.

Highlight overlapping essay prompts, so you can write one essay that covers multiple prompts. Sometimes you can adapt your main college essay into a scholarship essay. However, remember to tailor each essay to the prompt.

Start filling out scholarship applications, gathering required documents, and writing scholarship essays in the summer before your senior year. Throughout your senior year, apply for as many scholarship applications as possible; many students don’t take advantage of scholarship opportunities.

Register and take your standardized tests in your junior year to allow sufficient time to prepare for the test and retake it if necessary.

Take the SAT or ACT

To practice for the official test, you should register for and take the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) or the Pre-American College Test (PreACT) in either your sophomore year or the fall of your junior year.

Take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) in the spring of your junior year to allow sufficient time to retake the exam in the fall of your senior year if needed. Register for the SAT or ACT at least a month before your testing date to avoid late registration fees.

Due to the COVID pandemic, some schools no longer require students to submit test scores. However, you should still take the SAT or ACT and aim to get a high score to strengthen your application package.

Take Advanced Placement exams

If applicable, take your Advanced Placement (AP) exams in May of your sophomore, junior, and senior years. Depending on the school’s policies, if you score a 4 or 5 on an AP exam, you can earn college credit for certain first-year courses.

Your college application essays give you the opportunity to personalize your application. Colleges look for an essay that differentiates you from others and demonstrates your positive traits. Start brainstorming topics and drafting your essays the summer before your senior year to give yourself sufficient time for revising and receiving feedback.

If you’re struggling for time, check out our tips on writing your college essay fast .

Write your main college admissions essays

It’s a good idea to start working on your essays the summer before your senior year. Some essays can be reused or revised for different schools, depending on the prompt—though you might have to adjust its length if different colleges have different word count limits. The process of brainstorming and writing the first draft typically takes one to three weeks.

Write supplemental essays

Start writing any supplemental essays (such “Why this college?” essays and diversity essays ) in August or September of your senior year. Be careful when responding to these prompts, which are usually more specific than main college essay prompts. As with your main college essays, revise and get feedback on these essays.

Revise your essays and get feedback

Start revising your essay after you’ve written your first draft. Most students go through multiple drafts and take about two to four weeks to revise and get feedback. Remember to take breaks between editing stages.

In August or September of your senior year, get feedback from two to three people—ideally people who know you well, have good writing skills, and are familiar with college application essays. You can also get help from an essay coach or editor. Scribbr essay coaches can help.

Explore the essay coaching service

Begin creating accounts and filling in your personal information on college application portals the summer before your senior year. Start collecting and requesting official documents and recommendation letters at least three to four weeks before the deadline.

Create accounts on college application portals

After creating a prospective college list, create accounts on their respective application portals in the summer before your senior year.

The Common Application , with over 900 member universities, is the most popular. The Coalition Application, with more than 150 member universities, offers resources to help all students gain access to college.

Some schools, such as the University of California system, MIT, and Georgetown University, have their own application portals.

Fill out your personal information, extracurriculars, and awards

It’s a good idea to start a list of your extracurriculars, awards, jobs, and leadership experience in your sophomore year. Throughout your high school career, keep adding to your list, which can also be used to build your resume if needed.

Upload your essays

If you paste your essay directly into the text box, remember it won’t retain formatting like italics or bold text. Sometimes, dashes or other characters might alter the word count, so check that you’ve respected the word limit after inputting your essays.

If you have to upload a file, make it a PDF. Use a simple standard font, like Times New Roman, and format spacing to 1.5 or double space.

Send your high school transcripts and test scores

As soon as you complete your part of the application, ensure your school counselor sends your transcripts to the right colleges. Make sure your SAT, ACT, and AP scores have been sent to the correct schools. Some schools allow results to be self-reported, while others require official score reports from testing organizations.

Request letters of recommendation

Many colleges require one to two letters of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, coach, or employer who knows you well. As early as the end of your junior year, you should unofficially notify teachers or counselors of upcoming requests to give them sufficient time to write a thoughtful personalized letter during the summer.

