College Admission: Problems Solved
By Samuel Hays
Photo of counselor’s office wall by Sam Hays
Many Owasso High School seniors have trouble navigating the college admissions process, and aren’t quite sure what their next step is. Making sure you’re on the right track and having the best chance of getting accepted is crucial for one's schooling after high school.
Tracy Gustafson, the Owasso College Career Counselor, is often asked about some common problems students face with college admissions.
Gustafson explains that admissions can be difficult due to “Not being aware of what the application process looks like, and what is needed to complete the application because each school has a different process.”
All it takes is a little research to find out what the process looks like, then it's easy going from there. Keep in mind that there can be a lot of different applications, all varying in requirements.
As Gustafson states, “It’s helpful to create a spreadsheet of the different colleges and put in what the requirements are for each college so that you have all the things necessary for applying to each college all in one spot.”
This allows you to have all the information you need organized and ready to go.
When Gustafson was asked if students overestimate or underestimate the process, she said, “I think there's a little bit of both, depending on where you're applying to. Some colleges take 15 minutes; others are a multi-day process.”
Prepare ahead of time and give yourself some leeway. Gustafson finds that many students have trouble knowing exactly what they need to turn in and the due dates for their college applications.
“There's different deadlines such as the early application deadline, the typical deadline, and the scholarship deadline,” Gustafson states. “I think the difficult part is knowing when it should be turned in, and what needs to be done to get it turned in properly.”
Senior Levin Ward says, “The main problem that I’ve ran into during the college app process has been trying to find the time to complete the written sections of the applications while also juggling my classes and extracurriculars.”
Gustafson responds with a quick solution, saying, “I am very into using a daily planner and figuring out a time management tool for each student so that you're building that time into your weekly schedule so that you have the time to complete it.”
Whether you are a junioror a senior, the college application process must be kept in mind. Make sure you are prepared by knowing the due dates, what is neededand making time for college application work within your daily schedule. After all, your future depends on it.