Applying for College: What You Should Know

Graduating high school and choosing to continue your education is an exciting time. It's a big step into adulthood and becoming more independent. But there is a lot to do to make sure that you get into the school of your choice and are able to get the most out of your experience.

You're first going to need to think about whether you want to go to a junior college first and then transfer to a larger school or go straight to a senior college or university. Junior college is generally less expensive and close to home. So if money and distance are going to be major factors in your decision you might want to consider spending a year or two at a junior college before transferring somewhere else. If you want to just go straight to the university level there are again two large differences; public schools and private schools. Public schools, state universities and other institutions are typically less expensive than private schools but often much larger. Your intended major may also play a large factor in where you go.

Some schools are known for their expertise in various specialties. Harvard has one of the best law schools in the country but I wouldn't go there for film or dance degrees. You have to do some research. There are a number of books you can read that will help inform you of some of these specialties. There are even some written by students that will give you a good idea of what to expect so you can imagine whether or not that would fit your lifestyle. Some students prefer large lecture hall type of classes, other prefer more intimate settings. Every school is different so you'll have to figure out what experience you want and what environment will be best for your learning needs.

Financial aid is a huge factor in determining whether to apply to a school or not, especially when it comes to pricey private schools. If you are seriously questioning whether or not to apply to a school because you're not sure you could afford the tuition call the financial aid office at the school which should be listed on the school's website and ask what the average financial package is for students there. This will give you an idea of what you might expect. Dependent upon your grades and skills you might be eligible for an academic or talent scholarship.

Alright, now that you've narrowed down some of the schools you're considering applying to you have to look at the application requirements. Most schools will require that you take and provide scores for the SAT teat or the ACT tests. You want to make sure to take these tests early - in the beginning of your junior year is possible, so that you can repeat the test again if you are unsatisfied with your results. These tests are normally only administered twice a year so make sure you find out when the next testing date is scheduled so you can get your best scores in on time.

Another thing most schools want in addition to your transcripts and test scores is a list of your activities and community service. The more detailed the better. Be sure to include the activity, organization, dates and any names and numbers of administrators or organizers that you can locate. Don't forge, sometimes they check these lists, especially when considering people for scholarships. Did you walk in a cancer relay? Write that down. Take karate classes? Write that down. They want to know what interests you and what you do outside of school. If it comes down to one final spot for admittance a committee would rather have a student that does things outside of school and is more well-rounded than one that simply goes to and from school and gets great grades.

One more thing, and this is often the most important item, that colleges often require is the personal statement. This can range from two paragraphs to five pages. Some will give you specific guidelines or topics to write on while others will be completely open and ask you to simply write about anything you want. The point of this is two-fold; they want to see your writing skills. Writing is a large part of college work, there are numerous papers and essays that they require of their students and they want to make sure you're up to it. Secondly, like the community service and activities list, they want to get to know you.

They want to get some sense of your personality and who you are beyond the numbers of your GPA and test scores. Believe it or not, they do care about you. They want you to succeed and be happy at the school you choose because if you're one of their alumni and you go on to do brilliant things they can associate themselves with you. "You know so and so was a ____ graduate". It's more publicity and validity that their school is the best.

So, take your tests early, think about what you want to get from your college experience and research the possibilities, and be sure to express who you are in your personal statement. It's a long process but a fun one. Good