Senior year can be busy! Stay ahead of the game, and have a goal of submitting your four-year college applications no later than October 31st. 

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For the most accurate information about application availability, essays, test score deadlines and notification dates for Florida's 12 public universities, contact the schools directly, click here or check out the Quick Links on Naviance.

Parents: Are You Putting Too Much Pressure on Your Child During the College Admission Process? 
Take this quiz to make sure your child isn't exhibiting any red flags!

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GREAT RESOURCE!
Please check out this AMAZING "Guide to College," from the Stars College Network of colleges and universities!

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HOW TO APPLY TO COLLEGE

After you've come up with a great list of college prospects, you are ready to apply! List every school you plan to apply to under your "College Planning" in Xello. This will help your School Counselor and BRACE Advisor help you. From this one location, you will be able to access college applications, request transcripts and letters of recommendation!

 

As a high school senior, you will complete the Undergraduate Application for Admissions, and apply as a "freshman, first time in college" or "FTC". Even if you earned credit through Dual Enrollment or Early Admission, you will still be considered a "freshman, first time in college."

WHEN TO APPLY TO COLLEGE - Start Summer before Senior Year... ASAP!
You are considered a senior the day you finish your junior year! Once you are a senior, you should apply to college as soon as you can! Many colleges and universities post their applications online in the summer! Some schools even host on-site admissions events in our community where students can get an admissions decision on the same day! This is especially true with our public universities in Florida! Since college apps can be completed in parts and pieces, you can complete the online portion of the application and write your essays whenever it becomes available! Then, when you return to school in the fall, request your transcripts, ask your BRACE Advisor for an application fee waiver (if you're eligible) and continue to retake the SAT/ACT to improve your test scores. 

 

(from bigfuture)
College Applications: How to Begin

Applying to college is a big job, but you can make it easier by breaking it down into a series of small steps.

 

1. Get Informed

Colleges want to know the real you. When you apply to colleges, you don’t have to try to make yourself look better by listing the kinds of accomplishments or writing the kind of essay you think they want to see. If you’re honest about who you are and what you’ve done, you’re more likely to end up at a college that’s a good fit for you.

 

What else can you learn before you get going?
2. Talk to People

Tell your family, your school counselor, your teachers and anyone else you’re close to that you’re applying to colleges. Talking about what you want for the future — and the ways college will help you get there — is a great warm-up for college applications.

Colleges want to know the real you.
 

3. Brainstorm

Most applications ask you to describe what you’ve done in and out of the classroom. Start thinking about your activities, honors and awards, and make a list of those that mean the most to you. You can also write down some notes on your favorite classes and the reasons you like them.
 

4. Get Organized

If you can keep track of everything you need, you’ll be ahead of the game. For each college you’re applying to:

• Create a real and a virtual folder for storing documents.

• Print a checklist to track your progress on each part of the application.

5. Gather these numbers and resources:

• Your Social Security number

• Nova's high school code is #100496

• A copy of your high school transcript (from Ms. Benjamin) - request yours through Xello!!

• Your official SAT/CLT/ACT college admissions test score reports sent directly from the testing agency to the colleges and universities, if required or optional, unless the college/university allows you to self-report your test scores. Click here for a list of these schools.

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6. Your Essay:
Check out these resources for writing a great college essay or personal statement:
From Johns Hopkins: https://youtu.be/-EzUbSpDM_Y
Essays that Worked

Now you’re informed, inspired, organized and ready to begin. For more details on the college admission process, visit

Applying to College: FAQs.