The Next Few Weeks

Many members of the Class of 2013 filed their first college applications over the past weeks. Now that the early deadlines for The University of Michigan and Michigan State University have passed, seniors will want to focus on these next three college-related activities:

Seniors—Complete any application to a rolling admission college.  With the exception of U-M and Kalamazoo College, all colleges in Michigan review college applications as soon as they’re received.  Known as “rolling admissions”, this review usually means students will receive an admissions decision within 4-6 weeks after their application is complete—but it also means that students who apply early in the school year stand a better chance of admission that students who wait.  If a rolling admissions school is on your list, now is the time to complete that application and submit it—and don’t forget to send official test scores from ACT and/or College Board. If you don’t know if a college is rolling admissions, check the college’s web site.

Complete any Early Action or Early Decision applications.  Other colleges offer students the chance to get faster admissions responses through Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) applications.  These applications have early deadlines—some as soon as November 1—so students will want to make sure to complete those applications with plenty of time to spare.  If you have any application with a deadline of November 1 or November 15, you have to submit your transcript request to College Counseling no later than October 8.  Students should also remember that Early Decision programs require an early commitment from the student; if you are admitted to a college as an Early Decision applicant, you must attend that college next fall.

Don’t forget the big four.  Any time you apply to a college, make sure you take these four steps: