When applying to colleges, students must consider the type of experience they desire to have holistically. Would you rather learn by reading primary texts and discussing them in Socratic style with a small group of students, or by listening to a lecture in a large auditorium while taking notes on your laptop? One should focus more on how they learn and less on where or what they learn. For instance, journalism majors on different campuses experience vastly different curricula and teaching styles. Some colleges emphasize field reporting, others press style reporting, and others public relations and mass communication. Students should also consider whether they want to attend a small liberal arts college or a large public university, whether they want to stay close to home or travel, and whether they want to attend a school in a city, town, or a rural setting. If you require additional assistance in deciding, consider scheduling a campus visit. Other considerations include whether students want to attend a small liberal arts college or a large public university, whether they want to stay close to home or venture away, and if they want to attend a school located in a city, town, or in the country. If you need extra help deciding, consider scheduling a campus visit. According to College Board, students should try to schedule these in the late summer or early fall of their senior year. Senior students should also schedule their SAT and ACT exams during the late summer or early fall, according to the College Board. After conducting extensive research, organize prospective schools into three lists: safe, target, and reach. The first list would consist of schools where admission is assured based on academic and extracurricular qualifications. Although your likelihood of admission to these schools appears to be high, they may not be your top choices, but you would still attend. The second list would consist of schools for which you believe you have a good chance of acceptance but are unsure. Last but not least, reach or dream schools are those institutions you aspire to attend but may not meet all admissions requirements or are highly selective.

Most colleges require applicants to submit either ACT or SAT scores, which are frequently used to determine college readiness, class placement, and/or scholarship eligibility. College-bound high school students may be expected to take Advanced Placement exams, depending on the institution, intended major, and high school courses taken.

SAT:

The SAT is comprised of three sections: reading, writing and language, and mathematics. Students can scoer up to 1600 points. The average score on the SAT for the Class of 2018 was 1068. According to College Board, roughly half of students take the exam twice, typically in the spring of their junior year and fall of their senior year.

ACT:

The ACT assesses four subject areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. In addition, an optional writing section is provided. A top score on the ACT is 36, and the class of 2018 averaged a composite score of 20.8. Similar to the SAT, students who are not satisfied with their first score can retake the exam.

Advanced Placement:

Students can earn college credit while still in high school by taking AP exams. Students are required to enroll in AP courses and demonstrate mastery of college-level material. The possible scores range from 1 (no recommendation) to 5 (highly qualified). Each college has its own policy regarding minimum credit score requirements. Currently, 38 AP tests are available to students.

In general, colleges and universities use one -- or more -- of the following application deadlines:

Regular Decision (RD):

In the RD strategy, you will apply to colleges following their regular application deadlines. These applications are due beginning January, giving students ample time to prepare all of their materials. If you are applying to RD, you should take the ACT/SAT no later than December to have sufficient time to submit your application. Under the RD plan, your application is compared to the entire applicant pool, so you have no advantage over EA, ED, or REA applicants.

Early Action (EA):

EA is an admissions strategy where you prepare and apply to the colleges early. Typically, EA applications are due between November 1 and November 15. This implies that, to apply for EA, you should have all your application materials ready early in your school year. If you are applying with standardized test scores and you need to retake the ACT or SAT, you should do so in October or early November. The benefit of applying EA is that you may have a slightly higher probability of acceptance, as admissions officers will review your application before the regular applications. Unlike ED, EA is not binding, so if you are accepted, you have the option of declining the offer. Students could also apply to as many EA schools as you wish, so long as they are not Restricted Early Action colleges (REA). Typically, you receive your admissions decision in December.

Restricted Early Action (REA):

Like EA, REA is a non-binding, early application plan with typical November deadlines. However, due to it being "restricted," you cannot apply to the EA plans of another college. As with other EA and ED plans, this may increase your admissions chances because it demonstrates your commitment to the college's program.

Early Decision (ED):

ED is an admissions policy in which students apply early to a college and are obligated to accept the offer if selected. If you decide to apply ED to a few colleges, you can also apply to other colleges under their EA plans. ED may give you an advantage since it demonstrates your commitment to attend the school if accepted. Some colleges offer two cycles of ED (ED 1 and ED 2). ED 1 deadlines for most colleges are typically early November, however some do have early December deadlines. On the other hand, ED 2 applications are due on January 1, and you will receive a response in February. Under the ED 2 plan, you will still want to submit to Regular Decision colleges, however if admitted to your ED 2 college, you will need to attend it.

Rolling Admission:

Rolling Admission implies that admission officers review and admit students on a “first come, first serve” basis. Instead of reviewing all applications together and then making decisions, students who are qualified will be admitted as soon as their applications are evaluated. In colleges with rolling admissions, spots in an incoming class might quickly fill up. For admissions on a rolling basis, you should apply as soon as possible to increase your chances of acceptance.

