Prepping for College Applications: 8 Moves You Need to Make Now

While the past couple of months may have been devoted to soaking up that summer sun, now is the time to buckle down and focus attention on preparing for life after high school. If you’re a rising senior, taking advantage of opportunities to reduce stress, get organized, and position yourself as a strong and confident applicant is a must. 

But don’t panic! The College Vibes has you covered with a checklist to help get and keep you right on track: 

     1. Finalize Your College List

If you’re heading into senior year with a laundry list of potential schools, narrowing your options is a must! For example, you might balance your list by choosing a mix of highly selective, selective, and not-as-selective schools. You can also organize your list in accordance with other factors like location, majors offered, campus color, and other key factors. 

👉 Pro Tip: The College Vibes Planner has designated pages to help you sift through these important factors, so you can narrow down your college list to your perfect match!

 

     2. Create a Common App Account & Review Prompts

With The Common App now open, you can get a head start on things by creating an account now. Doing so allows you to peruse the essay prompts, meaning you can start brainstorming your responses early. Some students consider this one of the most daunting parts of the college application progress. 

✏️ Try this: Copy the prompts into a document and begin journaling and making notes about applicable moments in your life for each one. 

 

     3. Draft Your Personal Statement

The summer provides a special opportunity to begin crafting your personal essay. It is a time for making memories and reflecting on old ones without the pressures of the school-year demands looming over your head. 

Breaking your essay into three parts will help you view it as less of an insurmountable task: 

The Hook: Capture your reader with a virtual snapshot of a moment in time – dramatic but authentic. You will weave elements of this hook throughout the essay to create a sense of cohesion. 

The Assertion: Make sure you are actually answering the question provided in the prompt. This is the place to reveal ways in which you’ve grown — challenges you’ve overcome, differences you’ve made, epiphanies you’ve experienced. 

The Why: Go beyond telling “the what” by digging deeper and showing why it matters. 

👉 Need help? The professional writing tutors at EDU Consulting Group specialize in helping students craft college entrance essays that capture the attention of college admissions officers.

 

     4. Repurpose Your Essays

Now isn’t the time to reinvent the wheel. Hang onto those personal essays; you just might need them again. Prompts from scholarship and other supplemental essays often reflect many similarities to the main personal college essay. You may have an opportunity to repurpose or pull from it to help craft additional essays. 

👉 Search scholarships using Schooly or Fastweb. 

 

     5. Research Financial Aid and Prep for FAFSA

Get focused on finding avenues and resources for funding your college education. While understanding financial aid is a daunting task, reducing out-of-pocket expenses will only benefit you long term. Not all colleges meet 100% of a student's demonstrated need, so building a financial plan is crucial. Conduct research to learn how each of the schools approach financial aid, and work with your family to begin preparing to complete and submit your FAFSA.

💸 Use NerdWallet to estimate your EFC and plan your FAFSA strategy

 

     6. Request Recommendation Letters

Claim your place at the front of the line, and ask your teachers and counselors for letters of recommendation before the fall. If you’ve already established relationships, reach out to them now and avoid the fall rush. Help them help you by providing them with a brag sheet so they can tailor their letters to your specific attributes and accomplishments. 

📰 Download The Common App's FREE Teacher Brag Sheet Template

 

     7. Build Your Resume

Add depth to your application by presenting a resume. Include emphasizes on academics and activities. For example, showcase your leadership skills and extracurricular activities. Also, highlight items like a part-time job, summer classes, volunteering, or even internships. Colleges want to see how you spend your time outside the classroom, so show them a broader picture of you. 

 

     8. Plan for an Organized and Reduced-Stress College Application Process

Avoid missed deadlines and opportunities while protecting your mental health by using a planning and resource tool like the one available with The College Vibes. The Planner is filled with pages designed to help students and supporters feel more informed and confident about college applications and planning. From understanding your goals and habits to considering important factors when choosing a school, The College Vibes Planner is what you need to help connect the dots. Finding your college vibe is not just about getting into college; it's about finding the right fit and making the journey enjoyable and meaningful.

 

    💡 Final Thoughts

College applications don’t have to be a source of stress and anxiety. Getting ahead of the game by establishing a strategy before the school year starts will place you in a stronger position. Prepare to approach the season with clarity, confidence, and cool vibes!