Student Perspectives: Keeping Track of College Applications (and Other Advice)
College application season is no joke. Application after application…does it ever end? As a first-generation college student, I firsthand understand the difficulties and frustrations of wanting to reach higher education, yet feeling overwhelmed just looking at the application fees and millions of waivers.
Hi! My name is Diane, and I’m a Sophomore studying Philosophy, Politics, & Law at USC. My hometown is Sacramento and it seems like, just yesterday, I was sitting in my local cafe (shoutout Temple Coffee), drowning in endless applications. Spoiler alert: it really does work out.
Luckily, by trial and error, I got to figure out what works and what doesn’t. After all, applying to 20+ colleges really does test your organization and prioritization. So, here it is: everything I did to help me navigate and keep on top of applications— tested and true.
Google Spreadsheets will be your best friend, trust me.
This was my primary organizational tool to keep track of everything college application related. My essays, which schools I was applying to, research on universities, acceptance rates, deadlines— you name it. Having a central spreadsheet where you can have a bird-eye’s view of all your applications is crucial, especially to understand the big picture idea of the story you’re telling across applications.
My spreadsheet truly was my best friend: it saw the great moments—acceptances, storytelling, when I finished an application—and the lowlights— rejections, writer’s block, etc.
This is what one tab of my spreadsheet looked like. It included the name of each college, if I submitted my application, and my admission status (accepted, waitlist, rejected). Other tabs included links to applications of certain schools, a list of essays used, and research of universities. Having a central spreadsheet will help you keep track of everything.
Here is some additional advice…
Niche scholarships are the way to go.
One of the biggest initial mistakes I made when looking into scholarships was only applying to the big name, big prize ones. I spent so much time applying to scholarships found on websites such as “bold.org” where I was against thousands of other highly competitive scholars. Instead, I found that applying to niche scholarships, such as local ones or ones specific to you, have the best turn-out rate. For example, I did competitive archery since elementary school, and wasn’t using that to my advantage prior. However, once I found archery scholarships that I could apply to, I finally had a higher chance of winning because I found my niche. Once you find your specialty, it’s only up from there. Don’t let the rejections or lower dollar amounts discourage you. The money will add up!
Have patience and believe in yourself.
Patience. That was probably my least favorite word during college application season. In fact, I think I had everything but patience. I mean, how horrible is the waiting? Seeing the word “waitlist” over and over felt like a jarring gut-punch every time. However, it’s crucial that you don’t let this discourage you. Just because you get waitlisted at one university, doesn’t mean that will determine the outcome of any others. After I got waitlisted at UMichigan, I started losing hope—but acceptances to universities I loved rolled in right after, including my dream one, USC. Additionally, many universities will have the option of submitting updates after waitlists or even letters of appeals in the case of rejections. In the case of USC, since they don’t offer waitlists, they have a formal appeals process. One of my friends here got in through an appeal! Believe in yourself, have confidence, and don’t be afraid to keep trying. You never know where that might get you.
Pick the school your gut tells you to.
I know the college application process seems never ending, but it does eventually come to an end. And when that day does occur, it’s important to trust your gut. After so many essays, reflections, and research on these universities, you’ve learned so much about yourself and the places you applied to. At the end of the day, you know what’s best for you.
When I first entered the application cycle, I had expectations of going to a school on the East Coast and majoring in Political Science. After so much research and reflection, I realized how USC had the exact environment I was looking for this whole time—and even had an incredibly niche major that I didn’t even know existed. As a first-generation student, you have to trust your gut and pave the way.
By no means am I an expert in applying to colleges, but I do hope that some of my experiences and recommendations resonate with some applicants. I wish you all the absolute best of luck, and remember: the universe has its own funny way of working things out! You will be where you’re meant to be. Now—breathe, relax. You got this.