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Everything you need to know about the steps for applying to college
Everything you need to know about the steps for applying to college
This page contains the important stages of the application process you must follow: Prepare, Construct, Submit and Follow up. As you follow these steps, remember the following these deadlines.
DEADLINES
DEADLINES
Early Action/Early Decision: Prepare early decision/early action or rolling admission applications as soon as possible. Typical deadlines are between Nov. 1–15.
CUNY/SUNY: Prepare CUNY and SUNY Applications for December 1st. CUNY & SUNY have rolling admissions, but the MELS College Office advising applying by December 1st to ensure you meet all priority deadlines for opportunity programs and merit-aid
Regular Decision: Regular decision deadlines vary by campus. Note that typical college deadlines are January 1st, January 15th, February 1st and February 15th.
*Please note that colleges and even programs within colleges may have different deadlines, so you should always check the specific deadline directly with the institution or program you plan to apply to
PREPARE
PREPARE
Complete Forms for the College Office
Early Application Interest form (if you plan to apply before December 1st)
Strengthen Your College List:
-Meet with a counselor about your college choices. Make sure you have a balanced list of academic likely, target, and reach schools. Ms. Benzvi is available to meet individually with students to assist in building and revising their college list. All students should complete the above forms and then schedule an individual appointment via email
Create a master list or calendar to help keep you organized.
-Make sure to include the following on your calendar: tests you’ll take and their dates and registration deadlines, college application due dates, required financial aid application forms and their deadlines and deadlines for other materials you’ll need (recommendations, transcripts, etc.)
*Sample Tracker Coming Soon
Request your Letter(s) of Recommendation, if required by the college(s) you apply to
CONSTRUCT
CONSTRUCT
Create a college-ready Resume
Revise and finalize your College Essay
-This can also be referred to as your personal statement.
Write supplemental essays (if required by your college)
-Seek adult feedback on your personal statement and supplemental essays and expect to revise several times.
Create an account for the applications you plan to complete (CUNY, SUNY and/or Common Application)
-You may need to complete other applications as well, depending on where you apply
-Use only one application for each school (for example, if a school with accept either the SUNY Application or the Common Application, pick only one to complete)
-Keep track of all usernames and passwords
Apply! Fill out the sections of each application (CUNY, SUNY and/or Common Application)
-Check with your family to get information related to them on application
-Check with Ms. Benzvi to get any information related to your school/education
-Have an adult give you feedback on your application. Check for grammar and punctuation
SUBMIT
SUBMIT
Review completed applications
-Make sure all components of your application are uploaded (resume, essay, etc)
-Electronically submit your applications
-You must request all transcripts on Naviance
Send SAT and/or ACT scores to the college you applied to through the College Board or ACT website
-Make sure you DO NOT send test scores to any colleges that you do not want to receive them (if you are a testing optional applicant or the college is test blind)
Request fee waivers (only for economically eligible students)
FOLLOW-UP
FOLLOW-UP
Check your email and read all of the messages you receive from the colleges you applied to.
-Delete messages only if you are sure they are promotional and do not contain important information
Create applicant portal accounts
-Do so for all of the colleges you applied to. Add your applicant portal accounts to your password tracker.
-Once you submit your college application you will no longer use the account you made to apply.
-You should receive an email from each college you applied to with instructions to set up a different account specifically for students who applied. This is often known as an applicant portal and will be how you check your application status of and later, your admissions decision and financial aid award.
Check your applicant portal regularly
-Make sure all of your documents were received and your application is considered complete; Sometimes colleges will request more information or documents through the applicant portal.
Complete financial supplements for opportunity program applicants (HEOP, EOP & SEEK/CD)
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