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Advice for Writing Application Essays

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Advice for Writing Successful Application Essays

When you sit down to write your application essays, there is very little left that you can control. You should have already taken, or retaken, the SAT and ACT, your grades from your first three years of high school are set on your transcript, and your recommenders all have their impressions of you that are unlikely to change before the recommendation deadline. The only thing that left in your control is your writing for the application essay.

As with all things related to your college application, you will need to start drafting your application essay far ahead of the due date. In fact, you should move each school’s deadline up two weeks so that no unexpected events prevent you from completing and submitting your application. The reason that you need so much time to work on your essay is primarily because many schools will ask you to write about similar topics, but to do so in different ways. You will need enough time to draft essays that address each of these questions or prompts for each school to which you are applying.

Don't use boilerplate essays. That is, resist the urge to reuse the exact same essay for different schools if each of them is giving you a slightly different writing prompt. You can, of course, adapt the same essay for similar prompts. Many schools do allow you to use the Common Application essay for admission to several participating schools. For more information on the Common Application and to check which schools participate as members, click here .

Although using the Common Application does simplify the processes, make sure that you review each of the schools’ application requirements. as many of these same schools also request that you submit a second essay along with the Common Application essay. For instance, in addition to answering one of the standard Common Application questions, Amherst College asks that you write an additional essay responding to one of several quotations.

Before you can start writing your essay, you will need to begin by reading the prompts and questions carefully. Even the Common Application has six prompts that you can choose from. Don’t feel as though you must choose one immediately after reading them. You should ask yourself what sticks out the most for you after having read through them. Think about what is most salient for you.

Brainstorm by putting your thoughts on paper. You can free write (writing without stopping or censoring yourself), create word association maps (visually clustering concepts that you feel go together), or keep a journal over the course of several days so that you can collect your thoughts in one place. See the Purdue OWL's PowerPoint on “ Finding your Focus ” for more details on these strategies.

After you have generated several ideas, reflect on where you find the most intensity or excitement in what you were writing. If nothing jumps out at you, keep brainstorming or talk with others about some possible topics until something grabs you.

Once you know what want to write about, put a rough draft on paper. Don’t be afraid of stray thoughts if they lead you to something more interesting than you had set out to write. Just make sure that you eventually come to have a rough draft that is about one thing.

Look over your draft and check for the following.

• Your writing should be personal. After reading your essay, does it seem like anyone could have written this? Make sure that your essay captures who you are.
• You writing should show, not tell, through vivid language. Successful essays relate an experience or analyze a pattern from the writer’s life. It is not enough to make general claims about what impacted your decision to go to college, for instance; you must elaborate by including evidence that answers “how” and “why” when you make your claims.

It is important to note that admissions officers care as much about your structure, style, and insights as they do about your content. That is not meant to add an extra layer of anxiety to your writing process, but to highlight the fact that you don’t necessarily need to have something life-changing to write about in order to write a successful essay. As Dowhan, Dowhan and Kaufman note in Essays that Will Get You into College , “Personal does not have to mean heavy, emotional or even inspiring” (10). In fact, as the authors explain, students might over rely on the significant event that they write about to speak for itself and don’t “explain what it meant to them or give a solid example of how it changed them. In other words, they do not make it personal” (10).

Finally, your writing should be about a sustained topic. You must use vivid description with a purpose. What is it that you learned because of this experience? What message can you decipher from the series of events that you present? What led you to your conclusions?

Once you have completed your rough draft, put it away for a few days. Afterwards, read the question again and look through your essay. Ask yourself if the essay answers the prompt. Is it personal? Does it use vivid language? Is it focused on one topic? Rewrite whatever needs to be strengthened. This is a great time to have other people look through your draft and get their reaction. Make sure that you ask someone early, and that you trust this person’s judgment; they will be putting in a lot of time to help you, so don’t disregard anything that is inconvenient or that you don’t want to hear.

Again, giving yourself plenty of time to work on this essay is vital. You should have enough time to rewrite or restructure your essay based on the feedback that you have received. As you are drafting and revising, feel free to fix any mistakes that you catch in terms of spelling, grammar, and mechanics, but don’t spend too much time editing early on in the writing process. Working on lower-order concerns can give you the impression that the essay is ready to submit prematurely. Instead, use this time to strengthen the main points of your essay.

To supplement the advice offered on this page, you can find a handout on writing the admissions application essay here .

When should I start writing my college essay?

Because you'll want to tailor each application to each school, expect to write multiple personal essays. Advisers typically recommend starting these pieces during the summer before your senior year of high school. This will give you ample time to concentrate on writing a college essay before you're hit with schoolwork.

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College Essay FAQ: Ask An Admissions Officer

In the following article, an admissions officer answers frequently asked questions about the college essay (also known as the CommonApp Essay, or the Personal Statement)! For more guidance on your college essay and the college application process in general,  sign up for a monthly plan to work with an admissions coach 1-on-1.

What is a college essay?

A college essay is a writing sample that is submitted with your application. It is a personal statement that shares more information about you with the admission committee. The other pieces of the application – the transcript, the activities, the letters of recommendation – will all look very similar when compared with other applicants to highly selective colleges. The essay is your opportunity to humanize your application by sharing a personal anecdote about yourself as well as to demonstrate a high level of thinking through your writing abilities. The essay distinguishes you and your application from all other candidates.

What is the CommonApp essay?

The CommonApp essay is the response to one of seven essay prompts in the Common Application. Students respond to one of the questions which is then sent to all of the schools to which they apply. The benefit is that the student only needs to write one essay total as opposed to one essay for each school.

What are the college application essay prompts?

Essay prompts vary, so it is important to review the topics for each application. Students should be strategic and select a topic that allows them to share something about themselves that may not already be included in the application. Admission committees do not expect 18-year-olds to write about unique life experiences, but they do expect students to write unique essays about common experiences.

The seven first-year CommonApp essay prompts are as follows:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma — anything of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

How long is a college essay?

Essay length requirements will vary between schools, but they’re generally not long. The Common App essay requires at least 250 but no more than 650 words, but the University of California essays are limited to 350 words each. Students should plan to write an essay with a word count close to, but not exceeding, the limit. Many applications, including the CommonApp, will not allow students to submit more than the maximum word count.

