College Planning 101: Navigating the Application Process

If you’re in the early stages of college planning, you probably feel a healthy mix of excitement and uncertainty. Rest assured, these feelings are entirely normal. But we also want to help eliminate that anxiety by giving you a simple step-by-step guide to choosing the right college, navigating the application process, and finding scholarship opportunities. Let’s dive in!

Choosing the Right College

To reduce stress, students should begin college planning in 10th or 11th grade. We recommend applying to at least four colleges, so start by compiling a list of schools that interest you.

Although it’s easy to be swayed by a college’s reputation or your friends’ plans, you must build your list of schools around your personal and professional goals. As you evaluate, consider the school’s:

• Location: Do you prefer an urban, suburban, or rural living college experience? Remember that studying locally or in your home state can be a smart financial move that will help you reduce tuition and living costs.
• Size: Do you thrive in a crowd or sometimes feel lost in it? Consider the student-faculty ratio and the total number of students enrolled.
• Cost: This is a big one. Can your family afford the tuition, additional fees, and living expenses? Does the school offer scholarship opportunities that will reduce these costs? 
• Reputation & Accreditation: It's also important to consider the college's reputation—especially in your chosen field of study. Additionally, ensure that the program you're interested in is accredited and recognized by reputable associations in your desired field.

To help you answer these questions, visit as many schools as possible, attend campus tours, and talk to as many students, faculty, and academic advisors as you can. 

Prepare Your College Application

The application process may be more rigorous at some colleges than others, but most require the following:

An Application: Most colleges have moved to an online application process, which allows you to complete your application in stages, save your work, and submit it at your leisure.

Transcripts: College admissions departments will want to see a formal record of your high school classes and how you performed in each.

Personal Statements: Your grades are important, but many schools want deeper insight into who you are outside the classroom. A personal statement allows you to showcase your interests, values, setbacks (and how you overcame them), and individual and professional goals.

Standardized Test Scores: Some schools emphasize standardized test scores; others do not require them. Either way, you can strengthen your profile and demonstrate your college readiness by submitting ACT and SAT scores—even if the school does not require them.

Financials: Many schools will request information about your family’s financial status to see if you qualify for scholarships. You can jumpstart on the process by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Finding Scholarships

The beauty of scholarships is that they do not need to be repaid, unlike student loans. Start with the websites below to help you find that free money and reduce your expenses. These scholarship databases allow you to customize your search, narrow it, and find rewards that fit your student profile.

Scholarships.com allows you to search by GPA, test scores, ethnicity, location, etc. As you select from each category, you’ll find additional sub-categories to help you locate niche awards that fit your profile and increase the odds that your application will be approved.

Fastweb.com is another helpful site that pairs you with scholarships that fit your profile. You’ll have to create a profile to use the site, but we see this as an advantage. Fastweb will send you notifications when new scholarships appear and deadlines approach.

In addition to these sites, we encourage you to explore BigFuture, Going Merry, and ScholarshipOwl.

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