After extensive preparation and research, students should start to fill out applications for all of the colleges they have shortlisted. Most colleges utilize a multiple-part application form, so that admissions committees can gain a comprehensive understanding of an applicant's skills, interests, hobbies, and life story. The common app is the most frequently used form, however coalition app, specific application form for the University of California colleges and the MIT application form would also need to be used, if applying to them. Specific requirements may vary by university and degree program, but typical application elements include:

Application forms:

When it comes to filling out college applications, there are different services such as Common Application, Coalition Application, and Universal College Application. This form is used by colleges to collect basic information including name, address, date of birth, parental information, financial circumstances, social security number and related information. In addition, students provide information about any honors or awards they have received in school or the community, their extracurricular and volunteer activities, any internships they have done, school results and allows uploading recommendation letters from teachers you have chosen.

High school transcripts:

Colleges use the official version of high school transcripts to evaluate a student's performance in their high school. The high school must send a sealed transcript directly to the college for it to be considered official (meaning it cannot come from the student). When applying through early decision or early action, institutions may request a mid-year report from the student's high school in addition to the student's final transcript upon graduation. For some educational boards where high school transcripts are not available in time (expected later), the high school must provide predictive grades for the student.

Standardized test scores:

Colleges require standardized test (SAT, ACT, APs) scores to be sent directly to them, which students would have identified on the examination forms. Students can also send these out later, through the College Board's Send Scores section of their website.

Recommendation Letters:

Colleges typically require two or three letters of recommendation from teachers who have known the student throughout their high school and can comment on their academic record and potential for success in college. Most students request these from their teachers, but they can also be written by mentors, community leaders where a student might have volunteered, employers where a student has interned, and other non-family members who know them well. Students must ensure that they build a great relationship well in advance of asking them a recommendation letter, and provide them with all the necessary information to write an effective letter. This allows them to consider you, your achievements, and your potential contributions in depth.

Common Application Essay and Personal Statements:

College admission officers give a high weightage to the common application essay or personal statement, to get an unscripted version of the student's personality, life goals, and life experiences. The essay is a potential opportunity for students to stand out with their life story. Most colleges also provide college specific prompts, such as a time when the student overcame adversity, significant achievements, or future goals. Students should use this opportunity to demonstrate clearly and concisely why they should be admitted to the school. What college admissions officers are looking for, is what the student brings to their class for that specific admission cycle.

The average cost of higher education has more than doubled at a rate of 6.8% per year. The average in-state student attending a four-year public college spends $25,707. The average cost of in-state tuition is $9,377, while the average cost of out-of-state tuition is $27,091. The average private college student spends $54,501 annually, $37,641 of which is for tuition and fees. The total cost of a 4-year degree can exceed $500,000 when student loan interest and loss of income are considered. As tuition and fees continue to rise on an annual basis, students and their families must find ways to save money and avoid incurring crippling student debt. Luckily, there are a variety of scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and assistantships available to students.

The initial step for students is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The federal government uses the financial information provided on this form to calculate your Expected Family Contribution by comparing the cost of attendance to your income. The office then determines the proportion of need-based funding (e.g, Pell Grants, Subsidized Loans, Perkins Loans, and Federal Work-Study) as against non-need-based funding (e.g., Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Plus Loans). Colleges also use FAFSA data to award institutional and programmatic grants, making it doubly important to submit this form annually. Research the FAFSA deadlines for the federal government, your college, and your state, as they might be different and submit the FAFSA form as soon as possible.

Other sources of financial aid that students should research include scholarships and grants from local and state agencies, private foundations, nonprofit organizations, employer tuition assistance, and private financing.

Early decision applicants should receive their results by December 15, while those who applied via rolling admissions will have to wait between six and eight weeks. The Early Action and Restricted Early Action decisions are released after the early decision results. Typically, these decisions are announced in late January or early February. Students who applied in the regular admissions cycle may have to wait until March or April to receive their results. Many colleges allow prospective students until May 1 to make a decision, giving them ample time to narrow their choices. Students should use this time wisely to determine the best college based on the criteria below.

Affordability and cost of attendance:

"If affordability is a deciding factor, either eliminate the colleges you know you cannot afford or appeal to their financial aid’s office for a more favorable financial offer."

Departments and Majors:

"Focus on the programs you wish to invest in and eliminate those you do not."

In-person college visits:

"Narrow down your options by visiting colleges in person or going back if you've already been there earlier. Request to be hosted by a current student, attend a few classes in your intended major as well as classes in other departments, and walk around campus to see if you can envision yourself there."