| 5 Ways to Get Organized While Applying to College By: Stephanie Howson The college application process is always a challenge and narrowing down your school choices is only the first step. Though there is no magic number, college counselors recommend applying to 5 – 8 colleges in order to increase your options of finding a school that is a good fit for your personality, academic interests, and finances. However, this number means most students applying to college today have a number of applications of which they need to keep track. Though the application process can seem daunting, there are a number of things students can do to make it as organized and stress – free as possible. 1. Look for the “Common Application” – The Common Application is a standard, first-year college application form that is now used by over 400 schools. Before you begin preparing your application materials, find out how many of your chosen schools accept the Common Application. Potentially you may only need to complete one application to satisfy the requirements of a number of schools. 2. Keep a calendar – The college application process is characterized by deadlines. Keep a desk or electronic calendar to track the due dates for each application. Office supply stores such as Staples sell large calendars that you can place wherever you are working on your applications. Google Calendar allows you to create an online calendar that will generate email or text reminders about specific dates of your choosing. Keeping a calendar will give you a holistic view of the entire application process and will help you organize your time. 3. Create charts – Each school probably has specific required materials, contact information, and due dates. Create individual charts for each school that list required materials like application forms, supplemental essays, and financial aid forms as well as their due dates. These charts will help you keep track of things you have already completed and sent. For example- did you send your test scores? Did you remember to thank your interviewer? Charts are a good way to track this information. If you have questions about a school’s application requirements contact their Admissions Office or speak with your high school college counselor for help with the specifics. Collegeboard.com offers a helpful chart titled the “College Application Checklist,” which is easily printed and customized. 4. Develop a filing system – Keeping the paper and electronic information for each school in a designated place will prevent you from searching through piles of paper for the one piece of information you need. Create a binder, folder, or file for each school to store copies of your application materials. You can also file away descriptive information about each school such as guidebooks and mailings, as this information can help you tailor your application to the school and its values. Google Notebook is a great way to organize any online information about schools, as it stores electronic documents and links all in one place. Also, remember to keep your universal information such as transcripts and recommendations in one place and make copies to add to your individual school files. Having a filing system will make locating necessary information a breeze. 5. Make a schedule – The college application process can seem overwhelming but can be more easily managed if broken down into smaller steps. Design a personal timeline with self – made due dates so that you can space out your application work. Creating a work schedule will help you accomplish your application goals by spacing out your work so that nothing is left until the last minute. Applying to college is incredibly exciting but requires a lot of work. Using the tips above to stay organized during the application process will keep you from feeling stressed and help ensure your chances of getting into the school that is right for you. Sarah Chaisson Warner |
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