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By JOAN TUPPONCE
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: October 14, 2007

Waiting until the last minute to apply for college isn’t an option in today’s competitive world. In fact, it’s wise to start the admission process in your sophomore or junior year of high school.

“Students can start thinking about the college process when they are moving from middle to high school,” said Delores Taylor, associate vice provost for enrollment services at Virginia Commonwealth University. “They can begin thinking about the classes they want to take and talking to guidance counselors about course selection and career interest.”

Knowing what type of academic requirements and prerequisites colleges require for admission is important, especially if you are interested in areas such as allied health sciences. Students applying to Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, for example, need a solid background in science and mathematics.

“We love to talk to juniors and encourage them to take all their sciences as early as possible,” said Judith McKeon, director of admissions at Jefferson College of Health Sciences. “If they have a year of biology and chemistry, a solid basis in algebra and all their English classes at the end of their junior year, they can apply to our school in September of their senior year.”

. . .

Know what you want. One of the most important steps in the admission process begins during the junior year of high school when students begin looking at specific colleges. Before beginning the search, students need to know what they are looking for in a college. Do they want a single sex or coed environment, for example? Do they favor an urban campus or a rural campus?

“It’s critically important that students ‘do their homework,’” said Dr. Michael Bitzer, dean of admissions for Catawba College in North Carolina. “What type of institution are they seeking? Large? Medium? Small? What are their educational goals? What type of academic program or programs are they considering?”

The answers to these types of questions will help guide students when they begin to research schools of interest.

“With today’s technology, searching for colleges is relatively easy,” observed Bitzer. “Search out a school’s Web site, request publications from them and e-mail faculty within the academic program that you’re interested in.”

Melinda Clark, vice president of enrollment management at King College in Bristol, Tenn., urges prospective students to think about the whole college experience, not just academics.

“You want to look at the co-curricular activities as well as academics,” she said. “If you are involved in the debate team in high school, you may want to look for a college that has a debate team, for example.”

. . .

Make a visit. After your research is complete, the next step is to visit college campuses.

“It’s not where you get in, it’s where you fit in,” said David Anthony, dean of admissions at Shenandoah University. “There’s a big difference between a school like Virginia Tech and a school like Shenandoah when it comes to class size. Think about what academic environment you do best in. Also, think about what motivates you.”

Plan to visit a campus during the school year when classes are in session.

“When students go on the college tour they have the opportunity to interact with students who are currently enrolled,” said Rosemary Lewis, vice president for student affairs at Saint Paul’s College. “The [prospective] students get to hear the current students’ perspective of what the college is really like.”

“At small schools arrange a campus tour during the week,” suggested Rusty Necessary, vice chancellor for enrollment management at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. “Most small schools provide a personal campus tour led by an admissions professional or by a student as well as an opportunity to sit in on a class. You’ll also have the opportunity for individual meetings with faculty, coaches and others on campus who will be important to you during your time at that school. Take full advantage of this resource. Don’t choose a campus without having first visited.”

When you visit the school, you should feel comfortable when you talk to faculty, staff and current students.

“Prospective students and their families should feel at home,” Bitzer said. “If they don’t, then that ‘gut’ feeling should be an indicator.”

. . .

How to apply. After you have visited several campuses, begin to narrow down your choices to four or five schools.

“The number of schools you apply to is a personal decision,” said Karen Wigginton, vice president for college relations at Bridgewater College. “But, you should always have a second choice in mind.”

The time of year that you submit a college application depends on the school. Many schools have a rolling admission process where applications are accepted and reviewed throughout the school year.

“Our rolling admissions process begins in September,” McKeon says. “Students’ readiness at that time can assure them of a spot in an otherwise competitive program.”

Often colleges will have early-decision admissions.

“The deadline is around November and the school will normally make decisions in December,” said Anthony. “Every college has their own deadlines. With rolling admissions, once we get a completed application, we make a decision as soon as we can.”

Application requirements vary from school to school.

“The typical application process will require an application, application fee or SAT/ACT waiver, high school transcripts and transcripts for any dual enrollment credit you might have earned,” said Necessary.

. . .

Personal statement or audition. Some colleges may require a personal statement or may ask you to come in for an interview.

“A personal statement gives the school an idea of what the student is looking for,” said Tony England, dean of admissions at Virginia Intermont College.

Depending on your major, you may have to submit a portfolio with the application.

“If you’re going to a performing arts school, you may have to schedule an audition,” Taylor said.

Not every school requires an essay but essays do offer the faculty and admissions committee a chance to learn more about the applicant.

“Some of the things our faculty admissions committee members look for in an essay include questions such as, ‘Does the student feel that he/she will be a good ‘fit’ for the school and why?’ ” said Bitzer. “Also, [we look at] what other personal goals, attitudes and needs were included in the essay.”

When including an essay with the application, make sure to use correct spelling and grammar.

“Have a high school teacher read over your essay and catch mistakes and unclear passages,” Bitzer said. “It says a lot about the applicant if they don’t take the time to proofread their essay.”

Before you send in your application, make sure you know and include all that is required.

“You also want to make sure that everything is submitted by the deadline,” Taylor said. “This all requires a lot of planning.”

“When sending in your application, it’s important to have a check sheet to make sure you have all the paperwork you need,” said St. Paul’s Lewis.

What’s the most important thing to remember when you’re applying to schools?

“Admissions officers read large numbers of applications,” Necessary said. “Think of ways to make sure yours is a memorable one.”

. . .

Accepted, now what? Once you start receiving letters of acceptance, you’ll want to take the next step comparing financial aid packages.

“Students have to leave their options open,” said Anthony. “Eighty to 90 percent of the student body at private universities is receiving some type of financial aid.”

You want to be well prepared for the financial-aid process.

“There’s a myth that financial aid pays for everything, and it does not,” Anthony said. “Parents have to take more responsibility to find out what their out-of-pocket expense will be.”

All schools charge different tuition fees and give away different amounts of financial aid.

“You want to compare the bottom line,” Clark said.

Clark explains that a school charging $50,000, for example, may have a financial package for $30,000 while a school charging $10,000 may have a $5,000 package. The lower price school in this example would be the better financial aid choice because it offers better bottom line savings.

“You have to look at your out-of-pocket costs and assess the value of the institution,” Clark said.

When it comes to peer or family pressure during the process of choosing a college, McKeon would like to see families and friends “back off.”

“It’s more important for students to position themselves to achieve a profession than it is to accomplish interim goals someone else has placed on them,” she said. “This experience gives them ownership.”

In the end, Wigginton said, “the student must decide where he or she will be happy and make the choice.”

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