1. The College Application
For Freshmen and Sophomores

2. What is a College Application
This is what you fill out and turn in to the college you choose to let them know you would like to go there.
There are two kinds of Applications:
The Common Application
Institutional Applications

3. The Common Application
One application students can send to multiple colleges.
500+ colleges across the country use the Common Application
This includes UT!
There are general questions and specific questions for each college.
On the Common Application there is an Essay.

4. Institutional Applications
These applications can be found on the college’s website.
They can be submitted online or downloaded, printed, and mailed to the college.
There is usually a fee you have to pay to submit an Institutional Application – but don’t worry, there are also Fee Waivers if you can’t pay it!

5. What is in a College Application?
Personal Information
SSN, parent/sibling information, etc.
Academic Profile
courses you have taken, high school information, GPA, etc.
The Major that you want.
What you want your future career to be.
Test Scores
Like the ACT
Extracurricular Activities
An Essay
Sometimes-but not always!

6. What are “Extracurricular Activities?”
This is anything you do outside of school!
Sports
Even if you just did it for a year!
Volunteer Hours
Awards you have won or honors you have been given.
These can be from school, sports, church, Scouts, Etc.

7. Why is this Important? High School goes by faster than you think!
Everything you do now – including your grades – can help you get into the college you want.
Even if you think you don’t want to go to college, you never know if you might change your mind!
This is also important for trade school, cosmetology school, and others so don’t just think you can get out of it!