"Applications to many schools are due in October of senior year for Early Decision or Early Action or in December of their senior year for Regular Decision."
Information on the process of applying to higher education institutions, including college applications, standardized testing, and required materials such as essays and transcripts.
Understanding the Application Form: This topic covers the structure and content of a typical college or university admissions application, the purpose of each section, and how to fill it out effectively.
Admissions Criteria: This topic focuses on the various factors that colleges and universities use to assess applicants, such as academic performance, extracurricular activities, essays, and standardized test scores.
Standardized Tests: This topic provides an overview of the standardized tests that colleges and universities commonly require, including the SAT, ACT, and GRE exams.
Interviewing Skills: Some colleges and universities require applicants to participate in a personal interview. This topic covers the dos and don'ts of interviewing, how to prepare, and tips for success.
Letters of Recommendation: Many colleges and universities require letters of recommendation from teachers, mentors, and employers. This topic explores what makes a strong letter of recommendation, who to ask, and how to follow up appropriately.
Writing Effective College Essays: This topic covers the art of writing a compelling essay that conveys your personality, interests, and goals to the admissions committee.
Financial Aid and Scholarships: This topic explores the various types of financial aid and scholarships available to college students and how to apply for them.
Campus Visits and Tours: Visiting prospective colleges and universities is an important part of the admissions process. This topic provides guidance on how to make the most of your campus visit and what to look for during a campus tour.
Early Decision and Early Action: Some colleges and universities offer early decision and early action programs, allowing students to apply early and receive a decision before the regular decision deadline. This topic covers the pros and cons of early decision and early action programs.
Waitlists and Deferrals: Sometimes, colleges and universities will defer or waitlist applicants. This topic explores what these decisions mean, how to respond appropriately, and how to increase your chances of acceptance off the waitlist.
Admissions Consulting: For students who want extra help navigating the admissions process, this topic explores the role of admissions consultants, how they can help, and how to find a reputable consultant.
Admissions Scandals: This topic examines recent admissions scandals, such as the Varsity Blues scandal, and what implications they may have for the college admissions process as a whole.
Diversity and Inclusion in Admissions: Many colleges and universities have made efforts to increase the diversity of their student bodies. This topic explores the importance of diversity and inclusion in admissions and how colleges and universities are working to achieve these goals.
International Admissions: For international students applying to colleges and universities in the U.S., this topic covers the unique challenges and requirements of the international admissions process.
Transfer Admissions: For students who are transferring from one college or university to another, this topic explores the specific requirements and challenges of transfer admissions.
Rolling Admissions: This process accepts applications on an ongoing or regular basis throughout the academic year. The admission decisions are made once the complete application is received.
Early Decision Admissions: This process allows students to apply earlier than the regular application deadlines. Students who apply Early Decision are required to commit to attending the college if they get accepted.
Regular Admissions: This process is the standard application process where students apply by a specific deadline, and decisions are made and communicated by a specific date.
Open Admissions: This process is open to all applicants who meet the minimum requirements, and there is no selective process.
Transfer Admissions: This process is specifically for students who have attended a different college or university and wish to transfer to another institution.
Provisional Admissions: This process allows applicants who do not meet the standard admission requirements to be admitted on a temporary basis.
Direct Admissions: This process is reserved for high-achieving students who have a high school GPA or standardized test scores that meet or exceed the college's minimum requirements.
Waitlisted Admissions: This process is where an applicant is put on a waitlist and must wait for a spot to open up in the incoming class.
International Admissions: This process is specifically for international students who wish to study in the United States. It requires additional documentation and language proficiency tests.
Conditional Admissions: This process is where a student is granted admission but with certain conditions they must meet, such as maintaining a minimum GPA.
"For those who intend to attend college immediately after high school, the college search usually begins in the eleventh grade with most activity taking place during the twelfth grade."
"The timeline may vary depending on the universities, some having an earlier deadline due to the fact that the admissions process may weigh in more on transcripts."
"Students at top high schools may often begin the process during their tenth grade or earlier."
"Millions of high school students apply to college each year, with approximately 4.23 million in the high school graduating age group in 2018–19."
"An estimated 3.68 million high school graduates (3.33 million and 0.35 million coming from public and private schools respectively) in 2018-19."
"The number of high school graduates is projected to rise to 3.89 million in 2025–26 before falling to 3.71 million in 2027–28."
"The number of first-time freshmen in post-secondary fall enrollment was 2.90 million in 2019."
"Divided between 4-year colleges (1.29 million attending public institutions and 0.59 million attending private) and 2-year colleges (approximately 0.95 million public; 0.05 million private)."
"The number of first-time freshmen is expected to continue increasing, reaching 2.96 million in 2028."
"Students can apply to multiple schools and file separate applications to each school."
"Recent developments such as electronic filing via the Common Application, now used by about 800 schools and handling 25 million applications, have facilitated an increase in the number of applications per student."
"Around 80 percent of applications were submitted online in 2009."
"About a quarter of applicants apply to seven or more schools."
"Paying an average of $40 per application."
"Most undergraduate institutions admit students to the entire college as 'undeclared' undergraduates and not to a particular department or major."
"As a general rule, admissions to two-year colleges or community colleges are more simple, often requiring only a high school transcript and in some cases, minimum test score."
"Recent trends in college admissions include increased numbers of applications, increased interest by students in foreign countries in applying to American universities, more students applying by an early method, applications submitted by Internet-based methods, increased use of consultants, guidebooks, and rankings, and increased use by colleges of waitlists."
"These trends have made college admissions a very competitive process."
"Admission to U.S. colleges in the aggregate level has become more competitive, however, most colleges admit a majority of those who apply."