How important is a college essay?

The role of the essay will vary by school. At highly selective colleges, the essay is arguably just as important as the transcript. There is very little to distinguish between the top students academically, so the essay provides an opportunity to shine. This is where you talk about yourself as a person, not just a student. Academics are the priority in the admission process, but admission officers are also looking for students who will contribute positively to their community.

For other schools, the essay may play a very minor role in the admission decision. This can happen at larger universities where admission offices do not have the time or resources to heavily evaluate your writing. It can also occur for program-specific applications where the admission office places more emphasis on course progressions and test scores.

When should I start planning my college essay? When should I write my college essay?

Students should use the summer before their senior year to reflect on their experiences and determine what they would like to share with the admission committee. Ideally, you should complete the first draft of your essay by the start of school in September, which will allow you to focus on your senior year.

How do I pick a topic for my college essay?

Select the topic that interests you most. When you choose to write about something you’re excited about, you will automatically write a stronger essay. There is a common misconception that students need to write a unique essay. Instead, the focus should be on writing an authentic essay. The admission committee reads hundreds or even thousands of essays each year. They are not judging your experiences. Instead, they are evaluating your ability to effectively communicate those experiences. The best way to do that is by choosing a topic that is meaningful to you.

When is my college essay due?

The essay is due when the application and supporting documents are submitted. If you apply using the CommonApp or the Coalition Application, the essay is submitted with the application.

How should a college essay be formatted?

The application essay is a formal piece of writing and this should be reflected in the formatting.

Choose a standard 12-point font, double space between lines, and make sure to either indent paragraphs or have extra spaces. If you drafted your essay in Word or Google Docs and then pasted it into the application, you will need to proofread carefully. This process often erases your formatting and can translate it into to block text or out-of-place characters.

What happens to my college essay after submission?

Once the application is submitted, the essay is converted into a PDF and sent directly to the colleges connected with this particular application. The college will receive the file as a PDF and import it directly into the student’s record. The admission committee will review it in this format. Once you click the submit button, you can no longer make any changes to the document.

Who reads my college essay?

Your essay will be read by the admission committee, which will include admission counselors and in some cases professors. Typically, the counselor that either works with students from your area or evaluates applications for the major to which you have applied will be the first person to read your application. At large universities, this may be the only person to see your application. At smaller schools, it will likely undergo a more rigorous process including a second review and a committee discussion.

What are college essay readers looking for?

Essay readers are first looking to make sure that the student has an understanding of the basic mechanics of writing. A great essay will show a powerful command of the English language where each word supports the storyline. Students don’t need to use sophisticated language (avoid the thesaurus trap!) but instead should think about using their vocabulary in a sophisticated way. The admission committee wants to hear the student’s voice throughout the entire essay.

Next, they want to see that the student answered the question. Are they telling a story from start to finish, or are they reflecting on an experience and sharing what they learned about themselves? The best essays show a deeper level of thinking and reflection when addressing the topic.

What college essay topics should I avoid?

The general rule is to not share something with the admission committee that you would not share with your family over dinner. Remember, the application readers are looking for a good academic fit, but they are also trying to determine if you are a good social fit for their community. You want to avoid topics that are too personal that may lead the committee to question your ability to be successful. The essay is your opportunity to shine amongst thousands of other applicants, and writing about a negative or questionable experience is a missed opportunity.

Can a college essay be funny?

Yes, but be careful. When done well, writing a funny essay can be an effective way to share your sense of humor with the committee. However, like sarcasm, humor doesn’t always translate through the computer screen. Plan to have several other people read your essay and see if they understand the tone. A good rule to follow is to simply allow your natural voice to come through. If you’re funny in person, then there is a good chance that the humor will shine through.

Can a college essay be too personal?

Yes. Again, if you’re writing about something that you would not discuss at the dinner table, then the topic is likely too personal. Your essay will be evaluated by people whose job is to find students who will be a good fit for their institution both academically and socially. You should choose a topic that allows the admission committee to see that you are a good fit. If you think your essay might be too personal, re-read it and then ask yourself what the reader learns about you. Are you highlighting your strengths? If not, pick another topic.

Can a college essay be about anything?

Students can write about any topic they choose as long as it directly relates to the question in the prompt.

Can a college essay be informal?

No. Students should think of the essay as a tool to help differentiate themselves from the other candidates. It is a formal piece of writing that is meant to highlight their thinking, writing and communication skills, so admission officers expect to see polished pieces of writing. Using an informal tone can impact your application negatively.

Are there any college applications without an essay?

There are some colleges that do not require an essay with the application. These could be large universities that receive a high number of applications but have limited resources to evaluate them. Other schools may choose to not require an essay as a way to attract more applicants to their institution.

Can I use quotations in my college essay?

You may include quotes in your essay, though you should use them minimally. Using quotes introduces a different voice when the applicant should be highlighting their own voice. Most applications have a maximum word count that students may find restrictive, and using quotations limits your voice even further.

What should I do if my college essay is too long?

Most applications will not allow you to submit essays that exceed the word limit, so it is important to watch the word count closely. If it is too long, read it out loud to identify phrasing that doesn’t directly support your topic or areas with awkward phrasing. Are you over-explaining? Did it take you five sentences to say something that could have been done in two? If you make these changes and you’re still over the word limit, put it aside for a week or two and come back to it. Viewing it through a fresh lens can help you see exactly what changes need to be made.

How do I find a college essay tutor or someone to help me with my essay?

The admission committee expects to read a highly polished piece of writing demonstrating that the student has given it considerable time and thought. While school counselors and English teachers can fine-tune the writing mechanics, CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts can help strategize ways to create an attention catching essay. In addition, students using the Platinum and Ivy Plus packages have the option to work with a former admission officer to learn exactly how an admission committee would evaluate their writing. The CollegeAdvisor.com method elevates a student’s writing without compromising their voice.

Didn’t see your question on the list? To get help writing your college essay from CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts , register with CollegeAdvisor.com today.

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A Complete Guide to the College Application Process

Find answers to common questions prospective college students have about deadlines, essays and more.

