Application Season is Here!
It’s that time of year again, marked by the turning of the calendar to August. For many, August 1st signifies rent being due, hot summer days to come before we enter fall and school starting back up again in a few short weeks.
For rising seniors, however, it signals go time. The beginning of application season is a time for looking to the future, one completely uncertain, for the first time in many students’ lives. It means that, not only do they have to worry about school work within their senior year, but they also have to worry about applying to college and the immense time and effort required throughout that process.
One way to combat the mental load that accompanies this season is being knowledgeable and well-equipped before beginning to tackle the application itself. There are a few things to note before we enter this dynamic time: what makes up a college application?
1. Application itself
The process of applying to numerous colleges has become much simpler the last few decades. Instead of sending off countless applications to each school and spending hours writing addresses, birthdays, and activities, a beautiful thing known as the Common Application was developed. The Common App makes it easier for students to apply to multiple colleges and universities, inputting that rote information only once. Filling out the application can take some time, but that’s something our team at Open Road is happy to help with!
2. Standardized test scores
The infamous ACT and SAT. Over the past few years, this has become an interesting topic of discussion. Due to COVID, more schools (though not all!) adopted a test-optional policy, no longer requiring students to submit test scores. Will that be the case this year? Well, that’s an ever-changing answer. While some schools chose the path of least resistance and opted to no longer require test scores at all,others almost immediately reinstated their original standardized test requirement. August 1st reveals the status of most schools’ policies. The ultimate decision of whether or not to submit scores is up to you, but it’s always best practice to try your best on these tests, just in case.
3. Transcripts
Every high school handles transcripts differently. The past few years, we’ve seen an uptick in schools utilizing guidance counselor platforms, such as Naviance and Schoolinks, making it easier to submit a request. For some, transcripts can be requested by submitting a form to a guidance counselor (sometimes requiring a fee), while others can request them directly through the Common Application. Definitely make sure to attend any informational session to determine your school’s chosen approach for requesting your transcripts, or stop by to ask your guidance counselor!
4. Essay
Ah, the college essay. Renowned, occasionally feared, but always valuable. The college essay is the time to show the colleges who you are on a personal level. It’s an opportunity to humanize you beyond who you are on paper, and show admissions the things you’re passionate about. At 650 words (about a page and a half), it can be difficult to utilize it to its full potential. Never fear, check out our essay services here for any assistance necessary. If you’re planning to apply test-optional, make sure your essay is in the best shape it can be!
5. Resume/activities
This is another piece that shows colleges who the student is, this time, through a chronological timeline of years worth of experience and hard work. Within the Common App, there are 10 activity slots that students can fill out to tell universities everything important they’ve been involved in. And guess how much room you have to describe the activities? A whopping 150 characters! WOO! That’s about 2 sentences to describe what can be years of sports, clubs, volunteering, etc. This can be a difficult part of the application but luckily, it’s our favorite part at Open Road! Please reach out to us if you have any questions or need help with this. (Note: some applications leave room to attach a resume, and we can help with those too!)
6. Letters of Recommendation
The idea of having to ask someone to write a letter about you for your dream schools without being able to read it may seem daunting. The good news is you can walk away feeling much more confident if you have a proactive and organized approach. Open Road professionals can strategize with you about who to ask, how to ask, what to communicate, and how to get everything done before early deadlines!
Those are the main pieces of the application. We know it can feel overwhelming, but we’re always here to help. Readers, application season is like tax season for us. It can feel nonstop and nerve-wracking, but it’s one of our favorite parts about our jobs—where the magic happens. We’d love to navigate through it with you. ☀️
