Considerations when making college applications

You are going to graduate from high-school soon or you are an adult considering going back to college. It is time to find out a university and fill out the college admission packages. This process can be overwhelming for many students because several documents must be submitted to the admission departments. Consider what you need to apply to a university and organise your documents.

Where to apply?

The first consideration that one should take when making college applications is deciding where to apply. For this, you should first have a notion of which degree you want to pursue. The next step is to check out which colleges and universities offer the program of study of your choosing. Now, it is time to decide where to apply. This decision is extremely personal because each person has different concerns about the location, cost, quality of education and the student community of the college or university they are searching for. An example is that some people prefer a public university over a private university because of the high cost of the latter. Another example is that some individuals attribute much value to college or universities with outstanding athletic teams.

Standardised tests

Most college admissions departments require applicants to take standardised tests in order to enter the world of higher education. The United States and Canada require undergraduate applicants to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ATC). Graduate students need to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). International students have to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The United Kingdom requires undergraduate and graduate to take similar standardised tests. Examples are the History Aptitude Test (HAT), the National Admission Test for Law (LNAT), the International English Language Test (IELTS) and different Thinking Skills Assessment tests.

Other important considerations

After you find a university and take all the necessary standardised tests, it is time to ask for letters of recommendation and write down an essay about you. Most college admissions departments ask for two or three recommendation letters. Ask people who have known you for a long time to recommend you. Do not forget to submit a variety of letters in order to show off different aspects of your character. An example is to submit a letter from a former employer and one from a former teacher. As for the essay, it is vital for you not to be shy to write down what things you have accomplished and which characteristics distinguish you from others.
Most schools do not want to read a standardised essay response because, in truth, they are interested in the uniqueness of each student.