The College Application Process

Introduction to the College Application Process

This handbook is intended to provide guidance, information, and a framework on the college admissions process. While choosing a college is certainly one of the more important decisions you will make during high school, it does not determine success and happiness in life. Therefore, the faculty and staff at Yarmouth High School caution you not to be intimidated or overwhelmed by the process. With the right combination of organization, self-discipline, and humor, the college search can be a rewarding experience.

What the Guidance Office can do: (this requires you to actively use us as a resource)

• Provide guidance, support, and counseling;

• Help you develop your college list with a balance of selective, realistic, and probable schools;

• Furnish you with additional resources for research;

• Provide information for campus visits;

• Schedule mock junior interviews;

• Give feedback and guidance in writing strong applications and essays;

• Write your recommendation, send transcripts, school profile and school report forms to colleges;

• Advocate for you with college admissions officers.

What you need to do:

• Evaluate what you are looking for in a college;

• Use resources (meet with your guidance counselor, meet with college representatives, visit colleges, access websites, talk with YHS graduates at college);

• Register for standardized tests and send scores to your colleges;

• Do well in an appropriately challenging curriculum all four years;

• Finalize your college list, obtain applications, keep track of deadlines and requirements for each school, complete and file applications on time.