What Do You Mean I Didn’t Hit the
‘Submit’ Button?
(25+ Tips for Navigating Web-Based Applications to US Colleges/Universities)
Compiled by Frieda Dietrich,
BEFORE you start entering data:
1. Check the college’s website for a list of the minimum
technology requirements for completion of the online application. If you need
to upgrade your hardware/software, do it now rather than later. Be aware that
non-US colleges might have slightly different approaches to submitting online
apps. Any questions, see your counselor.
2. If necessary, print out all of the directions before
you start entering data. If needed, get a “techie” to explain some of the
features before you start the process. If you are working on the app with a
family member, make sure you communicate clearly as to how and who is going to
complete what parts of the application. Don’t ASSUME anything!
3. Develop a strategy to keep track of each school’s
paperwork as you keep a hard copy of what you submit. (Yes, colleges
occasionally misfile information and expect YOU to recreate/resubmit it. Be
ready for any surprises!)
4. Consider asking your counselor or family to help you
prepare a “trial run” application before you sit down at the computer. Your
confidence and speed of entry will benefit as you know that you are entering
the correct phone, address, email, social security number, high school CEEB
code, etc. Reconfirm one last time that the spelling of the name you are
applying with matches exactly the
spelling of the name on your SAT test registration, TOEFL registration, and
your high school transcript.
5. Verify that you will be completing the correct online
version if they ask you to choose from a list of options. “US” typically means
6. Reconfirm whether or not the online form allows you to
come back and finish or if you must do it all in one sitting. Develop a
strategy on how to complete it if you must do it all at once.
7. Ideally, reconfirm that you can legitimately claim
residency in a specific state BEFORE you apply. Each state has its own rules about
who can claim residency.
8. Do your online apps EARLY. If everyone waits until the
last day at the last hour, it can slow your application submission and possibly
overload the system…..causing you needless stress. Keep in mind that many
highly competitive majors at some schools fill up way before the advertised
deadline.
WHILE you are entering data:
9. If the online application asks for a state and won’t
proceed without one being entered and you don’t have one to enter, just pick a
state to fill the slot—shouldn’t be this way, but on some applications, that
seems to be the way it is….don’t worry about it…enjoy the quirkiness of some
software!
10. Periodically “save” your in-progress apps as htm disk
files. In the event of a power failure or computer glitch, you can reload right
where you left off.
11. If a separate signature page is required, print it
out, sign it, and take to your counselor for proper mailing with your other
documents. Your application is incomplete without it and many schools will not
notify you that you didn’t send it.
12. If you are using a credit card to pay the app fee,
ensure that the card does not expire within the next three months. Your app
will be delayed if the school has difficulty accessing the money from your
bank. Most importantly, keep records of which fees you paid—your counselor has
no record of this data. Failure on your part to keep track will mean that you
have to contact each individual school—not the best way to make a good
impression!
13. BTW, choose a reasonably “tasteful” email address and
message on your voice mail (yes, colleges do call overseas occasionally).
IMASLUT@ hotmail.com does not impress anyone, least of all, the person
evaluating your application!
14. Once you complete all parts of the online app,
consider having a member of your family or your counselor look at it to review
what you have entered…don’t hit the ‘submit’ button before you are ready—there
is no “doing over” option! After proper reviewing and reflecting, hit the
SUBMIT button!
AFTER you complete the online
application:
15. Submit any supplemental forms (they might be listed in
a separate area of the website) which might require “snail mail”
submission—read the directions carefully. Bring your documents to the
counseling office for mailing with their tracking/cover sheet system. If you
are planning to use DHL or UPS, etc., reconfirm that you have a street address
since the couriers do not deliver any packages to Post Office box numbers…good
idea to read the fine print again!
16. If you are paying the fee by check, reconfirm that the
college recognizes the bank, insert the correct dollar amount and, most
importantly, sign the check. Schools will view the application as incomplete if
the payment isn’t 100% correctly done and many schools will not notify you
right away that your payment is wrong…again, leading to needless delays.
17. If you are paying by some other procedure, contact
your counselor with any questions.
18. Keep a complete list of schools to which you are
applying online. It is quite easy to become confused if you don’t keep accurate
records. Reconfirm with your counselor the schools that your transcript has
been sent to—again, take advantage of their tracking/coversheet system. It
works!
19. Save all emails indicating that the school has
received your online app. Read the response carefully for any further requests
for information. These emails could become critical if there are any
misunderstandings between you and the college.
20. Save all emails which offer admission, place you on a
waitlist, offer an alternate admission date, or deny your application…..you
never know when you might need to return to these notes in case you change your
mind or if the college changes its mind or if you choose to “appeal” a
decision.
21. It is greatly advantageous if you know who is handling
your application at the other end—get the email address of a specific
person(s), if possible—not that you want to disrupt the busy schedule of this
application reader, but it pays dividends should there be any type of question
about the application while they are evaluating it. Your counselor can then
more quickly respond on your behalf.
22. If you haven’t told your counselor the names of the
schools you have applied to, do so now! Files are NOT complete without
transcripts, “official” test results, etc. Reconfirm your data online by going
to TCCi’s Family Connection or whatever data management system your school is
using.
23. When sending email to colleges from home or from a
computer other than your own, be sure to sign your message with your full name
and email address. Don’t assume the college knows you by your first name—in
fact, you might list your birthday in the subject line—anything to prevent
confusion in the admissions office. Lots of temporary staff are
handling your file—they don’t know you!
24. Do NOT mail in a hard copy of your online application
unless the college specifically requests a copy. Unless you live in certain
states in the
25. If you absolutely must change your email address after
you submit your app, make a concerted effort to update all of your school
contacts in the admissions and financial aid offices—don’t assume they will
recognize that your emails are coming from a new address!
26. Once you submit the app and request supporting
documents be sent from the counseling office, reconfirm three-four weeks later
that your file is Complete. Be aware
that there is usually a long delay in this part of the process due to the large
mailings arriving each day in the admissions office. If you happen to receive a
form letter stating that your file is incomplete, please know that these letters are often sent to everyone,
regardless if the information is there
or not. Be patient with the process at this point. Reconfirm with your
counselor that the materials have been sent and then recheck with the specific
contact person in the admissions office. These form letters aren’t meant to
upset applicants but they often do; now that you know not to over react, you
will save yourself some unnecessary grief!
27. If you haven’t submitted “official” SAT I and II,
TOEFL or other required standardized test scores, do so immediately—your file
is incomplete without them. Many schools do not tell you that your file is
missing the test scores and they will put your app on hold. Do not “rush” your
scores unless the school specifically asks you to do so—many selective colleges
do not want rushed scores and often say that it actually slows down the process
since the results do not arrive electronically—believe it or not!
28. Take care in storing your passwords; it is a good idea
to truly reflect on whom you share them with—security measures to prevent
identity fraud are now more important than ever.
29. If you are not receiving regular emails from the
schools you have applied to, it is strongly recommended that you check your
email service provider to confirm that your emails aren’t being routed into a
junk drawer—now is the most important time in your high school career to read
all of the emails from the colleges—if you don’t fully understand how to change
the settings on your email account, find someone who does—you won’t regret it!
If you still are not getting emails from specific schools, reconfirm that you
did indeed hit the “submit” button!! Each year, several hundred students
applying from all parts of the world fall into this trap….don’t let it be you!