It is best to ask teachers for letters of recommendation at the end of 11th grade, since that allows them to compile their thoughts over the summer. Make sure you choose a teacher who knows you well; if you're just another face in the crowd, they may struggle to paint an accurate picture of your work as a student. You can also request letters of recommendation from other adults who know you well.
For example, you might request a letter from a coach; a supervisor or manager at your job; a pastor, rabbi, or other faith leader at your church; or another adult mentor from outside the school system. In addition to letters of recommendation, most colleges will also want to hear from you. They're eager to hear about your thoughts, interests, seminal experiences, perspectives, challenges you've faced, and aspirations.
Most students start working on their essays in the summer between junior and senior year. When planning your essay, be sure to consider what colleges want to know about you, and work with an adult who can offer feedback and suggestions on your writing.
This can take some time, but it's well worth it. Don't forget to have someone edit your essay before you submit! Some colleges will also have you meet with an admissions officer or talk with them over the phone about your college plans. Not all colleges require interviews, so you should make the most of interviews with those that do. Some colleges also allow you to submit a short video or a portfolio of work.
A video offers a great way to bring the college into your world, while a portfolio allows you to share examples of your professional, educational, and artistic accomplishments.
The most important thing to remember is to set aside time to complete your applications. Ideally, candidates should aim to complete their applications in August, before senior year starts. That way, you won't have to worry about applying to college and keeping up with your homework at the same time. Alternatively, try to set aside hours every weekend to focus on your college applications.
That way, you can focus on being a student during the week and still complete your college applications in a timely fashion.
Students can start preparing their application materials as early as they want, but the process begins in the fall of senior year. Most deadlines fall between January and February, so learners should give themselves enough time to complete their applications.
The Common App can make applying for college easier, but the general application process can be costly and lengthy.
Learners may want to start with a list of colleges that they want to attend and then go from there. Applying for college early offers several advantages for students.
Early applicants may find the admission requirements easier to meet. The school can provide you with information on all loans available to you, as well as any grants or scholarships for which you qualify.
The most common type of federal loan application is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid , which you can access on the Internet.
Register for classes by attending a registration session, which often happens in conjunction with orientation. Submit any legal documents or proofs of vaccination required for official registration. Select your schedule of classes and pay your tuition.
Your student should be prepared to explain on the phone, and then later in a letter, why she is applying late and why she would be a good fit for this particular school. She needs to be sure that the school actually is an appropriate choice. Using the Search and checking First Year and the current fall semester will show schools still accepting applications.
Another option is to search for schools with rolling admissions. Of course there are never any guarantees, especially when it comes to college admissions, but it is almost never too late for your student to give late admissions a try. There are some cautions, however. Your student should be careful to do a thorough and careful job.
Encourage him not to rush and do a poor job of preparing his application materials. He should submit a complete admissions packet with nothing missing. It'd be advisable to leave yourself extra time so that you can meet with your recommenders and help them write you a letter. Since you're not a current student, you'll want to have extra time to set up appointments with faculty and gather all the documents you need.
The majority of college applicants are high school seniors, and most of the college application advice out there is aimed at them. But what do you do if you don't fall into this narrow category? Our eBook on how to prepare for and apply to college as a nontraditional student will walk you through everything you need to know , from the coursework you should have under your belt to how to get letters of recommendation when you're not a high school senior.
There are rare advanced students who earn enough credits, perhaps from courses at a local community college or online, to graduate high school early and go straight into college at a young age. These students push their timeline earlier by a year or two, taking the SAT or ACT as freshmen or sophomores , and gathering all their documents early.
If this sounds like you, you'll probably want to work closely with your counselors, administrators, and teachers to make sure they agree with your choice. You might take your tests in freshmen and sophomore year, ask your sophomore year teachers for recommendations, and apply in the fall or winter of your junior year.
You may also have to take the GED to earn the equivalent of your high school diploma. Make sure you've met all graduation requirements and, of course, have concrete, realistic reasons for graduating high school early and enrolling in college. The aforementioned situations are exceptions rather than the rule, but can be great options if they apply to your situation and needs.
In closing, let's review when most students submit their applications to colleges. We've covered all the important details about the admissions plans available to you and what it takes to have your applications ready to go for each deadline. The majority of students apply to college in January or February of their senior year to meet regular decision deadlines.
They hear back in April and choose a college by the national response date of May 1. Other students might apply in November with early decision or early action, or through a range of time with rolling admissions. To meet deadlines, college planning must start at least a year or two out.
This includes prepping for the SAT or ACT and writing essays, but it also includes the time it takes to reflect on your interests, explore new ones, and think deeply about where you'd like to go to college. As you explore and develop in high school, you should be thinking about your goals and what college communities would provide you with the intellectual climate and opportunities to thrive. This journey starts early in high school, and of course continues throughout the rest of your life.
Now that you have a sense of when to start applying for college, what about specific deadlines for schools? This guide has the full list of early decision deadlines , and this one has the complete list of early action deadlines.
Are you a younger student interested in getting more involved in community service? Learn all about community service here , plus check out the 9 best places to volunteer. We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being.
Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers. How to Get a Perfect , by a Perfect Scorer. Score on SAT Math.
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