As the green begins to leave the leaves, and the air becomes crisp, we know that fall is here! Another telling sign of the fall season can very well stem from the countless stressed visages of high-school seniors. One can’t forget that the fall is home to the dreaded college applications… As fall approaches Pitman High, so does the impending college application due dates. 

College applications provide general, at times specific, information about a student’s academic life. They are used by colleges to see if a person meets the requirements to enter the school and continue his or her education there. Students in their last year of highschool fill out applications, some schools allow them to take a look and start as early as the summer leading up to the school year. Though they may be done earlier than the fall, submissions of the applications are only allowed to be submitted in the fall. And depending on whether a student applies to a JC, CSU, or UC, the dates can differ.

Depending on one’s college plans, the requirements and information asked for are circumstantial. Colleges tend to all require all A-G class subjects high school requirements  to be met and completed. Junior colleges only require the student to have a high school diploma to enter. Some CSU’s don’t require an application essay, they usually only require a person to provide transcripts and standardized test scores. UC’s, on the other hand, are harder to get into and have higher requirements and ask for more information regarding the student’s academic achievement and extracurriculars; like they expect us  to write an application essay. They also have higher standards regarding GPA, SAT or ACT scores and extracurriculars. Private Universities tend to have similar requirements to UCs, except for a letter of recommendation. For out of state school’s standards and requirements can differ. These admission requirements are general, it’s best to conduct further research into the places a student plans to apply to; requirements and standards will differ from school to school. 

Applications can be done via computer, using websites. Common app, a website, allows students to have an organized platform to work on and complete applications. UCs and CSUs both have official websites where students can complete them. A student should still check in with the specific schools they plan to apply to. Applications tend to be costly, they can range anywhere from $50 to $90, institutions differ. Fee waivers can be granted to those who are found to be eligible for it—if you were granted a fee waiver for the SAT you’re eligible for an application fee waiver. Each person is granted up to four for CSUs and four for UCs, the full price is covered. 

Applications for Junior colleges are not set on specific deadlines, although January is the recommended application period. CSU applications open up to be turned in on October 1st to November 30th. UC applications open up on November 1st to November 30th. Both the UC and CSU applications must be turned during the listed periods. Schools sometimes offer early action deadlines, which allows a student to apply earlier, they then find out whether or not they were accepted earlier—they are binding. A student who applies for early admission and gets accepted is required to go to the school they early applied to. Other types of schools have differing deadlines, specific research is essential! 

Pitman senior, Mayra Soria, conducted her research properly, “…No, [I haven’t started] because they don’t open until October, and I’m only going to a JC, so there’s not much to do.”

Remember to prepare for your specific college needs! Acceptance and rejection notices tend to roll in during the spring, in April.

If a student has any questions or is confused about the college application process Pitman has the college and career center, where students can receive help and advice. Counselors are available as well.