Applying to colleges can be a stressful and intimidating process especially during a pandemic. Some people find they work best with lots of options and might apply to as many as 20 different colleges. I applied to five colleges my senior year of high school and was over the moon when I got accepted into Lehigh! These are some tips I used when applying for colleges as well as some additional guidance on how to navigate the college admissions process virtually.
- Speak with your guidance counselor.
This might seem like the most obvious tip but it will get you a good start. A guidance counselor can help you put together a running list of colleges and universities based on your test scores, GPA, extracurricular activities, course of study and region in which you want to be. If your high school guidance counselor is not readily available, then get started with the list on your own.
- Look for college and universities that will help position you for your future career.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the best, most famous, most popular etc. schools, but take a step back and find out which colleges and universities will provide the course of study that’s best for the career you might want to pursue. Even if you’re not sure what you want to study, which is perfectly normal, make a list of schools that cater to all types of majors. If you know what you want to major in, make a list of schools that put a certain amount of focus on that particular major.
- Visit schools.
Visiting schools can help you narrow down where you can see yourself attending college. Some visits will stand out and make a great impression on you, while other visits might help you decide you no longer want to apply to that school. This option is clearly a bit limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, but many colleges, including Lehigh, are offering virtual tours where prospective students can tour campus from the safety of their homes. Neil Gongo, senior associate director in the Office of Admissions, points out that Lehigh offers live virtual tours, where student guides will talk you through the tour and additionally answer any questions you might have as you “walk” through campus. He says the Lehigh campus is also open for prospective students to walk around and tour on their own.
- Pick reach, target and safety schools.
It’s important to push yourself to apply to schools you might have to “reach” for, but also apply to schools that are well within range. A “target” is a school that typically accepts students with your test scores, grades, extracurriculars etc. A “safety” is a school where you likely fit above the curve. You can likely rely on these schools if you don’t hit your “target” or “reach.” Pick a handful of schools in each of these categories to look at and slowly narrow down your list as the college application season approaches.
- Foster meaningful relationships with your teachers.
This might not be as obvious a task as you make your way through high school, but when it comes time to apply to colleges, you will need letters of recommendation. Early on, make a mental note of some of your favorite teachers and think about whether they could be good resources in your application process. If you’re applying to an engineering school, think about you math and science teachers. If you’re applying to business school, talk to your economics teacher. If you’re applying to a school that focuses on writing and journalism, talk to your English teacher or communicate with your school newspaper. They’ll probably have some good advice in addition to helping you with a recommendation.
- Spread out your work.
As a high school senior, you might already have a lot on your plate in addition to filling out college applications. When it comes time to start your actual applications, try to manage your time. Spend a little bit each week working on your resume, essays and any other supplements you’ll add to your application. Believe it or not, you won’t be able to leave all of your applications until the night before to fill out, so save yourself some stress.
- Attend a Zoom seminar.
Lehigh admissions staff will typically visit high schools from which they receive frequent applicants or that are recommended to them by alumni, Gongo says. So you might want to keep an eye out for Lehigh as well as other universities that might offer Zoom sessions where you can ask questions and hear directly from college staff. Lehigh is also currently running a virtual lobby, where students can drop in to a Zoom room and speak with current staff and students who are ready to help.
- Find a counselor from a university.
Most colleges have a contact page where you can type in your state and or county and you’ll be connected with a counselor. With this feature, if you are looking for something in particular from Lehigh, you can ask someone directly from the Lehigh community. “It’s important to try to find those opportunities to connect in the virtual space,” says Gongo. “And sometimes that's going to take a little extra initiative on the student end, to reach out and email that counselor or sign up for that panel or that tour or virtual event.”