Public vs. Private :
Public universities are funded and regulated by the state government while private universities are NOT operated by the government and receive funds from private donors. The main difference between public and private universities tends to be the price of tuition. Public universities have a much lower tuition cost for in-state residents compared to private universities. Private universities have the same tuition price for both in-state and out-of-state applicants.
2 year Community college vs. 4 year University :
Community college is a cheaper way to start off your college career. You have the option of going to technical / trade school where you graduate with an associate's degree (A.A) ready to enter the workforce. Or you have the option of obtaining your A.A degree with the intent of transferring to a university to continue your education.
Universities tend to have higher tuition and progress directly towards your bachelor's degree. Universities offer higher level courses and can prepare you for graduate / professional school or a job following graduation.
There are varying ways to apply to colleges and it is important to note the differences in each type of admission since it can affect the application deadline, as well as your chances of getting accepted. Below are some college application terms you should be familiar with.
Rolling
Schools with rolling admissions allow students to apply at any point throughout the application period year and get a decision back soon after submitting their application. It is still advisable to apply early on and stay on top of the final deadline to apply for your desired semester. This is a non-binding application meaning students can choose whether or not to attend the university if accepted. Large public state universities such as FIU and UCF have rolling admissions.
Priority
Schools offering this type of admissions prioritize students who turn in their application before or on the application priority deadline. Students who apply by the deadline have higher chances of getting accepted since more spots are still available. Students applying after the deadline are not given priority and are accepted based on availability. Priority application deadlines tend to be from October to December, but check each school's specific deadline on their website. This is a non-binding application meaning students can choose whether or not to attend the university if accepted. In-state public universities like UF and FSU have priority admissions.
Early Decision
Early decision is a form of admission mainly common in private universities. Early decision is a binding contract between you and the school stating that if you are accepted you must attend the school. You should only apply early decision to a school where you are certain you would want to go. Keep in mind that you are accepting your spot in this school if accepted without knowing your financial aid status beforehand. Early decision application deadlines tend to be in November and decisions come out in December / January. Some schools also offer a second round of early decisions applicants with the deadline in January and decisions coming out in February. Programs such as Questbridge and Posse use this application method, as well as private universities nationwide.
Early Action
Early action is a form of admission also common in private universities. This method allows you to apply early to certain schools (deadline is generally in November) and receive a decision from the school early on (in December or January). Early action is NOT binding, meaning you can choose whether or not to attend the university if accepted. This gives you time to wait to hear back from other schools, as well as obtain your financial aid package before making your final decision. Some universities may offer restrictive early action or single choice early action, limiting you in the number of schools you can apply early action.
Regular
This is a non-binding application meaning students can choose whether or not to attend the university if accepted. Students can apply before the regular decision deadline, which tends to be later (January / February). Check each specific school's website for their deadlines. Both private and public schools may offer this method of applying.
Creating a resume that exalts your accomplishments and skills is a great way to impress college admission officers. You can submit resumes to most colleges (as long as they accept them) and can also utilize a resume when applying for scholarships. Click here for a sample resume template. You may also fill out your profile on Scoir and click "Export Resume".
Completing a brag sheet is generally a must when requesting letters of recommendations. Brag sheets allow you to describe yourself and your achievements both inside and outside of school so that your teachers can write you a fantastic letter of recommendation. Some teachers might have their own brag sheets or prefer a resume, so be sure to request letters of recommendation ahead of time so you can adequately prepare. Click here for the brag sheet template.
Scoir is an application that facilitates the college application process. Through Scoir you can research colleges, update your application status and decision status, request fee waivers, request letters of recommendations, and much more. You will NOT be applying to colleges through Scoir, applications are done through the Common App, Coalition, or school specific applications. To learn more about the usage of Scoir or other similar applications by your specific school, contact your school's college advisor.