Everything you could ever want to know about applying to college

Applying to college is an exciting milestone, but it can also bring feelings of uncertainty. After all, going to college is a big deal and applying for admission is an important step in getting there. So here are all the ins and outs you need to know about applying for college.

Before we dive in, let’s start with a quick rundown on the meaning of some of the terms you’re going to hear throughout the application process.

Direct admissions is where you’re admitted straight into your major from day one. In other words, you don’t have to compete for a spot in your preferred major after being admitted to the university and you can begin taking courses related to your major immediately. ASU offers direct admission into your major.

A safety school is a school that may not be your top choice, but you apply to it because you know you can get in. That way if your dream college says, “Sorry but no,” you’ll still have a school to attend.

Tier 1 schools are big-time private research schools that are super competitive to get into.

Need-blind admission is when a college doesn’t consider your financial situation at all in making an admission decision.

A likely letter is a letter from the college that indicates you’re probably going to be admitted before an official admission decision is made. It’s actually more than likely that you’re getting in if you receive a likely letter it’s basically a sure thing barring something significant in your academic or disciplinary record.

If you apply through early decision, it means you’re applying to the college early but the decision is binding. That means if you’re accepted, you’re required to attend that school, so be sure it’s the one you want to attend above all others.

If you’re feeling confident, you can apply to a reach school, which is a school that has such high admission standards and admits so few students that getting into it is a longshot (even if you meet requirements). Just consider application costs and be sure you’ve applied to other schools that you have a good shot of getting into.

Superscoring means a college takes the highest scores you earned on each section of the SAT no matter what date you took it — and uses them as the SAT section scores it considers. You can take the SAT multiple times, and instead of considering the sections from your highest overall SAT score, superscoring considers your highest score by section.

OK, now that you know some common terms, let’s keep going. You can learn about a college’s specific admission requirements and application deadlines online so be sure to visit their website. 

The admission timeline
In some cases, it can take a while to find out if you’re admitted to a college. Like a couple months or more. So apply as early as possible to get your admission decision as early as possible. 

Beyond the application

The application will ask for your personal information and education information, and in many cases you’ll have to send your high school transcripts as well as transcripts from any other colleges you’ve attended. Some colleges will also ask you to write an essay and include letters of recommendation, while others might conduct an in-person interview. A college’s website will give you specific instructions on how to complete anything required beyond the application.

What happens after you submit your application?
Once you decide which schools you want to apply to, submit your applications and other required materials. If your test scores are below what the college requires, you can still apply. Admission requirements are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. When the admission office receives your application, an admission officer will review it and determine if you are admitted, not admitted or if further information is required of you. Generally, if you are admitted to a college, you will be informed via an official letter sent to you by snail mail (so make sure they have your correct address). A college may also email or call to inform you that you’ve been admitted.

Good luck, and may you get into your top college choice.