How To Apply for College: A Complete Checklist

Are you getting ready to apply for college? This guide will provide an overview of the entire college application process, from timelines to requirements, so you can set yourself up for success. Here’s what you need to know about how to apply for college.

College application timeline

The college application process starts well before applications are due. If you’re a high school student, follow this approximate timeline to give yourself the best chance of getting into your top schools.

Spring of 11th grade: 

• Take the SAT or ACT. This gives you enough time to retake the test if you’d like to improve your score. 
• Start scheduling college visits.

August/September of 12th grade:

• Narrow down which colleges you’ll apply to. 
• Look up application deadlines for schools, financial aid, and transcript requests.
• Begin preparing early decision, early admission, or rolling admission applications. These are generally due November 1 or November 15.

October of 12th grade:

• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) typically becomes available on October 1 of each year for the next academic school year. Fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can to maximize your chances of receiving federal aid.
• Begin asking teachers, coaches, or mentors for letters of recommendation.
• Start drafting your personal statement or essay.
• Ask your guidance counselor about sending transcripts to your selected schools.

November of 12th grade:

• Early decision applications are often due on November 1 or November 15.

Winter of 12th grade:

• Regular decision deadlines generally fall between January and February. Make sure you get your application in before the deadline.

What to include in your applications 

While each school may have its own application requirements, there are several elements that are fairly standard across the board. These requirements may take some time to gather or create, so it’s a good idea to start sooner than later. 

1. Transcripts

Colleges and universities want to see a transcript of what courses you took in high school and what grades you received for these courses. The transcript gives the admissions office a bird’s-eye view of your academic performance, which helps the school decide who to admit.

While you may have access to an unofficial academic transcript through your school’s online portal, the college will require an official transcript. A transcript is considered official because it is sent directly from your high school to the college. Prospective students must provide an official transcript as part of their college application, rather than send a copy of the unofficial transcript they have access to.

Each school district has a different process for requesting official transcripts. Ask your high school counselor how to send official transcripts to the colleges you’re applying to.

2. Standardized test scores

Many colleges also want to see standardized test scores for the SAT or ACT. The easiest way to register for these tests is online, using the website CollegeBoard.org for the SAT, and ACT.org for the ACT.

There are multiple test dates available throughout the year, and the registration deadline for each date is usually about a month before the test itself. Keep in mind there’s a $60 registration fee for the SAT, and a $68 or $93 registration fee for the ACT, depending on which type of ACT test you take. Both the SAT and ACT offer fee waivers to low-income students.

You may not have to take a standardized test to gain admission to your preferred college. Schools have one of three categories for testing requirements:

• Test required: Schools won’t accept applicants who haven’t submitted standardized test scores.
• Test optional: Schools don’t require test scores, but they will consider any submitted test scores as part of your application.
• Test blind: Schools don’t require test scores and they won’t consider test scores if they are submitted.

When you take the SAT or ACT, you can select up to four colleges, universities, or scholarship programs to send the scores to for free. 

3. Letters of recommendation

Most college applications require one to three letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, coaches, or mentors. A strong recommendation letter will not only share your academic and personal strengths, but also why you’re a good fit for the school. 

To gather the letters of recommendation you’ll need, follow these steps:

1. Figure out who you’ll ask: Teachers are common recommenders, but you might also ask a supervisor at work, a sports or extracurricular coach, or a mentor.
2. Approach potential recommenders early: It’s not only good manners to make sure you give your recommenders plenty of time before the deadline, but it may also ensure you get a letter from them. Many teachers limit the number of letters they commit to each year.
3. Ask in person: There may be a formal request process for letters of recommendation, but it’s good practice to ask your recommenders in person before sending the formal request. This is a favor you’re asking, so try to speak personally with your potential recommenders.
4. Provide necessary materials: Your recommenders will need to know how and when to submit the letter. You may also want to provide some high-level bullet points of your accomplishments so they have some details on hand.
5. Follow up before the due date: You may want to offer a polite reminder one to two weeks before the due date.
6. Send a thank you note: Your recommenders will appreciate a formal thank you.

4. Personal essays

Most colleges require prospective students to include a personal statement or essay as part of the application. These essays are usually based on prompts that the school provides. Your essay should aim to highlight your personal experience, accomplishments, and future goals. 

5. Other information

In addition to the required materials, alerting your prospective schools to the following activities can potentially benefit your chances of acceptance: 

• Volunteer work: Time spent volunteering indicates your values, commitment, and work ethic. 
• Extracurricular activities and clubs: Students who are involved in extracurricular activities show that they’re well-rounded and bring more than just academic ability to the school.
• Work and internship experience: Though you may not think your after-school job will help your college application, the admissions office appreciates seeing applicants with work experience, whether or not it applies to your field of study. It shows responsibility, initiative, and time management skills.
• Leadership experience: Colleges appreciate applicants who have demonstrated early leadership, whether they were captain of the debate team or president of their church youth group.
• Academic accolades and awards: The awards you’ve received in high school, from winning an essay contest to making the dean’s list, can provide admissions offices with more context about who you are and how you can be successful at their school.

How to apply to colleges

Here’s what you need to do for the college application process:

Step 1: Research colleges

It’s important to know what schools you’re interested in before you start applying. Here are some factors to consider when looking for the right school:

• Location: Not only do you need to consider in-state vs. out-of-state schools (and how that can affect the tuition costs), but also how easy or difficult it’ll be to come home for breaks, whether you’ll need a car, and other logistics. 
• Majors offered: Look at schools that offer your preferred majors and also have other strong departments in case you change your major.
• Campus culture: Will you fit in with the campus culture? Visiting the campus, even if it’s just for a tour, can help you determine if it’ll be a good fit.
• Financial aid: The types of financial aid a school offers is a better indicator of the school’s affordability than its tuition price. That’s because many schools with high tuition costs also have a number of grants and scholarships available to help make school more affordable.

Step 2: Fill out applications online

The next step is to fill out an application for each school you want to apply to. Note that some schools share the same application form. For example, the Common App is used by over 1,000 colleges and universities. This allows you to apply to multiple schools at once. 

Be sure to read through the requested information before you start filling out your applications. You’ll need to provide information about your academics, extracurricular activities, and parents or guardians, among other things.

Step 3: Submit your applications

The majority of colleges and universities these days accept applications via online portals rather than through the mail. Make sure you pay attention to how your preferred schools accept submissions, and be sure to submit your application before the deadline. This gives you some flexibility in case you run into any technical issues when you’re ready to submit.

Related: How To Get Into College for Free

Choosing the right school

Applicants will generally start hearing back from schools between March and April. When it comes time to make a decision, here are some tips to help you find the right fit: 

• Visit colleges: The best way to know if a college is a good fit for you is to visit in person. When you schedule college visits, make sure you sign up for a tour of the campus in addition to information sessions.
• Attend virtual college fairs: In-person visits are not always feasible, so virtual college fairs can help you get to know more schools without leaving home. These online college fairs give prospective students the opportunity to connect with representatives from multiple colleges at one time.
• Consult with an academic or financial adviser: High school guidance counselors are available to help high school students with the application process. The financial aid office at your preferred school is another great resource to ensure you don’t miss out on grants, scholarships, and other aid that can help you pay for school.
• Research your financial aid options: Take the time to research financial aid options available to you. This starts with filling out the FAFSA to help determine what federal student aid you qualify for, including student loans. Schools also use the information on your FAFSA to award need-based scholarships and grants.

Related: When To Apply for Student Loans