Preparing for the College Application

About this article
To help reduce some of the anxiety during the college application process, plan ahead and try not to procrastinate. This article provides suggestions that helps you stay focused and organized when applying to colleges.
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There are many pieces of information to submit for your application for a college or university. It is likely that you are applying to several different schools, so you can reduce the anxiety of acquiring all these pieces of information by starting early and not procrastinating. Also, have a copy of your high school transcript on hand. You will also need to know your social security number and high school code.

Those at collegeboard.com suggest you make a folder for each college you apply to. At the front of each folder should be a checklist of required materials and the date each is due. When you later reference this folder, you can see at a glance what's been taken care of and what still needs to be completed.

Most applications request a list of activities you have participated in, a list of honors and awards, career interests and some may even ask for a statement from personal references. Acquiring activities and honors information from years past requires time and energy. Start gathering this information early. Brainstorm before getting started and ask the following questions of yourself:

  • Which activities were most significant to me and why?
  • Does a particular award or honor stand out in my mind?
  • What might I contribute to the college that no one else would?

The experts at collegeboard.com want you keep in mind a simple ideology when filling out the applications: Honesty is the best policy. Admission officers can detect brown-nosing, exaggeration and outright lies. Admission officers want to see an honest picture of your individual interests to get a better idea of who you are.

Consider filling out the supplemental information category of your college application. The necessity of this section varies depending upon the school. Some schools may not even require it. The supplemental information category is a chance for you to explain special circumstances or detail unique abilities. If there is no such section on your application, contact your school's admission office and inquire about including such materials. Aspiring musicians, for example, might wish to send slides or a videotape of a performance. Be sure to label such materials and indicate on the application that it is included.

Applications all have similar requirements and it is perfectly permissible to use the same materials for different schools. Send the packets certified mail, so you get confirmation and a record that they were delivered on time.

