Submitting a college application has become much easier with the aid of the Internet

A lot still goes into the process of filing a college application

Submitting a college application involves a lot more than just dropping it in the mail. Whether you decide to file your application online or through the mail, the process is the same.

To begin, a college applicaton has four parts:

The Student's Information
This includes personal information, a list of activities and honors, an explanation of why the student is interested in that particular college, and the essay section
The Teacher Recommendation
A teacher's assessment of the student's qualities, strengths and weaknesses.
The School Report
Received from the guidance or college counselor, this report asks for an evaluation of the student with a check-off list and a short essay
Test Scores
Usually sent from the test center at the student's request

Keep on Top of Paperwork with a Good Filing System

As you can see, submitting a college application involves a lot of paperwork. It is important right from the start, to have a filing system to keep track of all this. You should have a folder for each college where you apply. Keep all your paperwork in one place so that you have a paper trail of all your college applications. Online filers who submit their applications electronically should print off all relevant material. Organization will not only impress the admissions reviewers, but it will also help you keep on top of everything. When you are submitting a college application to several colleges, it is very easy to miss a deadline or forget an important piece of admission material if you do not keep your paperwork up to date.

You should be prepared when it comes to filing a college application. Make sure you have all of the necessary forms and information on hand well in advance. Allow yourself plenty of time for gathering information, filling our forms, contacting the appropriate people and reviewing your answers before submitting a college application.

Proofread, Check, and Recheck When Filing a College Application

Many students rush through the application forms, misreading instructions or leaving blanks. Some mispell their names, give wrong birthdates, and even the wrong address. Often times the social security number is wrong. Don't make these common mistakes. After all, you are applying to a college and such sloppiness will not impress the applications reviewer.

Fill in the paperwork neatly. If the handwriting is sloppy or unreadable, you may find your application at the bottom of the pile. If submitting a college application by mail, type it if at all possible. When finished with your final proofreading, have someone else look it over for errors. Online filing has made filing a college application easier, but it has also made some students lazier. Fill out the entire application. Don't skip anything and don't leave any blanks. Put yourself in the best light possible and don't come across as a person who really doesn't care whether they are accepted or not.

You Have a Right to See the Transcript

Parents and students have a right to see the transcript before it is sent out. Be sure to take the time to do this as it is much easier to fix mistakes at the source than to find out weeks later that something was reported incorrectly. Check that the following information is entered correctly:

Is there a listing of activities and honors? Is it complete? Are community volunteer activites listed?
Did the student attend several schools. If so, were all the credits transferred correctly? Are they included in the transcript?
Are summer courses taken for extra credit listed? Is the grade listed correctly?
Which test scores are listed? If you took some tests several times, are the right scores listed?

Submitting a College Application Should be Done Early

As the school year progresses, students should keep in mind that the sooner they get the proper forms to the guidance counselors and teachers, the sooner their applications will be processed. The counselors and teachers will appreciate your promptness and reward you with quick responses. Avoid the rush and get the forms to them while they have the time to give your application the attention it deserves.

Return to Home Page from Submitting a College Application

ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS: