For the Admissions Process

Once you have looked at careers and explored programs or majors you may enjoy after graduating from high school or obtaining your GED, you are ready to explore which institutions will offer you the educational experience that will prepare you for success. You will want to make sure you understand all your options after high school, spend some time researching schools and attend a college fair.

Once you’ve narrowed down your options to several schools, getting ready to actually fill out applications to those schools will also take some time and planning.This worksheet will help you prepare in a thoughtful way.

Read About the College Admissions Process

Review the application requirements for each school to which you intend to apply. Make a list of all of the items that you will need to gather for the application (you can copy or create the following chart for each school):

School:
Item Required / Date Due / Date
Completed / Notes
Application Form
Essay/Personal
Statement
Transcript
Recommendations
Test Scores
Application Fee

Mark the deadlines on your personal planner and be sure to also enter a reminder to yourself, at the appropriate times, to begin working on each activity

Complete theQuestions They May Ask worksheet

Review and print out the Questions You Should Ask checklist

Schedule a campus visit, if at all feasible, and/or, at minimum, an interview in person or on the phone, with an admissions officer

Create, send out and follow up on requests forletters of recommendation

Create, edit, re-write and review your essay or personal statement

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January of your senior year (don’t forget to ask your parent(s) or guardian to complete their federal tax return as soon as possible after January 1)

Determine whether you need to take or should re-take the ACT, SAT, GRE, LSAT (what are the acceptable score ranges for your schools of choice?)

Order transcripts from your high school or previous colleges

Complete application forms

Send in all required application materials with your fee or fee-waiver document

CollegeInColorado.org has timelines that will help you understand by when you should complete each of these important activities.