College Admission Process: Your Ultimate Guide for 2024

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As the college admissions cycle ramps up for the 2024-2025 school year, we want to make sure you have all the critical information you need at your fingertips. Check items off your application to-do list and never miss a deadline with our helpful guide. And if you’re still feeling overwhelmed by the process, reach out to one of our college admissions experts.

What is the common application for college?

The Common App is an undergraduate admissions application used by over 1000 schools in the U.S., and many countries abroad. This is the application used by the Ivy League schools as well as most major universities in the U.S. It allows you to create one application for all the schools you’re applying to, rather than using several different systems.

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What is the admission cycle?

The admission cycle describes the annual process of applying for college that begins on August 1 of each year (when the Common App for that year becomes available) and ends in Mid-February when most schools stop accepting applications. The exact dates of each school’s admissions cycle vary, so be sure to know exactly when applications are due for each school on your college list. This is especially important if you are applying Early Decisions I, Early Decision II, or Early Action (application deadlines as early as Nov. 1). Certain scholarships are only available to students who apply by a certain deadline, so ensure you know those dates to get the most competitive financial aid package at your top choice schools.

How much does a college application cost?

College application costs vary by school, with the most expensive being around $100. The national average is $45.

How Can I Get a College Application Fee Waiver?

Yes. Most schools offer application fee waivers. To find out if you qualify, review the criteria at Common App or College Board. If your school does not use the Common App, check out their admissions FAQ to learn how to get the application fee waived.

College Application Requirements

Each college has different application requirements, so it’s important to verify what you need for each school ahead of time. That being said, most colleges and universities require the following:

1. General Information. Whether the school uses the Common App or an application specific to their school, they’ll ask for basic information such as where you attended high school, info about your parent or guardian, which program you’re applying to, extracurriculars you participated in, etc. This tends to be the easiest section to fill out and the easiest to prepare in advance.
2. Transcripts. You’ll need to send your high school transcripts. If you participated in any dual enrollment courses through a local university, you’ll need to request and send those as well. If you’re applying as a transfer student, you’ll also need to send the transcripts from your current college.
3. Letters of Recommendation. Most schools require two letters of recommendation from teachers and one from a guidance counselor. You can choose to send supplemental letters of recommendation, but they’re not necessary.
4. College Essay. Most schools will require a college essay, sometimes called a personal statement. Check out our guide to writing an Ivy League-worthy essay.
5. Standardized Test Scores. While many schools are test optional, not all are. Be sure to know if your school requires scores from the SAT or ACT as part of your application. Even if a university does not require these scores, if you have taken either test and performed well, it’s worth including them.
6. Financial Information. To give you the best possible financial aid package, many schools will request financial information about your family. Typically this will require filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Some scholarships are only open to students with demonstrated financial need. Be sure to check all requirements for the scholarships offered at the schools to which you are applying.

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College Application Deadlines

College application deadlines vary by school, but here are traditional deadlines. As part of your college list, write out when applications are due at each of your schools.

November 1. Early Decision I applications are typically due on November 1. Many Early Action and Restricted Early Action applications are also due by this date.

December 15. Early Decision II applications are typically due on December 15. Schools whose Early Action or Restricted Early Action applications were not due on November 1 are typically due by this date as well.

January 1 - February 15. Regular decision applications typically have a due date between Jan 1 and Feb 15 of each year. If you’re applying regular decision, be sure to know the due dates for each of your schools’ applications.

What happens if you submit a college application after the deadline

Typically you will not be considered for admission if you submit your application after the deadline. Community colleges or State schools may have less strict deadlines, but the average college or university will firmly enforce their due dates.

How to apply for college: Step-by-step guide

While applying to college could be broken down into an infinite number of steps, at its core are four main steps: research, prepare, execute, submit.

1. Research. This step begins well before you’re able to type your name into a college application, but that doesn’t make it any less important. In the research step, you’ll want to make a college list and you can begin this as early as 9th grade. Think about what you might like to study, what types of extracurriculars you want access to, what you’re looking for in terms of location and “vibe”. Start with a long list of possible schools and narrow down your list the closer you get to senior year by researching the schools, visiting campuses, and learning about admissions requirements.

2. Prepare. Once you know the schools to which you’ll be applying, make a list of what each school requires for its application and when everything is due (spreadsheets are your friend here). Begin thinking about essay topics (the Common App typically releases these well before the application opens) and which teachers you’ll ask for letters of recommendation. Seek out an admissions adviser to help make your application as strong as possible.

3. Execute. This is the “doing” step. Fill out your application(s), write your essay, request transcripts, and speak to the teachers you’d like to write your letters of recommendation.

