Application Nuts and Bolts - What Are the Elements of a College Application?

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Your application consists of many components, which should convey a clear and uniform message about who you are and your potential plans.  Each element should be carefully developed to form a meaningful and complete package.

• Personal history: List where you live, your contact numbers and e-mail address, and information about your family and their educational background (used for statistical purposes).
• Future plans: Indicate how you are applying (early action, early decision, or regular decision), whether you are applying for financial aid, and your possible major and career plans.
• Academic history: Include information about what high school(s) you have attended and your senior year courses.
• Test scores: List your SAT/ACT (discussed in Chapter 2) test score dates and scores (see the section in this chapter about new score reporting policies) and, in some cases, your AP/IB (discussed in Chapter 2) scores. (This information is requested on the Universal College Application [UCA, which is discussed later in this chapter] and on the applications of the most highly selective colleges.) Official test scores must be sent by you from College Board or ACT.
• Honors, extracurricular activities, and work experience: Complete this information on the actual application, and you can also usually submit a separate resume containing all of the information about your extracurricular activities, honors/awards, and work/summer experiences.
• Essays: This section contains your short answer essays and your personal statement. You can cut and paste your answers or you can attach or upload your essays for online applications. You can attach separate typed sheets with your essays for paper applications.
• Multimedia information: The multimedia section is part of the UCA and provides links to additional media you may want to provide, including a video, a portfolio, newspaper articles, etc.
• Additional information: Utilize this section to mention anything you want admissions officers to know, including any extenuating circumstances, attendance at a dual curriculum school, explanations for variations in grades, uploaded resumes, personal illness, and other items.
• Disciplinary information: Indicate whether you have been suspended, removed, dismissed, or expelled from school, and whether you have had any convictions. If you answer yes to any of these questions, you will be asked to provide an explanation. Your school counselor will also be asked to answer these questions on the “School Report.” If you have had some type of infraction, you should discuss how to answer this question with your family and your guidance counselor. Do not hide any information, as your admission can be revoked if it is determined your application is not truthful and accurate.
• Signature: Sign (paper applications) or electronically sign (online applications) your application in this section. When you sign, you are agreeing the information contained on the application is accurate and true. You should carefully review your application and make sure everything is accurate before you sign your name.
• Supplement: If you are using the Common Application (Common App) or the UCA, check whether the colleges you are applying to have a supplement. When you log in to your account, you can easily see if a college-specific supplement is required. A supplement may contain information about majors, admission deadlines (early or regular), and additional essays.
• School report: Completed by your guidance counselor. You may be asked to sign your name and state whether you want to waive your rights to access  your counselor and teacher evaluations and other information about you. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) grants you access to your evaluations and other information, unless the college you will be attending doesn’t save the letters or you waive your rights. Check with your guidance counselor about how you should answer this question. Many teachers and counselors do not want students to read their letters, although some may share their letter with you if you ask. Other information on the school report includes your grade point average (GPA), the highest GPA in the class, your test scores, a rating scale of your academic and personal qualities, and an evaluation or letter of recommendation.
• Teacher recommendation(s): In some schools, teachers actually complete this form, and in other schools, the teachers’ letters are just attached to the form. Check with your high school to find out what the policy is at your school. Colleges don’t usually have a problem if the form is not filled out. Again, you may be asked to sign this form and to indicate whether you waive your right to see teachers’ letters and ratings.
• Arts, home school, and athletic supplements: Complete these forms if you are submitting additional materials, are applying as an athlete, or have been home schooled.
• Transcript: You send an official transcript (with an official signature and seal) to every college to which you apply. Some high schools send your application package for you, other schools require you to send the application. Check with your high school for specific instructions.
• School profile: Your high school sends a school profile to the colleges to which you are applying. The school profile contains information about your high school, including courses offered, the number of students in the senior class, distribution of grades and/or SAT/ACT scores, percent of students attending four-year colleges, class rank (if used), and other vital information about your high school which helps colleges understand your application.
• Midyear report: A midyear report is a form on the Common App and the UCA, but is not required by every college. Some colleges have their own midyear reports,which is part of the application. This report contains updated information about your GPA, your first senior grades, and sometimes an updated evaluation of your progress in your senior year. You are responsible for determining which colleges require this form and then submitting a signed form to your counselor.
• Final report: A final report is another form which is part of the Common App and the UCA; some colleges have their own forms. It is very similar to the midyear report, but this report is sent only to the one college you will be attending. A final transcript usually accompanies this form and then your senior year grades are reviewed.

What is a Priority Application?

A priority application, also known as a blue ribbon or freebie application, differs from other applications in that a college invites you to apply, usually with no application fee and within a certain deadline. You may have been invited to apply because you demonstrated your interest in applying by visiting a college’s Web site or by requesting information from them. Priority applications are usually streamlined, with some of the information already completed. In addition to not paying a fee, you may be waived from writing an essay or submitting letters of recommendation.