Once you have completed your portion of the online application, send an official request through the application portals and check whether your recommenders have submitted their letters two to three weeks before the deadline.

Write your resume

Some schools require you to write a resume. While you may not have much or any work experience, you can highlight your educational career. Include your academic achievements, awards, projects, and leadership positions. You can also include any work experience, internships, or summer programs.

Review your application

Before submitting, double-check that all necessary materials are included.

Here’s a checklist you can use to track your progress through the application process.

College application checklist

I’ve researched schools and made my college list.

I’ve done on-campus and/or virtual visits to prospective schools.

I’ve chosen application plan deadlines for each school.

I’ve organized deadlines and requirements in a college applications tracker .

I’ve filed my FAFSA.

I’ve submitted scholarship applications.

I’ve taken my standardized tests.

I’ve written my college application essays .

I’ve created accounts on application portals.

I’ve filled out my personal information, extracurriculars, and awards.

I’ve requested my test scores be sent to the correct colleges.

I’ve requested my transcripts be sent to the correct colleges.

I’ve requested recommendation letters.

I’ve paid application fees or applied for application waivers.

I’ve checked that my application has all the necessary documents and information.

Congratulations!

It looks like your application is ready to submit. Good luck with getting accepted!

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

You should start thinking about your college applications the summer before your junior year to give you sufficient time for college visits, taking standardized tests, applying for financial aid , writing essays, and collecting application material.

In general, for your college application you will need to submit all of the following:

• Your personal information
• List of extracurriculars and awards
• College application essays
• Recommendation letters.

Different colleges may have specific requirements, so make sure you check exactly what’s expected in the application guidance.

The college admissions essay accounts for roughly 25% of the weight of your application .

At highly selective schools, there are four qualified candidates for every spot. While your academic achievements are important, your college admissions essay can help you stand out from other applicants with similar profiles.

To maximize your options, you should aim to apply to about eight schools:

• Two reach schools that might be difficult to get into
• Four match schools that you have a good chance of getting into
• Two safety schools that you feel confident you’ll get into

Apply early for federal student aid and application fee waivers. You can also look for scholarships from schools, corporations, and charitable foundations.

Depending on your prospective schools’ requirements, you may need to submit scores for the SAT or ACT as part of your college application .

Some schools now no longer require students to submit test scores; however, you should still take the SAT or ACT and aim to get a high score to strengthen your application package.

Aim to take the SAT or ACT in the spring of your junior year to give yourself enough time to retake it in the fall of your senior year if necessary.

College deadlines vary depending on the schools you’re applying to and your application plan:

• For early action applications and the first round of early decision applications, the deadline is on November 1 or 15. Decisions are released by mid-December.
• For the second round of early decision applications, the deadline is January 1 or 15. Decisions are released in January or February.
• Regular decision deadlines usually fall between late November and mid-March, and decisions are released in March or April.
• Rolling admission deadlines run from July to April, and decisions are released around four to eight weeks after submission.

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Ultimate Checklist for Applying to College

• This checklist can help you keep track of all the steps necessary to successfully submit your college applications.
• Each college application has many components, and it is important to make sure you are completing every step before submitting your apps.
• This checklist can help you keep track of important deadlines (scholarships, early action, early decision, etc .), stay organized, and make sure you don’t forget any important steps!

College Application Checklist Template ✅

Fill out this checklist for each school you apply to!

