With everything that comes with college applications, from picking a major, getting everything you need to apply, finding colleges you want to tour, to scheduling visits, the entire college process can seem stressful and overwhelming. There are a lot of unknowns about the process when you first start, so our now seasoned professionals (the seniors) have offered their wise words to help guide the underclassmen through what they didn’t understand about the process.

Depending on what schools you apply to and what major you apply for your application process will differ from your peers. Senior Alicyn Rhodes is our expert in applying to Ivy League schools. 

“If you really think you want to apply T20 [to Top 20 schools], apply early,” said Rhodes. 

If you are applying for a very competitive program or to a very competitive school, applying early action is your best friend. It can give you a better chance to get into the school and get you more money through scholarships.  

Beware, applying early action and early decision are two completely different things. If you know exactly what college you want to go to you can apply early decision, which if you are accepted, binds you to your application. This means if you are accepted you are automatically committed to the school. Applying early action does not tie you to any decision, it will get you your application decision back sooner from the college. 

Applying early action means you need to be prepared earlier. Preparing should start in your junior, or even sophomore year, with touring. 

Senior Teaghan Steighner said, “I wish I toured more schools and made a list of schools earlier.”

If you have any interest in a school, tour as soon as you can. Even just walking around schools you are not super interested in will help you understand what you are looking for in a university. 

Senior Reed Curry said, “physically touring colleges he was interested in” was the best resource he used. 

“Tour a bunch of colleges and figure out what vibe you like,” said Rhodes. “It’s easier to narrow down the applications when you know what environment you like.”

On a similar note, Steighner said, “Start looking early and don’t limit yourself to one school.” 

The more you look, the better chance you will have of finding what you like in a school. 

If you are completely lost and can’t possibly think of where to start with your college search, you’re not alone. 

Curry said, “The hardest part of applying was deciding what schools to actually apply to with there being hundreds of options.”

It can feel overwhelming at first, but there are countless resources you can use to help you through your entire process. 

Steighner and Rhodes said Niche provided great guidance during their search and was their best resource. Niche is an online resource that ranks and sorts colleges and can help you find colleges that match a specific criteria. 

“It gave me school suggestions and helped me find colleges that offered my major,” said Steighner. 

According to Steighner, another great option to start is to talk to recently graduated friends who have been through the process. They can shed light on things they struggled with, things they wish they looked for in a college, and even what they like and don’t like at their current college. 

A simple conversation with a friend in college can make you feel much more prepared. 

Steighner said, “I talked with friends who graduated and could help me with the process,” which made her feel prepared when applying. 

Once you get a general idea of what kind of college interests you and the major you are looking for, you can start searching for specific schools. Think of what is most important to you in a school and use your resources, like Niche, to find the universities that fit that criteria. 

Once you are feeling ready to apply, you and the Common App will be spending lots of time together. Most colleges will accept applications through the Common App. If you are applying to a more selective or prestigious college, they may have a different or separate application process through their website. 

Another important yet confusing part of your application is your essay. This part of the application will differ from school to school, some requiring multiple essays and some not requiring any. However, some colleges also have their own additional essay or writing prompts, but most colleges will still require the Common App essay. But don’t fear, if you don’t know what to write, ASK FOR HELP; you can get great ideas from your counselors, parents, or friends! Even simply googling college essays that got people accepted into colleges can give you a good idea of what to write. 

Rhodes explained her struggles with the essay saying, “The biggest part of the application process is the essay, and I had no idea how to write a personal statement.”

Further, Rhodes said, “Figuring out how to write essays that relate to my own experience while also appealing to the college’s values was the most challenging part of applying.”

Not understanding what your next steps are is normal. Use your resources, whether that’s your guidance counselors, teachers, parents, or friends, to help you through every step of the process. If you are unfamiliar with our lovely guidance staff take a peak at Willow Danehy’s article “Guide to Guidance” to get the scoop on who to ask for help. 

The college application process can be stressful and confusing, but if you start early and use the resources around you, it can be a very exciting experience. It is important to remember to still enjoy your time in high school by participating in clubs and sports and taking the classes you enjoy. Finding a balance between academics and enjoyment in school can be challenging but getting a jump start on preparing for your future can also help reduce the stress that comes with applying for college. Good luck!