It’s no secret that as juniors or seniors in high school, many students applying for college can get a little overwhelmed. In fact, it’s almost inevitable. Some of the questions you may be asking yourself: Where should I go? How am I going to pay for it? What should I even major in? But have no fear, this article is designed to put your mind at ease with just the basics – let me underwhelm you.

Picking a college

With so many colleges to choose from, this step can be one of the most stressful. It’s a big decision, so it’s best to be educated on the pros and cons of all your options, but that’s not realistic. In addition, each individual’s needs are different. However, below is a roadmap of sorts to find the best match for you.

Public or private college?

PUBLIC: Generally, state-funded public schools have lower price tags than private colleges and universities, however, they have less scholarship money to give away. Most financial aid for these schools is awarded via loans, grants and the FAFSA, which will be discussed later.

PRIVATE: These are the privately funded colleges and universities like Baylor or St. Edward’s that can have the scary price tags. However, unlike public colleges and universities, they have more money to give away. According to the experts, keeping private colleges in mind despite the price is a good idea during the college exploration stage. Financial aid is mainly awarded via the CSS Profile, a much more detailed version of the FAFSA that will also be discussed later.

In-state or out-of-state?

IN-STATE: In-state colleges are probably the best option for Texas students who graduated from a Texas high school. Not only are there more grants and scholarships for those who decide to attend in-state colleges, but the admissions process is much less scrutinizing and easier thanks to Apply Texas, the common application.

OUT-OF-STATE: Unfortunately, Texas students planning to attend public (and, in some cases, private) out-of-state college face much higher tuition rates and application fees. However, many good schools are located beyond our borders and federal student aid is still available.

Small or large student body?

SMALL: The theory is that small student bodies mean professors are able to give their students (you) the attention that they need to succeed. However, Malcolm Gladwell and countless others have argued that this is simply untrue. You can do the research if you like, but most students seem to find that the size of their college doesn’t matter.

LARGE: Most colleges aren’t insanely big, so the professors are able to handle many students via technology (after all, that is what they are trained to do). The size of a school certainly shouldn’t be high on your priorities list, unless you have an undecided major.

Community college or university?

Some students know that our school offers a dual-credit program at ACC to earn free college credit during your sophomore, junior and senior years. For more information about this, see transition coordinator Jayme Spexarth. Going to community college is useful in getting in credit hours, mainly for required core classes at a much more affordable price than most colleges and universities. Another way to do this is through AP exams. However, students who opt in for this amazing opportunity should make sure their credits will transfer to their target university and be wary about the transferring process. As a second option, students complete all credit hours and graduate from a community college. If you do decide to do this, you’re in good company: Walt Disney, former presidential candidate Henry Ross Perot, actor Clint Eastwood, director George Lucas, baseball player Nolan Ryan, and even astronaut Eileen Collins all attended community colleges. Don’t be fooled by the misconception that community colleges offer lesser-quality education. However, many opt for a university education due to the lifestyle that comes with it.

All women’s/men’s or coed?

Though it seems like this would be another black and white factor, choosing a one-gender school versus a coed school can affect your studies immensely. Some studies suggest that women are more successful in college in an all-female environment, and the same goes for men. Maybe same-gender schools are worth looking into. After all, everyone wants to be successful in college, right?

Extracurricular activities/athletics

Naturally, students want their campus to have sports, activities and clubs they love, such as football, NJROTC, or student council. When looking at prospective colleges, it’s important to make sure the college you are looking at has the particular activities you are interested in.

Majors:

Does your target college offer the degree you are seeking? Not only that, but is the program they offer a good one? If not, there’s no point in even applying. Most colleges have a list of all the degrees they offer on their website. Answering the second question is also easy enough if you’re willing to do a little research or talk to alumni.

Religious affiliations

If you feel you want to be in a school where the student body shares the same or similar beliefs as you, there are plenty of options for non-religious students or christians, catholics, muslims, etc. If this is important to you, go for it.

Acceptance rate:

Many students dream of going to an Ivy League school. That is, until they see the acceptance rate; Harvard has an acceptance rate of 5.9 percent, one of the lowest in the country, in case you’re wondering. While it’s great to push yourself to get into a prestigious, competitive college, it’s also beneficial to have good fits and fallback plans.

Cost of attendance:

For many, this is the biggest question when deciding where to go to college. No matter where you go, you’re bound to have some sort of debt, so the goal is to minimize that debt but still attend a quality college which offers all your must-haves. The best way to approach this, however, is to take your other preferences into account first, then eliminate based on finances (if necessary), because the FAFSA, scholarships, grants, and other financial aid will do wonders for you, should you choose to seize those opportunities.

