What to know before applying to colleges

Written by Talia Bina

Almost everyone has a stressful and difficult college application process. From choosing a school to doing campus tours to writing essays, it’s hard to navigate around the process. When I went through the college application process, I ended up applying to 26 colleges, which is only half of what I originally had planned.

As a junior, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted out of college — a large green campus in Los Angeles with a good psychology program and many community service opportunities. But my vision was nowhere near where I ended up. Here are some things I wish I had known when I was applying.

1. “Reputation” doesn’t matter

The last thing I ever expected was to end up at one of the top party schools in the country. I was never a party person in high school and was always afraid that attending a college where partying was the “norm” would make me the odd one out. I was wrong.

The reputation a college has doesn’t define the school. At every college, there are people who party and don’t, people who like math or English, people who like sports or community service. There is no single category, and that’s what makes college unique. No one has to be placed in this perfect box.

Additionally, it’s important not to choose a college simply because of how you think others will view you. In my high school, many people were being accepted into Ivy League schools and colleges with high rankings. I often felt that if I didn’t choose a school with a higher standing, I would be seen as less than my peers. I was also afraid that if I didn’t choose a school in California, people would assume that I didn’t get accepted into any of the West Coast schools and they would pity me. The truth is, however, those things don’t matter. What matters most is that you choose a school that you believe is the right fit for you — somewhere where you will thrive and feel happy.

2. Take the tour

Some people say, “I saw the campus and knew it was the school for me.” I didn’t believe that was even possible, and yet that’s the exact feeling I had. Not everyone gets that “lightbulb” feeling, but seeing the campus of a college makes a big difference.

I applied to colleges before touring them and I wish I hadn’t. The schools that I thought I wanted to attend so badly actually navigated to the bottom of my list after touring. Doing campus tours helped me realize what I was actually looking for and what I actually wanted was more than just a California dream. Touring helps you get a feel of the community and area and it allows you to envision yourself there. Even though I’ve been to California dozens of times, it wasn’t until I was walking across those campuses that I realized I didn’t feel excited there. The opposite reaction occurred when I stepped foot in Delaware — I didn’t stop smiling from the second we got there until the second we left. I didn’t even realize what I really needed or wanted until it was right in front of me.

3. Don’t overestimate — or underestimate — yourself

I was always told to have “safety” schools and “reach” schools — schools that were around or below my average and schools that required grades higher than mine. I had always heard stories of people not getting into their number one choice or getting rejected for multiple colleges. I feared that. I worried that I wasn’t good enough and that every college would reject me. So I applied to way more safety schools than needed, a few reach schools and simply not enough “just right” schools that I was excited about.

When I got my acceptance letters, I found myself stuck in that I didn’t feel happy about any of the schools I got into. I wish I had been more realistic — not only is it important to be realistic about getting into a “dream” school that requires perfect grades, but it’s also important to recognize your efforts and success and believe that you can get into schools within your range. You don’t always have to feel like you’re simply “settling” — there are so many schools out there and it’s guaranteed that there’s one out there for you.

4. Embrace those supplement essays!

I know many people, including myself, who avoided certain schools because of those school-specific essays known as supplement essays. Writing a college essay is stressful enough and the supplemental essays only add to the stress. Some colleges leave these as optional, but I suggest taking advantage of them. Aside from one’s college essay, many individuals are defined simply by numbers — their GPA, SAT scores and AP scores. Supplement essays give individuals a chance to be simply human. It allows one to provide context and background into their life and bring a sense of uniqueness that helps them stand out. The information written doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, it just needs to show schools a further glimpse into who you are as a person.

Header photo by Charlotte May via Pexels.

This article was originally published on Parachute Media