Ready, set, apply. Ready to get your college degree and start the next phase in your life? Great, but do you know when to start applying to college? The best thing to do is put together a list of schools that you want to attend and then get started in gathering the information you need to get accepted and get your degree. You will need to give yourself time to fill out the application, get your letters of recommendation, school transcripts, and file any financial aid forms necessary.

Once you settle on your list of possible colleges the next step is to find out the type of admissions and academic calendar those schools use. There are two main options for admissions schedules, rolling and set or multiple deadlines. For the academic calendar of the school their are several types, some schools offer multiple start dates throughout the year while others only offer one or two.

Get Your Application Due Dates

Take your list of target schools and find out from each one when their applications are due. Once you have this list of deadlines you can plan your customized timeline. It is best to make two sets of deadlines for each school, one that is your target of when you would like to send all the materials in and one that is the absolute deadline provided by the school itself.

If you are still in high school then you should review your college plans and goals with your guidance counselor including your GPA, SAT and other college test scores.

For people who are working it does not mean you should not look to others for guidance and advice. Often a company mentor or senior manager is a good person to discuss your college options with. If those people aren’t approachable or you don’t feel comfortable you may want to contact your company Human Resources department to discuss your target career path and the education you need to get you there.

Compile Application Packets, Get Transcripts, Request Letters of Recommendation

You have your hit list of schools to apply to, now you need to get all the applications in one place so you can get everything you need organized. Many schools now have their applications online so you should put together a list of all the web site addresses you will need to complete your applications. Any schools that require a written application you will need to call, email or write to request your application.

Make a list of who you think will provide the best letters of recommendation. Even if your college of choice does not require them it is always a good idea to know who you would ask and even have them write it so you have it handy. Letters of recommendation are great for college applications, internship applications and even required for some jobs. Make sure you get the letters from people who know you and have some compelling story of their own, i.e. they are very senior or well known in their area of expertise.

The best way to get your transcripts in order is by requesting as many copies as you think you will need plus a few extra for safe keeping. Contact your high school and any colleges you have attended and follow their instructions for requesting the transcripts. Make sure you review the college applications first in case you need transcripts sent directly or you need multiple copies of them for the school.

Begin College Applications, Request Letters of Recommendation, Organize Documents

Write your essays and fill out as much of the application as you can while you wait for additional materials. You should write your essay outline first and make sure that each essay has a compelling idea behind it. Always put yourself in the shoes of the admissions person reviewing your application, why should they pick you?

Send a letter, email or call everyone from your list of potential recommenders. You need to give them time to write them and you may even need to set aside some time to meet with some of them so that they have a better understanding of the things you want them to highlight in their letter.

Open up a copy of your transcripts and make sure that everything is included and correct.

If there are college or career fairs happening in your are you should do your best to attend. You may find a new school that you have not thought of or you may have the chance to meet people from one of your target schools.

The common application provided in some college applications can be sent in early so that the school can set up a file on you and await the additional materials you will be sending .

For early application, early decision candidates you need to submit your full application. For some schools that accept early applications you can submit it and if you are rejected for the early application cycle you can still reapply for standard decision acceptance.

Build a hit list of which grants and scholarships you think you might qualify for so that you can gather all the needed information. There are many ways to get information on college scholarships online as long as you start your search early.

Extra Tip: Make copies of everything you send to the schools in case things get lost in the mail or you want to reuse some of it for other applications.

Main College Application, Campus Housing, Student Funding

Go ahead and fill out the full application at this point. You should send it out early enough so that if there are any mail delays it wont effect you. We suggest that you call a few weeks after you send the application in to make sure the school received everything.

It is important to finish the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at this point. Often scholarships and other types of financial aid request that you fill out FAFSA prior to applying for their grants and funding.

Planning to live on campus? If so you need to complete the student housing forms and get them in. If not then you should make other arrangements or at least track down your options so that when you get accepted you have a plan.

Extra Tip: Make your application stand out by using certified return receipt or even FedEx. This will provide you with a confirmation so you know the school got the materials and help your file stand out.

To use this timeline you should start about 6-9 months in advance of your first application deadline. If you can’t start that early it is OK but make sure you give yourself enough time to get your transcripts, letters of recommendation and any other materials you need to get from other people.

This application schedule should help you get organized and put some times to your application process. Stick to the plan and it will help manage your stress levels and give you the best shot at getting into the school of your choice.

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