College

There are many categories for colleges. Some are known as research colleges and others are known as liberal arts colleges. Some colleges offer programs that create opportunities that make them stand out.

• The Basics

Four-Year Colleges

Four-year colleges are schools students attend to earn a Bachelor’s Degree or some other degree that requires four years of full-time study.

• What’s the difference between a liberal arts college and a university?
• Residential Colleges/Living Learning Community
  • Residential colleges are programs where students take many or all of their classes in the residence hall in which they live. Class size tends to be smaller and in many cases, the professors who teach the classes have their offices in the residence hall, or they live in the residence hall with the students. Residential colleges/LLCs can focus on specific majors or interest areas, while others offer several majors.
• Honors Colleges
  • Like residential programs, classes in honors colleges tend to have a smaller faculty to student ratio. Some honors programs invite students based on their academic profiles, while others require an application separate from the initial admissions process.
• Specialty Colleges
  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)
  • Women’s Colleges 
  • Catholic Colleges
  • Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
  • Art Schools  and Music Schools
    • Portfolio and audition requirements vary from college to college, so make sure you know what each college is expecting, and when they’re expecting it. Deadlines for art and music schools are sometimes not the same as the application deadlines for all other applicants.

Two-Year Colleges

Students attend two-year colleges to earns Associate’s Degrees, certificates, or other credentials that prepare students for entry into the workforce. Many students transfer to a four-year college after earning their Associate's Degree.

There are thousands of colleges out there. What are you looking for in a school?

• Sizing Up Colleges:  Big vs. Small
• Campus Setting: Rural, Suburban, Urban
• Factors to Consider in Compiling Your College List
• Create the best college list for you
  • Build a list of four to six colleges, with at least two Likely schools, two Match schools, and two Reach schools.  

College Search Tools

• Scoir
  • Every East student has a Scoir account, check out the "College Match Quiz"
• Private Colleges In Michigan | CollegeVine
  • Alphabetical list of private colleges in Michigan with in-state tuition and fees.
• Big Future
  • Comprehensive planning tool from College Board to aid in the college selection process, including factors such as location, size, cost, programs, and much more.
• College Scorecard
  • From the US Department of Education Search and compare colleges: fields of study, costs, admissions, results, and more.

• Your Visit
• Make the Most of Campus Visits
• Planning for Campus Visits
  • A visit to a college campus can help you decide if that college is right for you. Make a plan ahead of time to get the most from your visit.

• Factors in College Admissions 
  • From admissions officers everywhere, the advice is virtually the same. Review what counts!
• Definitions of Admissions Options
  • Review the different types of admissions options available: Regular Admission, Rolling Admission, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, and Early Decision. 
    • Most students at East apply under Early Action, Regular Admission, or Rolling Admission.
• What Does Test-Optional Mean?
  • Many students wonder, how do colleges evaluate an application for admission if they don’t have any test scores? Most colleges will do a comprehensive holistic review of a student’s application. 

  • What is a holistic review? A holistic review includes considering the applicant as a whole individual.  The holistic review takes into account factors such as a student’s strength in high school coursework, academic and extracurricular interests, unique talents, and personality. By evaluating an application from a holistic perspective, admissions officers take the time to get to know applicants as people, not as numbers.

  • In general, colleges will look more closely at the information about the classes you took, your grades, your extracurricular activities, and any essays or recommendations you may have to submit. 

  • When should you send your scores to a test-optional school? Generally, if your scores are higher than the average test score of your high school.  

• Understanding the Testing section in Common App

Overview

• Quick Guide: The Anatomy of The College Application
  • Most colleges will require an application, a copy of your high school transcript, essays, and letters of recommendation.  
  • Confirm you need a letter of recommendation by reviewing the college website and admissions requirements. 
  • If you need a letter, make sure you ask promptly. Many teachers like to use the summer months to complete recommendation letters. 
  • Some colleges, but not all, may require test scores. Please refer to our section on Test Optional or Test Flexible Practices. 
• College Applications: How to Begin
• Tips for Preparing Your College Application

How to Apply

• Common Application
  • The Common App is a single online application used by over 900 schools. It is meant to streamline the process of applying to colleges. It allows you to share your basic information such as your address, high school name, extracurricular activities, and more. 
  • What Is Common App?
  • How the first-year Common App works
  • Common App Writing Prompts
  • Writing Requirements by College
• Individual College Application
  • An Individual College Application is an application that is specific to the college you are applying to. If colleges offer an individual college application, it will be located on the college website, under the Admissions tab.
    • Example: Ferris State University
• Are you an Early/Middle College Applicant?
• If a college accepts both the Common App and an individual application, there is no preference given to either application. Students are typically encouraged to pick the application that works best for them. 
• Most college applications open on August 1. Use your summertime wisely!

College Essay

• What is the college application essay? – BigFuture
• How to Write the Best College Application Essay – BigFuture
• Does my college application essay really matter?
• The "Why This College" essay
• Top Ten Tips for Writing the College Essay
• College Essay Guy

Acceptance Letter and Next Steps

College Acceptance Letters: What to Expect and How to Respond

May 1 is designated as National College Decision Day. This date represents the deadline to submit your acceptance and make a deposit to attend the four-year college or university of your choice. 

• Playing Sports in College: Your Options                          

• College Planning Checklist for Student-Athletes

• Recruitment Timeline Article

• NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete

• For High School Students - NAIA

• Types of Aid

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid 

• What to do When Your Financial Aid Award Isn’t Enough

• 3 Reasons You Should Fill Out a FAFSA Even If You Don't Think You Will Qualify

• Senior Year Financial Aid Checklist

• Focus on Net Price, Not Sticker Price 

CSS Profile (including a list of participating institutions) 

• In addition to the FAFSA, many colleges ask students to complete a second financial aid application. This application usually asks for more detailed information about the student’s finances, as well as the finances of their parents. Some colleges ask for this information to offer the student as much aid as possible. 

• One of the big differences between the FAFSA and CSS Profile is that the profile asks for the financial information of both parents, even if they are divorced. You also have to pay a fee to complete the CSS Profile.

Scholarships

• Scholarships are considered gifts of money that do not need to be repaid. You should never have to pay for a scholarship application. There are many different types of scholarships available and many different ways to search for scholarships. 

  • State of Michigan Scholarship Search

  • EGRHS Senior Scholarship Database

The scholarship document has a tab for local scholarships, national scholarships, and a tab for free scholarship search platforms. Information is often updated as scholarship opportunities are shared with our office.