APPLYING TO COLLEGE

FINDING JUST THE RIGHT MATCH
WHAT TO KNOW WHEN
APPLYING TO COLLEGE

Selecting colleges can be challenging but it doesn’t have to be stressful.  We have some helpful tips for you to narrow down your choices and prepare for college applications and interviews.  

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THE BIG GUIDE is a free detailed informational guide to start early on planning for college.

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WHAT TO KNOW WHEN
APPLYING TO COLLEGE

Selecting colleges can be challenging but it doesn’t have to be stressful.  We have some helpful tips for you to narrow down your choices and prepare for college applications and interviews.  

LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION?

Download THE BIG GUIDE for Free detailed information to start early on planning for college.

DOWNLOAD
ORGANIZATION IS THE KEY
READY TO APPLY TO COLLEGE?

Senior year of high school can be hectic trying to balance planning for your future and enjoying all the events leading up to graduation.

Organization and managing deadlines is the key. Applications deadlines, financial aid deadlines, submission for transcripts, just to name a few.

COLLEGE APPLICATION CHECKLIST is a document that can easily help you stay on track!

DOWNLOAD CHECKLIST
APPLYING TO COLLEGE

3 TIPS TO NARROW DOWN YOUR COLLEGE CHOICES

1
Merit Aid

College is expensive. At schools where your credentials are better than the typical student, you may be eligible for merit-based scholarships.

2
Good Value

"Good Value" schools are those that provide a good education for the price. For example, Rhode Island College has a great reputation for its teaching program. The low in-state tuition makes it a great value for students looking to become teachers.

3
Tuition Consideration

Don't completely rule out higher priced colleges. Use the "Net Price Calculator" on the college's website to first get an idea of what that college would cost a family like yours.

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APPLYING TO COLLEGES
5 FACTORS TO CONSIDER
Application Process
Application Process

The college application process may differ for each college.  Applying to colleges is a lengthy process that includes detailed information and deadlines. Most may accept the Common App, but there are exceptions and additional requirements.  Be sure to check the admissions website for each school to manage exceptions.

Application Fees
Application Fees

The average application fee to colleges is $50 and some can go has high as $90. Those fees can add up quickly!

$50 (College App Fee) X 8 (Colleges) = $400.00

College Acceptance
College Acceptance

Before applying do some research about the college you are applying to. Check to see what the average high school GPA is for students accepted. It may help you decide if you will keep that college on your list!

Location of College
Location of College

Where you would like to live? Is it important to be close to home or would you like to venture out and live in a big city? Questions you should answer before applying to schools!

Cost of College
Cost of College

College can be expensive. Consider factors to keeping the cost low. There is a cost benefit of going to a home state school. Tuition is often lower, housing options to live off campus, and transportation. 

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

HOW MANY COLLEGES SHOULD YOU APPLY TO?

Your final college list should be a collection of 4-8 colleges that address all of the characteristics you are looking for in a school and that fit into the three categories below.

REACH
1-2 APPLICATIONS

REACH

Reach schools are where your grades and test scores are actually lower than those of the average admitted student. 

High level of difficulty for acceptance.

TARGET
1-3 APPLICATIONS

POSSIBLE

Possible schools usually have an academic profile that is close to the average admitted student and would have a better than 50/50 chance at admission.

Moderate level of difficulty for acceptance.

SAFETY
2-3 APPLICATIONS

SAFETY

A safety college is a college where your grades and test scores are better than those of the average admitted students, and where you are likely to be admitted. 

College Admission Deadlines

When planning for college you should decide early on if you are going to apply to college through early admission, early action, regular admission, or another type of admission. Use this section to learn about the different college admission types and what to expect for college admission deadlines based on the admission type you pursue.

Early Admission

Early Admission allows a high school student to complete his/her high school graduation requirements while enrolled at a local college. Check with your guidance office for details.

Early Decision
DEADLINES

The Early Decision option allows students to apply early to their first-choice college. Early Decision deadlines range from mid-October to early January. Mid-November is a typical deadline, with a mid-December notification of acceptance, denial or deferral.

COMMITMENT

Early Decision plans are binding. You commit to attending that school if you are accepted and to withdrawing all other applications.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid applicants will receive a tentative financial aid package at the time of acceptance. If the financial aid is not what you expected, you might be forced to refuse the offer of admission.

CONSIDER

You should consider applying Early Decision only if you are certain that the particular school is the best fit for you.

Early Action

This option, like Early Decision, allows for an early application and admission decision, but without the commitment to attend. You may apply to other schools and you will receive your financial aid package in the spring with all the rest of the applicants.

Regular Admission

Regular admission requires that students send in their application by a deadline set by the college. Each school's deadline is different, usually beginning in early January.

You should be able to find the school's admission deadline in the catalog, on the website, or by calling the admission office.

Rolling Admission

Rolling Admission means that the school has no admission deadline. Admission decisions are made on a first-come first-served basis. Usually, the college notifies students within four to six weeks after the application is complete.

COMMON COLLEGE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

PREPARING FOR A COLLEGE INTERVIEW

PREPARING FOR YOUR INTERVIEW

College interviews are a chance to get yourself in front of someone who represents the college and who holds weight in admissions decisions. Having an interview is the best way to show your interest in attending the college, so take advantage and let your personality shine through!

Start by trying to find something in common with your interviewer. Once you find a common ground, it's usually easier to talk to someone you don't know.

Now, let us help you crush your interview! Download a list of commonly asked questions during college interviews.

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COLLEGE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

TOOLS & RESOURCES

KNOWLEDGE FOR COLLEGE
ENTER TO WIN $2,000 SCHOLARSHIP

Visit our Knowledge for College Scholarship page to learn more and enter today!

EVENTS
UPCOMING VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON EVENTS

A free service offered by RISLA's College Planning Center.

RISCHOLARSHIPS.ORG
SEARCH FOR FREE SCHOLARSHIPS

Look for hundreds of hard-to-find local scholarships.

Get started with your scholarship search today!

QUESTIONS
SCHEDULE A FREE APPOINTMENT

Do you have questions about college planning?  We are here to help you prepare, plan, and pay for college.

THE COLLEGE PLANNING CENTER SUCCESS STORIES

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THIS SERVICE WAS AMAZING!

This service was amazing! It took all of the stress and uncertainty out of completing the FAFSA and CSS for my son's college process. I was even able to submit the forms early. I would recommend the RISLA College Planning Center to any family who is assisting their child in the college process. They have also let me know that they can help review costs to attend and financial aid packages when the acceptance letters come in. I am so happy that we found this service. I feel like I would have been very overwhelmed without it.

Kelly L.
PARENT
THEY WILL HELP YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS.
I am so grateful to this organization. My kids and I have been working with The College Planning Center since 2018. The staff has gotten us through the whole process - researching colleges, applying for aid, and finally reviewing offers. I can’t say enough great things about them.
 
Thank you for all you do.
 
Kristen R.
PARENT
INVALUABLE RESOURCE FOR FAFSA PLANNING!

The RI College Planning Center has been invaluable in helping me navigate the FAFSA process for the past 4 years. Every state should have a resource like this.

 

Margo K.
PARENT
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