As the last of the admissions letters roll in, seniors can finally breathe easy as the college application process is over. While the application process has looked and will always look different for everyone, there are some universal ways the next class of applicants can prepare.
The Common App, a website where students submit a majority of their applications, typically opens on Aug. 1, but many people start to prepare for their applications prior to that date.
“I started working on my college application the summer before senior year because I knew cheer would take up majority of my time in the fall,” future Pace University student Gio Rivera said. “Finishing my essay before the school year helped me better balance my classes, my job, sports, and the rest of my application.”
Writing the essay can often times be the hardest part for students. With no concrete prompt, it can be difficult to establish what specific topic to write about. However, there are some universal themes that appear throughout the essays each year that can be planned ahead of time. Successful essays will be authentic and on a topic the student feels passionate about.
“I decided to write [the common application essay] about my relationship with my mom,” future West Virginia University student Krisha Ford said. “I took a basic topic and made it unique to me and my life.”
Writing the Common App essay can seem daunting, but there are ways to make it easier. One such method is having someone read over each draft of the essay as it is written. Most of the time, a first draft is never completely perfect, so it is beneficial to have a separate pair of eyes for reviewing what is written.
“I had my boyfriend look over [my drafts] a hundred times because he goes to [Virginia Tech] and he is a good writer,” future Virginia Tech student Blaine Wooley said. “ I also had multiple teachers and friends review my writing, and I think it helped a lot”
There are many resources at Stone Bridge that can help students prepare for the application process including the writing center, the college and career center, as well as teachers and counselors. These resources can also be utilized when deciding which schools to apply to and ultimately which school is the best fit.
There are many things that factor into picking the right college including location, size, diversity, cost, and more. Along with in the many in-person resources Stone Bridge has to offer, multiple online resources are available for students as well. “Schoolinks,” which is available through “LCPS GO,” has a tool where students can filter colleges based on these preferences.
For current juniors looking to get ahead, late April and early May would be a good time to start asking teachers for letters of recommendation. The letters of recommendation and the common application essay are the best places to start the application process early.
