College Planning for Adults

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The first step in applying to college is to get an application. You can do this in many ways.

  • If you received a Course Catalog – there should be an application in the back.
  • You can call the school’s Admissions office and ask them to send one to you.
  • You can go to the school’s Admissions office and pick one up.
  • You can go to the school’s website and fill out an online request form for an application.
  • You can go to the school’s website and download the application. Usually you’ll need access to PDF (portable document format) or Microsoft word. The school’s web page will tell you what formats are available.
  • You can go to the school’s website and fill out the application online.

Step 2: Filling out the application

If possible you should get two copies of the application. One copy is a practice copy. The other is the real copy that you submit to the Admissions Office.

If you plan on filling out the form online – do not hit the “submit” button until you have or someone else has looked over your application carefully.

Gather your information

Not all schools will ask for the same information but here is a list of items you will most likely need:

  • Social Security Number
  • Visa/Permanent Resident Information
  • State Driver’s License
  • CEEB Lookup Wizard
    https://www1.wnec.edu/ Dates of high school attendance. Some schools may ask you for the CEEB code for your high school. If you did not attend high school in the U.S. you will not need a code.
  • Dates of college attendance – if you’ve taken classes before.
  • You should know what program and degree you’re interested in.

If you are incarcerated or if you are an ex-offender:

Some applications may ask about your criminal history. Pay careful attention to the way they ask the question. Here is one example: Other than traffic offenses, have you ever been convicted of any felony or other crime? If you were charged with a felony but then acquitted, you can answer No to this question. If you are not sure about the type of convictions you have, you should get a copy of your record and learn about what is on it. You may want to correct mistakes, or change what people can see on it. For more information on how to do this, go to the Career Center: What are your career goals?

If you are from another country:

Immigration information – College applications usually ask your status:
US citizen, resident alien (they may ask for your card number), refugee, or foreign (they may ask for your passport, visa, and an I-20 form). You can find more information about visas on the EducationUSA website: http://educationusa.state.gov/usvisa.htm

You will probably have to show your high school transcript to prove that you graduated from high school. If it’s not in English, you will have to have it translated by an official translator. Private organizations will do credential evaluations for a fee, usually $100 or more. You can search on the Internet or in the phone book under credential evaluations for these businesses. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services is one organization: http://www.naces.org/

Check with the school to learn about other requirements.

Step 3: Practice Copy

 Read the instructions for the application carefully. 

Do not submit messy applications or applications with mistakes in it. Do a practice copy first.

  • It allows you to adjust your handwriting:

Sometimes the handwriting is too big.

Sometimes the handwriting is too small.

  • It allows you to correct your mistakes:

Sometimes there are mitsakes mistakes.

  • It also allows you to change your mind.

Example: if you put your cell phone number on the practice form, you can change it and put your work or home phone instead.

After you have checked your answers carefully on the practice form, put them on the “real” form.

Step 4: Submitting the Application

Keep a photocopy of your application. You want to make sure that you can fill out another copy quickly if your application is lost in the mail or if your computer is not working properly and won’t send the application.

Deadlines
 You should check the application instruction form for a deadline date. If there is a deadline date, make sure you submit the application by that date.

Rolling Admissions At most community colleges applications can be submitted anytime. This is called Rolling Admissions. However, you cannot start classes as soon as you receive your Acceptance Letter. You must wait until the beginning of the next semester.

Acceptance
At most community colleges you will receive a letter of acceptance or a phone call within a few weeks after you’ve submitted your application.

The letter will most likely be accompanied by the name of your advisor, information about financial aid, a school calendar, and information about placement testing.

Go to Room 203: College Placement Tests >>