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Students should generally begin working on applications the summer between their junior and senior year of high school, experts say.

The college application process can seem intimidating, especially if students don't have parents or siblings who have already been through it and can offer advice.

Since there are several steps, such as writing an essay and obtaining letters of recommendation , experts say a good way for students to get started is to create a to-do list during their junior year of high school.

"Once you can see it visually, the number of tasks and a schedule to do them, it simplifies a lot of things," says Christine Chu, a premier college admissions counselor at IvyWise, a New York-based education consulting company. "It will take away a lot of the anxiety."

Though there is often prep work, students generally begin working on college application tasks the summer between their junior and senior years of high school, experts say.

Here's what prospective undergraduates need to know about completing a college application.

What Are the Important College Application Deadlines?

High school seniors have multiple deadlines to choose from when applying to colleges.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Applying to College

Applying to college.

• Complete the FAFSA
• Fill Out the Common App
• Write a Standout College Essay
• Ask for Recommendation Letters
• Learn the Ins and Outs of Financial Aid
• Decipher College Tuition Costs
• Find Scholarships to Pay for College

Early Decision

First are early decision deadlines, usually in November. Students who apply via early decision, or ED, hear back from a college sooner than their peers who turn in applications later. ED admissions decisions often come out by December.

However, students should be aware that ED acceptances are binding, meaning an applicant must enroll if offered admission.

Some schools also have a second early decision deadline, ED II, which is also binding. The difference is in the timelines. ED II deadlines are usually in January, and admissions decisions often come out in February.

Early Action

Early action is another type of application deadline that tends to be in November or December, though some schools set deadlines as early as Oct. 15. Similar to early decision, students who apply via early action hear back from schools sooner. The difference is EA acceptances aren't binding.

Restrictive early action , which is uncommon, allows students to apply early but only to a single school (though there are exceptions). It's also nonbinding.

Regular Decision

Students can also choose to apply by a school's regular decision deadline, which is typically Jan. 1. Students who apply regular decision generally hear back from schools in mid-to-late March or early April. This is the most common way students apply to schools.

One other admissions policy to be aware of is rolling admissions . Schools with rolling admissions evaluate applications as they receive them and release admissions decisions on an ongoing basis. These schools may have a priority filing date, but they generally don't have a hard cutoff date for applications. The institutions continue accepting them until all spots in the incoming class are filled.

Regardless of the type of decision students pursue, it's important to start the application process early, says Denard Jones, lead college counselor at Empowerly, a college admissions consulting company. Jones previously worked in college admissions at Elon University in North Carolina and Saint Joseph's University in Pennsylvania.

“If you chunk it up and break down these tasks and can get ahead and start early, you’re not stifling your creativity because you’re trying to rush through to get everything done by October or November deadlines," he says. “Time management is something you’re going to have to deal with the rest of your life, regardless of what you go into.”

In deciding when to apply, as well as how many colleges to apply to, students should consider financial aid implications . Experts say if money is a concern, as it is for most families of college-bound students, applicants should choose nonbinding deadlines – EA and regular decision. This will enable families to compare financial aid offers from multiple schools.

Experts also suggest students research applicable scholarships, like those related to their hobbies , to help offset costs.

For regular decision deadlines, students typically have until May 1 to decide which school they will attend and pay an enrollment deposit.

Which College Application Platform Should I Use?

Students have several options when it comes to college application platforms.

The Common Application

One popular choice is The Common Application , which is accepted by more than 1,000 colleges, including some outside the U.S. Students fill out the Common App once and can then submit it to multiple colleges.

However, in addition to the main application, Common App schools often have a supplemental section, Chu says. The supplement sometimes includes additional essay questions, so students may need to budget time for more writing.

Some schools do not accept the Common App, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Students have to fill out separate applications for these schools, generally through the school's website.

Coalition Application and Common Black College Application

Other application options include the Coalition Application, a newer platform accepted by 130 schools, and the Common Black College Application , accepted by most historically Black colleges and universities.

Additionally, some colleges have school-specific or university system-specific applications. For example, the University of California system has its own application – the only platform used by UC schools – and students can apply to multiple campuses with one application.

Students can visit a college's website to find out which application platforms are accepted. Also, the Common App , Coalition Application and CBCA websites list their partner schools.

What Do I Need to Know About the College Application Essay?

As part of the application process, most colleges require students to submit at least one writing sample: the college essay . This is sometimes referred to as a personal statement.

There's usually a word limit of around several hundred words for a personal statement. The main essay on the Common App should be around 650 words. The Coalition Application website says its essays should be between 500 and 650 words. Institution-specific supplemental essays typically have a word count of around 250 words.

Regardless of which application platform they use, students have multiple essay prompts from which to choose.

"The application essay prompts are broad and open-ended, and I think that's sometimes what challenges students the most," says Niki Barron, associate dean of admission at Hamilton College in New York. "But they're open-ended for a reason, and that's because we do really want to see what students choose to write about, what students feel is important."

Experts say students should try to tell a story about themselves in the essay, which doesn't necessarily mean writing about a big, impressive accomplishment.

Barron says the most memorable essays for her focus on more ordinary topics. "But they're done in such a self-reflective way that it gives me so much insight into who a student is as a person and gives me such a sense of the student's voice," she adds.

What Are the Other Key Components of a College Application?

Here are other parts of the college application that prospective students should be ready for.

Personal Information

In the first portion of a college application, students have to provide basic information about themselves, their school and their family.

High School Transcript

Colleges also ask for an official high school transcript, which is a record of the courses students have taken and the grades they have earned.

Admissions offices typically ask that a transcript be sent directly from the high school rather than from the student, says Geoff Heckman, school counselor and department chair at Platte County High School in Missouri. Students usually submit a transcript request to their high school's counseling office, but some schools use an online service, such as Parchment or SENDedu, that allows students to request the transcript be sent through a secure online provider, Heckman says.

Students can also send their transcript via a registrar if their school has one rather than through the counseling office.

Standardized Test Scores

Many schools require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores, which are usually sent by the testing companies. The number of schools requiring standardized test scores has dropped dramatically as the coronavirus pandemic upended these exams.

