Application process for first-year students (2023)

FAQs

Why is the college application process so difficult? ›

It's simple math: when admit rates go down, it means that more applicants are rejected, and a more competitive application pool is inevitably created. The drastic increase in selectivity impacts virtually every aspect of college admissions, from heightened pressure on test scores to diversity and inclusion factors.

Good grades, a challenging high school curriculum, standardized test scores, extracurriculars, and a strong essay are a few key factors admissions officers assess. Each university may emphasize different elements of the application process.

Share this Article. Only 23% of high school students believe the college admissions process is a fair one. Almost half of students (47%) are unsure or indifferent about how fair the process really is. 44% of students believe colleges should help underserved populations pursue higher ed.

With a record-low admission rate of just 3.19% for the class of 2026, Harvard currently ranks as the most difficult school to get into.

Courses and Grades

A student's grades in college-preparatory classes remain the most significant factor in college admission decisions. Highly selective colleges look for students who: Complete core academic requirements.

Once you have all your materials gathered, the basic information on an application can usually be completed in less than an hour. Writing the essay and personal statement can take a few days up to a few weeks, depending on the content and number of revisions.

What does it mean to process a college application? ›

The college application process refers to the steps that prospective students must take to apply to an institute of higher education. Although the applications differs from one school to the next, it typically includes a tour of the campus, meeting with an admission officer, and submitting a formal application.

Good grades and test scores, a rigorous academic program, and a full compliment of academic classes during all four years are all necessary to be accepted into a good school. A list of a thousand activities will not be helpful.

Yes, your freshman year grades do matter when applying to college. Admissions officers will take your overall high school GPA into consideration which includes your freshman year performance.

Applying to college is undeniably stressful. The process comes at an intense time in a student's life, with schoolwork, clubs, athletics, music, volunteering, and more, to say nothing of the emotional and psychological work of being a teenager.

Even if you're meticulous when completing your college application, there's a chance that you'll make a mistake. You may leave out something, fail to follow instructions, or do something incorrectly. If you realize you've made a mistake, don't panic.

What will colleges reject you for? ›

Colleges can revoke an admitted student's acceptance at any time. The most common reasons include poor grades, disciplinary infractions, and honor code violations. Students at risk of not graduating high school can have their admission revoked. Colleges typically reach out before revoking an admission offer.

Here are seven common reasons why college applications get rejected, according to some experts: Failure to meet high GPA or test score standards. Insufficient academic rigor. Lack of demonstrated interest.

In addition to a student's academics, extracurriculars, application essay, recommendation letters, and thank-you letter, admissions counselors look at their own college itself, considering enrollment projections, student body diversity, faculty and course curriculum volume, and recruitment goals.

Though most schools set their requirements, it's usually no lower than a 2.0 GPA. Having a 3.5 GPA or higher also has its perks. You can qualify for honors programs at your university, earn certificates of distinction, and become eligible for merit-based scholarships.

After application deadlines pass, seniors may worry that their applications or supporting documents have gone missing or never arrived at colleges. Some students may be feeling anxious because a college has notified them that elements are missing from their application.

Sample “rejection” email

After long and serious consideration of my offers, I have decided to attend *name of chosen college* instead. I wanted to let you know as soon as I made my decision, and greatly appreciate your time and consideration. Thank you for your assistance in my college search.

Furthermore, the rising tuition fees, falling application acceptance rates among universities, and the fear of not getting a job in present market conditions make the college application process an even more highly stressful activity for some students.

Personal statements

The primary essay for your college application, often called a personal statement, is typically around 400-600 words. The Common App personal statement — which is used as the primary application essay by more than 800 colleges — must be 250-650 words.

It can take a few weeks to a few months to hear back for a college admissions decision, depending on the type of application you submitted. Early applicants — such as early decision or early action — will generally hear back in December while regular decision applicants will receive their admission decision in April.

It is recommended that having 50 – 200 hours on a college application gives it a good chance of being seen favorably by college admissions officers.

What does application process mean? ›

Application Process means the process of reviewing and making a determination on the Completed Application.

What Does It Mean to Process an Application? Processing the application means gathering and reviewing all necessary information and determining eligibility.

"In process" means that the application is being looked at by different managers in different departments and/or the application has been selected by a manager and the background checks and work history are being verified.

✓ Who are you and/or where are you currently studying ✓ What are you applying for (e.g. English literature, bricklaying, childcare) ✓ Your reasons for wanting to study your chosen subjects ✓ Your reasons for wanting to study at that particular college (e.g. what makes that college standout for you?)

If you have your hopes set on attending a highly selective four-year university, you'll want to stand out from other applicants. A good way to achieve this is to have a GPA of around 3.8 or higher. To earn a GPA that high, you'll need to get mostly A's in your classes in high school.

Your first year and sophomore year affect your cumulative GPA, which is important to most colleges. However, a solid academic record in your junior year is likely to carry more importance with an admissions committee.

What are the top 4 things college admissions officers are looking for? ›

Basically, there are six main factors that college admissions officers consider: AP classes and challenging course loads, high school GPAs, SAT and ACT scores (unless they are test-optional), meaningful extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and your personal statement.

Admissions officers do read for writing quality. Application essays should be error-free examples of the student's best work. The consensus among admissions officers is that most students don't spend enough time on their essays to make a real impact.

In the US admissions process, colleges and universities take many factors into consideration. Admissions officers look at “hard factors” (GPA, grades, and test scores) and “soft factors” (essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and demonstrated interest) to gain a full picture of applicants.

Here are two of the major reasons for the increased competitiveness in college admissions: There are more students, and many of these students are applying to more schools. Many of today's college applicants are part of what's referred to as the “Echo Boom” – kids of Baby Boomers and beyond.

Standardized testing is just one of the many ways college admissions is unfair to students. Another, controversial way college admissions is unfair is through the extensive use many families make of private college consultants for essays, activities, resume building, interview prep, and more.

Yes, the process is daunting—particularly for people who lack a support network from their school, family or private admissions counselors.

Here are seven common reasons why college applications get rejected, according to some experts: Failure to meet high GPA or test score standards. Insufficient academic rigor. Lack of demonstrated interest.

Factors That Most Affect Admission Decision. Many small, selective colleges pay greater attention to personal statements and essays, teacher and counselor recommendations, leadership experiences, and the individual talents of applicants. They typically offer the chance for a face-to-face interview.

Earlier is Better for Rolling Admission

They generally promise students a decision anywhere from 4-12 weeks after their application becomes complete. However, most schools wait until they have a critical mass of applications before they begin reviewing them, so there is not an advantage to submitting early.

Can a college accidentally accepted you? ›

Mistaken acceptances or scholarship offers are nothing new. In 2009, 28,000 students received a mistaken email saying they had been accepted to the University of California at San Diego. In 2016, 130 hopeful Tulane University applicants were mistakenly welcomed as students and even given university email addresses.

Yes, colleges can and do rescind offers of admission. They will do so for poor grades on your final transcript and/or for school expulsions, suspensions, honor violations, and tangles with the law depending on the situation.

Yes, every college essay is read if the college has asked for it (and often even if they did not ask for it). The number of readers depends on the college's review process.

About 65% of admissions officers view social media as “fair game” when evaluating potential enrollees, according to a survey performed by Kaplan Test Prep in 2020. With that said, only 36% of the 313 officers surveyed said they actually took the time to browse applicants' TikTok, Instagram and other accounts.

Almost every senior receives at least one college rejection letter. This is tough advice, but try not to take the rejection personally. Most U.S. colleges admit a majority of applicants. Only 3.4% of schools fall into the most selective category, meaning they admit fewer than 10% of applicants.