The College Application Components.

There are several components of the college application that fit together to tell your unique story allowing your BEST self to shine through! Here are the components typically included on a college application.

Student Profile Information

This is your name, address, parent information, etc. Easy peesy lemon squeezy! Stuff you knew in elementary school.

Standardized Test Scores

All colleges and universities will accept either the SAT or ACT test scores. So, submit your best score, not both.

For additional information about the SAT click here.

For additional information about the ACT click here.

There are many colleges and universities who do not require standardized test scores to be submitted if minimum a minimum GPA is met by the student. In some cases, the school will request additional written requirement in lieu of the test scores.

For a list of schools and more info click here.

High School Curriculum

You will need a copy of your high school transcript as reference. On your college application you will enter the courses you took and the grades you received from 9th to 12th grade. You will also enter your GPA. It's pretty straightforward, but be ACCURATE. This information must match your transcript exactly.

Extracurricular Activities

Before you begin completing this section of the application, create a list of the extracurricular activities you participated in throughout high school. These can be activities at school, or outside of school. You will be limited on the number of characters you can include in this section of the application in most cases. Therefore, it is extremely important to be concise, but efficient in providing information about your achievements.

Tips:

• Avoid using acronyms as titles for the activity. Spell it out. For example, "I participated in ASB". What is that? Well, it stands for "Associate Student Body". Hmmmm ... that still isn't clear. Okay, it's actually Student Leadership at the high school. Aha! Got it!

• Instead of describing the activity, tell colleges what you accomplished. For example, instead of, "I was the Publicity Commissioner at my high school for 3 years", let's hear about what you accomplished. "As Publicity Commissioner, student participation and attendance at school rallies increased by 50%." Let's hear how you made an impact!

Essay(s)

Depending on the application, some will require one essay, some may require additional essays called "Supplementals", and some won't require an essay at all.

Tips:

• Be sure you are ANSWERING the PROMPT! Read the prompt carefully. A common mistake is for students to craft a wonderful essay, but miss answering the question being asked.

• Begin writing your essays at the beginning of August and complete them before senior year begins. Believe me, you will be SO thankful you focused and finished before homework hit the desk.

Letters of Recommendation (LOR)

Letters of Recommendation may be required by some colleges and universities to complete the application. These LOR's are written and submitted by the students' teachers. Students should ask two teachers who they had in their junior or senior year, who know them well, and can provide a "strong" letter of recommendation.

Supplemental Material

In some cases, supplemental information may be required. For example, if the student is applying as a film production major, the student may need to submit a video as a sample of their work. Creative majors may need provide a portfolio containing photos or artwork. Music majors may need to travel to attend auditions. Supplementals will be outlined within the application if they are required.

"Optional" Information

Take advantage of the bonus space and use it! College applications sometimes provide this section for students to include additional information about themselves. It is highly recommended for students to use this space for information that is NOT already found in other sections of the application. It is another opportunity to tell your unique story.

Interviews

Some colleges and universities may require student interviews, but most do not. If interviews are offered, but are considered "optional", students should use this opportunity to show demonstrated interest and learn more about the schools' programs and culture.

For tips about how to prepare for a college interview click here

Would a Visual Help?

For a College Application Components chart, click here.