Tips for Filling Out the Coalition Application
The Coalition Application is available to you now at www.mycoalition.org. You should create an account and select the “Profile” tab to begin filling out your personal information.
Note: You can complete the “Profile” portion of the Coalition Application at any time, however, many colleges will not allow access to the college specific application until August 1st.
Personal Information
- Please make sure to use your full legal name on this section. You can click on “Profile help” in the upper right hand corner at any time if you need detailed assistance on a particular section.
- In this section, you will be required to enter a Social Security Number if you have one. You do not need to enter your SS#. Instead, enter 999-99-999. If you are applying for financial aid, you will enter this information on the FAFSA.
Contact Information
- You will need to indicate a permanent address and mailing address in this section. Note: your mailing address should be where you would like to receive any college decision letters and other notifications. You will need to select “verify address” and your address will be checked with the Coalition map database to make sure it is valid before this section is complete.
Demographic Information
- Here you have the option to share information about your ethnicity and any languages you speak fluently. You have the ability to select multiple boxes and boxes that more specifically describe your background beyond the general categories listed (ex. Asian, Japanese).
High School Information
- In this section, be sure to include information on any school you have attended during your high school (grades 9-12).
- Graduation date: June 9, 2019
- GPA type - Select “Weighted”
- Rank - Select “Does Not Rank”
- Class Size - 195
- High School Counselor - Here you will choose your guidance counselor’s information.
- Lyn Hostetler 401-398-1549 lhostetler@egsd.net
- Anne-Marie Flaherty 401-398-1543 aflaherty@egsd.net
- Beth McCarthy 401-398-1567 bmccarthy@egsd.net
- Lisa Wilson 401-398-1532 lwilson@egsd.net
9th-11th Grade Coursework
12th Grade Coursework
- Most colleges will require you to complete this section. Here you will enter the courses you are enrolled in during your senior year.
- Grading Scale - Select “Letter”
- How are grades reported for this school? - Select “Full Year”
- We do not use block scheduling.
- Select the generic course name, but if not exactly correct, write the name of the course as it appears on your transcript on the line below.
- Type - Select “College Prep”, “Honors”, or “AP Course”
SAT/ACT
- Some schools may require you to complete this section in lieu of sending scores.
- Students applying to test-optional schools should talk to their counselor about whether or not to report scores.
- Remember to update this section once you have completed all of your testing.
- Remember, at most schools, you will need to officially submit your test scores through either College Board or ACT.
Financial Aid
- In this section, you will be asked if you intend to apply for need-based financial aid. You will also be asked a series of questions to see if you qualify for an application fee waiver. If you are unsure how to answer these questions, please see your guidance counselor.
Honors & Distinctions
- In this section you should list department prizes and/or book awards along with any awards you have received outside of school (National Spanish Exam, Science Olympiad, Academic Decathlon, etc.) You have the opportunity to list up to five (5) honors/distinctions. If you have more than five, please choose the five that are most important to you. Not everyone will have honors/distinctions to report - that is okay!
Academic Interests
- You can choose up to three areas of academic interest and list your level of interest on a scale of 1-5 (1 being very interested).
- “Undecided” is an option.
Extracurricular Activities
- Include all activities you have done outside of the classroom since your freshman year, including (but not limited to) clubs, performing arts, student government, religious organizations, sports, jobs, volunteer work, family responsibilities, etc. You can include up to eight (8) activities.
- Don’t forget to indicate whether or not you held a leadership position.
- Remember to include activities done outside of EGHS and/or at any previous high schools
- Summer activities should be listed in the following year (for example, a job held in the summer before senior year should be listed as grade 12).
- List activities in order of importance to you, with the most important items at the top of the list.
- Describe each activity as clearly as possible and avoid using acronyms. Use action verbs to describe your activities and try to emphasize your tangible, measurable impact on the program. For example: “Organized a group of 150 volunteers to assist 500 athletes in the Special Olympics Time Trials held in our community.”
Locker
- The Locker is unique to the Coalition Application and offers the opportunity to upload any photos, videos, graded papers, documents, etc… that you would like to include with your application. Colleges to not have access to the locker until you “share” it with them. If you are unsure what is appropriate to share with a college, consult with your guidance counselor.
- The Locker is where you can manage your “Official Documents” (transcripts and recommendations).
- You need to invite your guidance counselor and choose whether or not you waive your right to access this information. Colleges generally prefer that you do waive your right to access.
- Your counselor will upload supporting documents directly to the Coalition Application.
- You also need to invite your teachers and any outside recommenders to your application.
- Anyone you invite will be asked to create an account if they do not already have one.
Colleges
- Add colleges to your list of schools under the “Colleges” tab in the upper right hand corner.
- Once a college has been added to your list, click “Start Application” and select “I’m a Freshman”.
- If you choose to apply Early Decision to a school, you will need to download the Early Decision Agreement, fill it out, sign it along with your counselor and a parent, and upload it. To upload the ED agreement, you can scan it or take a picture with your phone.
- Official Documents - In this section you will be asked to indicate who your recommenders are and who will be submitting your transcripts.
- Under Current Transcript click “Request” and enter your counselor’s email address.
- Under Counselor Recommendation you should click “Use for this Application”.
- Under Teacher Recommendation you should select the teacher(s) your would like to include and click “Use for this Application”. If you have not yet invited a teacher to your Coalition Application, you may do so here.
Application Questions
- You should complete all of the college’s specific questions as well as any writing supplements included.
- You will have the opportunity to submit your Coalition Essay in the individual college’s application. You can upload your essay directly from your device or from your locker. Make sure your essay has been proofread and is formated exactly how you would like it to appear to an admissions officer.
- 2018-19 Essay Topics
-Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your
character or helped shape it.
-Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the
greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your
contribution.
-Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief
challenged? How did you respond? How did this challenge affect your beliefs?
-What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What
advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to
you)?
-Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.