By: Annalisa Fletcher

November is Georgia’s Apply to College Month! In honor of this, many Georgia colleges have waived application fees from November 1st to 30th. Students can access these waivers through the Georgia MATCH program, which is available in your student dashboard on the Georgia Futures website. Your transcript is automatically sent from your school to participating colleges in Georgia, and the colleges can choose to waive your application fee. The colleges that have approved your waiver will automatically appear on your list, and you can select up to three colleges to apply to for free. Many seniors have already taken advantage of this opportunity, or plan to in the coming weeks.

Gavin Kennedy[12] is one example. He says, “I applied early to a couple of colleges and I’m applying during the free application month in November.” When asked for advice for underclassmen, Gavin recommends, “Definitely start early. I started writing my essay too late, and I had to put off other stuff to finish it, which made a few weeks super stressful. You can even start over the summer when you don’t have schoolwork, just get on it and get it done early. The more time you have, the better.” Gavin hopes to attend Georgia Tech after graduation.

Applying to college can be one of the most stressful parts of senior year, and while it’s important to work hard, it’s just as important to know your limits. Shantrelle Mack[12] shared, “Start early, not just writing your essay, but researching what colleges you actually want to go to. I had a few colleges where I thought, ‘yeah, I’ll apply,’ but after touring, I realized they weren’t for me.” Starting early also doesn’t just save time; it can also help you think of what’s right for you, academically, personally, and emotionally. She added,”Be realistic with yourself. Don’t push yourself so hard to the point that you’re gonna break. Just take it day by day and know you got this. I believe in you!” It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure of applications, but staying grounded and taking care of yourself makes the process far less stressful.

For underclassmen, seniors stress that planning ahead is key. Starting early on essays, gathering recommendation letters, and researching colleges now can save you stress later and give you a better shot at your dream school. Take advantage of the free application month, and let this November be your jumpstart into the college process!