The College Application Process

Oh, The places you'll go!

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  • Get started early!  On-line applications typically become available at the end of June so begin looking at what the applications require of you.  This will help get you organized before the beginning of your senior year.
  • Know the schools to which you intend to apply by the end of your junior year.  We recommend a minimum of 3 schools; one of your schools must be a 'safe' school option.
Over the summer between junior and senior year, go to the school websites of your selected schools and locate the online application.  Create your account.  This will enable you to work on your application without restriction before a final submission. 
Applications vary:  Some schools adhere to the Common Application while others utilize their own unique application.                                
                                                          Application Components
  1. Official High School Transcript (register on www.parchment.com to order and send transcripts) 
  2. Recommendations (only for those schools that REQUIRE them!)
  3. Essays  (CHECK OUT THESE AWESOME ESSAYS THAT GOT STUDENTS INTO HAMILTON!)
  4. SEND STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES - These scores MUST be 'official.'  This is accomplished by two means:
    • When sitting for the standardized exam, students can submit 4 schools to have scores sent officially for free.    This is the method counselors recommend.  SCHOOLS EXPECT TO RECEIVE ALL SCORES FROM ALL EXAMS TAKEN.
    • Go to www.sat.org or www.actstudent.org to order exams separately.  There is a $12 fee per exam, per school for this service.
Recommendations
*Not all schools require recommendations. 
If they do not ask for one, they do not want to one. *
Who Do I Ask?
Ask a teacher who knows you well! 
The teacher must teach a core academic course (math, science, social studies, world language, English).
The teacher should have taught you in your sophomore or junior year of high school. 
  • Give recommenders a MINIMUM of 2 weeks notice.
  • Send the recommendation link from the application website directly to your teacher and/or counselor recommender.   
Admissions Presentation
Jim Cotter, Director of Admissions for Michigan State University, joins us each year to discuss the application process
- not just for MSU -
but for all schools.

Watch his entertaining, thorough presentation:
Jim Cotter re: Applying to College - 2018
Types of Admissions
Rolling Admissions:
As colleges receive applications, they either accept, deny, or defer.
TIME IS CRITICAL! 
The submission of an early applications allows for less competition among the application class.

Deadline Admissions:
There is no advantage to early submission with deadline admissions.  Colleges simply accept applications until the deadline is met and then select candidates within the applicant pool.  This process allows schools to be more selective.

Early Action/Early Decision:
Talk with your counselor!  There are very specific and varying rules relating to these processes.
Extra Tips
Your application WILL NOT be reviewed until ALL COMPONENTS are received by the college.

The order in which the application components arrive to colleges DOES NOT MATTER.
'Good to Know!' Fact:
As colleges receive the components of your application (be it your standardized test scores, recommendations, transcripts, or the application itself), they will start your file and simply add to the file until it is complete.    

Stay organized with your time!  Allow for plenty of time for applications, letters of recommendations, and scores to arrive and be uploaded into your application file at each school.
  • More questions?  Ask your counselor in the Counseling Office.