Prospective students should know, however, that testing policies vary even when such exams are not required. Key terms to pay attention to include test-blind and test-optional . Test-blind means that scores will not be considered if submitted. By contrast, test-optional colleges do not require ACT or SAT scores but will consider them if submitted as part of an application.

Chu notes that "admissions officers still want to see test scores if possible" and that high marks will only help. Strong scores can lead to scholarships, in some cases, experts say. A good ACT or SAT score varies by college, and Chu encourages students to look at a college's first-year student profile to determine admission goals.

SAT-takers are allowed four free score reports each time they register for the exam. Students can select which schools they'd like their scores sent to before or up to nine days after the test, according to the College Board, which administers the standardized test. The fee for each additional score report is $12.

Similarly, students who sit for the ACT can send their score to up to four colleges at no cost, according to the ACT website . Additional score reports are $18 each. However, some students may qualify for a fee waiver , which allows test-takers to send additional score reports for free to colleges and scholarship agencies at any time during the college search process, according to the ACT website.

Letters of Recommendation

Colleges often ask students to submit two to three letters of recommendation .

Students should seek out recommenders – often they have to be teachers or counselors – who know them well and can comment not just on their academic abilities but also their personal qualities and achievements, Chu says.

It's a good idea for students to provide recommenders with a copy of their resume to help them cover all these bases, Heckman says.

Students should request letters of recommendation well before the application deadline. Chu advises at least two months in advance.

"The more time students can give the authors of those recommendations, I think the more thorough and helpful those recommendations are going to be for us," Barron says.

Information on Extracurricular Activities

College applications give students the chance to provide information on the extracurricular activities they participated in while in high school. In this section, students should detail all of the ways they spend their time outside of class, Barron says. This includes structured activities like sports or clubs, as well as family obligations such as caring for siblings or part-time employment, she says.

Some admissions officers spend significant time evaluating this section, Jones says, but he adds this is often the most overlooked part of the application. Many students rush through it and don't thoroughly explain the extent to which they were involved in an activity. Be sure to explain any leadership roles or accomplishments, he says.

"The extracurriculars are the things that they spend their entire high school career doing that lead up to these wonderful moments and accolades over time," he says. "So take the time and be detailed."

Do I Need to Submit a Resume?

On some college applications, it may be optional for students to upload a resume .

But much of the information generally contained in a resume – such as awards, work experience and extracurricular activities – is asked for in other parts of a college application, often in the activities section.

How Much Do College Application Fees Cost?

There's no set price for college application fees, which experts say typically range from $50 to $90 per application, though costs can stretch upward of $100 in some instances. Prospective students should check college websites to determine these individual fees.

How Can I Get a College Application Fee Waiver?

There are several ways students from low-income families can submit college applications for free .

Students who received SAT or ACT test fee waivers are eligible for college application fee waivers from the testing companies. The College Board sends such waivers automatically to students. Not all schools accept these waivers, but many do.

Similarly, the ACT has a fee waiver request form students and school counselors can fill out and send to colleges. The National Association for College Admission Counseling also offers a fee waiver request form .

In addition, eligible students can request a fee waiver within the body of some college applications, including the Common App.

There are other times schools waive application fees , and not just for low-income students. Students can sometimes get an application fee waived by participating in instant decision day events at their high school or on a college's campus. Applicants should also keep an eye out for free application periods in some states, when some colleges waive fees to apply.

Using a College Visit to Decide Where to Apply

A common piece of advice offered by admissions consultants and college officials alike is to tour a campus. Visiting a college can help prospective students get a sense of the culture and community and understand how they may or may not fit in. While it's not part of the formal application process, exploring a college can help students determine which schools to apply to.

Such visits, Chu says, offer a "glimpse into a day in the life" of students living and learning on those campuses. But in the absence of the opportunity to visit – say, due to cost restrictions or other travel limitations – students should consider virtual tours , which emerged as a popular option for applicants after the coronavirus pandemic began.

While virtual tours may offer fewer opportunities to make personal connections, students should still attempt to forge them.

"Virtual visits can be the next best thing" to an in-person tour, Barron notes. She also encourages applicants to "check college websites for offerings and opportunities to connect virtually with current students, admission staff, professors, coaches and others."

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Hunter College will be test optional for the Fall 2023 – Spring 2027 semesters.

We strongly encourage students submit their SAT/ACT scores to help provide additional context to their application, especially students applying for merit scholarship programs (Freshman Honors, Macaulay etc.). However, students who do not submit scores will not be disadvantaged in the admissions process. Admission to Hunter is based on a comprehensive review of a student’s academic record including overall grade point average, strength of curriculum, and other factors such as co-curricular activities, community involvement, evidence of leadership, and special talents.

An essay of 500 words or less is required along with your CUNY Admission Application to Hunter College. Review the essay topics below.

Tell us something meaningful about yourself that is not reflected in your application. You may choose to speak about your interests, aspirations and/or background.

It is often said that the road to success is paved with setbacks. Tell us about a time you faced a challenge or obstacle. What did you learn from it, and how did it contribute to your success?

Share an essay on any topic. You may use an essay that you have previously written or one that discusses a topic of your choice.

Hunter College accepts Advanced Placement (AP) for transfer credit. Students who completed Advanced Placement (AP) courses in secondary school and who passed the AP Tests of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) with a grade of 4 and above will receive credit for the equivalent requirement at Hunter. Students with grades of 3 may also receive credit for corresponding courses or elective credit.

• Review Exact AP Exam Equivalencies Chart
• More information on CollegeBoard AP score reporting

How to submit your scores  To have your test scores sent directly to Hunter College, enter the Hunter College code number, 2301, when prompted for your "Score Report Recipient" at the time of your examination.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Hunter College participates in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), which provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement through a program of exams in undergraduate college courses. Registered degree-seeking Hunter students may receive college credit by completing certain CLEP Subject Examinations and earning specified scores.

• Learn about Exact CLEP Exam Equivalencies
• Get information on scheduling the CLEP exam at Hunter
• For more information on CLEP, visit the CollegeBoard CLEP

How to submit your scores To have your test scores sent directly to Hunter College, enter the Hunter College code number, 2301, when prompted for your "Score Report Recipient" at the time of your examination.

