You’ve written your essays, answered the Common App questions, and paid the application fee. Now the difficult part of the process – waiting! And while the busy part of the application process is behind you, there are some things you can do in the meantime.
· Celebrate the accomplishment! Submitting your applications (regardless of the outcomes) is a big deal! You should take some time to celebrate this achievement before doing anything else!
· Check in with the colleges you’ve applied to and make sure they have what they need from you. Odds are that if they were missing something from you, they would let you know, but it never hurts to check-in with your college admissions offices to make sure you’ve submitted all necessary materials.
· Apply for financial aid. Have you filled out the FAFSA yet? If not, do that now. Additionally, make sure to see if any of your colleges require the CSS Profile and submit it in addition to the FAFSA.
· Begin looking for potential scholarships you might be eligible for. If you look on the internet for scholarships, you will be inundated with endless options. It’s overwhelming. I strongly recommend students start this part of the process by talking with their high school counselor. Most counselors will have a list of local scholarships that are typically more relevant to students at your high school.
· Thank your teacher recommendation providers. If you haven’t done so yet, make sure to send a thank you note to the teachers who took the time to write recommendations for you.
· Keep up your high school grades! Remember, most colleges will want to see at least your first semester senior year grades. Don’t let them slip!