How Families Can Approach The College Application Process

Going to college is the next step in many high school graduates’ academic journeys. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicat≠≠ßes that around 62 percent of recent high school graduates were enrolled in college as of 2023. College enrollment has remained relatively stable in recent years, with around 60 percent of students enrolling in college after high school.

Many current high school students are planning to attend college, and they may wonder when to begin the application process. U.S. News & World Report advises students to check in with the individual schools they are considering, as deadlines and requirements for college applications vary by school. Fall of senior year typically is a busy time for college applications. This timeline can help students better prepare for the college application process.

• Begin your college search during junior year of high school. This also is a time to visit schools in person to get a feel for each campus. By spring of junior year, it is adviseable to have taken the SAT or ACT test at least once. These tests can be taken again in the fall and then the highest score will be sent to colleges.

• Continue to look at colleges the summer before senior year and narrow down which colleges seem to be the best fit. Western Colorado University suggests it could be a good idea to begin the application process during the summer before senior year. This gives students plenty of time to finish an application before the deadline.

• Most students wait until the fall of senior year of high school before they do the bulk of their college applications. Schools will have separate deadlines for early decision, early action and regular decision, so it is important to know these cutoff dates and apply accordingly. Early action tends to close out in November, while general applications need to be in by January or February. A student who applies for early decision and is accepted by a school must withdraw all other applications, as early decision is binding.

• Most students will hear back about their applications by April of senior year.

College Decision Day occurs on May 1 each year. This is the date when most students commit to a particular school. It’s a time of great celebration and anticipation regarding what the next several years will bring.