The College Admissions Process

Applying to college is practically a full-time job, from finding out when you have to get stuff done, to filling out all the appropriate forms and then finally having the daunting task of actually choosing what school to go. The application and admissions process is way more than half the battle of actually surviving college. College-bound students can rely on www.campuscompare.com to help them decide which school is best for them.

Get going in the right direction with these simple steps:

1. Gather your info: Meet people and make a list Start talking to people you know at some of the schools that you are interested in attending. Current students and alumni are good people to start with to get some ideas and help you get a feel for the college. Some schools ask for letters of recommendation or personal statements so it is also a good idea to know what you need to submit in advance. You can find helpful information on who to ask for letters as well as what to include in your essay while reading about the specific schools that interest you (in CampusCompare’s College Search section).

2. Plan a visit There is no better way to get a feel for your future campus than actually going and paying a visit to it. Plan ahead and call the school to find out when campus tours are being offered. Learn as much as you can about the school during your visit. Look at your visit as your “interview” of the school and get as much information as possible.

3. Lists, lists and more lists Now is the time to sit down and make your lists, and CampusCompare can help you. To get the answer to the question, “Can I get into this college?”, all you need to do is create a profile on CampusCompare and tell them what you are looking for in a particular school. The “Match Meter” will let you know if the college is a good choice for you and whether it matches your criteria.

What You’ll Need:

1. Letters of Recommendation Think about your letters of recommendation early on in the application process. College admissions officers take these letters very seriously so it is important that these statements offer the best review of you.

2. Admissions Essays These personal statements are the best opportunity for you to really show them your stuff! Tell the admissions officers everything they need to know about why YOU should get in. If you don’t say it, who will?

3. Forms & Fees You no longer have to actually request an application form from a particular school to apply to it. Now, applying is as easy as going online, filling in the form and clicking send! You can also use the Common Application and apply to more than one school at a time.

4. High School Transcripts As soon as you get your college application package, check to see if the high school transcript form came with it �" it usually does. Give it to your guidance counselor as soon as possible for them to fill out. If it doesn’t come with the package, make sure to follow up and ask for it! And be sure to keep your grades up in your final semester, these are very important.

5. Test Scores The Scholastic Aptitude Test, commonly known as the SAT, is a multiple-choice test with three parts: math, verbal and critical reading. It is designed to help schools measure a student’s readiness for college level work, as well as a student’s test-taking ability. There is another assessment test known as the ACT (American College Testing), which is now believed to be closer to the high school curriculum. Many schools today will accept ACT results in place of the SAT scores (check the Admissions Criteria of the schools you are interested in). If you are a foreign student planning to study in the U.S., it will be necessary for you to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

CampusCompare has a great Resource Section that offers lots of useful information to help you get through this process, in addition to applying for financial aid and surviving college life.