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Quantitative Research
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Qualitative Research)
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Quantitative Research)
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning
    Master's
      • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
      • M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Factors
      • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
      • MS in Psychology: General Psychology
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (ITL)
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor: Communications
      • BS in Psychology
      • B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology
      • Bachelor: Business Admin
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
      • Bachelor: Accounting
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Keiser University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice
      • Doctor of Education in Curriculum Leadership
      • Doctor of Education in Education Leadership
    Master's
      • Master of Arts in Criminal Justice with Interdisciplinary Concentration
      • Master of Business Admin - Accounting
      • Master of Business Administration - Management (Spanish)
      • Master of Business Administration - International Business (Spanish)
      • Master of Science in Information Technology Leadership
      • Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
    Bachelor's
      • B.A. - Legal Studies
      • Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (Accelerated Track to MACJ)
      • B.A. - Accounting
      • Bachelor of Arts - Business Administration with a concentration in Transportation and Logistics
      • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Accelerated)
      • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (FastTrack)
    Associate's
      • Associate of Sciences - Information Technology
      • Associate of Arts - Criminal Justice
      • Associate of Arts - Accounting
      • Associate of Arts - Paralegal
      • Associate of Arts - Homeland Security
      • Associate of Science in Nursing
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Wake Forest University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Communications
      • Master of Health Administration
      • Master of Health Informatics
      • Master of Public Administration
      • Masters in Project Management
      • Master of Educational Leadership
    Certificate
      • Digital Marketing and Analytics Certificate
      • Project Management Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Colorado Christian University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP
    Master's
      • Criminal Justice, M.S.
      • Criminal Justice, M.S. - Campus, Event, and Organizational Safety
      • Business Administration, MBA - Advanced Accounting
      • Business Administration, MBA - Health Care Administration
      • Business Administration, MBA - Leadership
    Bachelor's
      • Communication Studies, B.A.
      • Criminal Justice, B.S.
      • Applied Psychology, B.S. - Biblical Studies
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Abilene Christian University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Organizational Leadership (Ed.D.)
      • Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)
    Master's
      • Instruction and Learning (M.Ed.)
      • Higher Education (M.Ed.)
      • Organizational Leadership (MS)
      • Divinity (M.Div.)
      • Christian Ministry (MA)
      • Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT)
    Bachelor's
      • Psychology (BS)
      • Healthcare Administration (BS)
      • Organizational Leadership (BS)
      • Christian Ministry and Spiritual Formation (BS)
      • Exercise Science (BS)
  • Online Programs Available
    6. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Master of Science - DNP Executive Leader
      • MSN-DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Health Sciences
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Master of Science - DNP Path (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
      • Master of Science -DNP Path Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
    Master's
      • M.S. in Health Education
      • MS in Psychology - Forensic Psychology
      • Master of Science in Legal Studies
      • MS in Psychology
      • Master : Business Admin
      • Master: Psychology/General Psychology
    Bachelor's
      • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
      • BS in Communication
      • Bachelor of Science in Psychology
      • BS in Organizational Management - Decision Management
      • BS in Communication - Business Fundamentals
      • BS in Communication - Digital Communication
    Associate's
      • AASBA in Business
      • Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
      • Associate of Applied Science in Legal Support and Services
      • Associate: Business Admin.
      • Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development
      • Associate of Applied Science in Human Services
    Certificate
      • Human Services - Child and Family Services Certificate
      • Professional Focus + Google Project Management Certificate
      • Certificate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology Graduate
      • Professional Focus + Google UX Design Certificate
      • Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design for Organizations
      • Medical Billing and Coding Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    7. National University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DBA - General Business
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice
      • Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
      • Doctor of Education in Instructional Design
      • Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
      • EdD - Curriculum and Teaching
    Master's
      • MAPsy - General Psychology
      • MEd - Curriculum and Teaching
      • MEd - General Education
      • MEd - Reading Education
      • MSOL - Criminal Justice
      • Master of Science in Computer Science
    Certificate
      • EdS - Curriculum and Teaching
      • EdS - General Education
      • EdS - Social Emotional Learning
      • EdS - Early Childhood Education
      • EdS - International Education
      • EdS - Organizational Leadership
  • Online Programs Available
    8. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Masters in Psychology
      • Masters in Dispute Resolution
      • Masters in Legal Studies
      • Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • Masters in Clinical Psychology (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
  • Online Programs Available
    9. Saint Leo University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice: Education
      • DBA: Business Administration
      • Education Specialist in Educational Leadership
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice: Homeland Security
    Master's
      • MS: Criminal Justice
      • MS: Criminal Justice - Critical Incident Management
      • MA: Creative Writing - Poetry
      • MAcc: Accounting
      • MBA: Project Management
    Bachelor's
      • BA: Criminal Justice
      • BA: Criminal Justice - Criminalistics
      • BA: Psychology
      • BA: Psychology - General
      • BS: Computer Science
      • BA: Psychology - Experimental
    Associate's
      • AA: Criminal Justice
      • AA: Business Administration
      • AA: Information Technology
  • Online Programs Available
    10. Penn Foster

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • A.S. Degree in Veterinary Technology
    Certificate
      • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician
      • Career Diploma - Sterile Processing
      • Career Diploma - Medical Administrative Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Pharmacy Technician
      • Medical Assistant Diploma

Featured Schools

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
  • Bachelor: Communications

What is your highest level of education?

Keiser University

  • Doctor of Criminal Justice
  • Master of Arts in Criminal Justice with Interdisciplinary Concentration
  • B.A. - Legal Studies
  • Associate of Sciences - Information Technology

What is your highest level of education?

Wake Forest University

  • Master of Communications
  • Master of Health Administration
  • Digital Marketing and Analytics Certificate
  • Project Management Certificate

What program are you interested in?

Colorado Christian University

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP
  • Criminal Justice, M.S.
  • Communication Studies, B.A.

What is your highest level of education completed?

Abilene Christian University

  • Organizational Leadership (Ed.D.)
  • Instruction and Learning (M.Ed.)
  • Psychology (BS)

What is your highest level of education completed?

Purdue Global

  • Master of Science - DNP Executive Leader
  • M.S. in Health Education
  • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
  • AASBA in Business
  • Human Services - Child and Family Services Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

National University

  • DBA - General Business
  • MAPsy - General Psychology
  • EdS - Curriculum and Teaching

What is your highest level of education?

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Psychology
  • Masters in Dispute Resolution
  • Masters in Legal Studies

Which subject are you interested in?