Most high school students start their college application process by completing, online, the Common Application that is accepted by more than 800 colleges. It requires one essay, and students can choose from a variety of topics or devise one of their own creation.
Although the Common Application “goes live” on August 1st of each year, students can actually start working on it as early as they want as the vast majority of answers roll over onto the updated application when it changes in mid-summer. As for the 250-650 word required essay, sometimes the prompts change. But this year they will stay the same. So students who find themselves with some extra time, while quarantining at home, can get a head start on their essay as it is the most time-consuming part of the application process.
The schedule has certainly been turned upside down for high school Juniors, preventing them from taking the March or May SAT exam, touring potential colleges over spring break, and meeting with guidance counselors to launch their college application process.
But there is much that can be done by Juniors who want to keep on track to experience a successful college application process. College-bound students should visit the websites of some large universities such as Rutgers, Penn State, and the University of Delaware, and click on the list of majors – which will be extensive. Students should identify those that sound appealing, and then read up on the list of required courses and the careers for which they would be prepared.
Universities closing their campuses, bans on large group congregations, and the need for social distancing have all ruined the plans of college-bound students and their families who hoped to spend their spring break touring potential “good fit” schools.
But the national health crisis we are all experiencing these days does not need to put a halt to the information-gathering process that is so vital to a successful college search. While potential students can no longer walk college campuses, go on official tours, or attend information sessions, the tools of technology offer many options.
Campustours.com offers video tours, interactive campus maps, and mobile walking tours of more than 1,700 colleges and universities. Likewise, youvisit.com, provides 360-degree virtual tours of colleges worldwide, sharing the academic, cultural and social experiences offered on more than one thousand campuses. Not only are these tours offered in English, but in Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese, Hindi, and Spanish as well.
Whether preparing for an upcoming SAT exam or a regular high school test that is looming ahead, students should follow some time-honored study strategies.
First of all, students should always set a study plan in advance, and adhere to its details. Setting aside specific dates and times to study, and keeping those times sacred, is key to staying on schedule. There are absolutely no advantages to last-minute cramming, but many disadvantages including sleep deprivation and increased anxiety.
The existence of The Common Application, which is accepted by more than 800 colleges nationwide, has resulted in many high school students applying to ten or more colleges. This has significantly impacted the college admission process. Colleges and universities are all concerned with their yield – the percent of accepted students who actually enroll – as this greatly impacts their rankings. It is therefore only natural that colleges will favor applicants who display a strong interest in their school and indicate, in some way, that they will likely enroll if accepted.
The key to standing out from the hundreds, or even thousands, of other applicants with similar SAT scores and GPAs is to personalize all applications. Let colleges know exactly why you are particularly attracted to their school and the specific ways you would contribute to the campus community.
