It’s usually a daunting experience for many when entering the university for the first time. But more than a milestone of academics and grades, our university experience can teach us much about life.
Embarking on your university journey is more than selecting an educational institution. It involves choosing a pathway that aligns with your aspirations and goals. To be an applicant to an undergraduate program, you would often be required to gather different materials to show your abilities as a student.
Are you among those who need help in figuring out the processes involved with how to enter the university for the first time? This guide has been crafted to assist you in navigating through the processes involved.
Read carefully as we go through the breakdown of the various processes involved.
Steps Involved In How To Enter The University For The First Time
1. Find Out What Your Goals Are
The first step in figuring out how to enter the university for the first time is finding out where you want to go to school. When you assess yourself, what you would enjoy, and schools that align with your goals as well as your present financial status, it helps you narrow down your list of suitable institutions.
You could ask yourself the following questions:
- What are my career goals?
- What do I want to study?
- Do I need to learn English or improve before beginning my course?
- Where do I want to live?
- What kind of educational experience do I want to have?
- Do I prefer to learn with a large number of students or with a smaller number?
- Will finances be a problem if I choose this school?
When you have answered all these questions, your choice of universities will become more specific and narrow.
2. Explore Your Options
There are lots of universities available for you to enroll in. With the help of the College Board, you can find colleges by location, major, type, and campus lifestyle. Furthermore, you could reach out to school counselors and visit campuses if you can.
Using the USA as an instance, there are thousands of colleges and universities in the United States. You could study any course of your choice, from community colleges to private, liberal arts colleges and large, public universities. The Ivy League isn’t the only university with stellar programs. And don’t forget about English-language programs. This might be where you need to start your higher education career.
Here are some fantastic resources to get you started if you are in USA:
- StudyUSA.com
- University and college websites
- Your high school careers advisor
- American newspapers and news websites.
After you have done your research and narrowed it down to the ones suitable for you, pick about 5–10 schools and apply. Remember, every school has its own admission requirements. So ensure that for every university you apply to, you’re doing the right thing.
3. Be Aware Of Your Application Deadlines
For each school you decide to apply to, note down the date of their deadlines. Many schools have early January deadlines, but you should double-check, especially if you want to take advantage of applications like early admission or rolling admissions. Take some time to fill out the applications.
The application might ask for general information like your extracurricular activities, parent or legal guardian information, and any honors you have received.
Furthermore, the application might include some questions that require some thought, like a list of your favorite books or a section you can take to explain any dips in your grade.
When the application deadline is approaching, let’s say about a week away, you should go through the application to ensure that everything you need has been uploaded or submitted.
Applying generally requires a fee, which typically ranges from $50 to $90 per application.
4. Sign Up For Standardized Testing
If you are one of those who took the SAT or ACT for the first time in the spring of the junior year, then you have an advantage. Doing this will allow you some room to retake either test if you want to improve the results. You’ll want to take standardized tests for applications due in January, in the fall of your senior year. The College Board recommends taking at least 6 to 20 hours to study for your first SAT.
5. Start Your Personal Statements
Just like it is normally said, exams are not a true test of knowledge. So personal statements or essays are an opportunity to convey who you are beyond your grades and test scores. Dedicate a few hours to brainstorming ideas, creating an outline, and writing a first draft. Then have trusted friends, teachers, or family members look it over for feedback.
If you’re applying through the Common App, you’ll likely be able to use one personal statement for multiple schools. Some schools may have another essay prompt you’ll have to answer in addition to the Common App prompt.
6. Ask For Letters Of Recommendation
You will also need letters of recommendation, so it is important to ask for letters of recommendation a few months ahead of your application deadline. The reason why you should target a few months ahead of your application deadline is that teachers might be swamped with recommendation requests toward the end of the year. You’ll want to give them plenty of time to prepare the letter and collect any information they need from you.
Most universities will require letters from 2 teachers, both from core academic subjects. When asking for letters of recommendation, choose teachers who have a high opinion of you. This individual should have seen you excel or work to overcome challenges and hence should be able to speak to your passion and intellect.
7. Submit Your Transcripts
Most colleges require official school transcripts to see how you performed in academic settings. This includes your high school transcript as well as transcripts from any other academic institutions you might have attended, like community college.
If you’re still in high school, visit your guidance counselor to request that they send your high school transcript to the colleges you’re applying to. If you’ve already graduated high school, you’ll generally have to fill out a transcript request form online or in person. If you’re in community college, contact your counselor or registrar’s office to send an official transcript to the universities you’re applying to.
8. Balance Your Choice Of Universities
Even though your application might be strong, there is no 100% guarantee that the university will admit you. To avoid being rejected by all schools you apply to, you will need to apply to schools that range widely in selectivity to ensure that, come spring, you have been accepted to at least one program. Your list should include reach schools, target schools, and safety schools.
What are Reach schools? Reach schools are colleges that you have only a small chance of being accepted to. Many college counselors will say that a college that accepts less than 15% of its applicants should always be considered a reach school, no matter how accomplished the student is.
What about Target schools? Target schools are colleges that you have a good shot at being accepted at.
While safety schools are colleges, you are very confident you will be accepted. These should be the schools you apply to, to ensure that, if your target and reach schools all reject you, you’ll still be accepted to at least 1 program.
9. Before Applying To Any University, Consider The Costs
Another factor that might end up narrowing an individual’s choice of university is the cost required to enroll in that university. Higher education is expensive; talk with your family or sponsor about how much you can reasonably afford to pay for college.
Furthermore, you could even start early to work towards getting a scholarship or a grant, which could see you through the university. Some universities also provide some kind of financial assistance. To find this out, seek out the “Price Calculator” on college websites and enter your family’s financial information to find out how much aid you can expect to receive.
Be sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1 to determine your eligibility for federal and state financial aid.
10. Create A Common App Account
This is a standardized application form and more than 500 colleges currently accept it. You only need to fill it out once, and once you are done with that, you simply forward it to all the participating schools you are applying to.
The app opens each year online on August 1st, so you can begin filling out your application over the summer.
Usually, the Common App requires a “personal statement,” a prompt-based essay of no more than 650 words. The prompts generally stay the same from year to year, so it’s possible to start drafting your response even before August 1st.
11. Prepare For Any Interviews
Not all schools require or even offer interviews; generally, schools will contact you after you submit your application with interview instructions. An off-campus alumni interview is a good and convenient option, but if possible, arrange an on-campus interview with an admissions officer, as this will hold more weight in the admissions process.
To further help with the interview preparation, research the college before going to the interview. Think about why you are applying to this specific school and what strengths you would contribute to it.
Conclusion
Applying to study at a university for the first time could be quite challenging.
It would involve a lot of preparations but all these would be made easier if you know what you want and the kind of environment you can survive in.
Other factors, such as finances, could also play a role in helping you select a university. With adequate preparation, following the right steps and asking for clarifications whenever you are confused, the process could be made a whole lot easier for you.
We wish you success as you venture into this new world.
