Admissions
If you did your college research and conducted campus visits during your junior year and early in your senior year, you'll be ready to complete college applications before admission deadlines start hitting in the fall.
Here's what you need to do:
Contact the admissions office at your top colleges and ask about admission requirements and the deadline. Also, ask about deadlines to apply for college-based scholarships and financial aid.
Apply to three or four colleges before the admission deadlines. As a back-up, include a "near-by" school even if you don't think you want to go there.
Be prepared to include these items with your application:
- The application fee
- Official high school transcripts
- ACT/SAT test scores
- List of extracurricular activities
The college may also require an essay and letters of recommendation.
Use our Activities Resume to update your extracurricular involvement. Then the information is ready when it's time to apply.
Expect acceptance or rejection notices from the colleges in the spring.
It's vital that you and your student are aware of - and prepared for - admission deadlines. Help your student with the steps outlined above to avoid future stress and missed opportunities!
What if your student wants to apply to a college that you feel is too expensive or too far away? Keep these points in mind:
- Make sure your student understands how much you're willing to pay toward college out of your pocket and through parent loans. Your student is then clear about how much he or she must provide through savings, scholarships, financial aid, student loans and part-time work.
- The more expensive a college is, the more it may award in financial aid. It might not hurt to apply and then compare financial aid award letters before making a final decision.
- If your student wants to go to an out-of-state college, check out the Midwest Student Exchange Program which provides tuition discounts for students in qualifying states.