Name of School _________________________

Type of Application Deadline __________________________

Date of Application Deadline __________________

• Complete your Application profile ( Common App, Coalition App, or region-specific app )
• Fill out all application information
• Please note : most colleges have both an "Application" and "Writing Supplement" sections. Make sure you submit BOTH!
• Finish and submit your essay
• Invite your recommenders (teachers/counselors)
• Waive your FERPA rights (if you don't, colleges can see that, and they may not think the recommendation letters are as objective)
• Submit test scores (if needed)
• Submit any necessary supplements or additional materials (i.e., written prompts, portfolios)
• Proofread ALL materials
• Request transcripts
• Send application fee
• Request a fee waiver if eligible
• Submit FAFSA (opens October 1st)
• Submit CSS profile if applicable
• Double-check that everything is submitted BEFORE the deadline! ⏰

Tip: the server often crashes on the day of the deadline, be proactive and submit early!

***For more college advice and content, check out these top 10 Tiktoks on the college app experience and tips , this article about what it means to apply to college undecided , this article about discovering your college major , and this guide of the college process deadlines .

For a PDF version of this checklist, click here !

Guide Outline

Related content, 11 tips for early action and early decision, summer opportunities to improve your college applications, how to contact admissions officers, early action vs. early decision: what's the difference, how to complete the activities section on common app, 7 steps to submitting the common app.

Stay Connected

Acing the College Application Process

The college application process can be intimidating, but doesn’t have to be. Getting started early, being aware of and on top of deadlines, and staying organized will help make the process smooth sailing! These days, application requirements vary from school to school, but most require that you submit a common application as well as supporting documents to help the admissions committee decide if you and the school are a strong fit.

Key Components to the College Application Checklist

Not sure where to start? Create a handy checklist with the following essentials to help you get through the college application season with ease.

Application Form

The Common Application is widely used by many colleges and universities these days and is designed to help make things more streamlined and easier for applicants. It is essentially an application that you complete once and submit to several schools. While it doesn’t cost you anything to register with the Common App, there are application fees for submitting a Common App plus Supplement to colleges. The fees range anywhere from $25 and $90. Even though you can apply to as many institutions as you wish, it’s smart to take some time to consider which schools you really want to apply to, to avoid going over budget on this step.

High School Transcript

Another important component of the college application checklist is your high school transcript. Request copies of your high school transcript from your counselor’s office early, so that there’s plenty of time for them to be sent to the colleges you are applying for. If you took classes at community colleges during your high school years, and are keen on the credits transferring over to your college graduation, then you’ll want to request these transcripts to be sent over as well. In short, the transcripts should show all the classes you’ve taken and the respective grades you’ve earned. The admissions committees will review your overall grades and the progress you have made as part of their decision.

Standardized Test Score

It is not uncommon for colleges and universities to require high school students to take the SAT or ACT exam. If you are not a good standardized test taker, we recommend starting on this as early as your junior year of high school so you have time to retake the test as needed to achieve a score you’re happy with. Test scores aid admissions committees in measuring your probable success in college. Some institutions consider the highest composite score, while others take the best combination of scores from different sections. To increase your odds of “acing” this part, it’s best to earn high scores all across the board. Many students take the exam a few times to strive for higher scores for this reason.

Letters of Recommendation

Being recommended by a teacher, guidance counselor, sports coach, or another adult may help you stand out to admissions committees. Not all schools require this, but if the ones you are applying for do, then it’s imperative to ask for these letters of recommendation early on to allow plenty of time for your recommenders to write a strong letter that reflects your strengths and great qualities. We recommend giving your recommender the form or instructions about how to write the recommendation so that they have a better idea of what they need to cover in the letter. At the very least, the recommendation letter should include your full name, in what capacity he or she knows you, the length of time he or she has known you, and finally, highlight your capabilities and character.

Personal Essay

It’s easy to get stumped and overthink when it comes to the personal essay. However, at the end of the day, it’s just another way for the admissions committee to get to know you, your perspective on a topic, and hear your voice. Grades and test scores can only go so far to show who you are as a person and are just part of the overall equation. In some cases, the personal essay can make or break your chances of getting admitted to a school. With that said, do take your time in crafting a well-written personal essay that not only addresses the topic at hand in its entirety but also succinctly gives a good glimpse of who you are as a person.

