#collegereminders

College applications are undeniably one of the most stressful obstacles to overcome in high school. However, keeping up with the various forms and deadlines will help lessen the pain of going through these tedious applications. Compiling a list of colleges through an Excel spreadsheet is really helpful in seeing all the deadlines for your colleges all at once. Some important information to put on this spreadsheet is when the application for each respective school is due, what, if any, test scores and/or transcripts that are required, when SAT or ACT scores are due, when decisions come out, and really any information you believe will be helpful to you. Often, this is not the hard part about college applications. It is picking which colleges to apply to and where you stand in each college that is a struggle for most seniors. Be realistic, but also do not kill your self-esteem. Know where you stand in the pool of applicants for each school, but do not overestimate or underestimate yourself. It is often too easy to go on websites on College Confidential and compare your test scores, extracurriculars, and grades to others, but remember, you are not a number. It is hard to believe most times, but the only person who can believe it is yourself. Make sure to turn in your brag sheets to counselors in at least three weeks before your earliest deadline. Most teachers ask for a month in advance. However, it is only in your best interest to turn it into teachers and your counselor as soon as you can. It will not only remove the burden of having to finish it, but give your teachers and counselor more time to write a thoughtful letter of recommendation for you. Also, remember that these teachers are giving up their own time to write this letter for you. You are not entitled to a letter of recommendation. So, even when reminding teachers of deadlines, do it in the most nice and polite way possible. Once you give your teachers and counselor your brag sheet, make sure to invite them as recommenders on the Common Application. Turning in transcripts to different schools can also be stressful because they each have their own different deadline and different way of accepting them. Make sure to thoroughly research each way and add it to your college list spreadsheet if you believe you will need a reminder of it. Once you make your college list, decide if you want to apply Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) for a school. ED is binding, while EA is non-binding; both allow you to know your decisions earlier, often in December. Each school has their own program, some only have an ED program, some only have an EA program, and some have neither. For example, Stanford has a restrictive EA program that requires you only apply to Stanford for EA. If you are dedicated to school and are sure you would want to go there, make sure to look into the school’s EA and ED program. Staying organized and focused is the key to surviving college applications. Good luck!