Advice About Applying For College

College applications are about so much more than grades. Applying for college is about showing yourself as a potentially valuable part of the campus community and your readiness to obtain the college degrees of your choice. When you are filling out college applications, you need to keep that in mind.

First, a few dos and don'ts for your high school senior year:

Do keep doing well in your classes. While academics and grades are not the sole admission requirement, they are a major part of the process for admission. If you're a home schooled student, take some time to talk to the colleges or universities you're considering and see what they are going to need as certification for passing classes such as Chemistry and Civics.

Do check into what financial aid is available to you at the college or university you are considering. It might be an ideal school for you, but are you going to be able to pay for it? Find out what type of student financial aid you could get and start going after it as early as possible. Could you get a scholarship? What about education grants? Should you check out applying for student loans in order to finance your education?

If you're signed up for Advanced Placement (AP) classes, be sure to take the AP tests. If you can take AP exams without the rest of the class, the money you spend on them is insignificant, and very much worth the risk. Likewise, taking a CLEP test can save you money on tuition and help get you accepted to the institution of your choice.

Do make it a point to take your SAT and ACT tests at the beginning of the school year. Particularly, if you feel as though you didn't do well enough, allow yourself some time to take them a second time in January. These college tests are very important in deciding what institution you'll be able to attend. Some colleges also require you to send them your first semester grades to check on your application process.

Get letters of recommendation from your guidance counselor at high school, employers, your instructors, and anyone that you do extracurricular activities for. Be sure that you provide you with plenty of time to write your letter, and keep in mind that letters of recommendation aren't the easiest things to write. Be certain that you provide them with a stamped, addressed envelope as well.

Do take time to evaluate the colleges you would like to attend. Schools that are a safe bet should be included, as well as schools that will be an academic challenge and reach schools. Do your research and obtain as much college information about the university or college that you're thinking about applying for. You shouldn't be afraid to go for the top end colleges or universities. There's very little to lose by applying. Get a week-at-a-glance planner or calendar and write down the application deadlines for every institution.

Start developing your admissions essay early. This admissions essay is the one opportunity you are going to get to say, in your words, the reasons you should be going to this school. Use the admissions essay to talk about a few things you've done that you're proud of, and relate those things to ways you'd interact within the college or university community. Present what you can bring to the college, that go beyond a tuition check. Be sure your essay gets proofread, and proofread numerous times, prior to mailing it. Make sure to include any open recommendation letters from advisors and teachers. Ultimately, the admissions essay is your job interview for being a student at the college, so be sure you make it as perfect as possible.

Now, the don'ts. Do not be tempted by senioritis. Make it a point to attend your classes in your last semester of high school; college admissions boards will screen for this, because students who get senioritis often become lazy students in college as well.

Try not to get discouraged if something does not work out like you think it should. Allow yourself time to do things again. The only thing that you can't do again is mail out an application after the deadline has passed. Don't lose track of submission deadlines either.