US College and Universities
What's the Difference?
Applying to College Checklist
Types of Colleges
A college in the USA is a smaller institution that offers undergraduate degrees.
Liberal arts. Liberal arts colleges gear their curricula to expose a broad base of knowledge. Completing a four-year program at a liberal arts college will award you with a bachelor’s degree. These institutions emphasize humanities subjects like:
literature
history
languages
mathematics
life sciences
Community and junior colleges. Education at a community college is more affordable and time-efficient. They offer two-year associate degrees that either prep you to transfer to a four-year college or graduate straight into a professional field. Your college experience can get off to a great start at a community college.
Vocational-technical colleges. Vocational-technical colleges teach a specific skill set to use in a particular industry. If you are looking to get into the culinary arts, firefighting or medical-records technology, look into a vocational-technical college to master that specialty
Arts colleges. Arts colleges place a particular emphasis on the arts. Supplemented with typical course work, these institutions practice intense training for areas such as:
fine art
fashion design
theater
music
photography
Types of Universities
A university is often larger than a college and offers more majors and degrees. Like colleges, universities offer undergraduate degrees. They offer graduate degrees as well. Depending on where you’re studying, these can include master’s degrees and doctoral degrees. A misconception is that all universities are public. Although most colleges are typically privately funded and most universities are publicly funded, there are exceptions. Here are the terms to look out for:
Private university- Although private schools tend to be colleges, there are a few private universities, like Ivy League schools. Private schools are financed by:
alumni contributors
tuition
Public universities- A public university is mostly financed by a state or local government. Notably, public schools tend to be universities. They receive a larger influx of public money which can be used to set up more programs, research wings and a larger institution.
The funding between public and private schools is important. This is not only because it is yet another differentiator between universities and colleges. More practically it means private schools are more expensive than public schools. The average cost of tuition and fees for a private college is $36,801, whereas the average cost of tuition and fees for a public university is $10,116 for in-state students and $22,577 for out-of-state students, based on U.S. News data.
Research universities- Research universities place a heavy emphasis on exploration of a topic and analysis. These universities have four-year programs to receive a bachelor’s degree. They have tracks to carry out education through a doctorate degree. Undergraduate students can participate in research opportunities. Universities are geared towards graduate and doctoral students conducting intensive research.
Application Help
Some colleges require that you fill out an application online, but most schools want you to apply through two main portals. Knowing about the college application portals or systems is an essential step in understanding college admissions. These portals serve as centralized locations to send your components to multiple institutions. If you fill out the different sections within these systems, you don’t have to fill them out for multiple of your schools. This makes the application process far more streamlined. DODEA policy reqiures counselors to use SchooLinks portal to connect with colleges when possible.
Common App & Coalition App
When filling in your counselor please make sure to put the correct email in for your counselor.
IAPS & Arts and Communications Academy: suzanne.dickinson@dodea.edu
STEM Academy: kristin.kachmar@dodea.edu
Common App (The Common Application) Guide
Application Deadlines Explained
Early action (EA) - Nonbinding admissions process for students to apply to college earlier than the regular deadline, usually in November of senior year. Students receive admissions notifications in December, and if accepted, are not required to commit. Example schools: University of Chicago, University of Michigan, University of Virginia.
Early decision I (ED I) - Binding admissions process for students to apply to college earlier than the regular deadline, usually in November of senior year. Students receive admissions notifications in December, and if accepted, are required to commit. Example schools: Columbia University, Cornell University, Williams College.
Early decision II (ED II) - Binding admissions process for students to apply to college closer to the regular deadline in January. Students receive admissions notifications in mid-February, and if accepted, are required to commit. Example schools: University of Chicago, Wellesley College, Colby College.
Restrictive early action (REA) or single-choice early action - Different schools refer to this policy in different ways. REA/single-choice early action is a process more restrictive than early action but less committal than early decision. Students can apply only to their single-choice EA institution in the early round, with exceptions such as nonbinding applications to public or foreign universities. Students apply in November and are notified in December with no obligation to commit if accepted. Example schools: Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University.
Regular Decision - The vast majority of students apply regular decision, usually in January, and are notified in late March or early April. Students have no obligation to commit if accepted. Every college has a regular decision round. As we mentioned, the University of California colleges are a good example of schools with only one round, the regular round.
Application Tips
Most colleges require that you apply online. Review college websites for application information and the current year application. Be sure you follow all procedures and submit all documents by the due date. Watch for the actual time that an application is due.
