Congrats: You’re applying to college! This is an exciting time, but it also involves a lot of paperwork. It’s easy to make a mistake when filling out forms, and small errors can delay or derail your admissions process.
We asked Jerome Thomas, the director of customer service for USF’s Office of Admissions, to share the application mistakes he sees most often. Let’s take a look so you can avoid these common college application errors.
Looking to become a Bull? Let's review how to apply to USF:
It’s important to understand the difference between the deadlines. The application deadline is the date you must submit your application for admission. The materials deadline is the date you must submit your application materials, including the application fee or fee waiver, test scores, and STARS. Once you’ve turned in all the materials, your application is considered complete and processing can begin.
Note: These deadlines are for USF’s Fall/Summer 2027 term. Review all dates and deadlines here, answers to college admissions questions here, and different admissions processes here.
The College Board (SAT) and the ACT provide two different fee waivers. One is for college applications, and one is for college entrance exams.
The mistake: Confusing the two waivers and sending the entrance exam fee waiver instead of the application fee waiver.
Your high school may provide an application fee waiver if you demonstrate financial need (e.g., participating in the Federal Free or Reduced Lunch Program) or if your circumstances qualify you for a hardship waiver.
The mistake: Assuming your high school will automatically send the fee waiver. You must initiate this yourself.
If you meet certain criteria, you may receive a fee waiver from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
The mistake: Assuming DCF will automatically send the fee waiver.
The application asks for your Social Security number. USF’s servers are secure, so your information will be protected.
The mistake: Not including your Social Security number (if you are a U.S. citizen) on your application. This makes your application incomplete and could delay processing.
The residency section of the application is not officially required, but you definitely want to complete it. “This section will impact what you pay for tuition,” says Thomas.
The mistake: Skipping the residency section. If you skip, you will not be classified as a resident for in-state tuition, fees, or financial aid.
Make sure you submit the correct proof of residency.
Review answers to Florida residency questions here.
The application will ask for your name.
The mistake: Not using your legal name on your college application.
You can state the name you wish to be called in the preferred name section of the application.
Domestic applicants (students from the U.S.) must fill out the Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS).
Send the STARS to every school on your list.
Don't confuse STARS with transcripts.
The mistake: Submitting high school transcripts when the application asks for the STARS. (This applies to domestic students, as international students may be asked for transcripts.)
You will be asked to send college entrance exam scores.
The mistake: Assuming the exam scores on your high school transcript can fulfill the requirement of official college entrance exam scores.
Review how to submit test scores here.
You will need to submit any final dual enrollment transcripts and/or final exam scores from AP/IB/AICE classes to get college credit.
The mistake: Forgetting to submit official dual enrollment transcripts and/or AP/IB/AICE exam scores.
Immediately after your high school graduation date is reflected on your transcript, you must submit a final high school transcript and any college transcripts from dual enrollment courses.
The mistake: Thinking your STARS fulfills the transcript requirement. Your STARS is required for the initial application deadline, but final high school/dual enrollment transcripts are required once they show your graduation date. Without final transcripts, your admission may be rescinded, and you may not receive your financial aid.
If you’re a transfer student, watch out for these common errors:
Make sure you’re submitting the application fee waiver for transfer students rather than freshmen. It’s easy to get the two confused. Submit this fee waiver in PDF form.
As part of your application, submit separate, official transcripts from each institution you’ve attended (including all high schools, colleges, universities, and dual enrollment courses). Students often mistakenly submit only one transcript, which results in an incomplete application.
Review our guide to transferring colleges here, and transfer admission information here.
Contact the USF Office of Admissions, email admissions@usf.edu, or call 813-974-3350. International freshmen students can contact international@usf.edu, and transfer students can contact transfer@usf.edu. Good luck!