As Jenny mentions, the fall can be a stress-fest for college admissions. But it doesn’t have to be. Think of it like a road trip—if you’ve prepared, know what’s coming, and remember to get gas when you need it, it can be awesome.
We’ve been watching students navigate the fall for more than 15 years, and based on that, here’s what students can do to make sure their college application fall doesn’t turn into a hot mess:
First things first: TALK
Talk to your counselor at school about your list—it’s their job to help you through this, so let them in and listen to what they have to say. You don’t have to do everything they advise, but if you allow them to help, it’ll ease your burden of feeling like it’s all on you.
Talk to colleges! The most successful college applicants treat the process like a conversation rather than a monologue. Go online, visit colleges, reach out to college admissions officers, ask good questions, and sign up for interviews if they’re available. And check your email–colleges don’t send DMs.
And while you’re at it, talk to your parents too. Letting them know what you’re doing and what you’re thinking regarding the schools on your list will make things so much easier when decision time comes around. It could also be incredibly helpful to have them read through your applications and activities section, to make sure you aren’t missing anything.
When you’re not talking, you should be writing. Draft, edit, and redraft your essays, and set aside time to write those college specific supplemental essays. Reserve one uninterrupted hour a week to focus on learning about the schools you’re applying to early—these ones are your priorities in early fall. It takes time to get those essays right, especially because they require research to be impactful.
A few other things: Crush your fall semester courses. Polish your applications way ahead of your deadlines. Fill out your financial aid form.
Don’t stress—just do. You can do this. In fact, you’re almost done. Good luck. You’ve got this!
We do still have limited space in our Class of 2024 cohort. If you need support getting to deadline this fall, please schedule a call as soon as possible.