Start this process by brainstorming ideas, creating rough drafts, and having others read your essay and provide feedback. Then, make edits to your rough drafts accordingly. Focus on what makes you special, elaborate on what you’ve learned, or how much you’ve changed because of a unique experience. Finally, make sure you proofread and fix any grammatical or spelling errors before turning in the essay. The little details add up, too!

Interviews are not required by all schools, but can serve as another way for the admissions committee to connect with you – this time on a more personal level. At college interviews, you will have to be prepared to answer questions about yourself. This is your opportunity to inject character into your responses! Be ready to elaborate on answers beyond just a simple “yes/no,” and think of it like having a professional conversation with someone else. Interviews can be really nerve-wracking for many. If this sounds like you, take extra time to practice with a family member or trusted friend until you get comfortable enough to tackle the real thing.

General Tips for Success

Below are five college application tips to keep in mind:

Avoid scrambling at the last minute by making a solid plan. Consider how many schools you want to apply to, what those schools are, and categorize them into three categories: dream schools, safety schools, and backup schools. Waiting until the last minute can increase your chances of missing an important detail or deadline. Budget out more time than what you think you’ll need. If you finish earlier, congratulate yourself!

Know the Deadlines

Each school may have slightly different deadlines, so after you have made your list of potential schools, jot down the due dates for each. This will help you stay on track so you don’t accidentally miss a deadline if you are planning to apply to many schools at once. If you wish to be considered for Early Action or Early Decision, find out whether the school of choice offers it and if so, when the deadline is.

Start Early

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to procrastinate or let something slip through the cracks when you’re also still tackling your final year of high school. That being said, getting started on the college application process ahead of time will help you avoid unnecessary stress down the road. Also, asking for letters of recommendation and requesting transcripts early can help prevent yours from getting lost in the shuffle amongst other students when “rush time” rolls around.

Prepare for the Interview

Even if you think you are a smooth talker, it’s smart to take measures to prepare for your college interview if the colleges you are applying for require it. A few different ways to prepare for the interview is going over common questions and thinking about how you will approach them, conducting a mock-interview with a loved one, and reviewing areas of weakness to improve accordingly. This time, when interview time comes, you feel ready and more at ease, allowing you to be more yourself. Authenticity in unique and driven individuals is what college admissions want to see!

Get a Second Opinion on Your Essay

After completing a rough draft of your personal essay, it can be really helpful to get an outsider’s perspective on what you’ve written. Send your essay to a few different people such as family members, peers, and teachers, and kindly request feedback. From there, you may touch upon or elaborate more on a specific topic, reword sentences that others may be awkward, and use different wording to better depict something. You’d be surprised at how much more polished your essay can get with a bit of help along the way.

Final Thoughts

Getting started early, taking the time to plan and stay organized, keeping track of deadlines, and using your resources wisely can make the college application process much less daunting. Remember that at the end of the day, the most important thing is to just be yourself and give it your very best!

Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay

Tips for writing an effective college essay.

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Student Stories

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Student Story: Admissions essay about community impact

Student story: admissions essay about a past mistake, how to write a college application essay, tips for writing an effective application essay, sample college essay 1 with feedback, sample college essay 2 with feedback.

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4 Tips to Complete College Applications on Time

Starting early with proper planning is key to timely college application completion, experts say.

Completing College Applications on Time

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Planning out your college applications early can help you stay organized as you move through the process.

With multiple components and deadlines, the college application process can be daunting for some students. Since prospective students are often juggling college applications alongside high school classes and activities, experts say it's easy to fall behind or procrastinate.

"Procrastination is a stress response, and it makes sense that some students who are anxious about the college process will avoid working on their applications in a timely fashion," Angela Warfield, principal consultant and founder of admissions consulting firm Compass Academics, wrote in an email.

"This can become a real problem if students wait too long to request transcripts, test score reports or letters of recommendation. Since the students need to rely on other people to submit these materials, they need to make sure to give those people as much time as possible to get those materials in before deadlines."

