The Hidden Key to College Admissions Success: Staying Organized

Better organization skills can benefit almost anyone in any stage or area of their life.

When some people hear the word organization their first thought is about home organization and a big box store specializing in ridiculously overpriced closet-systems. There are others who seem to find happiness in staying organized; these are the folks who are constantly making lists and crossing things off of them.

For students, developing organizational skills is inherent to achieving academic success whether as a high school freshman studying for final exams for the first time, or a junior taking the first steps in the college admissions process. Applying to college can be particularly overwhelming due to the numerous requirements and deadlines. This process takes place simultaneously with taking AP Exams and working to maintain your GPA among feelings of “senioritis.”

• School Selection & Visits
• Taking the ACT or SAT
• Selecting Potential Majors/Areas of Study
• Writing College Admissions Essays
• Requesting Letters of Recommendation
• Requesting ACT/ SAT scores be sent to Colleges
• Requesting Transcripts be sent to Colleges
• Composing a CV or Activities List
• Applying for Financial Aid & Scholarships
• Accepting Admissions offers & sending deposits

This can be a daunting and confusing process. Remaining organized is imperative in order to successfully complete and submit college applications in a timely manner.

TIMELINE & MASTER TO DO LIST

First, create a timeline detailing when you will tackle each task on your list. Breaking the application process into chunks like this makes the whole process more manageable and less stressful.

• Spring of Junior Year
• Summer of Junior Year
• Fall of Senior Year
• Spring of Senior Year

Utilize a task management app such as Google Tasks or ToDoist to track your progress.

COLLEGE LIST

Which schools will you be applying to?

Are they on the Common Application? Finding this out is necessary, as it will save you from unnecessary work, the Common App is a central application from which you can apply to multiple schools. You write a single essay and upload all application materials once for schools which participate in the Common App.

For schools not on the Common App, you will need to visit their Admissions website and read their specific Requirements.

TECHNOLOGY

We are in the technology age, be sure to use tools to help keep you on track!

Create a separate email, solely for College correspondence. This way, important reminders will not get lost amongst the daily advertisements and junk mail that clutters our inboxes. Separating your personal email from your professional email will ensure you do not miss any important messages!

Set appointments in Google Calendar reminding you well in advance of deadlines for applications and scholarships.  For extra accountability, share your calendar with a parent or mentor to help you remain on track.

Create School Specific folders on your computer’s desktop or in an an online platform like Google Docs or Box,  to separate essays and other information unique to each application.

CHECKLIST

Breakdown your Master To Do List by school, compose a Spreadsheet like the following:

Be sure to check off items as you complete them, you can also use a service like Naviance, an online platform with the capability of tracking all elements of the College Admissions process. You can usually obtain an account through your school’s College Counselor. These are some tips to get you started, Good Luck!

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa is a PhD student in History at the University of Illinois-Chicago and a Managing Tutor with MyGuru. She has helped many students navigate the college admissions process and write more compelling personal statements and application essays.