The College Application Process
Phase One
Junior Year
- take your standardized test of choice (SAT or ACT) at least twice
- begin the process of researching colleges of interest
- update your high school resume (necessary for recommendations)
- update your profile on Naviance to include colleges of interest
- with assistance, set up your Georgia Futures account
- request teacher letters of recommendation
- begin a rough draft of your college essay
- visit colleges if possible
- register for the Common Application
Phase Two
Summer between Junior and Senior Year
- finish standardized testing
- continue to improve the rough draft of your college essay
- visit colleges if possible
- consider creating an excel spreadsheet or other chart to compare college applications and unique campus features
- differentiate your college list as follows: (see your Naviance account for assistance)
- at least two target schools – you fit in the middle 50% of accepted students for the prior year, after considering your GPA and test scores
- at least two safety schools – you fit in the top 10% of accepted students for the prior year, after considering your GPA and test scores
- at least one reach school – your grades and test scores are below the middle 50% of accepted students, for the prior year
Phase Three
Senior Year
- narrow down your list of colleges, ensuring you are able to meet the 2:2:1 criteria
- update your Naviance “Colleges I’m Applying To” list
- update your high school resume
- follow up with your teachers on letters of recommendation
- review each school’s application requirements and deadlines
- decide whether you will apply early decision, early action, or regular decision to each school on your list and update on Naviance
- have essays reviewed by your English teacher or school counselor and revise as necessary
- begin submitting applications to each school, or through the Common Application
- go to your Naviance account and change your application status to “submitted“
- on Naviance, request transcripts and support documentation for schools once the application is submitted
