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Have you started thinking about college? Explore below for more information for your search.
Have you started thinking about college? Explore below for more information for your search.
Early Action (EA) vs. Early Decision (ED)
Early Action (EA) vs. Early Decision (ED)
Early action = apply early, hear back earlier (usually in January or February). This is NOT a binding commitment. You can apply to other colleges under regular admission.
Early Decision = Apply early (usually in November), hear back earlier (usually before December). THIS IS A BINDING COMMITMENT. When applying ED you are saying "If I am admitted, I am going here 100%". You can only apply to ONE college ED. You must withdrawal your other applications if you are ACCEPTED by ED.
Is EA or ED a good idea for me?
These are good options if you have done your research on your colleges/university, you have all your required documents ready for the earlier deadline, if you are meeting or exceeding the admission profile for the college/university.
Benefits of applying early:
Reduce the stress by cutting the time waiting for an admission decision
Gain more time, once accepted, to plan finances, looking for housing, applying for scholarships, finishing senior year strong and planning for the fall.
Also gives you more time if not accepted to apply to other colleges/universities
Drawbacks of applying early:
Pressure to decide and commit to one college (ED)
Time crunch for completing applications
How to Start the College Application Process
How to Start the College Application Process
Start making a list of colleges that you want to apply to. Look at their GPA, test score requirements, cost, distance from home, acceptance rate, athletics, and majors.
Look to start visiting the colleges and attending open house
Talk to your parents about paying for college. Visit our financial aid resources page for more information.
Recommendation Letters - start to think about teachers that you can ask to write you letters of recommendation. It should be from a teacher in a similar field that you will be majoring in. You should only as a coach if you are looking to play a sport in college (Coaches do not know you in the classroom). Remember to ask them early! As your deadlines come up and the school year gets busy teachers will have a lot going on and you want to make sure that your letter gets done.
Your counselor will send your Initial Transcript (at the beginning of Senior year), Midyear transcript (after 1st semester) and Final Transcript (Final grades) to your colleges you are applying to/accepted to via Naviance - so you must list all colleges you are applying to on your Naviance pages. Same with your letters of recommendations. We can not apply to the college for you - that is something you must complete on your own.
If you are applying to Rutgers you will need a copy of your transcript from your counselor to complete the SRAR - Self-Report Academic Record. This allows you to input all of your high school course work in instead of your counselor submitting your initial transcript.
The Common Application is a single online college application form used by over 900 colleges and universities. Instead of filling out the same general information—like your address, GPA, and extracurriculars— a dozen times, you only have to do it once. The Common App dashboard also helps you track necessary application documents (like your letters of recommendation) and important deadlines.
Visit the complete list of College & Universities that take the common app.
The new edition of the Common App opens Aug. 1 every year.
Sending Test Scores
Sending Test Scores
Your school counselor DOES NOT send any test scores for you. You must send your scores directly from College Board for SATs and ACT to your college/university.
Your school counselor DOES NOT have you College Board or ACT login.
Some factors to consider when deciding where to apply for college
Academic Majors
Affordable cost per year
Location - State, City, Suburban, International
Student Body Size - Large, Medium, Small
Student to teacher ratio
Student Housing - Dormitories, Apartments, Off-Campus Housing
Student Activities
Athletics
Safety
Matriculate is a FREE virtual college advising program that supports high-achieving low-income students with the college admissions and financial aid processes.
This page has information about the program. The current program cycle is open to the Class of 2025.
College Open Houses
New Jersey:
Caldwell University On Campus & Virtual Tours
Fairleigh Dickinson University On Campus & Virtual Tours
Felician University Campus Tours
Georgian Court University Visits
Kean University in-Person and Virtual Tours
Monmouth University Campus Tour
Montclair State University Campus Tours
New Jersey Institute of Technology Tours
Princeton University Virtual Visit
Ramapo College of New Jersey Virtual Open House & Campus Tour
Rider University Virtual & In Person Campus Tours
Rutgers University - Scarlet Virtual Visits
Saint Peter's University Online Tours & Information Sessions
Stevens University Campus Visits
Stockton University Campus Tours
The College of New Jersey Campus Tour
William Patterson University Tours & Open House
Other Colleges:
The Pennsylvania State University Visits
New York University Virtual Visits
University of Connecticut Visits
University of Pennsylvania Virtual Visits
Columbia University Virtual Visits
Using Naviance
Using Naviance
Colonia High School uses Naviance to send transcripts to colleges. Each student must add the colleges they are applying for to their Naviance account so their counselor knows where to send your letters of recommendations and transcripts. If your school is not input into Naviance your counselor can not send anything.
Somethings to get started on in Naviance:
Adding the colleges you are interested in applying to.
Look out for signs and announcements for admission reps from Colleges that are going to be coming to visit the High School in fall.
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