Applying for College

Once you have some ideas of what you want to study and where you want to go, it’s time to start applying to colleges. Most students will apply to more than one school. This is a good way to weigh your options and see who will offer you the best deal. It’s a good idea to apply to at least two schools: your dream school and a reasonable back-up school. 

College Admission Process

Contact the Admissions Office at each school where you are interested in applying. Almost every school has different requirements for admissions. This is important to remember! Find out what forms are needed, how much the admissions fee is and when the deadlines are.
Generally, most students apply to college in the spring before the fall semester they plan to attend. Some colleges, however, offer early or other admission plans. Early admission can come with the stipulation that if you are accepted, you must agree not to apply to other schools. It's a limitation you should consider carefully, especially if you aren't sure about whether you really want to attend a particular school and if you need more information before making a decision.

The Application

You probably will need to complete and submit a different application for each school you are considering. Most college admissions applications will ask you for the following types of information:

• Personal data
• Family information
• Educational experience
• Test scores
• Academic experience
• Awards and honors
• Extracurricular activities (including school, religious, civic, and volunteer)
• Work experience
• High school transcript
• Personal essay
• Recommendations from teachers, coaches, counselors or employers

You will also need to complete separate applications for housing if you plan to live on campus and financial aid if you will need help paying for school costs. 

Some Tips

How thoroughly and accurately you complete the application can determine whether you are accepted or declined for admission. Follow these tips to make sure you leave a good first impression.

• Note any deadlines, and give yourself plenty of time to meet them.
• Follow directions.
• Read through the application before you start writing answers down.
• Answer ALL questions. Don't leave anything blank.
• Be neat. Type or print your answers. Presentation is important.
• Make a copy, in case it gets misplaced. You also may be able to reuse answers on other applications.
• Sign it.
• Include a check for the processing fee, if required.
• Put effort into your personal essay:
  • Practice writing the essay before putting the final version on the application.
  • Be yourself. Highlight your strengths, passions, creativity and successes.
  • Don't exaggerate your achievements or abilities.
  • Fine tune your essay. Don't ramble. Provide specific examples.
  • Proofread. Better yet, ask someone else to review your draft essay.

Transferring Schools

Many students attend at least two institutions at some point in their college career. The ease of the transfer process depends largely on you. A little research and planning will save you time, money and headaches in the long run.

If you know ahead of time that you will be starting your college career at one school and finishing at another, following these suggestions can help ensure a smooth transition:

• Get professional advice. Before you register for any classes, set up an appointment with an academic advisor to review your education plans.
• Make sure your credits will transfer. Consult the admissions staff at both the first and second school you plan to attend to find out which credits will transfer.
• Research articulation agreements. Articulation agreements are contracts between two or more colleges that make transferring to a particular campus even easier. Most private and public colleges offer some articulation agreements. Contact the Admission Offices at the schools you plan to attend to find out more. For information on agreements between North Dakota public institutions, visit North Dakota University System (NDUS).

When you are ready to transfer you will need to complete these steps to get started on the right track at the new school.

• Admissions - Complete the application for admission to the school of your choice and pay the required fee. There may be a general deadline to apply for admission, as well as application deadlines for specific programs. Also find out and complete additional requirements, such as providing ACT or SAT scores.
• Provide high school transcripts - Some campuses waive this requirement if you have completed enough prior college credits.
• College transcripts - Request official transcripts from all colleges you have attended and have them sent directly to your new school. Visit your campus registrar and complete the proper form or download the request from the school Web site. Keep in mind that transcripts will not be sent if you owe a balance to the school.
• Financial aid - Your financial aid will NOT transfer automatically. Talk to a financial aid adviser at the institution you plan to attend to find out how to secure funding. Remember to ask about scholarships. You will need to add the school to which you are transferring to your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can do this by calling (800) 4-FED-AID or visit www.fafsa.ed.gov.