The college application process may be stressful for some for it is full of potential roadblocks and landmines.
Every application has multiple sections, various deadlines and a host of specific requirements that need careful attention. To add to that, most students aren’t just filling out one application for one school, but several different ones. It is important that all the steps are completed in a timely and professional manner. Deadlines is one of the most common areas where applicants make mistakes.
Meeting deadlines is the most important part of the application process. You could work on your application for months, perfecting your essays and getting great letters of recommendation. It might be the best application they have ever seen, but if submitted late it probably won’t even get looked at. No matter what, make sure you meet all the necessary deadlines.
Remember, your application won’t have just one deadline. There are a number of moving parts in the process and it is important that students keep track of this, especially if you are applying to multiple schools. In addition to the overall application deadline, some important dates to look out for include Early Action or Early Decision deadlines, scholarship deadlines and financial aid, which can include state, federal and aid directly from the institution you’re attending.
In some cases, college admissions will still accept applications after the deadline as long as they still have available spots for the incoming class. But even so, you will still most likely be missing the deadlines for financial aid, scholarships, students housing and others.