Undergraduate application season is approaching for the newest graduating high school seniors. From research and campus visits to the college application process, seniors and their parents often feel equally excited and overwhelmed with all that there is to do.
After all, how long do college applications take, and how long does it take to hear back from a college?
We’ll answer these questions and more below as we discuss different stages of the college application process, how long each stage typically takes, and tips for staying organized and on track.
What is the college application process?
More often than not, the college application process begins long before senior year, as many students start thinking about their interests, goals, and applications as early as their first or second year in high school.
Then, in a student’s senior year, the college application process begins when students apply to their chosen colleges or universities.
While every institution will vary, students can expect to submit:
- Application with student’s personal information, such as the Common Application
- Extracurriculars and awards
- High school transcripts or its equivalent
- Personal statement or essay
- Standardized test scores, like the SAT or ACT
- Recommendation letters
Some institutions may also require an application fee, but others, like University of Bridgeport, offer applicants to apply free of charge.
How long does it take to apply to college?
The process of applying to college, and worse, wondering how long it takes to get accepted, will ultimately depend on the individual and their ability to prepare and meet deadlines.
Students should reach out to parents, guidance counselors, and admissions counselors for additional support during this challenging time.
Research and selection
As mentioned, the research and selection process often begins in a high school student’s first or second year as they determine what interests them and want to study in college.
They can then dedicate their junior year to researching schools and programs and applying to their chosen schools in their senior year.
Students should consider the following factors when choosing the right college for them:
- Academic major offerings
- Academic quality, rigor, and instruction
- Campus environment and extracurricular activities
- Cost, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities
- Geographic location
- School Size
- Student support services
Standardized tests
Standardized tests, like the American College Testing (ACT) exam and the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), measure students’ skills and readiness and show colleges and universities that they are ready for higher education.
The American College Testing (ACT) consists of four sections with an optional forty-minute writing test. The test lasts two hours and fifty-five minutes or three hours and thirty-five minutes if taking the writing test.
On the other hand, the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) consists of four sections with an optional fifty-minute essay portion. Depending on whether a student takes the essay portion, the test lasts between three and four hours.
While schools of all shapes and sizes may still require these tests, many, including University of Bridgeport, have changed their testing policies, focusing less on a student’s ACT or SAT score and more on other application materials such as grade-point averages (GPAs), course rigor, and letters of recommendation.
While you push through the college application process, check out how University of Bridgeport can help support your academic goals!
How long do college applications take?
The next step of the college application process involves gathering all of a candidate’s application materials.
One of the best ways to make this part of the process last as little as possible is to gather materials and recommendation letters early. This ensures students have everything they need when applying to the college or university of their choice.
Take advantage of the Common Application, which allows students to apply to several colleges in a single application. This application keeps an applicant’s materials in one place, making the overall college application process as simple and streamlined as possible.
Lastly, don’t forget to make an admissions checklist for yourself to stay organized and on top of application and financial aid deadlines.
Writing essays and personal statements
The essay or personal statement is a great way to showcase your personality and goals and explain why you are an excellent fit for a school or program outside your other application materials.
Follow the essay prompt or directions and plan to complete your essay well before the college application deadline to avoid last-minute planning or writing sessions.
Generally speaking, a month is a reasonable amount of time to outline, write, edit, and rewrite your essay.
Remember, this is an opportunity to showcase who you are, so don’t be afraid to be bold and show the parts of you that your transcripts and grades can’t.
Completing the application form
The research is done, the tests are taken, and your application materials are assembled. Now what?
It’s time to complete and submit your application form and start asking new questions like ‘How long does it take to get accepted into college?’
Double-check that all your materials are in order, and don’t be afraid to ask your parents or guardians for additional help.
Financial aid applications
Now that the college applications are submitted, it’s time to apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The FAFSA is the primary source of financial aid for students and their families from both the federal and state governments. Some colleges and universities also use it to help determine a student’s financial need and need-based scholarship eligibility.
Students will need to gather the following information for themselves and their families:
- Family size and income
- Federal income tax returns
- List of colleges you’re applying to
- Personal income (if any)
- Social security numbers
Students and their families should also keep in mind the many changes and updates to the 2024 FAFSA.
Lastly, as with college applications, always double-check that your information is correct before submitting it. Correcting your FAFSA after submitting it can be difficult and even delay your financial aid notification.
How long does it take to hear back from a college:
The moment you’ve been building toward—it’s finally time to take action.
Submission
Once you have all the materials for the college application and the FAFSA, you can submit the application in less than an hour. Although this may feel anticlimactic at the time, take a moment to appreciate your work to get to this point.
Follow-up
For the FAFSA, students submitting online can expect the US Department of Education to process and follow up on their application within three to five days. If they submit a paper application via mail, it is typically processed within seven to ten days.
Every institution will have its own timeline for evaluating student applications. In fact, it’s not unusual for a college’s application process to take four to six weeks.
Hearing back
Students can shorten the waiting time by meeting early decision or action application deadlines.
- Early decision is a binding application process where you commit to a specific college or university if accepted.
- Early action, on the other hand, is a non-binding agreement that allows you to apply early and receive a decision from a school (accepted, denied, or waitlisted) without your commitment.
Applying for early decision at University of Bridgeport means students are eligible for priority consideration for both admission and scholarships.
University of Bridgeport offers two early action deadlines as well as rolling admissions to give applicants the flexibility and time to visit and engage with us while still getting the maximum scholarship award.
How long does it take to get accepted into college?
As you can see, it depends on how quickly one can gather their information and submit their application materials.
However, the best way to make sure you hear back from a school as early as possible is to submit your application well before any deadlines.
This will allow your chosen school to provide you with an update on your application status and the financial aid package they can offer
Plus, the sooner students submit their applications and hear back, the sooner they can decide whether to attend and afford their chosen university. University of Bridgeport is a private, non-profit university, home to a diverse student body and flexible, career-oriented degree programs.