4. Submit. Once your application is as strong as you can make it and you have all the additional materials you need to include, submit your application(s).

What are the 5 P's of college admissions?

The 5 P’s of college admissions is an outdated model that focuses on the “well-rounded person”. It no longer guides college admissions departments and their decisions.

What are three things colleges consider before granting admission?

Colleges look at many more factors than three when considering who to admit each year. Generally, however, the top three factors are grades (the higher the better), standardized test scores, and rigor (how much you challenged yourself academically in high school). We go through these and many other factors in our guide to getting into an Ivy League school.

How do colleges choose students to admit?

Colleges choose students to admit based on the school’s rubric. This rubric is unique school to school and asks admissions officers to rate applicants based on a number of hard and soft factors. The more competitive the school, the more your “hard” factors (grades, test scores, rigorous course load, etc.) matter.

How many colleges should you apply to?

This largely depends on the student. It is recommended to apply to at least four schools, but some students choose to apply to 8-10. How many colleges you choose to apply to comes down to how competitive you are in the applicant pool of your top choice schools. Students who choose to apply to a lot of “reach” schools, will likely apply to a larger total number of schools to ensure they gain entrance. But if your top choice is somewhere you’re likely to be admitted, you may choose to do 1 reach, 2 match, and 1 safety school. Discuss with your guidance counselor or a college admissions advisor to determine the best plan for you.

Can applying to too many colleges hurt your chances?

It depends. As a general rule, no; apply to as many colleges as you want. That being said, it takes a lot of time and effort to put together a good college application. Often there are components that need to be optimized for each school or that are unique to one school, meaning the more colleges you apply to, the more work you’ll have to do. This can split your focus and make it hard to do your best work for each one. It’s best to have a clear goal school in mind and ensure that your materials are as strong as you can make them for that school rather than applying to a bunch of schools and seeing where you get in.

Can colleges accidentally accept you?

Yes, unfortunately, though it’s very rare. In the past this has happened when a system error accidentally sent acceptance emails to a batch of applicants who were not actually accepted. In most instances, the schools discover the error quickly and notify receivers of the email or letter of the error.

How to check college application status

Typically there is a student application portal you can access to check the status of your application. Some schools do not use an applicant portal, in which case you’ll likely receive an email that your application was submitted successfully, and otherwise have to wait for another email with your admission decision.

10 Tips for Successful College Admissions

A successful college admissions experience begins well before senior year. Here are ten tips for getting into the school of your dreams ranging from things you can do in 9th grade to things that you do right before you apply.

1. Create a College List. With more than 3000 colleges in the U.S. alone, there are many schools to choose from and no one best school for you - chances are there are several that would be a great fit! You can start your search as early as 9th grade and begin narrowing down your list as you fine tune your interests throughout high school.

2. Prepare for standardized tests. Even if all your schools are “test optional,” good scores are a great way to differentiate yourself. Make sure to prepare for these tests; consider a diagnostic test to understand your strengths and weaknesses.

3. Get involved. Participate in extracurricular activities that allow you to learn, grow, and showcase leadership skills. Find things that are relevant to your intended college major, but don’t forget to participate in things just for the enjoyment factor as well.

4. Challenge yourself. Academic rigor is important for college admissions. That doesn’t mean you have to take every advanced science class if that’s not your area of interest, but you should showcase a strong academic record in your intended major and be challenging yourself overall.

5. Utilize the PAGE method. PAGE stands for Perspective, Activity, Goal, and Ethos, and is a way of strategically showcasing yourself for the best chance at earning a spot at your dream school.

6. Plan ahead. There are a lot of steps to take once applications open up. Once you know where you’re applying, have a list of what is all required as part of your application and when those items are due so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

7. Get strong letters of recommendation. Plan out who you will ask to write you a letter of recommendation and be sure to provide that person with everything they’ll need to write you a strong recommendation. Have backups in case certain teachers are unable to accommodate your request.

8. Pace yourself. It’s easy to get excited (or panicked) and try to take care of all the elements of college admissions at once. Use the list you created of what you need and when it’s due to build a manageable time table for accomplishing everything.

9. Write a strong essay. A relevant personal statement with a strong ethos is important to your admissions goals. Check out our full list of recommendations for a strong essay here.

10. Work with an expert. If at any point you’re unsure how to proceed, are struggling in an important course, or don’t know how to figure out what the best fit program or college might be for you, work with an expert! Our college admissions coaches and knowledgeable tutors are just a click away.

The college admissions process can be daunting and exciting. But using this list, as well as the strategies linked within, will help you manage stress and successfully navigate admissions season.