<p>I'm very new to applying to college so i have absolutely no idea what to do.. :/
i just finished 11th grade so next year will be my senior year and i'll have to start applying for college.
should i do anything in the summer to get started?
are you supposed to apply to colleges by mail or electronically?
do you have to send all your information (like sat scores, essays, application) at the same time?
will colleges let you know that they're received your application?
i am just really stressed here.
and this may be a silly question, but what does an international student generally need to apply to college? i understand that we need the SAT, TOEFL, transcripts, recommendation letters..anything more?
also, when teachers write the letters of recommendation, will they include your name in it? most teachers call me by a nickname in school and it's nothing close to my legal name. should this worry me? will the colleges still be able to identify me?</p>
<p>“what does an international student generally need to apply to college?”</p>
<p>If you are in the US, you need to sit down with your guidance counselor, and find out what to do.</p>
<p>If you are outside the US, you need to start by reading everything at [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/) Then you need to make an appointment with the counselors at the advising center closest to where you live. [EducationUSA</a> - Find an Advising Center](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/centers.php]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/centers.php) If you can’t visit in person, get in touch with them by email or telephone. They are expert at helping students from your country find good places to study in the US. They can tell you exactly what you need to do.</p>
<p>
You can make sure you have your college list narrowed down to where you’re gonna apply. Start working on rough drafts of your essays, then give them to an English teacher in fall to look over. Check into applications to see if there are any other required things that you may not have thought of that will take extra time to do.</p>
<p>
You can do either one. Colleges don’t care. It’s easiest to do it online because you just type it all in and don’t have to worry about writing neatly and not messing up, etc. Plus, it’s easy to do some of it and save it for later to finish- many have a "save and revise later’ option, although there are some you have to do and submit in one sitting- ask colleges what type theirs is before you start it.</p>
<p>
Usually not, but you should try to send it around the same time. If you don’t, they’re gonna send you a letter saying “you’re missing (whatever it is) before we can evaluate your app.”</p>
<p>
Yes, they usually do. Some do it by your online account, some send an email, some send a letter in the mail, but they usually do. They will also typically let you know if they haven’t received something else they need (SAT/ACT scores, transcript, etc.)</p>
<p>
If they are not an idiot, they’ll include your name in it. I don’t know about the nickname question. If you’re worried, you could ask the teachers who are writing your recs to use your legal name instead. Depending on what your nickname is, it might not be a good idea to use it anyways…if it’s not close to your legal name.</p>
<p>Hope that helps!</p>