Hunter College will conduct an evaluation of college courses to ensure appropriate transfer credit can be awarded. Students who took college courses while in high school should request for their official college transcripts to be sent directly from the institution to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Hunter College.

How to Submit Your Scores

To have your test scores sent directly to Hunter College, please have them mailed to Transfer Course Evaluation, 695 Park Avenue, Room 203N New York, NY 10065 or sent to [email protected] electronically. View the Accepted IB Credits chart below.

Students educated outside of the United States are required to submit official transcripts from all previous secondary and post-secondary schools. All non-English transcripts and associated documents must also be translated (PDF).

Applicants have the following two options for submission:

SpanTran is Hunter College’s recommended international transcript evaluation service. They have created a custom application for Hunter College that helps ensure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate! Students that submit their documents to SpanTran should expect to see an update on their CUNY Application about 3-4 weeks after submission.

Fill out the SpanTran Application

Students may submit official transcript(s) and a certified translation of all official documents   directly to CUNY. Students submitting documents directly to CUNY should expect to see an update on their CUNY Application about 10-12 weeks after submission.

Additional resources for submitting required documentation:

• Transcripts
• Translations
• English Language Test Scores
• Other Evaluation Services

As a freshman applicant, we encourage you to select your intended major on your Admission Application; however, incoming freshmen are admitted to Hunter College and not directly to specific academic majors and/or programs.

Please note that the following selective programs will require an additional application process after you have been admitted and completed the required prerequisite coursework as a Hunter student.

For more information on what to expect later, visit the  Selective Programs Overview  page.

• Public Health
• Medical Laboratory Science
• Nutrition and Food Science
• BSN Nursing Program
• BSW Social Work Program  (Fall only)
• School of Education

Once you have submitted your Admission Application, please contact the music department to schedule your audition.

Students interested in the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College must submit a Macaulay Honors College Application before the deadline. Additional information on the program can be found on the Macaulay Honors College  website.

Students interested in one of the Freshman Scholar Programs at Hunter must apply to the programs of interest after submitting the CUNY application. For more information, please visit the  Freshman Scholar Program website .

The Percy Ellis Sutton Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) program is a higher education opportunity program that provides academic and financial support to students who qualify based on specific income and academic criteria.

• SEEK at CUNY
• SEEK at Hunter

If you feel like SEEK at Hunter is right for you, please indicate your interest on your Admission Application. Review the financial criteria  before applying.

To learn how to check the status of your Admission Application and/or to report an error with your application, click the link below.

For help completing your online Admission Application, contact an Admissions Counselor .

A great way to learn more about us is to sign-up for an Admissions Information Session. Our information sessions are offered both in person and virtually, and allow ample time to ask questions live with a member of our admissions team.

Topics covered include:

• the admissions process
• what is required with your application
• how to apply for available scholarships
• student life
• student resources and more

Click below to view upcoming Admissions Information Sessions.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, when to apply for college: complete timeline.

College Admissions

Many students start college in the fall after they graduate high school, but their planning and applying starts years before. Application deadlines may be in the fall or winter of senior year, and completing each step on the path to college might start as early as freshman year.

This article answers all your questions about when to apply for college: when do you complete each step of the process, and when are your college deadlines? After reading this, you'll know exactly when to apply to college and what steps are needed.

When Do the Majority of Students Apply to College?

Most students apply to college in their senior year of high school. They graduate in May or June and then start college in September of that same year.

Most schools offer multiple options for when to submit your applications. These different options are known as admissions plans , and each plan usually has its own deadlines, requirements, and, sometimes, restrictions. The admissions plans that you’ll encounter as you research different schools include the following: early decision, early action, regular decision, and rolling admissions.

Generally speaking, most schools will require you to submit applications for early action or early decision by November of 12th grade (senior year). To meet a regular decision deadline, you'd apply a few months later in January or February. Let's take a look at each deadline in more specific detail, starting with early decision and early action.

When Do You Apply for Early Admissions?

Early admissions includes two options: early decision and early action. While early decision and early action differ in terms of their requirements and conditions, they share similar timelines. Both plans have a deadline in November and allow you to hear back about your admissions decision in mid-December.

Some popular schools with early action deadlines of November 1 are CalTech, Georgetown, Harvard, MIT, Notre Dame, Stanford, University of Virginia, and Yale. Popular early decision schools with a November 1 deadline include Boston University, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Northwestern, NYU, University of Pennsylvania, and Vanderbilt.

Some schools with early decision now also offer an Early Decision II deadline, which is in January . Like Early Decision I, this binding option lets you hear back early from your first choice school, usually in February, about whether or not you got in. The main advantage of applying Early Decision II is that you’ll have a little extra time to polish up your application before submitting it. Some popular schools with Early Decision II deadlines of January 1 are Brandeis, Colby, Emory, NYU, Smith, and Vanderbilt.

Early admissions can be a great option for students who are prepared to apply early and appreciate early notification. If you're planning to apply early, when do you complete each step of the process?

Your College Planning Timeline for Early Deadlines

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither should your application be. You need to take time filling out your application, thoughtfully writing about your extracurricular involvement, and proofreading all of the information for errors. Apart from filling out your app, you'll have to take time fulfilling other requirements. Three that demand the most planning and time are your personal essay, recommendation letters, and SAT or ACT scores.

You should spend a few months thinking about and writing your personal essay. Giving yourself space to brainstorm and mull over ideas is an important part of the writing process that can take weeks. Since your essay is such an important part of your application, you should spend a couple of months drafting, getting feedback, and revising it until it feels precise and authentic, almost like a work of art.

To meet an early deadline, you might begin working on your essay over the summer before senior year. While it's rare that the Common App changes its essay prompts, they have done so in the past. Common App announced these changes in August. Most recently, Common App made changes to its essay prompts in February 2021; you can learn all about those changes here .

Keep this in mind when working on your essay, but don't worry about drastic changes in the questions. Generally speaking, they all ask you to communicate something important about your identity and show how you make meaning of significant experiences in your life.

