Getting ready to apply to colleges? Use our free college application requirements tracker to stay organized! This tracker (available as both a Google Doc and Google Sheet) can help you stay on top of application requirements, deadlines, and more.
To make a copy of the Google Sheets version, click the image below!
To make a copy of the Google Docs version, click the image below!
Applying for scholarships? Stay on top of every deadline and requirement with our free Scholarship Application Requirements Tracker. Use it to stay organized and increase your chances of winning free money for college!
Once you’ve built your college list, your next step is to begin the process of applying. We share tips to help you decide where to apply to college!
Categorize your schools
Start by organizing your college list into three categories: Reach, Match, and Solid schools.
Reach schools are the ones you dream of going to, but are a bit more competitive to get into due to things like small acceptance rates, minimum GPAs or test scores, or even high costs of tuition.
Match schools are schools you feel confident about getting accepted to, even if they’re not necessarily at the very top of your list.
Solid schools are schools you have a strong chance of getting admitted to. Your test scores, GPA, or coursework typically match those of other incoming students at these schools.
These categories will be different for everyone. You can find out which of your listed schools are a fit by comparing the data colleges publish on their average admitted student GPA and ACT/SAT test scores and comparing them with your own.
Plan your in-person or virtual visits
Visiting a college can help you decide whether to apply. It can give you a better feel for its academics, student life, and things going on around campus. While in-person visits are great, traveling to every college campus on your list might not be possible. However, there are ways to explore a college virtually!
To stay organized during your college visits, use our College Tour Note Sheet. You can jot down notes, questions, or decisions about where you plan to apply. Just click the button below to get started!
Most colleges have thriving online communities on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. These groups, made up of current students and alumni, are welcoming spaces that students interested in attending a certain college can join to get real, experienced-based answers to their most pressing questions.
Talk to your family
If you’re unsure about where to apply or what your college goals are, start a conversation with your family. Together, you can discuss your college plans, work through any hesitations members of your family are experiencing, and set expectations or agreements about changing family dynamics. Being on the same page as your loved ones can make choosing where to apply easier!
Talk to us!
We’re here to support you along every step of the way, from researching colleges to making your final decision! Do you have any questions about deciding where to apply to college? Connect with a Get Schooled Advisor.
Colleges review a variety of things when considering a student for admission. While materials like test scores and transcripts help schools understand your academic experience, they don’t tell the whole story of who you are! When completing your college applications, it’s important to include as much relevant supplemental information about your hobbies, interests, and experiences as possible to help schools get to know you beyond your academics. Here are some tips for standing out on your college applications!
Make your application essay personal and authentic
The key to writing a strong college application essay is to be specific, reflective, and transparent about the experiences and events that have shaped you into the unique person you are. Don’t worry about what you think schools might want to hear, but rather, what you want them to know. Maybe you’re passionate about social justice, are a dedicated athlete, or have a side hustle that’s taught you about entrepreneurship. These things make you unique, and colleges love hearing about them!
Some questions that can guide you as you write your essay:
Does it reflect on my experiences and identity?
Does it share information about me that my test scores or transcripts can’t?
By keeping these questions at the front of your mind when you start writing your essay, you’ll be set up for success. We know that writing a college essay for the first time can be a bit intimidating, but we’re here to help you every step of the way! Send us as many drafts of your essay as you need for free review – we’ll have them back to you within a week with feedback and suggestions. Click the button below to get started!
Include your experience in extracurricular activities
Grades are important, but they aren’t everything. Yes, a college wants to see that you have succeeded academically in high school and can handle a college-level course load. But they’re also interested in what you do outside of the classroom, too. Here are some relevant extracurriculars you can include on your college application to help schools get to know you better:
In addition to these extracurriculars, there are some other types of experiences that you can include on your college applications. Make sure you mention how long you have participated in these activities. If there is one you’ve done for a few years or multiple times make sure you highlight that. While these are less “traditional” than participation in a sport or club, they are just as important to include on your application! Each of the following activities can demonstrate valuable skills and qualities like time management, communication, leadership, creativity, teamwork, and more:
Taking care of your siblings
Helping your friends or classmates with homework
Translating documents for parents or family members
Helping take care of a sick relative
Helping out at a family business
Running errands for neighbors
Working on group projects
Civic engagement (going to a protest, social media organizing, fundraising)
Share your accolades and awards
A great way to demonstrate your passion for or commitment to these extracurriculars is by saving any relevant accolades related to them. Accolades are ways that you might have been honored or recognized for your work, like receiving an award, being made a captain on a sports team, or receiving a competitive scholarship or grant. Be sure to write about these awards and accolades in your application and include any supplemental materials with them, such as newspaper clippings, web articles, etc.
A great place to share these awards and accolades is on your resume! Don’t have a resume? Use one of our free templates to create one, and when you’re finished, send it to us for free review! We’ll have it back to you within a week with feedback. Click the button below to submit!
In 2023, the Supreme Court reversed affirmative action in college admissions. While this was a significant ruling, you may find yourself unsure of what it means for you and how it will affect your college applications. Here are some key things to know about how the Supreme Court affirmative action decision impacts students in 2025.
What is Affirmative Action?
Affirmative action was first introduced in 1961 through a Presidential Executive Order. Since then, it had been an important tool in higher education to help combat systemic racism. Affirmative action policies at colleges aimed to promote equal opportunities for underrepresented students by taking race into consideration during the admissions process. Not only did affirmative action programs create a pathway for more low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students to attend college, they also fostered diverse college campuses and learning environments.
The Supreme Court’s Decision
In June 2023, the Supreme Court overruled affirmative action, stating that colleges and universities can no longer use race as a specific basis for granting admission. This decision overturned long-standing policies on college campuses and raised concerns about the potential impact on underrepresented students in higher education.
How This Decision Impacts You In 2025
While the Supreme Court’s ruling limits the consideration of a student’s race during the admissions process, it’s important to note that colleges can still consider other aspects of your background and experiences. Factors such as being multilingual or a first-generation college student can still be valued by admissions committees. Additionally, you can still discuss the impact of race and racism on your life in your admissions essay. The Supreme Court’s decision does not prohibit universities from considering how race has influenced your life. In fact, universities encourage storytelling about your character and unique abilities, and how these aspects would contribute to their diverse communities.
Now more than ever, your college application essay matters. Your essay gives you a chance to reveal what your grades or test scores can’t—your lived experience, personality, passions, and the unique perspectives you can bring to a college campus. Writing a personal college essay that demonstrates growth and explores your hopes for the future can go a long way in today’s admissions landscape. It’s important to take time to thoughtfully draft your essay and receive feedback before submitting it.
Getting Accepted
Although this ruling is still relatively new, early data shows that some colleges have become slightly less diverse since 2023. While this is definitely discouraging, it is crucial to remember that you have unique qualities and accomplishments that go beyond your racial identity. The court’s decision does not diminish your worth or your academic or professional potential. You belong in college!We see you and are here to support you at every step of the way!
There’s a lot of information out there about applying and getting accepted into college. We’re here to help you make sense of it all and put together a strong and authentic college application! Click the button below to save our free Get Accepted Guide, a comprehensive guide to applying to college!
Download the Guide
Download the Get Accepted Guide and start applying! Our Advisors are here to support 💪🏾
Organization and preparation are key when navigating college applications. Click the image below to download our college planning checklist to stay organized during your junior and senior years!
