When to Apply to College
The application deadline for the university may vary depending on the admission procedure.
Due to the variety of deadlines and requirements for college applications, experts advise students to begin the process by the beginning of their fourth year.
But until then, taking SAT or ACT exams (although many schools have test options or test blinds), attending college campuses, enrolling in advanced classes, participating in extracurricular activities, etc. There is a lot to do. A letter of recommendation is required.
“Even if you are planning or thinking about admission to a university, admission early will never hurt,” said the Associate of Strategic Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Admissions and Recruiting Department. Director Greer Davis said. “You can think about what you are interested in, understand what the university wants, choose a course and try different things accordingly.”
Certain university programs, such as Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. Advance planning is especially important for students enrolling in. Training teams are known as ROTC often require physical fitness tests and recommendations.
Timeline for College Admissions
Here’s what to do in the summer before college and between your 4th grade.
To monitor all application and funding deadlines, experts suggest entering important dates in the calendar. “Autumn is full of deadlines and many opportunities,” said Kelly Adams Fraser, founder and chief advisor to the university consulting firm Green Apple College Guidance & Education. “It is highly recommended that you take a break in the summer and organize all these opportunities and deadlines so that you can take advantage of as much as you can.”
Summer Before Senior Year
Due to the limited information available on the university website, it is imperative for prospective students to visit the university campus directly or virtually. Experts recommend attending school in the spring semester of the third grade or in the summer before the fourth grade.
From there, students can begin creating a list of schools to apply for, taking into account location, academic program, student life, size, and cost.
Once you have created the list, you need to start organizing your materials. A typical college application requires an essay, a list of extracurricular activities, a high school transcript, a testimonial, and in some cases a standardized test score. Some school supplies such as B. The transcript sent by the university adviser to the student’s list of universities is only accessible at the beginning of the academic year.
Many applications like the Common App will open on August 1st. This means that students can apply the application at any time thereafter. But students don’t have to wait until that day. You can create an account at any time, and when a new application is opened, all the information you enter will be transferred. “Gives students the opportunity to explore the site and see what’s there,” said Jayne Caflin Fonash, Virginia-based university counselor and former president of the National College Admissions Counseling Association. .. “They can see the requirements for this year’s essays and materials when they make a list of schools they are considering applying for, which gives them a better idea of what to expect.
Some schools offer the possibility of an interview. This is either informative or rating. Experts encourage students to set up an interview – which typically occurs over the summer or in the fall.
“While interviews are a great way to show interest in the college and to get to know people on college campuses, it is true that not every student interviews well or feels very comfortable with that,” Fraser says. “I think if students have enough time, that’s a great goal to get comfortable with it. But I think they really need to make that decision and determination on their own.”
Fall of Senior Year
If a student has not already done so, it’s important to ask a teacher or counselor to write a letter of recommendation early in the fall semester.
“When it comes to references, it’s not just about the person’s name and title. That’s what they know about you, “said Boyd Bradshaw, Vice President of Registration and Administration at Towson University in Maryland. “It’s really important to use a reference that can really tell your story as a student.”
Students also need to start thinking about their options for paying for college. To qualify for federal, state, and institutional assistance, students must first submit a Free Federal Student Assistance Application (FAFSA), which takes place on October 1st of each year.
“Do it as soon as possible,” says Davis. “Most schools have a priority deadline, so if you get FAFSA by then, you have the right to maximum support. Depending on the school or state you are enrolled in, some grants will expire at certain times and you will be eligible for most of the qualifications.
Many university scholarship applications are closed in the fall, spring, and early summer. Students miss the fall deadline.
There are two types of fall deadlines for college admission: early decision and early action. Both usually have a deadline of November, and some applications are closed in mid-October.
Early decision is a binding commitment. -The only exception is when the school is unable to cover the applicant’s proven financial needs. Therefore, if the student is accepted, all other applications must be withdrawn and a deposit must be paid. In the meantime, those who receive a commission through early action may wait until the national commitment deadline of May 1 to reject or accept the offer.
Please note that some universities have a limited early-stage policy that limits the number of schools that students can apply to early on.
It is advantageous to apply early, says Caflin Fonash. “If you look at the general data page information for your institution, you can see that the university accepts most of the classes it enrolls through a variety of early options.”
Another option offered by some schools. Continuous enrollment applications are evaluated as follows: They are received and not all at once after a period of time. Many schools open their applications in August or September. The application window is usually open until spring or until the first week of the lecture. Applicants are usually notified of the decision within 4-6 weeks of submission.
For the Honor Program, each school has a different process. A separate application may be required, or the student may be automatically considered from the first application. For more information on eligibility and deadlines, please visit the school website.
Senior Year Winter
Early Decisions or Early Action Decisions are usually announced in December. However, for those who want to apply before the regular decision application pool, some schools offer a second round of each option commonly known as EDI and EDII or EAI and EAII. The second deadline is December or January, so students will receive the decision around February.
The normal deadline for applying for a decision in January, but it can also be December or February.
Spring of Senior Year
Applicants who have applied for regular decisions should expect to receive feedback in March or April. Once all the decisions have been made, it’s time to choose a university.
It can be difficult to choose where to enroll, especially for students who are not included in the first choice. To find the best solution, contact university staff or current students with follow-up questions, revisit the campus, and compare financial assistance offers.
Note that financial aid offers are not always final. Students who experienced changes to their financial circumstances can file an appeal, for instance.
Once you’ve committed to a college by the deadline, be sure to reject any other admission offers.
“Deciding on which college to enroll is truly an investment in your future,” Bradshaw says.
“Obviously you’re picking a college because of a major, but there’s so much more that goes into education. Fit and lifestyle, like living on campus and being engaged as a student, is really important. So don’t ignore the other factors.”