There are some exceptions where applications are accepted later, and schools that offer rolling admissions may be good last-minute options for students. But May 1 has traditionally been the decision deadline across higher education, even earning the name "College Decision Day," so students typically need to follow that timeline. If a student is applying for early decision or early action , there will be even earlier deadlines to submit application materials.

A well-thought-out plan, anchored by a few organizational tips, can keep students on track with college applications. Here are four tips that experts say students can follow to complete their college applications on time.

• Start planning early.
• Create a detailed checklist.
• Ask for recommendation letters early.
• Budget time for application essays.

Start Planning Early

Because there are multiple steps involved in applying to college, many of which require help from other people, experts say the most foolproof method to alleviate anxiety is to start early.

The Common App , which is used by more than 1,000 schools, opens Aug. 1 each year, meaning students can't officially submit applications through the platform until then. But those looking to get a head start can create an account during their junior year and get familiar with the platform, says Denard Jones, lead college counselor at Empowerly, a college admissions consulting company.

And though it may not be as fun as relaxing by the pool or hanging out with friends, students would be wise to use the the summer months ahead of senior year – when they have no academic obligations – to begin or complete college application tasks, such as completing any write-ups for the extracurricular or activities section , experts say.

Otherwise, "it makes the fall of your senior year that much more hard,” Jones says. “Because you still have to do academic work, you still have to go through the semester, and now you’re trying to pull all this information together."

Create a Detailed Checklist

Keeping track of the various application requirements and deadlines can be streamlined with a checklist. School counselors and independent college counselors can typically provide students with a checklist, and the College Board also provides a list for students and parents to use.

Universities also typically have an application checklist on their website, which may include directions or items specific to them.

If applying to multiple colleges, students and parents may also want to create a master spreadsheet or other document to keep track of deadlines and when parts of the application are complete. Setting up reminders on a digital calendar for important dates can also help, experts say.

"Dates to consider include: application deadlines, testing date/score submissions deadlines, dates for recommenders to submit letters of support and important scholarship deadlines," Warfield says.

Ask for Recommendation Letters Early

Letters of recommendation from teachers, school counselors and other sources are important to providing college admissions officers deeper context and colorful details about applicants. Like personal essays, they can help humanize applicants and give schools an idea of whether a student would succeed academically or fit in socially within their campus culture.

A strong recommendation can tip the scales in a student's favor, especially in situations where there are academic blemishes. A weak or vague letter may reflect poorly and cause an application to stand out for the wrong reasons, experts say.

Students should choose the right people to write letters, such as teachers or counselors who know them best. It's equally important to give recommendation writers enough notice so they aren't asked to craft a hastily written letter.

Richard Tench, a school counselor at St. Albans High School in West Virginia, suggests giving recommenders at least two weeks to complete the letter, but in some cases it may be wise to ask even earlier.

“That will provide them the time to say yes or no," he says, "but that also provides them the time to think about it and write a comprehensive letter."

Some teachers are pressed for time and commit to writing a limited number of recommendation letters each year. Once those spots are booked, students shouldn't be surprised if their request is denied. This could force students to pivot to a recommender who doesn't know them as well.

“The more time you give a recommender to write, the better," Jones says. "That way, hopefully it won’t be this template that’s just cut and paste and doesn’t really help the admissions offices much."

Budget Time for Application Essays

Personal statements are often the most time-consuming and stressful part of the application process, Warfield says. But this is another area where students can get a head start during their junior year or the summer before their senior year.

The Common App typically announces essay questions for the upcoming application cycle in January or February, giving students ample time to prepare for or begin writing the essays. Warfield recommends students begin working on essays in early June, ahead of their senior year, which allows more time to edit and perfect their essays with peers or trusted mentors.

Schools that require supplemental essays vary on when those prompts are announced, but Warfield says students should start on them as early as possible and "work smarter, not harder" when completing them.

