LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — As a second-semester senior at LAHS, I can say that I have a considerable amount of experience with the college application process. Now that all that is left is hearing back from our schools, the Griffin Gazette decided that it might be helpful for younger students to get a bit of the best advice from current seniors about the dos and don’ts of the college application process.
Tip #1 – Know what you want
Brainstorm a list of qualities that you are looking for in a college. If you are an extrovert, maybe you want a lot of clubs, sororities/fraternities and other activities on campus. If you can’t live without AC, maybe you want a college with a great dorm system. If you are interested in having internship opportunities in college, maybe you want a college with a diverse career guidance center. The options are limitless, but figuring out your list of key qualities ahead of time will definitely help you in the long run.
Tip # 2- Start your college research at the start of junior year or before
The search for your perfect college is not a short one. There is so much to explore about your colleges — from where you can find the best study abroad program to who has the coolest speaker series — that narrowing down your list to find your perfect school can take a while. Here are some of the resources our seniors used to learn more about their colleges:
- Fiske Guide to Colleges
- Best 388 Colleges by the Princeton Review
- Naviance- Recommended by LAHS counselors, this is always a great resource if you prefer a more electronic approach
- College tours (online or in person)- If you are able to visit or access an online tour, this gives you a great sense of not only what the campus looks like but also gives you a chance to see the personality of some of the students to see if you fit in there.
- Friends and family- Alumni of schools often have a great deal of information about the hidden details and the pros and cons of a college, so talking to them will only enhance your knowledge of the school. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to get advice from a trusted adult.
Tip # 3- Top colleges picked (at the latest) by the end of junior year. Have a final list of around 8-12
Procrastinating is tempting (and believe me I fell victim to this often), but having your final list of ideally 8-12 schools will give you ample time to work on your essays over the summer. When constructing your list, make sure you have a fairly even distribution of safety, target, and reach schools. In particular, don’t neglect your safety schools; it can be appealing to try and push yourself and apply for solely reach schools, but better safe than sorry.
Tip #4- Creating your accounts for your application portals
Don’t forget to use your personal email account before starting your applications, as this will be the email address your schools have on file. Write down the passwords that you use for each application you fill out (as this is where your admission results will likely be released).
Tip #5- The Cal States
This application doesn’t require essays, so you must input all of the information they request (classes you’ve taken, personal/parent info, financials, major, etc) thoroughly. I would recommend having your transcript pulled up when you are filling out your application because you will need to have everything on there inputted into your application (this goes for Common App and UC applications as well). Make sure to check your inputs because small mistakes on this application could get your application discarded. If you can, try to schedule a meeting or be prepared if your counselor schedules one for you with your counselor to look over all your courses. Don’t overthink it.
(For UCs and Common App, check out tips 6-7)
Tip # 6- WRITE YOUR ESSAYS OVER THE SUMMER
This is so important! To have polished and thorough essays, you should go through several drafts for each of your essays. This takes time and getting a great deal (ideally all) of your essays done over the summer ensures you won’t have to balance working on your essays with your schoolwork, jobs, sports, and everything else during the fall semester of your senior year. I recommend starting with your Personal Statement (if you are applying through the Common Application) as this is the most important essay and can likely double as one of your UC Personal Inquiry Question essays (PIQs). Then, focus on your UC PIQs as the topics for these essays are often quite broad and can be reused for many of your Common App supplemental essays (smaller essays required by each individual school).
Tip # 7- Your essay topic doesn’t have to be a tragedy
It’s a common misconception that your essay should be about the worst moment in your life. Many students fall into the trap of spending their whole essay talking about their parent’s divorce or their grandparent passing away without ever circling around to the point of what these essays are about: who you are and how whatever you are writing about shapes you as a person. Sure, if you can make an honest connection between a dark moment in your life and who you are now or what you have accomplished, then go for it! But, otherwise, try to focus on what makes you unique and a valuable addition to your dream college. Why are you special? How have you shaped your community? What do you want out of your college experience and future?
Tip # 8- Review, review, review!
Have multiple people review your entire application (not just your essays) before you submit. Make sure you are looking for spelling, dates, grammar, and other small mistakes, so your application is the absolute best it can be. If you get stuck writing or simply want a bit of extra review, there will likely be college application workshops at school (check with your counselor for more information on this) to help with essays, filling out FAFSA/CSS profiles and more.
Tip # 9- Don’t submit your application the day of!
A lot of college application sites crash on the due date. Don’t be the student who can’t get into their application and has to email their school counselor. It isn’t a great look for your application, and being prepared is always better.
Tip #10- Don’t stress!
If you are feeling stressed, take a breather. This doesn’t need to be a stressful process as long as you manage your time well. Wherever you end up will be a good fit for you and where you are meant to be. You have worked hard and this is just the last step on the path of high school.
Tip #11- Reward yourself!
You have worked hard and this is just the last step on the path of high school. You’re almost done now, and you can take a breather! Plan some sort of fun reward/event for when you finish to motivate you. It doesn’t have to be big, but knowing that you will have something at the end will motivate you and make finishing the process feel a lot more rewarding. Yay! You did it!
Ally Mendez, Bella Kim, Jasmine Lee, Liz Frank and Maleah Fennessey contributed to this article.
Katie Arnoult • Mar 25, 2025 at 11:24 am
These are great tips, and I love how the article is organized! It’s really helpful as a junior to hear advice from older students who went through the whole process already.