College Application Guide
Tips To Get You Started
If you're looking to apply to college, you're probably feeling very overwhelmed. Don't worry too much - that's a totally normal feeling, and hopefully this page and a little bit of help can turn the negative into positive!
As you begin to decide where you want to apply, you'll want to have a running list going that sort of ranks the schools based on your priorities, as well as keeps track of what is required to apply to each school. As corny as it might sound, it's not a bad idea to start a document or spreadsheet that has all this information in it. This spreadsheet might be a good place to start. Make a copy and give it a shot! It has most of what you'd need to consider to apply, but you'll have to add in those sections about your priorities and what you're looking for. Keep reading to get an idea of some things you'll want to include there.
Use a personal email to do all of your college applications. Make sure it's professional, and make sure it's something you check regularly. Using a personal email will ensure that you have access to everything you're doing even after you graduate and lose your school account.
You would also be wise to make a note in your phone where you store all of your college application related usernames and passwords. It might not seem like it at the beginning, but those will definitely add up!
Academic Factors
Academic Profile Match
Majors Available
Academic Rigor
Study Abroad Options
Honors Programs
Special Programs
Collaborative/Competitive
Internships/Research
Program Accreditations
Support Services
What are Some Things I Should Consider When Applying?
Financial Factors
Cost of Attendance
Ability to Commute
Financial Aid Package
Payment Options
Loan Amounts
Return on Investment
Social/Environmental Factors
Location
Distance from Home
Climate
Size of School
Campus Personality
% Greek Life
Student Organizations
Athletics/School Spirit
Peers and “My People”
Diversity
Religious Affiliation
Who Sends What?
Student Submits:
Applications
Essay(s)
Portfolios (if needed)
Self Reported Grades/Transcripts (if needed)
SAT/ACT Scores (if needed)
AP Scores (self reported on application, if needed)
Financial Aid Applications
Scholarship Applications
School Submits:
Official Transcript
Any Required School Report Forms
Counselor Letter of Recommendation (if requested)
Teacher Letters of Recommendation (if requested)
FERPA & College Applications
FERPA refers to the Federal Educational Rights & Privacy Act. Essentially this is what both protects and provides you access to your educational records. You will encounter information about FERPA in a few different places.
When you first log in to Scoir, you will be asked to "waive" and "release" your FERPA rights in order for Lakeland to communicate with colleges. You also may be asked similar things through applications like the CommonApp. Please do this at the start to save a few headaches down the road! If you have previously logged into SCOIR, and did not complete this, you can still do so under the "FERPA" heading on the right side of yout "Personal Details" page.
Completing the FERPA waivers does a few things:
It allows the school counseling office to communicate with the colleges you are applying to, and to send letters of recommendation and transcripts to lots of schools without having to ask for permission every time.
It allows for teachers to submit letters of recommendation without you seeing what is written first. As weird as it might seem, it's a bit of a red flag to colleges if you read your letters of recommendation before their sent to schools. In their eyes, it's almost like you want to make sure the letter says good things about you before it's sent. This just means you need to be super mindful of who you ask for your letters!
Remember, documents cannot be sent to schools until you complete the FERPA Releases and Waivers! You can learn more about FERPA and Scoir here or below.
What Else Will I Find Here?
Click the links and keep reading to find information about:
Requesting Letters of Recommendation
