What's the process of applying to college like?

I'm a junior starting to think about college applications, and I'm curious about how the whole process works. What are the main steps I should be aware of when applying to colleges in America?

Indeed, the college application process can seem daunting initially, but by breaking it down into a few significant steps, it becomes much more manageable:

1. Research: The very first step is to research various colleges to determine which ones are a good fit based on your academic interests, social preferences, extracurricular involvement, location preference, and financial considerations. College search tools like Appily or the CollegeVine College Search tool can be valuable to help identify schools with programs you're interested in.

2. Testing: With some exceptions, most four-year colleges require an SAT or ACT score. Prioritize taking either your SAT or ACT in junior year to leave time for a retake in case you're not satisfied with your score. It's important to check the testing policy of each college. For example, Dartmouth, Harvard, Purdue, Brown, Yale, UT Austin and Caltech require standardized test scores for the 2024-2025 application cycle.

3. Gathering materials: Start requesting and gathering necessary application materials, such as your high school transcripts, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, and a record of your extracurricular activities.

4. Writing Essays: Once you have your college list, you will need to write essays. Each college will usually require a main essay, or personal statement, and often additional supplemental essays specific to the college or your intended major. Start brainstorming and drafting these during the summer before senior year if possible. Remember to avoid cliche topics that don't illuminate unique aspects of your life or worldview.

5. Application Submission: Applications are typically submitted through platforms like the Common App or the Coalition Application. Deadlines vary by school and by type of admission (early action, early decision, or regular decision), but they generally fall between November 1 and January 1 of your senior year.

6. Financial Aid: Lastly, to apply for financial aid, you'll need to fill out the FAFSA and possibly the CSS Profile as well. Those are available starting October 1 of your senior year.

After submitting your applications, it's a matter of waiting for decisions and then ultimately deciding which school to attend. Remember, every school and person's process is different, so what applies to one school may not apply to another, or what worked for one person may not work for you - do what feels right for you and your academic path.