How do I apply to University?
Choosing universities to apply to...
Every university has something different to offer depending on what area of STEM you want to pursue, but there are many factors to consider when committing to a university for 4 years. We recommend ranking them from what is most important to you to least. Do not even consider a university that doesn't fit your top three.
Location
Do you want to be close to family or explore a new part of the country? Do you want to be in a small city or a large one? Do you want beach, mountains, forests, heat, cold? What things are there to do outside of school? Your life is not just school for these 4 years. You want to be in a location that you will enjoy.
Size
This depends partly on the degree you want but think about student to teacher ratio. You want to be in an environment where you can cultivate close relationships with your professors. This is helpful for you while you are in school for advisement and support and also when you graduate for letters of reference. This is possible in a large university that maybe has a small department or if you are proactive in cultivating these relationships, but maybe a small university is your vibe.
Degrees Offered
If you know you want to pursue microbiology research in the future apply to universities that have microbiology programs instead of just general biology, but if you are unsure what area of say physics you want to go into you don't need to worry about this as much. Focus on what options are available though. Is there a way for you to be exposed to many different types of physics so that you can decide which area you like the best?
Cost
Now I know this part is usually the most important to us from rural communities because we probably don't have just $50,000 a year lying around for Harvard. However, make sure you consider the cost in the ideal situation if you got all of the scholarships and financial aid you applied for. See what scholarships the school has available. Maybe there are some specifically for kids from rural communities. Many schools also have waived out of state tuition for high ACT scores and GPAs. Fully look into your options before you decide on the community college in town that has A+.
Caliber
The caliber or prestige of the school is usually most important for the terminal degree you are going for. Your last degree is what jobs are most concerned about. If you know you want to get a PhD you don't necessarily need an Ivy league for undergrad and graduate school. However, going to better school usually makes applying for graduate school/med school a little easier. It is 100% possible to go to a state university however and be proactive in using all of your resources and have even better experience than someone from an Ivy league. However, at the end of the day remember that you are going to gain an education. Consider which school will give you the best.
Student Support
This is a point that is often overlooked but is critically important. University will be hard. There is no escaping it. However, it is going to be much easier if you have support when it is hard than if you don't. Consider what resources the university has like a counseling center, activities, tutoring center, etc. If you have the opportunity to tour the school this is when meeting with a current student can be good because you can get a vibe if the students are happy where they are.
Ideology
This one is pretty straightforward. The most common types of universities are Public, Private, Liberal Arts and Theological.
Community Involvement
Consider what the city and school have to offer for your future career. If you want to be a teacher do you have opportunities to maybe teach a lab or mentor other student when you are an upperclassman? If you want to be a doctor does the school have a medical school where you can get shadowing hours?
Here is the full set of essay prompts for 2025–2026.
-
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
-
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
-
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
-
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
-
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
-
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
-
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design
This is the updated “Challenges and circumstances” question language students will see beginning August 1, 2025
Sometimes a student’s application and achievements may be impacted by challenges or other circumstances. This could involve:
-
Access to a safe and quiet study space
-
Access to reliable technology and internet
-
Community disruption (violence, protests, teacher strikes, etc.)
-
Discrimination
-
Family disruptions (divorce, incarceration, job loss, health, loss of a family member, addiction, etc.)
-
Family or other obligations (care-taking, financial support, etc.)
-
Housing instability, displacement, or homelessness
-
Military deployment or activation
-
Natural disasters
-
Physical health and mental well-being
-
War, conflict, or other hardships
If you’re comfortable sharing, this information can help colleges better understand the context of your application. Colleges may use this information to provide you and your fellow students with support and resources.
Would you like to share any details about challenges or other circumstances you’ve experienced?*
( ) Yes
( ) No
Please describe the challenges or circumstances and how they have impacted you.
It is also an option to apply directly to each university you want, but we would only advise this if your university is not listed in the common app.
​
The last thing you should think about is if you want safe schools or not. We always recommend to apply to your dream schools. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take as someone famous said. However, you need a plan B if you don't get into the schools you want. Choose a school that you would enjoy but is maybe not your top and that you have a good chance of getting into. This can often be your state school.