College application tips for OH Seniors

College application season is in full swing, leaving many high schoolers scratching their heads. Left with unanswered questions, the season’s emotions lay at the forefront of many applicants’ thoughts. 

“[It’s] very stressful,” said OH senior Tess Williams, who has already applied to Aurora University and Southern Illinois University, “but once you get it done, [it feels] great.”

Stress, combined with procrastination and fear, makes the general mess of college applications feel much worse. Despite what many applicants think, many resources are available to help them. 

“Naviance should definitely be a go-to resource for all students to research and to complete the application process,” April Ponte, OH school counselor said. 

In addition to knowing what help is available to applicants, there are some general tips that all applicants should keep in mind. 

Apply early

Applying early is easily the most common tip for those applying to college. While there are several types of applications and due dates for applications vary from school to school, a majority of institutions have either an Early Decision (ED) or an Early Action (EA) application. Early Decision applications are stereotypically binding, while Early Action is not. 

“The earlier the better,” said OE senior Leah Frystak, “I would [not] say rush yourself [but try to be sooner.]”

In general, there are more scholarships and opportunities available for those who apply early, so to be ahead of the competition and prepared, try to be ahead of schedule.

Do your research

The second most common tip is to do your research. When asking everyone from seniors who have already applied, to admissions counselors, the number next most important tip is to do your research. 

“Look on to that particular school’s website or all the schools you are looking at […] Everyone has their different criteria,” said Ponte. “What [is] the average GPA they are looking for, are they reviewing holistically, how much emphasis do they put on extracurriculars, [etc.].”

Ponte also notes that the courses you take in high school matter, so when doing course selection students should do research and be mindful of how that will impact their college applications. She recommends taking courses that are in line with your intended major and required for that particular school. 

Stay organized

Staying organized is one of the most important things. Staying organized ensures that everything in your application can go smoothly and stress-free. 

“Narrow down [your number of applications] to around five to seven,” said Ponte. “You probably [do not] need to apply to [twenty schools].” 

Know your deadlines

Knowing your deadlines may seem obvious, but it is an important reminder. A majority of schools are strict on their deadlines, so keeping to these deadlines is necessary. 

“Deadlines for Early Action are coming up [on] November first” acknowledged Ponte. “Really it’s just a matter of sitting down and getting them done [before then].”

Maximize Activities Section

One tip stressed by guidance counselors and advice columns is to maximize your activities section.  “Add in the little things,” said Ponte. “Things that are happening during the day that they necessarily have to be doing should be highlighted.”

Daytime activities that fall into that category include curricular band, curricular choir, journalism, PE Leaders, Panther Leaders, and AP Connect. “[These] are what makes a student stand out, those roles that would [not] necessarily happen for other students,” noted Ponte. 

Do not stress

Last but not least, is not stressing out. While this is easier said than done, it is much easier to go through this process with a clear head and a plan. 

Applicants have many resources available, including school counselors, Naviance, and various internet resources. It is well advised that applicants utilize these to not only be prepared for applications but also to successfully complete them worry-free.

For information about scholarships, read please see our 42fifty News article on scholarship opportunities.