"Look for similar themes and questions where your answers aren’t likely to change," such as what you want to major in or what community means to you, she says. "You can revise these essays to be school-specific, but not completely rewrite them. Don’t duplicate your efforts."

Starting on essays early can be particularly helpful for students who struggle or need additional assistance with writing the essay, she says, adding that students who procrastinate may be tempted to rely on another person or an artificial intelligence tool such as ChatGPT to write their essay. While some colleges are using AI in admissions, colleges expect the personal statement to be a student's authentic writing.

"As someone who’s evaluated student writing for 30 years, it is not that hard to spot an AI-generated college essay," Warfield says. "If students try to use AI as a shortcut, colleges use AI detectors and seasoned admissions readers to detect derivative material."

This could be anything created by AI technology, and use of such language in essays could harm an applicant's admissions chances, experts say.

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Fafsa® 2024-25 checklist: what you’ll need to complete your application online.

Senior Associate, JPMorgan Chase

Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ® ) is required for students to be eligible for federal financial aid for college and graduate school, including federal grants, student loans, and work-study programs. If you’re a student who wants to access federal financial aid, the application is essentially unavoidable. It’s also used to help determine if you’re eligible for some other types of financial aid, like some institutional scholarships.

The 2024-25 FAFSA ® has changed from previous iterations of the form due to the FAFSA ® Simplification Act, which was enacted to streamline and improve the process of applying for federal financial aid.

Because of the changes to the form, or if you’ve never filed the FAFSA ® before, you may want to brush up on what you need to file it.

Continue reading for a checklist of items you’ll need to file the form online. Of note, it’s possible to file a paper version of the FAFSA ® but doing so may require a distinct set of items.

1. Your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID and password

Starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA ® , students and their parents (if they’re a dependent) won’t be able to access the online FAFSA ® without having an FSA ID and password set up. This username and password are used to log into the Department of Education’s online systems.

It’s recommended that you set up your FSA ID before you start the form because it can take up to three days for your information to be confirmed.

2. Your contributor’s information (if you’ll need one)

"Contributor" is a new term on the 2024–25 FAFSA ® and refers to anyone required to provide information on a FAFSA ® , such as you, your biological or adoptive parent, your parent's spouse, or your spouse. You'll answer questions on the form to determine who needs to be a contributor on your application.

There are a few cases in which figuring out who your contributor is might be slightly trickier to figure out.

One is if you have parents who are divorced . If your parents are divorced, the parent who provided more financial support over the past 12 months will be identified as a contributor on your FAFSA ® . If both parents provided equal financial support, the parent with the greater income and assets will be identified as a contributor.

If you're married and file taxes jointly with your spouse, you'll report your spouse's information on the FAFSA ® , but they won't be identified as a contributor. If you're married and didn't file taxes jointly, your spouse will be considered a contributor on your FAFSA ® form.

To invite contributors to your FAFSA ® , you’ll be asked to provide:

• Their first and last name
• Their Social Security number (if they have one)
• Their date of birth
• Their email address

It's important to note that identifying as a contributor on the FAFSA ® won’t make your family member responsible for paying for your education costs.

3. Your 2022 federal income tax return and records of your untaxed income

Even though your tax information gets transferred directly to the FAFSA ® (consent to allow this is a new requirement for the 2024-25 FAFSA ® ), you may still need your tax records to help answer certain questions. Make sure you report 2022 income on the 2024–25 FAFSA ® . You and your contributors may also need to answer FAFSA ® questions about untaxed income, such as child support and interest income.

If you or a contributor had a significant change in income since the 2022 tax year, you should still complete the FAFSA ® with your 2022 tax information. From there, contact the schools you're applying to in order to explain your circumstances and then be able to document any changes in income. School officials may be able to assess your situation and adjust your FAFSA ® if warranted.

