How To Apply for College: A Complete Checklist

The college application process has a lot of moving parts, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed as you're writing essays, requesting letters of recommendation, and taking standardized tests. Fortunately, you can navigate the process more confidently and stress less by starting early and familiarizing yourself with the application process.

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Use this guide to meet your deadlines and join over 17 million students enrolling in college in the fall. Here's a closer look at how to apply, including a college application checklist and what happens after you send off your applications.

Your college application checklist

Staying organized is key to navigating the college process successfully. Use this checklist to learn about the main parts of a college application.

1. High school transcripts

Colleges want to review your academic performance, so they request an official transcript from your high school. Your transcript lists the classes you took and the grades you earned.

In most cases, you won't send your transcript directly to colleges. Instead, you'll request that your school counselor sends your official transcript on your behalf. School counselors are familiar with this process, so speak with yours about any specific steps you must take to make your request.

2. Letters of recommendation

You often need to send two to three letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, counselors, mentors, or other trusted adults. Ask for recommendations from people who know you well and can give insight into your personal strengths.

It can also be helpful to provide your recommender with a copy of your resume and a “brag sheet” highlighting your interests, achievements and skills. This information can help your recommender write a glowing, personalized letter that will impress an admissions committee and boost your chances of getting into college.

3. Personal essays

Personal essays are another major part of your college application. Admissions committees read your essays to get a deeper sense of who you are as a person. Plus, they give insight into your writing skills and capacity to reflect on and draw meaning from your experiences.

If you use the Common Application to apply for college, you can choose from several essay prompts. Here are a few examples of Common App essay prompts:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

You can also write on a topic of your choice. These open-ended topics allow you to share your story and write about something important to you. Your essay is a major part of your application, so start writing early and go through several rounds of editing.

Some colleges require you to answer supplemental essay questions along with your personal statement. Your responses will be shorter (perhaps a few hundred words), but give them the same level of thought and consideration that you put into your personal statement.

4. Standardized test scores

You may also send standardized test scores from the SAT or ACT to colleges. Some colleges require these scores, while others are test-optional. Some schools say they are test-blind, meaning they won't consider test scores at all.

Both the SAT and ACT allow you to send your scores to up to four colleges at no cost. Additional reports cost $14 for the SAT and $18.50 for the ACT, unless you qualify for a fee waiver.

Many students take the SAT and ACT more than once to achieve their target scores. If you take the SAT for the first time in your junior year, for instance, you could retake it again over the summer or in the fall of senior year if you're not satisfied with your scores.

5. A completed FAFSA

As you prepare your college applications, don't forget to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This free form puts you in the running for financial aid, which may include grants, work-study opportunities, and federal student loans.

Colleges rely on your FAFSA to put together your financial aid package and provide an award offer if you get accepted.

The FAFSA usually opens on October 1 each year, and it's a good idea to submit it as soon as possible. Financial aid, such as grants and work-study, is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis since funding is limited.

How to submit your applications

Many students apply to several colleges, including reach schools, target schools, and safety schools. If your school participates in the Common App or Coalition App, you can complete a single application and send it to multiple institutions. In a few rare cases, you'll have to apply directly with the college itself. Here's a closer look at each option.

The Common App

Originally established in 1975, the Common App is accepted by more than 1,000 schools. You can fill out the Common App once and send it off to up to 20 colleges.

The Common App asks for various information, including your personal details, academic honors and achievements, extracurricular activities and a personal statement. Through your Common App account, you can also invite recommenders to submit reference letters on your behalf.

Some colleges will require you to answer supplemental essay questions, which you can fill out on the Common App. This platform is free to use, but you'll have to pay an application fee to each college you apply to, unless you qualify for a waiver.

The Coalition App

Similar to the Common App, the Coalition App is a platform for sending one application to multiple colleges. It was founded in 2015, but it has been around for less time— so far, about 150 colleges accept it.

The Coalition App mainly partners with colleges that help students graduate with low or no student debt. It's committed to working with students who are underrepresented in higher education.

Individual college applications

If your college doesn't accept the Common App or Coalition App, you can apply for admission using its individual application. The application and details about the process and deadlines are on the college website.

Some notable schools that don't use the Common App are MIT, Georgetown University, and University of California schools, such as UC Berkeley and UCLA.

Check out: How To Get Into College for Free

College application deadlines

Each college sets its own application deadline, and some allow early decision, early action, or regular decision applications.

Here are some typical college application deadlines, but note that every school is different. Check the admissions section of your school's website to confirm its application deadline.

What is early decision and action?

As the names suggest, early decision and early action deadlines fall earlier than regular decision deadlines, usually by a few months. You'll find out your admission decision earlier, too.

Early decision applications are usually binding, meaning you pledge to enroll if you get in. Early action is more flexible, but you may have to accept or decline your offer of enrollment before you hear back from other schools.

Applying early may be appealing if you have your heart set on a specific school and feel ready to apply by the deadline. However, if you want the chance to compare financial aid offers or need more time to put together a strong application, then applying for a regular decision would be the better move.

What is rolling admission?

Some colleges also accept applications on a rolling basis and release decisions as they make them. That doesn't mean you should procrastinate on applying, though, as these schools only accept students until all open spots have been filled.

Check out: When To Apply for Student Loans

How much are college application fees?

College application fees vary depending on the school, but they typically range between $60 and $100. The average college application fee at Ivy League schools is around $80.

Students who used the Common App applied to an average of 5.7 colleges in the 2023-24 year. That equates to an average total application cost of nearly $456.

If these fees feel out of reach, you may be able to qualify for a college application fee waiver. For instance, students who got an SAT or ACT fee waiver are automatically eligible. You can also qualify for several reasons: Your household income falls below a certain threshold, you participate in the federal free or reduced price lunch program (FRPL), or you provide a supporting statement from a school official or other designated professional.

You can apply for a college application fee waiver through the Common App, Coalition App or National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Alternatively, you can request a waiver from the college's admission office.

What happens after I apply?

After you apply to college, you'll play a waiting game while the admissions committee reviews your application. Keep an eye on your email to see if the college requests any supplemental information.

Some schools request interviews, so schedule one with an alum or admissions officer if that's part of the process. You might also spend time visiting campuses to help you decide on your top-choice school.

Don't forget to maintain good grades in school, too. You'll eventually send off your final transcript to your college, so you want to stay engaged with your academics. Make sure to submit the FAFSA and apply for scholarships to obtain school financial aid.

Depending on when you applied, you should have all your admissions decisions by April or earlier. Once you've got all your letters, you can compare offers and decide where to enroll in the fall. Colleges usually want your decision by May 1.