A second piece of your application that requires your attention early on is your recommendation letters . You should ask your counselor and teachers at least a month before your deadlines , likely by the end of September. You might also ask your junior year teachers at the end of 11th grade. Apart from making the request, you should also spend a week or so thinking about and filling out your "brag sheet," so that your recommenders have some thoughtful material to consult when they begin to write.

Finally, you want to leave yourself plenty of time to take the SAT or ACT . You might take the tests two or three times to achieve your target scores. You also would benefit from several months to study and improve. To apply for an early deadline, you'd ideally have your test scores all set by the end of junior year. You might be able to take the tests in September or October of senior year, but these dates should be a last resort, rather than a "make or break" test date.

Note : Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools are waiving their SAT/ACT score requirements for the 2021-2022 application year (and beyond).

To reiterate, in order to be ready for early admissions deadlines, you'll want to: 

• work on your essays a few months before your November deadlines,
• ask for recommendations in junior year or September of senior year, and
• start prepping and planning for the SAT or ACT at the end of 10th or beginning of 11th grade.

Applying early to college is an increasingly popular option among students, but the majority of students still apply under regular decision. Read on to learn about regular decision deadlines and how they impact your college planning.

When Do You Apply Under Regular Decision?

The most common regular decision deadlines are in January and February . January 1 is a common date, making for a busy winter break! January 15 and January 31 are popular ones, too.

Some schools with January regular decision deadlines are Boston University, Harvard, NYU, and Yale, among many others. Students who apply under regular decision usually hear back about their admissions decisions in March or April. Since regular decision deadlines are in the winter, how does your college planning schedule differ from that to meet an early deadline?

Your College Planning Timeline for Regular Deadlines

In many ways, your college planning timeline for regular decision will be similar to the timeline for applying for early admission--but with some key differences. You have to consider how busy the fall of senior year is, both for you and for your teachers and counselors.

If your senior year schedule is packed with challenging courses and after school involvements, then you still might want to work on your essay over the summer months, when you have more time and focus for it. You also might still ask for your recommendations in September, or at least October. Some teachers set a cap on how many letters they'll write, and they probably don't want to spend their entire winter holiday writing letters. Try to ask early in the fall semester.

When you apply for regular decision, you might have one more opportunity to take the SAT or ACT in December. It's still advisable to take it at least once in junior year, and many students take it twice—in the fall of 11th grade and again in the spring. Again, you want to think about your schedule in the fall and how to best balance putting together a strong college application with all your other assignments, clubs, and/or sports.

Finally, some schools don't have set deadlines at all and are flexible about when applications arrive. This option is called rolling admissions.

When Do You Apply for Rolling Admissions?

Your timeline for applying for rolling admissions depends on a few factors and may vary from student to student. Schools with rolling admissions accept applications throughout a period of time , usually ranging from the fall to the spring. For example, the application for Indiana State University opened June 1 this year and will remain open through Spring 2022.

Since most schools with rolling admissions accept applications on a first come, first served basis—sometimes notifying you of admission only a few weeks after you submit—it's advisable to apply as early as possible. Sticking to an early deadline of November or regular deadline in January, even though you don't absolutely have to, is a good guideline to follow.

Not only will setting a deadline for yourself help you keep better track of your college planning, but it will help you apply early and thereby impress admissions officers, which gives you a better chance of admission.

Some schools with rolling admission also publicize a priority deadline, meaning students who apply by that deadline have an advantage. University of Maryland's priority deadline, for instance, is November 1. They'll still accept applications after, but you'll have improved chances if you apply by then.

So far, this article assumes that you're applying as a senior to go right into college. Of course, not all students immediately move onto college after graduating. Some choose to take a gap year or apply later in life. Others actually get a headstart on college and apply even younger. When do these students apply?

When Do You Apply If You're Not a High School Senior?

There are other timelines for applying to college besides the typical one that culminates in senior year. Maybe you want to work for a year or two before entering college. Maybe you have the opportunity to volunteer abroad or travel the world. Perhaps you graduated years ago and are now thinking about going back to school for your degree.

In these cases, you'll still apply to meet the same early or regular deadlines or rolling admissions time frame. However, you might need to leave yourself extra time to collect all your application materials. Let's consider each of the above situations individually.

"I Want to Take a Gap Year"

If this sounds like you, when do you apply for college? Actually, your timeline might still involve applying senior year. Lots of schools allow you to defer your admissions decision for a year. Deferring your admissions decision means you would still apply by an early or regular deadline, or rolling admissions, and then if you got accepted, you'd defer your enrollment for one academic year.

You might be thinking that you want to travel and then figure out where to go to college. This could be a good option too, but remember that your deadlines might still be in January. That means you'll still need to have your SAT scores finalized, letters of recommendation gathered, and essays written throughout the fall—possibly while you're traveling the world!

If applying to colleges while you’re traveling doesn’t sound like the plan for you, remember this: Not all that much time will have passed since high school, so it could be a lot easier to get your application materials collected while you're still in the swing of school and used to being a student.

If you've been out of school already for a year or two, then that's a different story.

"I'm Going Back to College After a Year or More Off"

If you've been out of high school for a while, then you'll probably have to reconnect with your school for teacher and counselor recommendations and official documents, like your transcript. if you haven't taken the SAT or ACT yet, then you may have to study and take one of those tests as well.

Your deadlines will be in November or December, as mentioned above, and you'll mostly want to follow similar steps, like asking for recommendations at least a month before your deadlines and leaving yourself a couple of opportunities to prep for and take the SAT or ACT.

If you've been out of school for several years, then colleges might not require you to take the SAT or ACT. You'll want to contact the colleges early to find out whether or not you need to prep for and take one of these exams.

It'd be advisable to leave yourself extra time so that you can meet with your recommenders and help them write you a letter. Since you're not a current student, you'll want to have extra time to set up appointments with faculty and gather all the documents you need.

Finally, when do students apply if they want to graduate high school earlier than senior year?

"I'm Graduating High School Early"

There are rare advanced students who earn enough credits, perhaps from courses at a local community college or online, to graduate high school early and go straight into college at a young age.

These students push their timeline earlier by a year or two, taking the SAT or ACT as freshmen or sophomores , and gathering all their documents early. If this sounds like you, you'll probably want to work closely with your counselors, administrators, and teachers to make sure they agree with your choice.