4. Records of your assets

On the 2024–25 FAFSA ® , you'll use 2022 tax year information to answer many of the financial questions. The FAFSA ® will also ask you and your contributor (if you have one) questions about your assets. Make sure you have records of your savings and checking account balances and the value of any investments you have, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate (excluding your primary residence).

You must report the current value of your assets as of the date you sign the FAFSA ® rather than reporting the 2022 tax year amounts.

5. The list of schools you want to apply to

You can list up to 20 schools on the online 2024-25 FAFSA ® . Even if you haven’t applied or been accepted to a certain college yet, you can still add the school to your FAFSA ® . It’s better to add a school to the form rather than not, even if you’re unsure about applying, to reduce the risk of missing out on any potential financial aid.

Once your FAFSA ® is processed, the schools you listed on the form will receive your FAFSA ® results electronically. They’ll use your FAFSA ® information to determine the types and amounts of financial aid you may receive if you're eligible. You’ll receive an email from the U.S. Department of Education to let you know once your information has been sent to your selected schools.

Final thoughts

Completing the FAFSA ® can give you access to federal financial aid for your post-secondary educational journey if you’re eligible. It’s important to stay ahead of FAFSA ® deadlines and gather all the necessary information ahead of filing to be as prepared as possible since filing the form is integral to the federal financial aid process.

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Majoring in Biology at UNH

How do you choose a major at UNH ? Our How I Chose My Major blog series highlights students from different colleges across UNH and explores how they chose their majors and minors, what they've learned through their programs, the coolest places they get to study and so much more!

Today, learn more about how Payton '24 became a biology major . Payton takes us through the wide breadth of opportunities available to UNH biology majors, including capturing animals on trail cameras in College Woods and getting hands-on experience in the lab.

Payton Hamlin

What is your major?

What did you think you wanted to major in before you came to unh.

Prior to coming to UNH, I really considered majoring in nursing.  However, during my senior year of high school, I took an anatomy course and realized that blood and needles were not for me.  Also, in the back of my mind during my senior year, I wanted to become a teacher and maybe major in elementary education as there were several teachers within my family. Although this seemed fulfilling, I knew I was more interested in the science within the world around us. I went back and forth for a while, but then landed on biology as there are so many fields of work you can go into after your schooling.

Why did you choose your major? 

During my senior year when I was contemplating choosing between several different majors, I ended up shadowing an optometrist and ended up loving what they did. Coming into college, with this career goal in the back of my mind was super helpful, but I still was not sure if I would stick with the biology major once I was on campus. During my freshman year, I took BIOL 411 – Intro to Biology: Cellular and Molecular. This course was everything to me as it covered almost every aspect of the field of human biology that I was eager to learn more about. While taking this course, it solidified my love for the field of biology and I knew I was in the right major.

What are some of the top places on campus you frequent for your major?

The biology major at UNH requires both wildlife/ecological courses as well as human/cellular biology. For courses such as Ecology, we spent a lot of time out in College Woods which was an awesome experience. Our class would often set up trail cameras and see your typical New Hampshire animals on there such as deer, raccoons and squirrels. For courses more so in the health/medical field, I would spend some time in the laboratory facilities within Rudman Hall and the newly renovated labs of Spaulding Hall. These labs were awesome for getting hands-on experience.

What’s the coolest part about your major?

The coolest part about the biology major is the vast array of courses you can choose from based on what you are interested in. During my time here, I have taken courses such as Mushrooms, Molds and Mildews and even a course on Human and Animal Parasites. There are so many directions you can go in with the biology major and you can immerse yourself in all of the facets of the life sciences.

What advice do you have for prospective students about choosing a major?

My advice for prospective students is that even if you are unsure about declaring a major, there are so many classes offered at UNH that you will find your niche and what you are passionate about. You may end up loving classes you were dreading taking, and you may even end up switching your major to a new field of study that you would not in a million years picture yourself in. UNH offers courses in just about every field, and I encourage you to take unique courses as you find what you are passionate about. 