Tips to strengthen your application for admission:
Take academic coursework beyond core/required classes
Take more challenging courses when available (Honors, Advanced Placement etc)
Take the time to present yourself well in your application. This means giving yourself plenty of time to write your essays!
Continue working hard throughout your senior year
Providing the following information about you may also strengthen your application:
Information that helps the college understand your academic choices and grades
Information about any “risks” you have taken such as participating in an exchange programs, standing up for your beliefs, accepting new challenges, adjusting to new environments etc.
Information about how a hardship in your life has affected your academic success in school
Information about specific qualities you possess that will benefit the college community, such as contributions to multiculturalism, athletic, musical, artistic or other unique talents you possess.
Essay Tips
Many colleges, both public and private, require one or more personal essays. The essay should give the college a better picture of you as a student and as an individual
Tips for writing your essay:
Be passionate about what you write
Answer the question and demonstrate how well you think as well as how well you write
Don’t repeat what is included in other parts of the application by making your essay a second resume
Don’t select topics the bore (i.e. the social problem of the year), irritate (a hot political topic) or suggest that you don’t see the world beyond high school
Do proofread and ask someone to proofread for you
Don’t make careless mistakes
Stay away from vague examples
Write about what you know
Be authentic – use personality! Show that you bring lively and exciting flavor to the classroom
Realize that humor can be difficult to pull off in an essay. Don’t try to be funny if that is not your personality
Keep the topic small so that you can effectively deal with the material
If you write about parts of your life dealing with issues around drugs, divorce or depression , be sure to evaluate and reflect rather than simply relaying information
Write in the first person – let them hear your voice!
Remember that the essay is being ready quickly and for a general impression
Don’t be afraid to use a second page rather than compressing words
Make it easy to read
When you are finished, make sure you can say “This sounds like me”
Top 15 Essay Tips from Readers
View it as an opportunity. The essay is one of the few things that you’ve got complete control over in the application process, especially by the time you’re in your senior year. You’ve already earned most of your grades; you’ve already made most of your impressions on teachers; and chances are, you’ve already found a set of activities you’re interested in continuing. So when you write the essay, view it as something more than just a page to fill up with writing. View it as a chance to tell the admissions committee about who you are as a person.
Be yourself. If you are funny, write a funny essay; if you are serious, write a serious essay. Don’t start reinventing yourself with the essay.
Make it fun. If you’re recounting an amusing and light-hearted anecdote from your childhood, it doesn’t have to read like a Congressional Act — make it fun!
Tell us something different from what we’ll read on your list of extracurricular activities or transcript.
Take the time to go beyond the obvious. Think about what most students might write in response to the question and then try something a little different.
Don’t try to take on too much. Focus on one “most influential person,” one event, or one activity. Tackling too much tends to make your essay too watered down or disjointed.
Concentrate on topics of true significance to you. Don’t be afraid to reveal yourself in your writing. We want to know who you are and how you think.
Write thoughtfully and from your heart. It’ll be clear who believes in what they are saying versus those who are simply saying what they think we want to hear.
Essays should have a thesis that is clear to you and to the reader. Your thesis should indicate where you’re going and what you’re trying to communicate from the outset.
Don’t do a history report. Some background knowledge is okay, but do not re-hash what other authors have already said or written.
Answer each school’s essay individually. Recycled “utility essays” come across as impersonal and sanitized. The one exception is an essay written for and submitted to Common Application member schools.
Proofread, proofread, proofread. Nothing says “last-minute essay” like an “are” instead of “our” or a “their” instead of “they’re.”
Keep it short and to the point.
Limit the number of people from whom you request feedback on your essay. Too much input creates an essay that sounds as though it has been written by a committee or results in writing that is absent your own voice.
Appearances count. Formatting and presentation cannot replace substance, but they can certainly enhance the value of an already well-written essay.
Letters of Recommendation
Academics get asked to write a lot of letters of recommendations, and we are pleased to do this! Letters of recommendations can be really, really important when students are applying to grad school, or applying for scholarships.
Strong letters can make a big difference , and that means it’s essential that students approach this with seriousness, maturity and professionalism.
Plan ahead: Ask for letters well ahead of the deadline! Never, never assume your teacher/staff member will have the time or inclination to write a strong letter if the deadline is two days away. Give lots of advance warning (at least several weeks).
Ask nicely. Approach your teacher (in person, if possible; with a telephone call, or over email), explain what you are applying for (and why), and ask whether s/he might be willing to write you a letter of support.
