Don’t Miss Early Action Deadlines!
Use B2A’s Admissions Checklist to Prepare
Although the school year just started, most Early Action and Early Decision college application deadlines are less than 10 weeks away! With November 1st fast approaching, current seniors should spend time perusing the different portals they’ll need to apply—from the Common Application (which opened earlier this month) to other school-specific portals like MIT and the University of California.
In addition to filling out detailed academic and personal information, students will be required to write a Personal Statement and supplemental essays, showcase their achievements in the Activities & Experiences and Honors sections, and request recommendation letters from teachers and other community members with whom they have strong relationships.
Are you on track to meet early deadlines? Use the checklist below to find out!
Ready to submit? You should have the following prepared:
Completed portal
Academic resume (this is different than a job resume)
650-word Personal Statement/long essay
Supplemental essays for all schools (usually 15+ short answers)
Recommendations from at least 2 teachers and 2 extra recommenders in addition to your school counselor's report
Transcripts (including college transcripts for students with dual credit)
Standardized testing scores (SAT/ACT and AP/IB), including score reports if required
Optional Additional Information response(s)
Other required (or optional) supplemental materials such as an introductory video or an art, music, or research portfolio
The importance of short answer responses
While some top colleges are no longer requiring supplemental essays, many of the most sought-after and selective schools still require additional materials. Even if a short answer essay is optional, B2A recommends taking the time to prepare a thoughtful response; these materials are valuable opportunities for students to more fully represent themselves to Admissions Officers and express clear goals that support their profile as well-prepared future college students.
For example, Baylor has three "recommended items:” a resume, two letters of recommendation, and a short essay. The prompt allows students to delve into three points of interest that represent their academic and personal aspirations that drive them to apply to Baylor.
What are you looking for in a university, why do you want to attend Baylor, and how do you see yourself contributing to the Baylor community?
Students can spend up to 450 words describing their goals for their college education, showing why they feel they are a good fit for Baylor, and offering ways their unique interests and experiences will be of value to Baylor’s campus community.
After submitting your applications, you will also typically need to:
Sign up for school-specific applicant portals
Fill out additional information in those portals
Track application timelines and any changes in anticipated response dates
Prepare any honors, scholarship, or special program applications that were not completed as part of the initial application
Continue focusing on extracurricular and academic progress throughout senior year to demonstrate growth for Regular Decision deadlines and in the event of a deferral
Pay attention to college applicant portals
One significant school portal requirement is Texas A&M’s Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS). STARS needs to be linked to the student’s individual A&M Applicant Information System (AIS) profile to be considered for admission. It’s a significant time commitment—A&M advises that “it can take between 2-6 hours to complete”—and failure to complete and link the STARS means your application will be unable to be processed by the admissions office.
This is just one example of why paying attention to additional or supplemental requirements, including those that follow the initial application stage, is crucial to a successful college application process. B2A’s experienced team of college admissions counselors helps students keep track of their deadlines, required materials, overall college lists and timelines, and more! A thorough and high-quality application will give students a better chance at a positive admissions decision than a lower-quality, rushed application that was submitted earlier than necessary or not given enough time to be well developed.
Timelines to keep in mind
Most Early Action and Early Decision deadlines are November 1, but some popular schools like UT Austin and UNC - Chapel Hill require Early Action applicants to submit by October 15. In addition, students will need to check for major- or department-specific requirements that mandate students applying for competitive majors like engineering, music, or theater apply by early deadlines. Similarly, many schools require students meet early deadlines in order to be considered for honors programs or specific scholarships and financial aid.
With seniors already returning for their final year of high school, they’ll need to complete everything discussed above in less than three months, all while juggling school and extracurricular responsibilities. Don’t wait! If you haven’t started working on your applications, now is the time! If you think you’re ready to submit, make sure to use our admissions checklist to ensure you have everything you need.
Want help preparing for upcoming Early Action, Early, Decision, and Rolling deadlines? Work with a dedicated B2A counselor in our all-inclusive Gateway Program or through hourly 1:1 College Admissions Sessions to make sure you’re ready to apply to your top-choice colleges!
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can support you in the college application process!
