Give yourself plenty of time to prepare your application. Whether you complete your application online or on paper, try to get the forms long before they are due. Be sure, however, to use the correct application. Forms and procedures often change from year to year.
A chart can help you keep track of application materials and deadlines. List the colleges where you are applying, the information you need to provide, due dates, fees, and the date you sent each application.
Also, make sure that your materials have been received. The application often provides the college’s first look at you. Be neat, complete, and on time. Keep copies of your work. (Of course, don’t forget homework, activities, and other responsibilities!)
If you plan to apply for financial aid—money to help you with college costs—you will need to submit additional forms.
Another way to apply is to submit a form called the Common Application. More than 250 colleges accept the Common Application in place of their own. You complete this standard form once, either on paper or online, and then send it directly to each college.
But many colleges want you to complete their own application. Services such as Peterson’s Universal Application and CollegeLink allow you to provide basic information that they format to fit these colleges’ applications. You then complete the rest of the application, either online or from computer files they send you. Once you receive copies of the completed applications, you mail them to the colleges.
Many colleges have their forms available on their own Web site or on CD. Your guidance counselor will be able to help you learn more about online applications.
Do not decide where to apply based only on whether a college accepts a common form. Choose colleges that are right for you. Then, if they happen to accept a common form, you can consider using it when you apply.
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