If you’re ready to apply for colleges, our guide can help! Whether you're graduating from high school or you've earned your high school equivalency diploma after preparing for the GED® exam, these tips can help you manage the stressful application season and find the right school for you!
College applications can look different depending on whether you are applying to a two-year college, four-year university, technical college, trade program, certificate program, or online degree pathway. Before you begin, make a short list of schools and programs that match your career goals, schedule, budget, and preferred learning format.
A strong application process is not just about getting accepted. It is also about choosing a school that fits your next step after graduation, whether that means earning a degree, building career skills, transferring later, or preparing for a specific profession.
Keep Deadlines in Mind
Different schools are going to have different deadlines for application submissions. Make sure that you keep track of all of the relevant deadlines and that you don’t miss out on the chance to apply to colleges, trade schools, and programs that interest you.
In addition to application deadlines, students should also track financial aid, scholarship, placement testing, orientation, transcript, and housing deadlines when they apply. Some schools use rolling admissions, while others have priority deadlines, early action dates, or program-specific cutoffs. A simple spreadsheet or calendar can help you keep each school’s requirements organized.
Students should also check the current FAFSA timeline and each school’s financial aid deadlines. Federal Student Aid forms and dates can change by award year, so the safest approach is to review current FAFSA information early and submit required financial aid materials as soon as possible.
Take Time on Your Essay
If an application requires an essay, take your time on it. Do multiple drafts and edit carefully. You could also have someone else help you edit, since sometimes it's tough to catch errors in your own writing. An outside perspective could be just what you need to really make your essay stand out.
Your essay should connect your personal story to your goals. For students applying after earning a GED, completing adult education classes, or returning to school after time away, the essay can be a useful place to explain persistence, growth, career motivation, and readiness for the next academic step.
Before submitting, make sure the essay answers the prompt directly, stays within the word limit, and uses specific examples instead of general statements. A counselor, teacher, mentor, or trusted reader can help you check whether your essay is clear, focused, and error-free.
Try to Visit Schools
If you’re planning to go to in-person classes, it’s wise to visit a few of the schools that you’re applying to. Whether you’re planning to stay in the dorms or commute, you’re going to be spending a lot of time on campus. A campus visit can help you decide whether the school's environment, facilities, location, and student experience feel like a good fit for you.
Campus visits are still helpful, but they are not the only way to evaluate a school. Many colleges now offer virtual tours, online information sessions, admissions webinars, and video meetings with advisors. These options can be especially useful for working adults, GED graduates, parents, and students comparing multiple schools.
When researching a school, look beyond the appearance of the campus. Ask about program outcomes, transfer options, student support services, tutoring, career advising, online course expectations, transportation, class times, and total cost of attendance.
Look at Online Programs
Online classes and degree programs are now widely available, giving students more options for continuing their education. These options could be more flexible than a traditional college education, making them a flexible option for some students with jobs, caregiving responsibilities, or other obligations.
Online programs can be a good fit when they are offered by accredited institutions and provide the support students need to succeed. Before applying, review whether the program is fully online, hybrid, or in person with online components. Also confirm whether exams, labs, internships, clinical hours, or orientations must be completed on campus or at an approved site.
Students should also consider whether they have the technology and study habits needed for online learning, including reliable internet access, a working computer, time-management skills, and comfort using learning platforms, email, video meetings, and digital assignments.
If earning your high school equivalency diploma is your next step, Broward Community Schools offers online GED® preparation through Pompano Beach Middle Community School. The online option can provide added flexibility for adults balancing education with work, family, and other responsibilities. Visit the program page for current class schedules, availability, and registration information.
Gather Your Application Materials Early
Before you apply, collect the documents each school may request. Common materials may include official high school or GED® records/transcripts, test scores if required, identification, residency documentation, letters of recommendation, essays, application fees or fee waivers, and financial aid information. Requirements vary by school, so always check each admissions page carefully.
If you completed adult education coursework or GED® preparation through Broward Community Schools, plan ahead so you have enough time to request any records or documentation you may need before the deadline.
Compare Costs, Aid, and Career Fit
Acceptance is only one part of the decision. Students should compare tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation, housing, financial aid, scholarships, program length, and career outcomes before choosing where to enroll. A lower-cost school may be the better fit if it helps you reach your goal without taking on unnecessary debt.
It is also helpful to ask how each program connects to your long-term plan. Some students may want a direct-to-career technical program, while others may want an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, transfer pathway, or professional certification.
Broward Community Schools can be a starting point for students who want to strengthen academic skills, complete a GED, explore adult education options, or prepare for the next stage of their education. Taking the process one step at a time can make college applications feel more manageable and help you move forward with confidence.