{"id":14881,"date":"2022-12-28T00:44:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-28T05:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diplomaframe.com\/chc-blog\/?p=14881"},"modified":"2025-06-13T10:21:51","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T15:21:51","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-applying-to-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diplomaframe.com\/chc-blog\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-applying-to-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need to Know About Applying to College"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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You\u2019ve earned (or are about to earn) your secondary school or high school diploma, but you have higher ambitions. You want to earn a bachelor’s degree. A college degree can give you more chances in the future, but you’re unsure how to begin the college application process. So if you\u2019re a high school student wondering \u201cwhat do I need to know about the college application process?\u201d you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>

How to Apply to College<\/h2>

While you can apply to colleges directly, there are also college application platforms that can be used to apply to multiple colleges. The most popular of these is the Common Application, which is accepted by more than 900 colleges, including some outside the United States.<\/p>

Additionally, the Coalition Application is available. This is a newer platform accepted by more than 150 schools. Another venue is the Common Black College Application, which is accepted by more than 60 historically Black colleges and universities.<\/p>

The application will include many steps, such as writing an essay and obtaining letters of recommendation. Even when using a college application platform, some colleges may require additional forms.<\/p>

When to Start Applying for College<\/h2>

Most students begin applying for college during the summer between their junior and senior years of high school. A lot of work that should be done during your junior year to prepare for the Common App, however, should be discussed. This includes taking the College Board’s SAT, working on your college essay, researching and visiting campuses, getting recommendation letters, and adding to your extracurriculars.<\/p>

In fact, most guidance counselors will advise that taking the SAT or ACT three times between your junior and senior years is the ideal number. This will give you the advantage of upping your SAT or ACT scores and increasing the chance you receive an acceptance letter from the college of your dreams. And, of course, ensuring your class grades and test scores are stellar is key. Official transcripts from high school are mandatory, so a great GPA will increase your acceptance rates.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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How Many Colleges Should You Apply to?<\/h2>

The number of schools to submit your application to varies, but most students apply to 5 to 15 colleges, with 7 to 12 colleges being the average. What is more important than the actual number of colleges you apply to is that you include colleges with a wide range of acceptance difficulties.<\/p>

You should apply to:<\/p>