How to Prepare for Colorado Free College Application Day

Colorado Free Application Day graphic

If you are considering attending a college or university in Colorado, now is a great time to start thinking about your application because Tuesday, October 15 is Colorado Free Application Day for Colorado residents. Beginning at 12:01am and ending at 11:59pm, Colorado Free Application Day is an opportunity for applicants to receive a fee waiver for their admissions application fee.

That being said, you must complete your application that day to apply for free and that means you need to be prepared. We have a few tips and resources to help you prepare to complete your application on October 15.

  1. Review the college/university application requirements
    Visit the application page for the colleges where you want to apply. Make sure you are prepared to provide official documentation like transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, etc. You’ll also want to check to see if the program you are applying to has specific requirements (GPA, portfolio, audition tape, etc.).
  2. Pre-write your essay and/or personal statement
    If an essay or personal statement are part of your application process, write them ahead of time and have someone review it. If you’re an ACC student, our Writing Center can help you perfect your essay/personal statement. Schedule an appointment today.
  3. Have your official transcripts sent to the college/university you want to attend
    Have your official high school and college (if you have taken college courses) transcripts sent to the college you want to attend. ACC is offering free transcripts from October 1 – November 1.
  4. Complete your FAFSA
    The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2020-2021 opens on October 1. If you need assistance with your FAFSA, come to one of our free FAFSA lab sessions (open to anyone). We’ll also be hosting FAFSA help sessions on October 15 at all three campuses as part of Colorado Free Application Day.
  5. Check with the college you want to attend for Colorado Free College Application help sessions
    Many colleges/universities are hosting help sessions on October 15 to help you navigate the application process. ACC will be hosting help sessions from 11am – 1pm and 4-6pm at all three of our campuses and can help with transcripts, FAFSA, and applications.
  6. Double check your application materials before October 15
    Make your application process a little easier by making sure you have all of the application requirements ready to go and edited for accuracy. It will make the day less stressful and put you in a great position to ensure you complete your application on October 15.
  7. Transfer students – meet with a transfer representative from the college(s) to which you are applying
    At ACC, we have frequent visits from colleges/universities to help you with a seamless transfer. Check out our transfer visit calendar and our transfer contacts page. We also have Transfer Fairs each semester, including the Fall Transfer Fair on October 2 and a mini transfer fair on October 15, both at the Littleton Campus. Meeting with a transfer rep can help you prepare for the application process as well, because they will have valuable insight about additional requirements or when official documents are needed.

We hope you feel more prepared for Colorado Free Application Day on October 15. If we can answer any questions or help you prepare, contact us at careers [at] arapahoe [dot] edu (careers[at]arapahoe[dot]edu) or call 303.797.5805 to schedule an appointment.

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