Masuk Free Press

When the college application process is introduced to seniors, it often seems simple on the surface thanks to tools like the Common Application. Filling in basic information about yourself, importing your personal essay and clicking submit sounds straightforward enough, right? At least that is what I, and many other seniors, thought when starting our applications. With guidance counselors preparing us for the process since freshman year, it is easy to assume you are well-prepared for what to expect.

But as it turns out, many of us were wrong. The deeper you get into the process, the more unexpected components, many not widely talked about, you stumble upon. What initially was a manageable set of tasks soon becomes a maze of deadlines, forms and requirements not often discussed by guidance counselors or others who have been through the process. 

“I always knew about FAFSA because my guidance counselor told us about it, but come to find out there is also this thing called the CSS Profile that many colleges require,” said senior Isabela Lucca.

The College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) is another financial aid form that is required by many private universities and colleges to help determine your family’s financial need. It goes far beyond what the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) asks for and includes more detailed questions. 

“I started it with my parents and it was so complicated. I wish I knew about it before, so I could have better prepared for what I was filling out,” said Lucca.

This is not talked about in the same way the FAFSA is, and its importance is not stressed by guidance counselors. 

Another element that is not widely known about among students is the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). 

“I was really confused when I discovered my colleges wanted me to fill out the SRAR, because I thought that my official transcript was all they needed. Why do I need to fill out a form that is going to say exactly what is on my transcript?” said senior Kayla Roy.

Many colleges, especially those that use the Common Application, require students to fill out the SRAR. The SRAR asks students to enter their grades for every course they have taken since freshman year. This is a very tedious process that can take a long time to fill out.

“It took me over the course of two days to complete it. I watched my friend sit down for over an hour and do it,” said senior Portia Lisanti. “It was never mentioned to me, otherwise I would have given myself more time to do it.” 

This surprise raises the question of whether or not our guidance counselors need to better prepare us. They are supposed to play a crucial role in helping students navigate the college application process. While counselors do a good job of covering the basics, such as how to complete the Common Application and general advice on essay writing, there is a lack of emphasis on the more nuanced aspects of the process.

“I was more surprised that I never heard of these things through social media, older people who have gone through the process and most importantly guidance counselors,” said Lucca.

By providing more in-depth guidance on these specific aspects, counselors could help students avoid surprises and ensure no critical steps are missed. This, in turn, would make the college application process less overwhelming.

“Even if my guidance counselor just mentioned that these things existed would help me more than having to discover it on my own,” said Roy. “And then I would know what questions to ask.” 

The college application process, like many other things in life, is not as simple as it appears. It is easy to overlook the small components that you are not often aware of until the last minute. While students must take responsibility for their applications and stay proactive in managing all the different components that come with them, there is also a need for more guidance. To avoid this and keep the stress to a minimum, you must prepare in advance. Start the application process early and research all the requirements needed for the colleges you are interested in. That preparedness can make all the difference in reducing the pressure and navigating the often overwhelming maze of forms and deadlines.