We’re in the midst of Early Action and Early Decision deadlines, and I’m so excited for students who have been sending out their first applications and even getting admission offers! As you put the finishing touches on your applications, aim to submit them at least a few days before any deadline you might have, just in case there is a last minute question that needs to be answered or glitch that needs to be resolved. Some colleges also require the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR), which means you’ll have to create an account and fill out all of your classes and grades during your high school experience. You can see the list of schools here. This is not hard to do but it is time-consuming, so be sure to plan ahead to ensure you complete it by the deadline.

Once you hit submit, you can expect an acknowledgment of your application from the college along with instructions to access its applicant portal. Keep track of this information! You’ll need to check to make sure your application is complete with all components, including transcripts, recommendations, and test scores (if you’re sending them.)  If something appears to be missing, don’t panic, especially if you believe the item has been sent. It often takes a few days for documents to be logged in. Contact the school and ask how long you should expect it to take before everything shows as complete. Also, if you plan to submit test scores to some or all of your colleges, pay attention to whether they allow you to self-report scores or require the official score report from the College Board or ACT.  Keep in mind that some schools will accept official test scores after the application deadline, while others will not consider your application complete until they arrive. Make note of the deadline and consider the amount of time it will take for scores to arrive once they’ve been ordered from the testing company.

FAFSA beta testing is underway in preparation for the form’s release on December 1, and generally students are waiting to get access and begin their financial aid applications. However, if any of your schools also require the CSS Profile, that form is available and I recommend you work on it now. Colleges have different deadlines for financial aid forms, and some have priority application deadlines to be eligible for merit aid, so check each school’s web site and be sure to meet their requirements to have the best chance at getting financial support.

Finally, October is Gap Year Exploration Month, so if you are considering a gap year, check out these resources from the Gap Year Association.  There are even scholarships for gappers! Claster Educational Services also has expert gap year advisors, so please get in touch if we can be helpful!