You might take your tests in freshmen and sophomore year, ask your sophomore year teachers for recommendations, and apply in the fall or winter of your junior year. You may also have to take the GED to earn the equivalent of your high school diploma. Make sure you've met all graduation requirements and, of course, have concrete, realistic reasons for graduating high school early and enrolling in college.

The aforementioned situations are exceptions rather than the rule, but can be great options if they apply to your situation and needs. In closing, let's review when most students submit their applications to colleges.

To Sum Up...

We've covered all the important details about the admissions plans available to you and what it takes to have your applications ready to go for each deadline. The majority of students apply to college in January or February of their senior year to meet regular decision deadlines. They hear back in April and choose a college by the national response date of May 1.

Other students might apply in November with early decision or early action, or through a range of time with rolling admissions.

To meet deadlines, college planning must start at least a year or two out. This includes prepping for the SAT or ACT and writing essays, but it also includes the time it takes to reflect on your interests, explore new ones, and think deeply about where you'd like to go to college.

As you explore and develop in high school, you should be thinking about your goals and what college communities would provide you with the intellectual climate and opportunities to thrive. This journey starts early in high school, and of course continues throughout the rest of your life.

What's Next?

Now that you have a sense of when to start applying for college, what about specific deadlines for schools? This guide has the full list of early decision deadlines , and this one has the complete list of early action deadlines .

Are you a younger student interested in getting more involved in community service? Learn all about community service here , plus check out the 9 best places to volunteer.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.

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How to Address A Mental Health Issue or Disability On Your College Application

Applying to college can be a confusing and intimidating process for anyone. If you’re a student with a disability or history of mental health challenges, you might find the process even more so.

As a student who has a mental health issue or disability, your high school experience may have been inherently more difficult in some ways, and it has most likely been different from that of your peers. You might be unsure of how to speak about your unique challenges or struggles without sounding negative. At the same time, you may feel that your application is incomplete without addressing them. Your disability or mental health may be an integral part of your identity.

If you’re getting ready to apply to college and you’re wondering if or how to present a mental health issue or disability on your college application, this is the post for you. Here, we will discuss the factors to consider when choosing to disclose your challenges on your college application, and we will outline the various ways in which you can present these in the framework of a college application.

Should I discuss my mental health or disability on my college application?

Your mental health history or disability may be an integral part of who you are, but that does not necessarily make it relevant to a college application. For starters, it is important to know that it is actually illegal for a college to specifically ask for these types of details about your life, since doing so can be considered discrimination. Based on this reason alone, you are never required to disclose mental or physical health concerns on your application. Doing so is strictly a matter of personal choice and you should not feel that you are lying by omission if you choose to leave this information out.

Before you choose whether or not you’ll disclose your history of mental health or disability, you should think about the overall function of a college application.

Everything on a college application should contribute to an overall positive image of who you are as a student and as a member of a greater community. While you don’t need to hide integral parts of who you are, you also don’t want to share challenges that will not in any way support your application positively. This is true not only for mental health and disabilities but also for academics, extracurriculars, and other experiences. You always want to put your best foot forward and keep the focus on your strengths and most positive attributes.

That being said, mental health issues and disabilities are not inherently negative, and there is nothing to be ashamed of when discussing them. You should not feel like you need to hide these parts of your identity, but rather that you need to spin them in a positive way much the same as you would any other aspect of your application. Simply put, you want to ensure that you are presenting your true self in the best light. 

There are a few questions to consider when deciding whether you’ll include this information on your application at all. Ask yourself if your application will be confusing or incomplete if you don’t address these issues. For example, if you had to take a semester off to recover, you will obviously need to explain the gap in your transcript. Similarly, if you battled depression and failed one semester despite achieving a 4.0 GPA your senior year, you’ll need to explain the discrepancy. Never leave an admissions committee wondering what happened, since they will likely assume the worst if you don’t mention it at all.

If, after some introspection, you do find that these issues are ones that need to be addressed on your application, there are several places to do so. The specifics about why you choose to include these details in the first place will often dictate where the most appropriate place to discuss these issues is. 

When and how should I discuss my mental health or disability in my college essay?

The essay is one obvious place to include details about your mental health or disability, but you should only do so if you feel that your struggles with these issues truly define you as a person and can be included as part of a bigger picture that shows your strengths in a positive light.

Remember, the function of a college essay is not to be an autobiography. You should not be writing your life story simply to inform others of your experiences. Instead, the function of a college essay is to be part of an overall marketing package. And what are you marketing? Yourself!

Whatever you choose as an essay topic should shed light on the attributes that make you a beneficial and unique member of any community. If your struggles with mental health or disabilities are defining features of this nature, then your essay is a great place to frame them positively. If you choose to do so, focus extensively on your recovery or management of these issues, and stress your ability to overcome the challenges you have faced.

Never leave an admissions committee to wonder if you will be a liability in their community. While it is of course illegal to discriminate against applicants based on their mental health or disability, it would be nearly impossible to prove that your disclosure of these issues was a direct factor in your not being accepted. Make it a nonissue by always keeping the focus on how these issues have shaped you into a better, stronger person and emphasizing that you have fully recovered or managed your condition.

When and how should I discuss my mental health or disability in the additional information section of my college application?

If you realize that your disability or mental health is not a truly defining feature of you as a person, you will probably not include it in your essay. But if there are red flags or question marks on your application that cannot be fully understood without this information, the Additional Information section of your application is the place to discuss it.

In instances where this issue has impacted your grades, involvement in class, attendance, or ability to participate in school activities, you should provide a brief explanatory background, usually no longer than a paragraph or two.

If you are sharing information about your mental health or disability in this section, you should do so only in a factual manner. You should not offer overly detailed or emotional descriptions, but instead keep it short and to the point. Since you have already decided that this information is not worthy of including in your essay, you should feel no obligation to provide extensive details or specifics. 

For example, you might describe that you took a semester off to address a health concern that is now under control. Always emphasize your recovery or management of this condition and your readiness for college, so that the admissions committee is never left to wonder what your current status is.  

