In the summer after your junior year in high school you should request applications. You can put in your request by writing, calling, or sending an email to the admissions offices of the schools you have selected. It can take as long as three weeks for a college to send the application and information you have requested. You should submit your request early so you will receive an application as soon as they become available. Most schools have their applications ready to mail in August.
By receiving your applications before the beginning of your senior year, you can get a head start on the application process by reviewing all the materials and getting them organized. You will have plenty of time to contact the people you want to write your recommendations, to request transcripts, and to register for required entrance exams that you still need to take.
When you have received your applications and are ready to get to work, you should start by reading all of the instructions that come with each application packet. Make sure you know the deadline for each school and the specific information required. We suggest that you make a checklist for each school and keep your materials organized in a binder to keep you on track. You should have a separate section in your binder for each school.
Make a copy of each application form. Use the photocopies as worksheets, and save the originals until you have filled out your worksheets completely and have corrected all of your mistakes. As you work on your drafts, take time to answer each question completely. Ask your parents or your counselor for help if you need it. One of the admissions officers’ most frequent comments is that they wish the students would read the instructions.
Many colleges and universities in the U.S. now have applications available on their websites. Many also now use the common application. Even if the schools that interest you do not use the common application, it would be worthwhile to look it over to get an idea of what your school(s) may require. The common application is available for both Macintosh and Windows. In your high school, there should be a copy of each that you can copy; ask your counselor. You can also download a copy of the common application at www.commonapp.org. There is no fee for this service. However, you will be required to register with the website in order to gain access to the application.
Some colleges offer students the option of applying before the regular application deadline and receiving early notification. The process is known as early admission. There are two types of early admission; early action and early decision.
Under early action, you apply to only one school before the regular application deadline and are notified of your acceptance or rejection well in advance of the regular deadline. You still have the option, however, of rejecting that offer and applying to other schools by the regular deadline.
Under early decision, you also apply to only one school before the regular application deadline. The difference is that if selected, you must accept the offer. The only way you would be able to accept an offer from another school would be to obtain a formal release from the early decision commitment. If you are rejected during early decision, your application will be reconsidered without penalty during regular admissions.
If you have excellent grades, high test scores, and are among the best of your peers, you may have an excellent chance of being accepted during early admissions. Nevertheless, you should carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages.
The sooner you find out if you have been accepted, the more time you will have to plan and prepare for your college experience. You will also be free of the stress and time required to continue filling out applications to other schools. You can focus your attention on doing the very best you can during your senior year. If you are taking AP courses, you will have more time to prepare for the AP exams that could give you college credit and save money in the long run.
There are some disadvantages as well. You must be certain that you want to attend a school if you apply early decision. Your acceptance restricts your options if you change your mind. Many students lose their motivation to do well during their senior year after learning they have been accepted by the school of their choice. This condition or frame of mind is referred to as “senioritis” and sometimes causes grades to drop dramatically. You then run the risk of having the college or university rescind their offer of acceptance. Finally, unless you have an exceptionally strong record, you may have a better chance of being accepted during regular admission when the competition is not as great.