Seniors have no time to waste for college applications

As students return to school in the late summer, it always takes awhile to get into school the routine. For seniors, there is no time to waste if they plan to apply to college. Many colleges across the nation are already accepting applications for Fall 2013.  Here in California our public universities will open application windows in October and November and most of our private schools are within that same time frame.

Nearly all college applications are handled electronically, and prospective students will find complete information on college admission websites. High school students should be sure they are reviewing “Undergraduate” admissions pages when researching admissions information, since Graduate level programs often have a totally different admission calendar than Undergraduate. It’s easy to get them mixed up! 

Deadlines are critical for college applicants. All applications must be submitted by the assigned deadline and with electronic application there is no grace period, regardless of why you missed a deadline. So while students are making the decision about where to apply, it’s prudent to confirm that the deadline for application is realistic. If students stay on top of their college application process, there is no reason that they can not submit a complete, polished application. But procrastinators will find it challenging to present a competitive application if they try to complete it two or three days before the deadline. 

California public universities (CSU and UC Systems) have a common undergraduate application deadline of November 30th each year. Private California schools have varied deadlines, (some extending into spring) but often give priority to applicants who apply early in the filing periods. This is often true of schools outside of California, so waiting until the last minute to begin a college application is never a good idea regardless of your destination. Even Sierra College has an application deadline that is fast and firm for each semester. 

Here at Rocklin High School, Mrs. Morgan, the senior counselor and I will be holding a series of college planning workshops specific to target applicants. Workshops will be held on the afternoon of Articulation Mondays, beginning at 1 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend, but the workshop is directed toward students. We will open our first workshop on September 24th with the CSU application. For a complete list, see the home page of the College & Career Center website. Students are strongly encouraged to sign up ahead of time to reserve their spot. 

College bound seniors may find it challenging that before they even begin to settle in to their final year of high school they are asked to imagine themselves as college freshmen. But to be an outstanding college applicant, that’s exactly what must happen. 

Students who expect to be carefully evaluated at competitive colleges might think of their college applications as one additional course for fall semester of senior year. There’s research involved – colleges, majors, programs; statistics – a list of the applicant’s achievements, activities and experiences; composition – college application essays and other information you must share in writing; and supportive documentation – letters of recommendation, transcripts, evidence of leadership and service. It’s sort of like practicing for your first college assignment – because it is;  and from my observation over the past 19 years at Rocklin high School, most students want to earn an A on this one!