Applying to college is the turning point of one’s life and the journey that revolves around it stays for a lifetime, giving us the best and worst experiences at the same time. Applying to college is a gateway to entering the real world because this is when our lives change drastically and there just is no end to it. Here we will see about Does It Matter When You Apply To College?
Entering college life is perhaps the first step to instability. Why? The pages turn and you enter the real deal. The pressure is unreal and it ultimately becomes the first step to survival. Applying to college right after the declaration of new applications is mostly said to improve your chances of getting accepted. However, there are a lot of factors that influence the decision. There are some points you need to know about the procedure and how it works.
In this article, we have listed the factors that affect and how they might affect your application. Keep reading to find out.
WHEN SHOULD YOU APPLY TO COLLEGE?
Most students complete their senior year around November-December, and the colleges send out applications around January-February. These rounds of admissions are called admission plans and are administered by different deadlines and requirements. A student can apply for their desired batch by looking at these preferences and by putting their own in mind. As you explore different institutions, you will come across the following admissions plans: early decision, early action, regular decision, and rolling admissions.
EARLY ADMISSIONS: EARLY DECISION, AND EARLY ACTION
The basic difference between early decision and early action is in the administrative structure and approach. They have a similar timeline. Both the plans have a deadline in November, and you can expect to hear back by mid-December.
Some colleges also have an Early Decision II, providing students with a chance to better plan everything. The Early Decision II deadlines are in the first week of January, giving students more than enough time to refine their applications, take the necessary assessments, and place them carefully.
TIPS ON EARLY ADMISSIONS:
Deadlines need to be met with a strong application. Before applying to these colleges/universities, make sure you have done extensive research on the format and extracurriculars that can help you get in. For an early deadline, you will need to sort out your details and achievements into a convincing format. It is a lot of work, and the earlier you start, the better it is. Your personal essay, recommendation letters, and SAT or ACT scores are the three that require the most planning and attention.
The essay will play a crucial role in your application process. To get the finest output on paper, it will need a lot of drafting and analysis. The essay will be your ace point. The personal essay is emphasized because it somewhat becomes the deciding factor when it comes to application processes. As per suggestions, if you want the best essay, you should start giving time from the beginning of your senior year.
The second important task is to get letters of recommendation from your teachers in your senior and junior years. Getting that job done at least a month in advance will save you from the rush that you might experience if it were postponed to a later date.
The most crucial part is your SAT or ACT score. You will need to provide yourself with the time to be able to take at least three tests. You will need to take the test and be ready with your test scores by the end of your junior year (11th grade) if you are planning to meet an early deadline.
REGULAR ADMISSIONS
Although students prefer to take early admissions nowadays, the majority of them still go with regular admissions. Regular admissions open in January-February, right after the winter break. You can expect to hear back from the applied colleges in March or April. Regular admissions are no different than early admissions. Perhaps the greatest difference lies in the busy schedule that you have to live with amid all the preparation.
TIPS FOR REGULAR ADMISSION
Regular admission is no different from early admission. In regular admissions, you get little time to prepare your essay if it is held until September. Personal essays need work, and you will need to give your best as it will act as the deciding factor. By the end of senior year, it gets really hectic, and taking out time for studying is tough. You are left with the option to work during dinner break, even before your senior year starts.
The letters of recommendation need to be collected by September, or at least a month before that. No professor would like to spend their winter break writing recommendation letters. Get this task done early.
The SAT and ACT scores are dependent on your level of preparation. Most students take the test twice, once at the end of their junior year and again in September. Although it is recommended to take the test in junior year to save yourself from the mess and risks it will cause,
ROLLING ADMISSIONS
Rolling admissions takes a long period for admissions. Suppose a college that grants rolling admissions will open their applications around September and will be open until the spring. These kinds of admissions are tricky to handle. It is suggested to apply for admissions just like regular ones. It is believed that students who apply early improve their chances of getting accepted to that particular college.
These kinds of colleges also use the idea of priority deadlines. Applicants who apply early improve their chances of getting selected by submitting their application before November.
SUMMARY
A student can take any kind of admission according to their preference. There is no right time for entering college. The change in the education system provides us with such options. The classical way of taking early admission is, however, seen as a beneficiary over the others. Regular and rolling admissions add up to your already hectic school life. Regular admission will need a lot of time management skills, and rolling admission might be the way to procrastinate. Whatever type of admission it is, education is what we look up to.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
1) Does taking a gap year affect our academics?
Not really. Taking a gap year does not really affect academics. You can learn according to your preference.
2) When should I drop out of college?
If you believe the course you are taking is not adding value to your life or has no positive impact on your day-to-day life, that is your first indication that you should reconsider your decision.
