Fall, 2025, is application season for seniors at Weddington and across the U.S. As a senior, I 

know how difficult and intimidating it can be to think about your life after high school. College and general future might seem scary, but it doesn’t need to be. Life after high school is filled with potential and there’s so much you can do! So, here is a simple step-by-step on college applications. 

Step One: Make a List

Figuring out what college(s) you are interested in applying to can be one of the hardest parts of the application process. Your first step should be making a list of about 5-10 colleges you might want to go to. Ava Lanzy, a senior at Weddington High School, describes her list, “NC State, UNCW, ECU, UNCC, USC, and App State,”. She began by listing in state schools, and included USC. Ava made sure to create her list to align with her intended major, Digital Design. During this step, I would recommend looking into majors, expenses, and deadlines to get a general idea of what you need to expect and how much time you have. 

Step Two: Decide On Major 

Another thing that might be difficult is figuring out a major. You should think about a couple things when deciding: topics you enjoy in school, hobbies you have, academic skills, and goals for your future. Make sure you pick something that you enjoy doing and are good at. It’s smart to major in something you are interested in so that you will be passionate about it in college and in careers. Don’t forget that you will have the chance to change your major if you need to! You should also do some research on chosen majors to make sure they will fit you best.

Step Three: Recommendation Letters 

Many colleges request recommendation letters from teachers. You could do this by first speaking to a teacher you are close with or have had previous classes with about a letter. It’s important to speak with your chosen teacher personally to show that you appreciate them. Then, you may request a recommendation through Scoir from your teacher. Once you’ve requested it, they will take their time writing your letter and submit it through Scoir!

Step Four: Gather Documents 

Certain colleges will require different documents in their applications, but it’s good to have the following in case: transcript, recommendation letters, test scores (ACT, SAT, etc.), college essay, and lists of any volunteer hours or extracurricular activities you may have. You may get your transcript and test scores from your counselor. 

Step Five: Check Deadlines and Submit Application(s)

Once you complete the application form(s), you can submit it! Then you will wait until you hear back from colleges you applied to and once you hear back, you may decide (out of whatever you applied to) on what you think your best choice will be. You can accept and pay any dues or deposits you may need to and, once you’ve graduated, you may send in your final transcript and register for housing (if you would like to stay on campus) and orientation. Finally, prepare for your life after  highschool!