Guide to College

As you begin to think about your college applications, the most important thing to remember is that your applications will be more than essays, more than transcripts, and much more than test scores.  The following information outlines the College Application Process.

TRANSCRIPT: 

• • Your transcript tells the story of your time in high school - classes in which you challenged yourself and did well, upward trends across your four years, and your grades, and your GPA.  

    • • • • After submitting college application(s), your counselor will receive a notification to send your high school transcript to colleges, along with a school profile that includes additional information about your school's curriculum and student body. 

TESTING:

• • Some college/universities/trade schools, bit not all, require students to submit standardized test scores as part of their application.  Those that don't are "Test-Optional," and may allow you to submit alternative materials (research projects, creative writing projects, or other works of note) that demonstrate your college/university/trade school readiness and ability to solve problems. 

  • Colleges that DO require standardized test scores accept either the ACT, SAT, or both.

    • • • • ACT:

            • • Contains Multiple Choice sections in English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional essay-writing section.

              • Scored on a Scale from 1-36.

          • SAT:

            • • Contains Multiple Choice sections in Reading, Writing and Language, and Math, and an optional writing section.

              • Scored on a scale of  400-1600

  • Additional Testing:

• • • • • Some schools may ask you to be submit supplemental standardized test scores for a specific academic subject. Examples of this type of test include: IB Assessments, SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams.

ESSAYS:

• • Your Personal Essay will be an integral part of your application. Whatever you choose to write about should reflect an aspect of your personality in a creative, attention-grabbing way. 

  • Details are the most important of your essay.  Authentic details paint a vivid and memorable picture of you and your experience in your readers' minds. Know the line between good detail and excess.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION:

• • • • You should ask for Letters of Recommendation from teachers who have impacted you in your time in high school -- teachers who inspired you, teachers whose class you looked forward to going to everyday, teachers with whom you developed a quality relationship.  Many selective schools require a letter of recommendation from your high school counselor and two additional letters of recommendation from your teachers. 

INTERVIEWS:

• • • • Some schools offer applicants interviews during the application process.  When preparing for an interview, knowing yourself and how to talk about your strengths will enable you to present these qualities to admissions representatives. 

        • • • • Research:

                • Do some research on the school. Pay attention to which majors, internships, and programs they offer that interest you in particular. 

              • Go in With Questions:

                • The interviewer will ask you if you have any questions at the end of the interview.  Show them that you did your research and have a genuine interest in attending the college. 

              • Strengths:

                • Consider some of your personal qualities that you're most proud of. How might you best provide a two-minute answer to a question about these skills?

              • Dress Nicely and Arrive on Time:

                • There is no need to wear business formal attire, but you should dress for the occasion -- a button down shirt or blouse and slacks is standard. 

              • Follow up:

                • Follow up by sending the interviewer a thank you email after the interview.  Be direct, be courteous, and consider including a specific reference to your conversation that will allow the interviewer to recall who you are. 

              • Common Interview Questions:

                • What is your favorite subject/class in school? Why?

                • What have you been involved in outside of school?

                • Why did you apply to ___________ College?

                • What is your favorite class in school? Why?

              • Interview Alternatives:

                • Some schools will offer alternatives to in-person interviews, like a video submission.  With a video interview, practice what you want to tell the school in the video, and make sure to review and edit the video before sending it in with your application.  Keep in mind schools will also have varying deadlines, so make sure you give yourself enough time to create and upload the video. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE TYPES:

• • • • • Early Action (EA)

          • • • Early Action is a non-binding application plan with an early deadline, generally around early November, for students who are applying to a top choice college.  Decisions are usually released in Mid-December. 

        • Early Decision (ED)

          • • • Early Decision is an application plan for students who are applying to their top choice college and are ready to make a binding commitment to attend.  To apply ED, you along with your parents and high school counselor, must sign a contract that confirms that you will attend the school to which you applied and will withdraw all other college applications. 

        • Regular Decision:

          • • • Regular Decision is a non-binding application plan with a deadline in late December.  You can apply to as many schools as you want to under the RD plan.  Decisions are usually released in Mid-March.

        • Restrictive/Single Choice Early Action:

          • • • Restrictive or Single Choice Early Action is similar to EA, but students agree not to apply to other private colleges and universities under any Early applications rounds (including EA, ED, and Restrictive/Single-Choice EA).

                • You can apply to other public colleges and universities with non-binding early application.

                • You can apply to colleges and universities with a non-binding rolling admission process. 

                • You can apply to private institutions with a non-binding early application IF they have early scholarship deadlines or special academic programs. 

APPLICATION DECISIONS:

• • • • Accepted:

        • • Congratulations you've been admitted! You have until May 1st to respond to your offer of admission.  If you applied under Early Decision, you've committed to attending the college to which you were accepted.  Withdraw your other applications and submit your enrollment deposit.

      • Deferred:

        • • The college wasn't prepared to make a decision yet, so you've been moved into the Regular Decision pool.  Express your continued interest with a strong letter (sub-500 words) to the school, along with any relevant academic or extra-curricular updates.  You'll receive a decision when RD results come out.  Being deferred and in Regular pool means you can apply ED-II to another school. 

      • Waitlisted:

        • • When a college has more applicants it wants to accept than it has room for, students are waitlisted to be admitted as spots open up. If you've been waitlisted, express your continued interest with a strong letter (sub-500 words) after accepting your spot on the waitlist.  Consider other schools you've been accepted to, in case your preferred school is unable to accept you off the waitlist. 

      • Denied:

        • • The college you applied to was unable to offer you admission.  Selective colleges are often unable to offer admissions to all qualified applicants.  Sit tight for your other decisions and finish any other incomplete applications you may have. 

FINANCIAL AID:

• • • • Types of Scholarships:

        • • • Need-Based: Solely for Financial Aid; "need" is determined by schools in proportion to the financial background of students. 

            • Academic: Solely for Academic achievement; students should have a good GPA to apply (3.5 or higher in most cases).

            • Athletic: Solely for athletic talent; given with intent for the student to play the sport for the school.

            • "Full-Ride": Very competitive scholarships; covers cost of tuition and fees, room and board, and possibly student life costs (books, travel, etc).

            • Full Tuition: Covers cost of tuition and fees (registration, classes, graduation, examinations, etc) at the school. 

            • Merit-Based: Solely for achievements; given based on the value of the merit the student contributes to the school.

SCHOLARSHIPS:

• • • • Big Scholarships to Explore:

        • • • Gates Millenium Scholars

            • Horatio Alger Jr. Scholar Program

            • Jack Kent Cooke Foundation 

            • Stamps Foundation

            • Posse Foundation

            • Quest Bridge Scholar Program 

• • • How to Apply for Scholarships:

      • • • • Search for Scholarships on the following websites:

              • • scholarships.com

                • cappex.com

                • scholarshippoints.com

                • fastweb.com

                • College Board Scholarship Search

                • Scholarshipexperts.com

                • supercollege.com

                • nextstudent.com

    • Points to Consider in the Scholarship Search:

      • • • • Make sure the scholarships are legitimate by cross-checking scholarships across different websites.

            • Do not pay for a service to find scholarships for you!

            • Review the application to see what it entails.

            • Compile a list of scholarships you can apply to in the upcoming year. 

            • Be mindful of application deadlines!