When you apply to colleges and/or universities, it is best to do so early. The earlier you submit your college application, the greater your chances of acceptance into your specific program(s) of interest. As one might expect, most college classes fill up very quickly. This is why early applicants typically have a greater chance of acceptance.
It is a good strategy to review all freshman enrollment requirements before applying to certain colleges and/or universities. Such requirements usually pertain to anybody who has completed high school within the five years immediately preceding their application date. Beyond this, mandatory high school classes are not usually given much consideration because so much time has elapsed since their completion. This means that you might be able to attend the college of your choice even if you did not complete the required high school courses — if you do not mind waiting for five or more years to enroll.
Virtually all colleges and/or universities charge an application fee of all applicants who seek admission. This fee is usually quite reasonable and is generally less than $80 USD. The fee is, however, not refundable under any circumstances – even if you are denied admission. College and/or university applications will typically remain under advisement for several weeks. When that time ends, the school will send out a letter of either congratulations or denial.
Most contemporary colleges and universities have websites and even allow the online submission of admissions applications. This practice is thought to expedite the application process and often results in a quicker decision than cases where an application is submitted via mail. When one submits an online application, the application fee is usually charged to a major credit or debit card. If you have no credit or debit card(s), you might have to mail in your application along with a check or money order in the amount of the application fee. It is very important that you never send cash through the mail under any circumstances.
After receiving an acceptance letter from your chosen school, it will be time to start planning for actual enrollment. There is a huge difference between acceptance and enrollment. Getting accepted does not mean that the student is automatically enrolled. Enrollment is a separate process wherein a class schedule is established and, if desired, on-campus housing is assigned. College students may live on-campus, with roommates, at home with family, or alone. Colleges and universities do not require students to reside on-campus, but doing so does make commuting to and from class much easier.For more details, please check out these tip sheets: How to Choose a College, Guidance from a College Advisor and Free Tips from a College Advisor.