Tips for Successfully Completing the College Application Process

Summary

Tips for Successfully Completing the College Application Process

For many families, the only thing more daunting than paying for college is completing the application itself. Despite several technology-rooted advances — applications these days are quick to process and come with built-in checks to ensure you provide all necessary material — the process continue to pose its own unique set of challenges and frustrations.

That said, there are steps families can take to minimize the angst and maximize the likelihood that favored son or daughter will be accepted into the college of their choice. Here are some strategies to consider.

Personal Timeline: Forget the stated deadlines; set your own due dates for completing essays, collecting recommendations and filling out pertinent forms weeks before they're due. This will leave ample time to polish the prose or deal calmly with any surprises. And really stick to those deadlines — mark them on a calendar or an interactive spreadsheet. If applying to multiple schools, enter all due dates into one easy to read document.

Consistency Is King: Using the same name — preferably your full legal name — on all forms makes things easier for admissions officers. Switching names, like going from Bill to Billy, only increases the odds that your materials will get misfiled. Using one name also will help you avoid mistakes, delays and discrepancies when matching data across other systems. Some applications have space for preferred names, but simply don't go there.

Check and Double Check: The first thing your prospective alma mater knows about you is your application, so it pays to be extra careful in completing and submitting the forms. Given that careless mistakes can hurt your chances, consider setting aside your application for a day or tow and then check it for errors with fresh eyes. It also helps to have an outsider, such as a teacher or older family member, proofread it as well.

Transcript Alert: All college applications require transcripts and it's vitally important you follow your chosen school’s process for submitting them. The process has gotten easier in recent yeas as more and more colleges utilize online platforms for both transcripts and letters of recommendation. If paper documents are necessary, provide accurate addresses and follow up to ensure that everything goes out before the deadline.

Don’t Forget the Follow Up: Remember that the process doesn't end with submission. It is imperative that students and families save a copy of each piece of each application, including identification numbers, passwords, confirmations and email notifications from admissions officers. If you mail documents, put a stamped postcard addressed to your house in each package so that admissions officers can let you know that your materials have arrived.

Eye on Email: If you get an email or notification saying something is missing, don't panic. The email should list what you still need to submit and detailed instructions on what you can do to get it in. If the information is unclear, don't hesitate to call the admissions office for guidance. It’s also a good idea to create a professional-sounding email account exclusively for college matters. Use it for your applications and check it regularly so you don't miss anything important regarding your submitted applications.
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