All College Applications Articles

Student reaching up - it's important to have reach, match, and safety schools on your college list
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5 reasons you should apply to reach schools

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on November 7, 2025
Key Takeaways: Reach schools are colleges where you have a lower chance of acceptance – below 40% – often due to lower academic scores. You should still apply to reach colleges as admissions counselors look beyond GPAs and SAT/ACT scores, reviewing extracurriculars, character, and more. You can boost your acceptance chances with well-written essays, demonstrated …
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3 Things to Do After You Submit Your College Applications

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
After submitting your college application, you’re not quite done with the whole “college preparation” thing. There’s plenty of other tasks that need to be completed! Here are three more to work on: Completing College Interviews Many colleges have interviews as part of the college application process. Some may be mandatory, while others are listed as …
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Pros And Cons Of Taking AP Tests

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
Advanced Placement or AP classes offer ambitious high school students a great way to boost their college applications. Over 60% of high schools in the US offer a list of AP classes. If your high school doesn’t, you could still boost your college application by signing up for the most challenging courses that your high …
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When You Should Submit Your EA/ED Application

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
If you’re certain you want to attend a school, you may consider applying Early Action or Early Decision. Deadlines for these are before regular applications come due. Here’s what you should know about EA/ED application deadlines. Pay Attention to the EA/ED Application Deadlines The first thing you want to pay attention to when it comes …
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How to Decide if the Common Application is Right for You

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
The Common Application is a college application that is accepted by hundreds of schools all over the United States. Instead of completing dozens of applications one by one (with dozens of essays as well), you can complete one single application. But how do you know if the Common Application is right for you? Here are …
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An Application Strategy For Competitive Colleges

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Applying for colleges can be a busy time for your junior and senior years of high school. And, if you’re applying to most competitive colleges, you may be worried about your acceptance odds. Luckily, there are ways to approach your applications to improve your chances of admission and lower the stress during your final years …
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How Many Colleges You Should Apply To

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
During the college application season, you’re likely overwhelmed with school work, extracurricular activities, SAT and ACT prep, and more. You may not know how many college applications are enough or how many is “too many.” Each student is different, but here’s a quick guideline on how to approach that question. How Many Should You Apply …

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