Ask what kind of letter you might get! You need to know whether it’ll be a strong letter, or one that is perhaps less in-depth. In many cases, if I’ve only met a student in one class, and only have a grade to base a letter on, then I won’t be able to write a strong letter. You deserve to know this, and it may affect whether or not you should ask someone else. Don’t worry – most Academics are able to be honest (and nice) about what kind of letter they might be able to write. You must find out, early on, so that your chances of success are as high as possible.
Include ALL the relevant details, in one well-composed e-mail:
What you are applying for (in appropriate detail – don’t just say “I’m applying to Western”)When you don’t know your teacher all that well, remind them who you are: it is helpful to state what course(s) you might have taken with the Professor, in what context, how you did in the class, and anything else to help those old minds recall who you are!. You may think that your instructors remember you well, but this is not always the case (we see hundreds of students each year, and we are all getting older…),Provide a ‘statement of interest’ to give some context to why you are applying for a particular position or scholarship, Provide the deadline for the letter! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to email a student to ask them what the deadline is. It’s annoying having to deal with email overload, especially when it is avoidable. If there are PDF fillable forms, or web-links for the reference, make sure to include these! If the Professor is going to get an email from an Institution to which you are applying, make it clear that they should expect this.
Follow-up! If you haven’t heard anything within a week of when you sent your one e-mail, stop by the teacher’s office, or give a phone call, to make sure that s/he received the details.
Make it easy: Always make the process of writing a letter of recommendation as easy as possible. In many cases PDF fillable forms have parts that are to be filled out the by candidate ahead of time – do this! For hard copies, make sure to fill in parts that you are supposed to, and always include a stamped envelope with the address written out. It’s YOUR job to ensure the letter gets sent by the teacher! If you are required to pick up the letter and send it in as an entire application package, provide two envelopes – one for their confidential letter, and another that they can slip the official envelope into – arrange a system by which you can pick up the letter.
Send a reminder… A few days before the deadline, send ONE reminder e-mail – politely remind your teacher that the deadline is approaching.
Say ‘Thank you’ – It is classy and professional to say thanks to whoever writes letters of recommendation for you. If your application ends up being successful, or you get that scholarship, you can even send a post-card, or a short thank-you letter – that leaves a very positive and lasting impression (and you never know when you will need another letter…). As a minimum, send a short ‘thank you’ email.
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Financial Aid
There are a variety of financial resources that students may qualify for to pay for college expenses. Oftentimes, it requires completing either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and your state of record State Financial Aid Program.
Documents you need to gather before filling out the FASFA.
Window opens in December- get it complete ASAP
Scholarship
Free money that is based on academic or other achievements, or on financial need, to help pay for school
Money you borrow to pay for college or career school; you must repay your loans and the interest that accrues
Work Study
A way to earn money to help you pay for school
FASFA Specifics
OPENS OCTOBER 1
If you, the student, are a US Citizen or Naturalized Citizen, please complete the FAFSA
In order to correctly submit the FAFSA, you will need the following information about both student and parents or guardians. The below list may vary depending on each household and financial situation:
Tax Information – You will reference Prior-Prior Year (ex. when completing 2021-2022 FAFSA, you will use 2019 tax information)
Assets, stock, benefits and other taxed/untaxed income
Bank Account Information
Demographic information such as legal name, social security number, date of birth, address, email, high school name
Date of Marriage or Divorce (if applicable)
Colleges you will be sending the FAFSA to (up to 10)
After submitting your FAFSA, please save all emails sent by the Federal Student Aid. These emails include confirmation numbers that your colleges may need you to reference. Most importantly, it includes your “Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)” which is an estimated (not exact) amount that colleges expect your family to pay. Each college will use your EFC to gauge your financial need.
Additional Resources:
Transcripts
Fill out the Transcript Request Form to receive a transcript. There are also copies in the Guidance Office.
Electronic requests go through Parchment
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NCAA Athletic Requirements
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If you want to be an athlete at an NCAA school you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Initial-eligibility standards help ensure you are prepared to succeed in college. The eligibility process also protects the fairness and integrity of college sports by ensuring student-athletes are amateurs.
NCAA DI
Find out what classes you need to take to play DI athletics at an NCAA college.
NCAA DII
Find out what classes you need to take to play DII athletics at an NCAA college.
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NCAA Core-courses Worksheet
Use this tool to see if you have completed the 16 core-course requirement.