As the school year gets going, so does the plethora of questions that high school seniors get asked. Are they planning on attending college? What college are they planning on attending? Have they applied to a university? As the days go on, college is at the forefront of every senior’s mind as they prepare for the next step in their lives. 

   Connor McColgan, a senior at Newsome High School, says, “The college application process was easy, but some aspects were more difficult, like the brag sheet.” McColgan said he spent most of his time on his college essay and used the Common App to complete his application. “The Common App made it easy because you fill one thing out and send it to everyone,” said McColgan. 

   While applying to universities can be a stressful and tedious process, the Common App aids in making it easier for students to complete their college applications. More than 1,000 universities accept the Common App, allowing students to fill out all their college applications only once and then send them to several colleges.

   McColgan applied to four universities, including Villanova, Lynn, Auburn, and Florida Institute of Technology. “My advice to freshmen and sophomores is to get involved. Getting involved is the number one thing, and working hard to maintain good grades,” said McColgan. 

   Jackson Lewis, another senior at Newsome High School, says, “Writing down the activities for the brag sheet took the longest, but I felt good about the process.” Lewis used the Common App among many senior students to complete his college applications. 

   Although the Common App is meant to make students, teachers, and admission officers’ lives easier, it can be much more complex than anticipated due to the sheer amount of time it can take. Lewis has applied to UCF and advises freshmen and sophomores to “do the applications early because it’s difficult, so the longer you wait to do it, the worse it will be.” 

   It is crucial to consider several colleges and visit the universities one may want to attend to see if it is a good fit. As higher education is the most prominent on seniors’ minds right now, it is still just as important for underclassmen to find a program and college they are interested in. 

   It is essential to get involved and maintain good grades throughout one’s high school career. As seniors prepare for the next step, they can pass their knowledge to the future upperclassmen and be role models regarding college readiness.