The College Application and Admissions Process: What You Need to Know
Start the Summer Before Your Senior Year
The process of selecting schools to apply to, getting the application packets, writing the essays, and sending them off can be very time-consuming. Starting your senior year is full of all sorts of excitement, and before you know it, deadlines for applications are looming.
Do yourself a favor and begin planning which schools you want to apply to in July and August and then begin filling out applications in September.
It Can Be Expensive
Applying to schools takes money (there are almost always applications fees) and lots of time. Make sure you have all of the money you need to apply to the schools you are looking at.Talk to the coach about getting a fee waiver because not every program has them, and it can help to have a couple fees waived.
Ask the Coach to Review Your Application
One of the biggest benefits to being a student-athlete in the application and admissions process is to have a coach review your application and give feedback before it goes to admissions. If a coach hasn’t offered to do that, ask them. It shows maturity and responsibility that not all recruits possess. If the coach doesn’t have anyone to review that packet, ask the admissions department. Several schools will review packets before they are final.
Deadlines are There For a Reason
Nothing frustrates a coach more than athletes who can’t be on time and meet deadlines. Don’t assume coaches can just get you through admissions and get your application in on time. For many schools, this is a nonnegotiable deadline, even for athletes.
Coaches can’t Just “Get you in”
Don’t assume that just because some athletes get into some schools with well-below-average grades that you can also get into school without much work. The NCAA is going to require that teams meet an academic minimum to post season play, and that means coaches will be on the lookout for better students. Some coaches have a lot of pull in admissions, and others don’t have any; it’s better to be safe than sorry and get your best application in well before it is due.
It isn’t Over with an Acceptance Letter
Believe it or not, there are athletes every year that just forget to send back their acceptance letters. Generally, schools send out a letter and give a deadline as to when you need to send back your acceptance of the offer. Don’t celebrate until you send back your letter, and as a good reminder, let the coach know you are accepting as well.
Where are you in the application process? Do you need help in getting your applications together? Leave your questions below, and our recruiting experts can help in anyway possible. If it is easier, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+!
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