When You Should Start Looking for a College and When To Apply

Many students get their hearts set on a specific college early—some as early as elementary school. However, this kind of idealism is not always realistic. So, when should students start looking for a college? College counselors agree that it is a good idea to start thinking about potential schools as early as junior high. At this stage, you can let your mind run wild because you still have time to explore your options. Taking trips to a variety of schools in different locations can be helpful when looking for a college. Start to look at what geographic areas may be a good fit for you. Consider the school's distance from home, the community feel, and what activities and opportunities the school offers.

Once you reach high school, it is time to get more serious. You will need to take a look at what it takes to gain college admission into the schools you are interested in. Your GPA, extracurricular activities, and even the classes you take will need to meet the requirements of various colleges. College applications these days are no joke and you will want to be sure you can check all of the boxes. 

This can be a lot to take in. Luckily, there are services to help you through this process. Empowerly offers Best Match College Counseling. With this service, you will be matched with a qualified college admissions counselor who will help guide you through academic planning and much-needed extracurriculars. They can also help you to create a college list that can help you to figure out where and when to apply to college.

As your list of hopeful college admissions builds, you may be curious what your chances are of actually getting in. You can take the Empowerly Quiz to find out your current level of college readiness. The Quiz offers a helpful forecast for your application odds. If you want more detailed information, you can also get an Empowerly Score through the Empowerly Portal. Your Empowerly Score will show you your college application areas of strength as well as areas in which you can improve. This score will also assess your competitiveness in gaining college admission to top US schools.

Even if you aren’t yet ready to begin applying for college, the Empowerly Quiz and Empowerly Score can help you to assess your current standing. This information can help you create a plan for success later when it is time to begin applying to colleges. 

Most students apply for college admission in the summer or fall of their senior year of high school to attend college the following fall. The college applications portal for each school may vary. For instance, some schools such as the University of California schools have a timeline that begins on August 1st and ends on November 30th. Due to these little differences, you will want to allow yourself plenty of time to gather all of the needed information. If you struggle to get things organized, Empowely also offers a variety of different workshops and webinars through their partnership program. Empowerly collaborates with educational institutions and community organizations to help provide support and resources to students and families preparing for the college admission season. 

Factors such as when to apply for college and the entire college application process can be unsettling if you don’t know how to proceed. It can be hard to create a plan and be sure you meet all of the requirements without extra help. While high school guidance counselors are helpful, they are often well overloaded with the number of students they handle. It can be easy to slip through the cracks and miss important deadlines.

If you are ready to take control of your future and ease your mind when it comes to applying to colleges, contact Empowerly for a consultation. The free 30-minute conversation will allow you to discuss goals, interests, and your academic future. If you’re entering junior high, the time to start looking for a college is now.