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How i chose my major: physics, spanish and international affairs.

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NCC President Makes Power 100

• Mia Rossi-Marino
• 27 March 2024

Northampton Community College (NCC) President, David A. Ruth, Ph.D., has been selected by Lehigh Valley Business (LVB) as one of the region’s power players for their annual Power 100 List . This group is composed of the area’s most significant, influential and respected leaders in their fields. The honorees are chosen by LVB's editorial leadership team with input from readers.  

“I am grateful and humbled to be recognized by Lehigh Valley Business as one of the region’s power players in the annual Power 100 List.  This acknowledgement further fuels my commitment to driving positive change and making a lasting impact in the Lehigh Valley,” said Ruth.  

Ruth was named as NCC’s fifth president in 2022, and since that time, he has ensured that all voices are heard, including hosting open office hours for students, faculty and staff to share their feelings, suggestions and questions. This is part of his ongoing efforts to be accessible to the campus community. As a community college graduate, he can understand and identify with NCC students’ unique needs.  

Congratulations to President Ruth!  

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NCC Earns 2024 ALL IN Highly Established Action Plan Seal

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• Western Governors University Offers Scholarships in Recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week 2024

Financial Aid Opportunities Available for Current and Aspiring Education Professionals

SALT LAKE CITY, APRIL 2, 2024   — Western Governors University (WGU) will celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10 by offering three scholarship programs for current and future education professionals who wish to pursue bachelor’s or master’s degree programs in the Teachers College at WGU’s School of Education, the largest nonprofit, accredited school of education in the country.

"At Western Governors University, we believe that supporting the academic aspirations of teachers is critical to the advancement of the education profession,” said WGU Senior Vice President and Executive Dean of the School of Education, Stacey Ludwig Johnson, Ph.D. “We are honored to provide financial assistance to our outstanding students who are passionate about creating dynamic and engaging learning environments in our nation’s schools.”

Each WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship and WGU Become a Teacher Scholarship is valued up to $4,000. The WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship is designed to help current teachers improve their skill set in the classroom, move into administration, or to assist aspiring teachers in obtaining the required credentials for a rewarding future career as an educator. The WGU Become a Teacher Scholarship is geared toward those interested in becoming a paraprofessional or  classroom aide, or in starting the journey to become a licensed K–12 educator.

Each of these two scholarships will be credited to the student’s account at the rate of $1,000 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. Scholarships will be awarded based on a candidate’s academic record, financial need, readiness for online study at WGU, current competency, and other considerations.

In addition, from now through June 30, 2024, WGU is offering an Education Support Professionals Scholarship that may be applied toward any of Teachers College degree programs leading to teacher licensure. This scholarship, worth up to $5,000, is a unique opportunity for paraprofessionals currently working in K-12 schools to receive funds toward tuition, plus a stipend for student teaching. This scholarship will be credited to the student’s account at the rate of $625 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms, with an additional $2,500 stipend for the student teaching term.

Since its launch in 2003, WGU’s Teachers College has graduated more than 97,000 educators in every state in America and currently enrolls more than 43,000 students. By providing competency-based, flexible, online degree programs, and low, flat-rate tuition, WGU students progress through their courses as soon as they demonstrate mastery. This enables them to learn while working and graduate with less debt than their peers. 

In 2023, WGU’s Teachers College awarded more than $8 million in scholarships, marking a significant commitment to helping current and future educators earn their degrees and advance in their careers.

New and enrolling WGU students may apply for the WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship at wgu.edu/teacherappreciation , WGU Become a Teacher Scholarship at wgu.edu/becomeateacher , and the Education Support Professionals Scholarship at wgu.edu/parascholarship , by June 30. To learn more about WGU’s Teachers College and its academic programs, visit wgu.edu/online-teaching-degrees .

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Leslie reed, director, external communications 385-428-9433 [email protected] more info: 866-225-5948, most recent.

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