It’s May and you are likely reading this after May 1st. That is a significant date in the college admissions game as it is known as National Decision Day. This is the date most colleges would like for admitted students to notify them by as to whether or not they plan to enroll. Of course, you have to be admitted first in order to be in position to make that decision. However, what if you didn’t get it together a while back and never ended up applying in the first place? With graduation looming, what are your options if you still want to do something to continue your education?
This late in the game, you’ll have a hard time finding a seat in the summer or fall to a college or university that has competitive admissions. I shouldn’t speak in absolutes though. Some less competitive colleges might have a spot for you. Perhaps the best thing to do is to stop reading this right now and get on the phone. It never hurts to ask if it’s worth applying this late.
When it comes to a competitive schools, your best bet might be to seek admission for the spring semester. School doesn’t have to start in August or September. Many students start back to school in January and this is actually a fairly common occurrence. So, complete the application and just select your desired start date as the following January (Spring semester). Just don’t wait until December. That will be too late again. Do it now.
Another alternative would be to consider starting at a community college. Admission to these schools is usually not competitive, so you’ll likely be able to enroll up until pretty close to when class actually starts. If you start at a community college, most universities would prefer you earn an AA degree there before you seek a transfer. There’s a lot of upside to that though.
Perhaps you didn’t apply earlier because you weren’t sure if college was really right for you. Now, you see a lot of friends heading off to college and you’re only interested in it now, because it just seems like what high school graduates are supposed to do and you don’t want to be left behind. Be honest with yourself about this. College is expensive and if you’re not emotionally ready for it, you might not do well. That would be a waste of money and you could damage your chances of being successful when you are ready. It’s okay to take a little time to see what life after high school is like and if you’re ready to go a year from now, you can. Just make sure you live up to your potential. If you’re worth more than your high school job, don’t let yourself get stuck in it for too long. At some point, invest in learning a skill or the resources you need to make a career for yourself that maximizes what you’re capable of and provides a stable life for yourself.