When and how should I discuss my mental health or disability in a college admissions interview?

The decision process to discuss these details in an admissions interview should be similar to the decision process to include them in your essay or the Additional Information section of your application.

If you feel that these experiences are the most defining feature of your personality and can spin them in a positive way that presents your best self, you should definitely do so during an admissions interview. On the other hand, if you feel that these issues are irrelevant to how beneficial you will be to the college community, you are under no obligation to divulge them. The only remaining reason to do so would be if part of your transcript is incomplete or confusing without this additional insight.

If you do end up discussing these challenges in your college admissions interview, frame them as you would in your essay or your Additional Information section. Make sure to discuss them in a brief, factual manner, and always emphasize your recovery or management of the issue, and your college readiness above all else.

One Final Consideration For College Applicants With Mental Health Challenges or Disabilities

Keep in mind that in addition to making your own decision about whether your personal challenges will be included on your application, you should also discuss your decision with your college counselor or any teachers who are writing recommendations for you. You need to be sure that the details you plan to include on your application are consistent with any details that your teachers might include in your recommendations.

Also keep in mind that you can always request that your teachers do not disclose any details at all about your mental health or disability. If you find no reason to mention it on your application, it’s unlikely that they would have any reason to mention it in a recommendation, either, but you should always communicate with them ahead of time to ensure that you’re on the same page.

If you’re a high school student who has struggled with mental health or disabilities, you may feel uncertain about how or even if you should disclose this information on your college application. You should know that you are not required to do so in any way, and that the final decision is always yours to make.

For more about disabilities, mental health, and the college admissions process, see these valuable CollegeVine posts:

• A Guide to Disability Accommodations for Standardized Testing    
• Getting Back On Track After a Disciplinary Setback
• Dealing with Test Anxiety
• How to Get Into a Competitive School if You Struggled in High School
• What Makes a Good Recommendation Letter?
• How Often Should I Meet with My Guidance Counselor?
• Doubt, Discouragement, and Setting Appropriate Goals in High School

Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.

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Why You Should Submit Your Applications a Week Before the Deadline

You’re probably thinking, “But, College Essay Advisors, I need all the time I can get! I’m stressed and I need to make absolutely sure every comma is correct. I want to read through every essay and activity description until the words lose all meaning.” We applaud you, meticulous applicant. (And to the silent procrastinator in the back, we see you, too.) But there are three big reasons why you should give yourself a week of buffer time, and we promise the benefits outweigh the risks.

3. It will help you avoid making sloppy mistakes during the submission process. As many a Black Friday stampede has taught us, rushing is rarely a good idea. Submitting your applications before you’re down to the wire will allow you to take your time and focus. You’ll be able to copy, paste, and attach each item methodically. This might sound extreme, but you’ll thank us when you’re not scrambling to submit applications to 10 different schools at virtually the same time. The last thing you want is to accidentally send your Wesleyan essay to Wellesley or forget to submit an optional essay. Taking your time will give you the headspace to manage these final details and cross the finish line without a hitch.

2. It will give you peace of mind. Sometimes the best way to avoid stress is to take a deep breath and let your essays go. You don’t have to spend every last moment nitpicking each word and phrase. You’ve already had a trusted friend or family member or even college essay advisor read through your essay, right? You’ve double and triple checked your activity descriptions for typos, reordered your list of activities five times to ensure admissions knows that you are both a team player and natural leader, and typed your address in twice to make sure your creepy neighbor, Bob, doesn’t receive your letters (of acceptance, hopefully) instead. Now you can give yourself a break! Added perks include getting a head start on your senior spring and feeling superior to all of your peers who are still working on their applications.

1. The number one reason why we encourage students to try to tie up all their loose ends a week before their applications are due is because (drum roll please!) technology is not foolproof! Many students are using all the time they have at their disposal and applying a day before the deadline which means websites like the Common Application and Coalition are overrun with users and they are often incredibly slow because of it. College applications may not have been on your mind when the Common App crashed in 2013 and 2017 , but trust us, it was brutal. Applying a week before the deadline (or even four days before) gives you the opportunity to apply without running the risk of the site crashing while you’re in the middle of copying and pasting your essay.

So don’t freak out. Relax. Hit submit. Don’t wait for the site to crash to experience your first college-related meltdown, save that special experience for midterms next year.

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Check out out comprehensive guide to the Common App essay prompts!

Written by Kat Stubing

Category: Admissions , advice , College Admissions , Essay Resources , Procrastination , Productivity , Quick Tips , Tips , Uncategorized

Tags: 2018-19 college admissions , 2018-19 college applications , 2018-19 common application , Admissions , application , applications , applying to college , applying to college 2018-19 , coalition application , College , college admissions , college admissions advice , college admissions essay , college application , college application advice , college application deadlines , college application help , college applications , college applications 2018-19 , college deadlines , college essay advisors , common application

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I submitted my supplemental essays late.

I’m applied to Columbia ED and UChicago EA, both of which are due November 1st, which was last night. I was so relieved to finish my college applications, until the following morning where I realized that the common app and supplemental essays had to be submitted separately. I had only submitted the common app. After realizing this, I immediately submitted my supplementals, but I’m about 11 hours late from the deadline. Am I screwed?

Also, I don’t know if this is relevant, but I still got the confetti page after submitting my supplementals late. 😭

hey I was wondering if they accepted you or considered ur application still??

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You should be in the clear. Colleges often do accept late essays and other materials from students, but they do not publicly admit that - if they did, it would encourage too many people to ignore the deadlines.

If you are an applicant they want to accept, it is unlikely that they will turn you down just because you submitted your supplemental essays a bit late. To be on the safe side, I also recommend emailing the Columbia and UChicago admissions offices.

Hope this helps!

I made the same exact mistake i emailed them and the common app say downloaded by college what should i expect

I am in the same predicament right now and honestly don't know what to do I think emailing the admissions office is a good idea for now

Did either of you guys hear back???

@ver2e I think you are okay because you got the main Common App completed and submitted by the deadline and only the supplements were 11 hours late. You are not screwed.

Nevertheless, I would end a quick email to the UChicago and Columbia Admissions office explaining that you misunderstood the instructions.

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