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Autumn is an exciting time to be a student: troves of neon-hued school supplies, exciting classes that promise the freshest of social and academic starts, and, if you’re lucky enough to be in your senior year, applying to college!

As exhilarating as future planning is, applying to college can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time navigating the application process. Check out the steps below for more information on how to get started, what to prioritize and where to direct questions.

If you don’t know, that’s okay! Even having an idea of what you don’t want to do can be a good place to start. Some colleges specialize in certain fields while others consider themselves “liberal arts,” which means that they incorporate a multitude of disciplines like the arts, sciences, humanities and social sciences into their curriculums. When deciding what to major in, consider how specific your field is and what kind of job prospects it might offer—this is a great time to run ideas past your guidance counselor. Most colleges will also often run stories about what alumni are doing, which is a great way to understand the practical applications of the major you’re interested in.

Consider what kind of cultural and educational experience you want to have. Are you more interested in an urban or rural campus? Are class sizes important to you? Are you going to want to play sports? Do you want to stay close to home or see a new area? All of these (and many more) factors will determine your decision. By taking the time to figure out what’s most important to you, you’ll be able to narrow down where you’re going to apply, which can save a lot of time, money and stress!

Consider how much you’ll be able to pay for tuition and explore all the avenues (scholarships, grants, loans and federal aid) available to you. For ӣ������, our  can give you an accurate and personalized estimate of the cost of attending. Be sure to fill out the FAFSA (or for help!) by the March 1 priority deadline so you can see the amount of federal aid you qualify for. This is also the time to start asking teachers and counselors for recommendations—you don’t want a missing letter to hold up your application. The Common Application will have a section for you to input their email addresses, and it’ll also include questions about your current course load, parents’ education and demographic information. If you’re not sure how to answer some questions, you can contact your guidance counselor or the ӣ������ Manchester admissions office.

The essay is the part of the Common Application that students tend to spend the most time on. It’s also a way for admission counselors to learn something about you that may not be reflected in other sections of your application, so it’s important to put your best foot forward! Some of the best essays are about topics that incite passion in the writer—what’s something you’re so interested in or fired up about that you can’t contain yourself? Writing about a learning experience or hardship you’ve overcome can be a helpful place to start as well. The Common Application will have some prompts to help you out, but make sure you’re writing in a way that’s comfortable and authentic for you. Your English teachers are also a great resource for this—there should not be any spelling or grammatical mistakes in your essay!

Some schools will have an early action deadline, which means that you’ll submit your application early and know a few months in advance if you were accepted. This does not mean you have to attend, and is different from early decision, which is binding and requires you to commit to the school. Some schools with competitive majors, like business or nursing, may also encourage early applications, as spots in classes can fill up quickly.

Once your part of the application is sent in, most schools will wait for your transcripts and letters of recommendation to complete your file and make a decision, so it’s important to stay on top of which materials you’re going to need (and get some of them in advance!). Once your application is submitted with all its supplementary materials, you’ll receive a decision according to the school’s posted timeline—though the waiting, according to Tom Petty, is often the hardest part! 

Our admissions team is here to answer any questions you have about ӣ������ Manchester, from admissions and financial aid to academics and student life. Connect with us at unhm.admissions@unh.edu or (603) 641-4150!