It’s that dreaded time again! The time of year when nearly every time a senior interacts with an adult the question, “Where are you going to college?” pops up within the first ten minutes. The college application process seems like a massive feat to accomplish, with piles of bonus work on top of the already difficult school course loads, extracurriculars, work, social life, and more. 70% of Harrison High School seniors who responded to our survey rated their stress about the college application process at or above a 7 out of 10. So if you’re stressed, you’re not alone. One student even replied, “I feel COMPLETELY clueless going out of high school, and I think high school did not help prepare me for that. I have no idea how to apply to college, what a mortgage is, etc. I feel completely helpless and scared.”
And while it’s scary, you’re not alone in this journey. The college application process is no easy task, and you should be proud of yourself for doing it. You’re taking a big leap towards the next step in your journey, and it can be hard. Which is why we’re here to take you on a step-by-step journey of the application process, hoping to make your experience even a little bit easier.
Step One: Choose What Colleges You’re Applying to
Before you can actually start on your applications, you must decide on which colleges to apply for. There are many elements to take into account when narrowing down your college list such as cost, location, campus size, credibility of majors, class sizes and more. Do your research! Go on campus tours to find the vibe that fits best for you. Both in Naviance and on each college’s website, you can find this information and more in order to find the colleges that are right for you. While doing your research, make sure to take note of the application deadlines for different colleges (typically around November or December 1st).
Step Two: Finish any Final Testing
Before applying to colleges, make sure you’re happy with your scores on any ACT or SAT tests incase you want to retake it one last time before you have to apply. While more and more schools are becoming test optional, many times these scores can help determine scholarship amounts. Additionally, many programs such as nursing often still require these scores (varies from school to school), so don’t be afraid to study a couple extra days and get your best score yet!
Step Three: Set up a Common App Account and Link it to Naviance
Most likely, you’ll have to set up a Common App account at some point in this process. While some schools do allow you to apply directly to the institution, many have now switched over to Common App in the height of the new digital age. Once you’ve officially signed up for a Common App account, make sure to link it to Naviance! If you don’t do this crucial step, you won’t be able to do things such as requesting a transcript, which you will need later on. You can do this by going to Naviance, colleges I’m interested in, and hitting “link account” at the top.
Step Four: Fill out Your Common App 
Once you’ve chosen your colleges and set up your account, next you will want to fill out the required information in Common App. This includes profile, family, education, testing, activities, and writing sections including information such as your extra-curricular involvement, your parent/guardian’s past education, your test scores, and many more.
Step Five: Write your Admission’s Essay(s)
After filling out all of your general information, you will also have to write an application essay for many of your schools, choosing from one of seven prompts. These prompts include things like “Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story,” or, “Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.” But honestly, your essay can be about anything you’re passionate about! The last possible prompt is simply “Share an essay about something of your choice,” so make it personal to you! Schools don’t want to hear about their school and what you love about it. This is your chance to show them who you are, so use it to your advantage!
Step Six: Request Your Letters of Recommendation
Once you finish writing your essay, reach out to teachers, coaches, and trusted adults who know you best that you may want to write your letters of recommendation. Most schools allow you to add 1-3 letters to your application, so make sure you do your research and see how many each college requires/allows! Once you’ve chosen the teachers you want to ask, make sure to create a resume to give them so they can see all of your accomplishments outside of what they know about you. Make sure you give your teachers ample time to complete your letter, bearing in mind that they’re doing something nice for you! I’d typically recommend giving them at least two weeks to write it. Once the adults have agreed to write your application letter, make sure to add them either through Naviance (if they’re a HS teacher) or through Common App (for people outside of the High School) so they can submit their letters.
Step Seven: Request Your Transcript
Once you’ve finished up your applications, make sure to request your transcripts through Naviance. This allows the counselors to send your grades & test scores to the various colleges you’re applying to. Make sure to give the counselor at least three school days to submit these forms or it may not be completed in time!
Step Eight: Submit your Application
You did it! You can now officially submit your applications to the colleges. Don’t forget that some colleges have application fees that you will have to pay before submission. Additionally, check to see if your intended major has any additional forms or work you have to do after submitting your application to the college. You wouldn’t want something as simple as forgetting to fill out a form to prevent you from going to your top school.
Step Nine: Financial Aid
Once your application is submitted, don’t forget to apply for financial aid! This can take many forms such as scholarships, grants, and loans. You want to apply for many scholarships & get as much scholarship money as you can to go towards your education. You can find applications on many websites such as Naviance, Collegeboard, Big Future, and more. The less loans you have to take out, the better! But, don’t forget that the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) should be opening Dec. 1st, be sure to apply!
So now you can sit back and relax, at least for a little bit, until your decision letters come in. Schools will vary in decision dates. Some schools have one day they send every decision letter, but some also have rolling admission. For example, I received one of my decision letters just two days after submitting my application, but some others may not get a decision until February or March, depending on the school and program.
Applying to colleges isn’t easy, but I believe in you! Don’t forget to reach out to a guidance counselor with any questions you may have about college applications, scholarships, transcripts, and more. I hope you get into the school of your dreams, and can’t wait to see the class of 2025 college commitments as the year progresses.