The admissions process

Once you decide what college you want to go to, you have to apply. For Texas students, those in the top ten percent of their graduating class are guaranteed automatic admission to any Texas public school they choose, with the exception of UT. The rest of us mainly rely on individual review, a process that usually requires SAT or ACT scores, transcripts, class rank, letters of recommendation, a fee, and sometimes essays. The admissions process typically takes 4-6 weeks once you have submitted your application.

Deadlines:

Perhaps the most important part of the admissions process is making the deadlines. After a certain date specified on their website, colleges stop accepting applications for certain terms (with the exception of rolling admission). Remember that sending your transcripts, scores, etc. take time, so don’t wait until the last second to fill out applications. Even if your last piece of application is on its way, a college will not accept an incomplete application after a deadline. On the bright side, most colleges also offer early decision applicants, meaning the earlier you apply, the more likely you are to be accepted and the more likely you are to be considered for more scholarship money in most cases.

Class rank:

Many college representatives consider class rank one of the most important elements in deciding whether or not to admit someone. Colleges are looking for the most competitive and motivated students to attend their schools, which is reflected in your class rank. This year at Vista Ridge, however, you have the option to withhold your rank. This can be useful if you fall within the fourth quartile (as indicated on your transcript). However, students who fall in the first through third quartiles are recommended to show their rank. In fact (as mentioned before), Texas students in the top ten percent are guaranteed automatic admission into any Texas public school with the exception of UT’s Austin campus, who only accepts the top eight percent. If you don’t know your rank, you can locate it on your Naviance account, check your transcripts, or talk to a counselor.

SAT/ACT scores:

Most colleges accept both SAT and ACT scores for admission. The SAT test consists of reading, writing, and math sections, with a soon-to-be optional essay. The average national SAT score for the class of 2013, according to Collegeboard, is 1496 out of 1800 total. Many colleges require scores similar (just below, at, or above the average). However, many colleges don’t consider your writing score or the essay portion of your score. The ACT is much different than the SAT in two major ways: the essay is currently optional and includes a science section. The average ACT score for 2014, according to ACT.org, is 21 out of 36 total. Some students do better on the SAT than the ACT and vice versa, so it’s best to take both. If you find that you didn’t do well, you can take either test as many times as you like (though all scores will be available on score reports sent from either organization). If you still want help deciding which tests to take, click here. Also, keep in mind that both tests require a fee, but that fee may be cancelled with a waiver obtained from your counselor.

Transcripts:

The program Vista Ridge uses to send official transcripts is parchment.com, which is also useful for keeping track of which schools you are interested in and applying to. It even includes the likelihood of you being admitted to these colleges once you input your test scores, GPA, etc. The great thing about using a digital site (as opposed to mail) is that they don’t take near as much time to send. Keep in mind that Vista Ridge cannot instantaneously prepare and send your transcripts. This is one of the reasons why waiting until the last minute to apply to colleges is a terrible idea. The usual rate for sending transcripts is $3.50 per transcript.

Essays:

Some colleges require essays, some have optional essays, and some don’t have essays at all. If you choose to apply to a college that does require at least one essay, make it personal and interesting. This is your chance to sell yourself to a college. If you choose to apply to a college that has optional essay(s), do it. This shows that you aren’t lazy and that you are responsible, two valuable assets in the admissions process.

Extracurricular activities/community service:

In ApplyTexas and most other applications, there is a spot to include all this information. Don’t undersell yourself! This can make or break your college apps. After all, colleges want involved, responsible students to represent them.

Demonstrated interest:

Before you apply to a college, take the time to tour the campus, attend a college visit, and email the admissions representative if you can. The ideal candidate, in an admissions rep’s mind, is one who actually wants to attend the school they are applying to.

ApplyTexas:

ApplyTexas: your new best friend if you want to attend practically any public college in Texas. This is an online source that allows you to copy and paste your past applications to tweak and use as new ones, saving you lots of time. Registration is easy and free.

Application fee waivers:

If you qualified for waivers for the SAT or ACT, you probably qualify for most college application fee waivers. For specific requirements from the college(s) you have chosen, check their website(s).

How long does it take?

Most colleges take approximately 1-2 weeks to make an admissions decision. You can typically check your application status any time using an ID they sent you in your application confirmation.

Attending college

Once you are accepted into at least one college, and you decide which one you are definitely attending, you’re in for lots of surprises, since no college is exactly the same. To get a better of what to expect of student life, you can find current students or alumni to answer any questions. As for financial help, the FAFSA will be available Jan. 1, 2015. To receive maximum benefits, fill out the form as early as possible on their website. Finally, figure out your living situation. Dorms are available at most colleges, and, for some, it is required for freshmen to live on campus. Good luck!