A Month into the Fall 2022 Application Kickoff

and our high school seniors are well on their way to finalizing our Common App essays and school lists. We hope you are too!

Aug 1st is the day when the college application season officially kicks off. Deadlines start appearing around Nov 1st and go on till the mid of January 2022, depending on the program and institute. While a couple of months might seem like more than enough time to wrap things up from start to finish, high school seniors simply have too much on their plates to comfortably take a deep dive into figuring out what kind of setting, atmosphere, and campus ethos would best help them thrive in the near future. Corners get cut, options get ruled out without consideration, which is a shame and a disservice to the student at such a crucial time.

Our philosophy is that the program and course you choose should fundamentally suit you. Few things shape a person quite like higher education, and with the thousands of options available, it seems only logical and wise to maximize the positive impact by setting yourself up for success with a bit of planning and reflection.

As we take stock around this monthly check-in, we thought we would go over the options a student has for postsecondary education in America – the broad options, the step one. Some people aren’t even aware of the different paths they can take at this stage, while others stick with what is traditional or the go-to option around them. For those looking to apply for Fall 2022 (but haven’t started working on it) – DON’T WASTE ANY MORE TIME! If you’re already on your way, use the list below to double check that you’ve truly covered all your bases.

Options for Post-Secondary Education in the USA

Public 4-year colleges

These are usually the popular, flagship colleges for every state (think: University of California, University of Texas, University of Kansas). These are funded by the government and tend to be large. They have a strong local resident population on account of the in-state tuition being lower than what an out-of-state or international student would pay. With hundreds of students in general education classes, and usually tens of thousands of students on campus, there are enough students with whom you can share campus traditions and pride.

Private 4-year colleges – From the most popular Ivy League schools (think: Harvard, Princeton, Yale) to lesser-known liberal arts colleges (think: Lewis & Clark College, Reed College, Syracuse University), these are the choice for those who want smaller classes and direct interactions with their professors from day 1. These are privately funded through donations, endowments, and tuition. They tend to have students from all over the country, as compared to public universities.

Community Colleges – If you aren’t sure if a 4-year college is for you, consider Community College (Think: De Anza College, Kingsborough Community College). Depending on where you are, you might want to take advantage of your state’s Free Community College Promise (California, for example). At these 2-year institutions, you can earn an associate degree from the community college or start on your 4 year degree before your transfer to a larger college to complete your final two years. It can be an extremely beneficial and valuable resource.

Apprenticeships/Trade school – You may be a student for whom college is not an option at all, either by choice or circumstance. Trade schools prepare students for specific careers that involve manual, mechanical, or technical skill. For those who are looking into specific careers (like dental hygienist, wind turbine technician, licensed nurse or electrician), trade or vocational schools are excellent options that offer stability, fulfilment, and the advantage of a shorter timeline.

Gap Year – Last but not the least, is the choice to take a year off. A gap year gives you time to explore, mature, and gain perspective from real-world experiences. We CANNOT stress this enough – a gap year cannot be spent lazing around the house if you plan to go to college the year after. Students undertaking a gap year might, for example, take advanced courses in mathematics or language studies, learn a trade, study art, volunteer, travel, take internships, play sports, or participate in cultural exchanges.

No matter where you are applying from – within the US or from another country, these US college options are for all students.

As a junior in high school, you ought to get familiar with the colleges around you and their offerings. It is vital to have an understanding of the various parts of the college application. College Board’s Anatomy of the College Applications does a great job of giving their overview, and is definitely worth checking out.

If you are a senior this year, you have taken the classes and engaged in those extracurriculars you are passionate about. It is now well past time to get started with the application process. Depending on the colleges you are applying to, here are some of the portals you will use for the process. Some colleges may be on multiple portals, so pick what works best for you.

Common App

Coalition App

University of California application

Apply Texas application

Stress, anxiety, the general tendency to procrastinate – we’ve been there. Our students have been there. Our kids are there right now! No matter which colleges you are applying to, or which portals you are using, the important thing is to get going if you haven’t already, and surge ahead armed with complete information Remember, the college does choose you but FIRST, YOU choose the college.

From all of us here at College Nova, GOOD LUCK, and watch this space for more info on the applications and admissions process.