When people hear “applying to college,” they may think that it’s simply filling out some information about the student-to-be, writing a college essay (if even required), and clicking submit. In reality, it is much different. There are several unspoken steps that can cause plenty of stress, confusion, and forgetfulness. Luckily, we’re here to help. We have uncovered those hidden steps and stressors and are here to help make college planning easier to manage.
ORGANIZED EMAILS
Creating a “professional” email is important. While CoolKid101@hotmail.com was super cool as a kiddo and even better as a junk email address as a young adult, it’s not going to look great when keeping up with college applications and correspondence.
College-bound students are encouraged to create a new email, preferably one that is some variation of their name (that will be hard, we know). With the new email, it can be used to organize correspondence with each college. Many students will be applying to more than one college, so those color-coded tags and folders that Gmail provides will be extremely helpful.
As a note, parents, we recommend having access to the email just to help make sure application confirmations, financial aid notices, scholarship deadlines, and future test reminders aren’t going unnoticed. It’s also great for added transparency without hovering over the student-to-be.
UNEXPECTED COSTS
These costs can be especially unexpected. Transcript requests, application fees, and any immunization records that have to be mailed can all add up quickly. Knowing about these expenses ahead of time helps families budget realistically, prevent delays when payments are required, and reduce frustration when documentation is needed. High school counseling offices can provide a clear breakdown of transcript and record fees, while college admissions websites often list application costs upfront. Families can also explore dual enrollment or college-level courses while still in high school, which can save money and, in some cases, allow students to test out of certain college classes. Other smaller but important costs include sending ACT or SAT scores to colleges, joining honor societies such as the National Society of High School Scholars, and graduation-related items like caps, gowns, tassels, and honor cords.
NEEDED DOCUMENTATION
Speaking of documentation, having documents on hand will save plenty of time and prevent headaches. Immunization records, transcripts, test scores, application fees, driver’s licenses, and Social Security numbers are often the most requested documents to have during the process. Compiling them will help avoid scrambling before deadlines, move the process along faster, and reduce stress when colleges request certain information.
Where families can get documents:
- Immunization records: Pediatrician’s office or state health department
- Transcripts: High school counseling office
- Test scores: College Board (SAT/AP) and MyACT
- Birth certificate: State vital records office
- Social Security card: Social Security Administration
COLLEGE ESSAYS
College essays aren’t just writing another school paper. They’re personal, reflective, and time-consuming. We recommend starting the writing process early. This will help give time for the student-to-be to really brainstorm what they want to express, simmer on it post-writing for a few days without feeling rushed to submit, and even share the essay with another person for feedback. This is especially great for when the prompts change for each college. Reviewing Common App essay prompts and college admissions guidance early can help students better understand what schools are looking for.
Starting early, or pre-writing at the very least, gives parents a welcome reprieve from the added stress when their child seeks out help because they “don’t know what to write about.”
ACT VS. SAT
These tests can send people into a tailspin at times, but they’re oftentimes a major component of the college application process. Utilizing apps such as College Board and MyACT (more on that in a moment) helps choose the right test for the student, avoid duplicate or unnecessary registrations, track scores, and even send them directly. If possible, signing up for a tutoring class can help improve scores, and students can take the ACT multiple times. Be aware though that each attempt comes with a fee.
TEAMWORK
There are a lot of websites to log in to for applications, including that Gmail account we already advised to create. However, teaming up to navigate through all the chaos is what will make the process run smoothly. That means parents teaming up with their kiddos! When parents understand what their child is experiencing, conversations will shift from “Did you do this yet?” to “What’s next on the list?” It’s collaborative instead of confrontational, which makes this already stressful process a lot easier. High school counselors and college admissions offices can also serve as helpful partners throughout the process. Keeping a shared calendar of testing dates, application deadlines, and financial aid due dates can help everyone stay on the same page.
HELPFUL APPS
If this has taught anyone anything, it’s that there are a lot of pieces to this college planning puzzle. There are multiple systems to keep up with, and each one serves a different purpose. Luckily, there’s an app (several, actually) that will help bring everything together and keep it simple.
- Common App: Apply to hundreds of colleges easily. Simply fill out the application once and send directly to multiple schools.
- College Board: Organization is the name of the game with this app. Keep up with the SAT, AP exams, financial aid profiles, and scholarship information. There are even college search tools.
- MyACT: Registration for the ACT is available through this app, and students can view scores, send scores to colleges, and manage test dates.
- Scholarships.com: Students can create a profile and get matched with scholarships based on grades, interests, backgrounds, etc.
College prep isn’t just about getting into college; it’s also about reducing stress, building independence, and teaching life organization skills.
