The ONLY College Application Checklist You'll Ever Need to Impress Colleges

If you plan on attending college after high school, you'll have to set some serious time aside to complete college applications. It can be a lengthy process if you don't know how to speed things up. Here's a really helpful college application checklist to guide you along the way:

College Application Checklist

1. Essay(s) - Get your USB storage drive ready. Several colleges offer multiple essay questions you can answer on your application. And often, the same essay question appears on applications for different colleges. As long as you write a high-quality essay (and I'm sure you will), it's fine to use the same essay on multiple applications. Just make sure it's edited to each specific institution's preference.

2. Index Cards - Index cards? Just bear with me... applications always want you to elaborate on community service, honors, achievements, leadership positions, extracurricular activities and any other relevant accolades. Use the index cards to keep record of all the things you want to share.

3. Transcript(s) - Your transcripts need to be sealed - you know... the little golden sticker that looks all official and whatnot? That's a seal. Be sure to request your official transcript well in time to meet Admissions' deadline. If you've taken collegiate courses while in high school, get a sealed transcript from that school also.

4. Letters of Recommendation - The recommendation letters are the most important part of the checklist. Try your hardest to collect five (5) letters from teachers, community leaders, mentors, employers, etc. Make copies of each individual letter. Be sure to check your prospective school's requirements for recommendation letters.

(Note: See below for further info about recommendation letters.)

Using the College Application Checklist to Impress

First impressions are everything! Your college application doesn't leave room to screw off. Anything - including your handwriting - is subject to scrutiny. So getting everything right is a pretty big deal.

With a simple checklist like this, it's easy to keep your applications nice and neat. Just fill in the blanks of the general application with your personal information and the pre-written answers on your index cards. Then attach transcripts and recommendation letters (SAT scores are handled online & are not a part of the physical college application package).

All of a sudden, the pen and its permanent ink don't seem so intimidating, do they?

Using the Checklist to Save Time

The last thing a prospective college student wants to do on nights and weekends is spend hours making sure application packages are perfect.

What the college application checklist does is streamline the process.

You may not notice, but the time you spend thinking about how to word your responses adds up quickly. Want a speedy fix? Fill out the index cards with your best answers - pageant style, if you will. That way, you can ride the momentum instead of stopping to edit your answers.

A Word about Letters of Recommendation

This checklist asks for five letters of recommendation. Why so many? Especially considering that the most any college ever asked me for was three letters.

Well, I have a few reasons...

- Making Impressions

Some people write better than others. A couple of your recommendation letters may be more interesting than the others. That leaves the ball in your court on deciding which first impression you want to have with admissions committees.

- Degree Programs

Suppose you have four letters from school administrators and one letter from an engineer you've shadowed. If you're applying as a Physics major, which letter would be most impressive? The more letters you have from different types of people, the better you can tailor your college application package for acceptance!

Pre written Essays
Essays Solution