When should I start thinking about college?

One of the many questions we receive in the Admissions office at USU is when should a prospective student start thinking about college.  Our answer to this is NOW!  It’s never too soon for a student to begin the process of researching their future at a college or university.

A common misconception for many prospective students, is that the college selection process starts sometime in their senior year of high school.  While it’s never too late for a student to begin his or her higher education journey, those who begin early have an advantage.   Scholarships usually follow parameters that vary little from year to year.  If a student is aware of what is required for a scholarship well in advance (even two and three years before they apply for admissions), then there is time to prepare for those parameters.  This pertains to students who wish to apply for both academic and involvement scholarships. 

Students, who also start looking at college and universities early, can easily eliminate schools that they aren’t interested in and spend time doing their homework on institutions that interest them.  This added time will allow them to visit campuses, research academic programs, and taste the social life of specific schools.

It’s never too late!  If you are a 10^th grader still figuring out high school, or a 12^th grader suffering from senioritis, get in contact with the schools that interest you, and we’ll be here to help you decide what’s best for you.

Did I Miss the Deadline?

Applying for admission to colleges and universities can be very stressful. There are several dates and important deadlines that applicants mustn't miss. It can get particularly tricky for students applying to several institutions. Here are a few important dates/deadlines at USU:

Admission Deadline (Fall Semester): April 1st

• Incoming freshmen need to have completed everything on the application checklist by
  this date if they plan on attending Fall Semester of 2010.

Scholarship Deadlines: -Priority December 1st, -Final Deadline February 1st

• Academic scholarships at USU are based off of an Admissions Index for both Resident and Nonresident students. Students who meet the parameters according to the index, and apply for admission to the University before the Priority Deadline, will be guaranteed their earned scholarship.
• Awarding of academic scholarships for those who apply after the Priority Deadline will be based on available funding.
• Academic scholarships will not be awarded to students who apply after the Final Dead Line.

These are some basic deadlines that students should keep in mind. Other deadlines to track include those of Financial Aid and Freshmen Orientation. Most importantly, check your email! Most departments will let students know of upcoming deadlines via email. By checking his or her email regularly, a student can almost always be well informed of important dates on the horizon.

GO AGGIES!!!