Charting the College Application Process

Organization is Important

• Establish a list of colleges you plan to apply to
• The longer the list, the better your chances
• I applied to eleven and was accepted to ten
• Create a calendar or buy a planner just for college planning
• Applications
• Research target application due dates (preferred by colleges)
• Absolute deadlines
• Financial Aid
• FAFSA/CSS
• Scholarships

Where to Begin

• The earlier you start, the easier the year.
• Compile a list of the colleges/programs you are interested in
• http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/index.jsp
• Make a list of achievements and accolades
• Know testing deadlines and the latest you can take an exam for each school
• Draft an academic resume)
• Include sports, clubs, leadership positions, and volunteer hours

My Testing Deadlines

• August-September: began apps
• October - ACT
• November - SAT
• December - ACT
• December- SAT II
• December - submitted all apps?
• January - SAT
• I highly recommend you to take SAT II’s immediately after an AP exam corresponding to that subject

The NEW SAT

• SAT - Coming in March 2016
• Important:
• Hey, Seniors
• You’ll probably take the test before March 2016, which means you’ll take the current SAT.
• Your first chance to take the new SAT is March 5.
• You Changed What?
• You might be surprised by everything that’s new about the new SAT:
• All-new essay — and it’s optional
• No penalty for guessing
• No vocab that you’ll never use again
• Know what to expect: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test
• Quick Facts
• 4 parts: Reading, Writing and Language, Math, and the optional SAT Essay
• 400–1600 score scale
• 3 hours and 50 minutes with the SAT Essay — or 3 hours without it
• 4 answer choices
• 4 college application fee waivers for every student who uses an SAT fee waiver

Student Resume

• Definitely an integral part of the application
• Makes the Common App easier (section on activities)
• Make yourself stand out
• Find internships
• Special programs
• Quality vs. Quantity
• Name and contact information
• Objective or summary statement
• Work experience
• Volunteer and extracurricular experience
• Education
• Skills

The College List-Who makes the Cut?

• Applications are EXPENSIVE—choose wisely
• Common App/Reach Schools
• Brown- $75
• Columbia- $80
• Princeton- $65
• NYU- $70
• Yale- $75
• Other Schools
• Siena - $50
• FSU- $30
• Rutgers- $65
• Tulane- FREE
• LIU - $50

Other Fees

• SAT Scores- 4 free per test, additional $10 per school
• Score Choice- choose your best sitting
• SAT= $47
• Includes SAT IIs- ($21** may include an extra $10 charge)
• Advanced Placement Scores- $15 per college
• Sends all scores from school year
• ACT Scores- $10 per test date per school
• Always take ACT + Writing; many colleges only accept this score
• Costs more ($48 instead of $33)

My Pre-College “Investment”

• $975

The Common App

• What it is- a streamlined website to make applying easier
• Advantages-finish all work and save it to the same location
• Expedites payment process
• Only way to apply for some schools
• Not every school uses the Common App
• www.commonapp.org

Know Your Chances

• Out-of-state schools may be harder to get into
• Be aware of admissions rates but don’t be deterred
• http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/colleges-report-2013-acceptance-rates/

Working on the Application

• Longest part of the process
• Take your time
• Proofread—get third party opinions
• Sell Yourself
• Be Original
• Consider the reader- young demographic

Components of the Common Application

• Consists of general application
• Future Plans
• Applicant Data
• Demographics
• Family Education
• Academics
• Activities
• Writing- 1 short answer, 150 words or fewer, about an extracurricular and THE PERSOANL ESSAY (250 minimum)
• Specific Supplements for each college

Components of the Common App

• Future Plans- admissions route (early or regular)
• Applicant Info-name, address, telephone
• *Demographics- You can opt out of this
• Family Info-profession, sibling info
• Education-input CEEB code (there is a search box)
• Academics-rank, AP scores, SAT scores, current year courses
• Activities-report extracurricular activities
• Writing-essay
• Supplement- varies

Personal Essay

• Trip Gabriel’s article, “The Almighty Essay,” discusses the importance of this essay
• “The personal essay, they (admissions counselors) all said, growing soft and fuzzy, is the one element where a student’s own voice can be heard through the fog of quantitative data.”
• Essay can be like a tie-breaker

How To Write an Effective Personal Essay

• Think positively—You can do this!
• Discuss something you feel strongly about or an experience that changed you
• Vary your writing style and make your topic sound interesting
• Be yourself and use your voice
• Don’t repeat something already stated in your application
• Grab the reader’s attention right away
• Sleep with a notebook next to your nightstand—sometimes creativity strikes at the strangest times

Personal Essay Topics

• The Common App’s questions were the following:
• https://appsupport.commonapp.org/link/portal/33011/33013/Article/1694/What-are-the-2015-16-Common-Application-Essay-Prompts

Therefore…

• There really are no wrong answers
• But there are poorly written essays
• The staff of Stevenson University in Maryland was moved by a student’s memories of being a Big Brother, even though he repeatedly spelled it “Big Bother.” Barnard College was puzzled by an applicant who kept referring to her enthusiasm for the “Peace Core.”
• --The Choice

Supplements

• Each school will ask for different components
• Some require extended essays (Brown and Princeton)
• Some require short answers (NYU, Columbia, Yale)
• Spend an equal amount of time on supplements as on the personal essay
• Research the school thoroughly if the question calls for it

Additional Requirements

• Send OFFICIAL (sealed) transcripts to each school
• Provide Guidance with enough time – ask for a 2-week processing window
• Naviance is your best friend!
• Be aware of schools that do not accept electronic doc’s
• Counselor must fill out Secondary, Midyear, and Final Report on class ranking, etc.
• Forms available at commonapp.org
• Two letters of Recommendation from teachers, 1 from Counselor
• Choose teachers who know you and can write an excellent letter about your awesome traits

When the Application is Complete…

• You are halfway there.
• Submit apps before winter break
• Create domains on school websites to track your application and documentation received
• Call undergraduate offices if necessary; it’s their job to help you
• Make copies of all receipts and of your Applications
• Keep all correspondence with schools
• Take a short break because…

Financial Aid is Intimidating but “do-able”

• Two types: need-based and merit based
• Need-based
• under $60,000 household= lots of aid (hopefully!)
• Everyone else usually has to contribute something
• Merit based
• Academic standing
• National Merit Scholar-PSAT results
• If you need to apply for financial aid, have your parents file their taxes AS SOON AS THEY CAN
• FAFSA operates on first come, first serve as it is federal student aid
• You may not qualify for anything but loans—this happened to me
• Research qualifications for Pell grants
• Out-of-State schools may still be in reach!
• The Ivies, especially, have their own system of awarding financial aid

Be Proactive

• Look for scholarships on your own
• www.fastweb.com
• www.questbridge.org (need-based)
• http://www.whitepicketcollege.com/tag/college-scholarships/ **Non-need based
• www.scholarships.com **

Helpful Sites and Links

• The Times education blog “The Choice” provides insight into the entire process and has interviews with students in the process of applying **
• http://www.admissionsadvice.com/
• Common App’s FAQ section
• Collegeboard.com
• Act.org
• NACAC Guide to the College Process
• www.collegeconfidential.com **
• Helpful discussion boards on almost every college topic

Talking About College is the Easy Part

• Senior year was my most stressful year
• Choosing a college is one of the single most important decisions in your life
• Easy to lose sight of goal
• Incredible amounts of stress require allocated breaks
• Remember that after Mid-March, everything else is cake

The Ideal Junior Timeline: College Applications

• Sophomore Fall- PSAT
• Summer-Visit Prospective Colleges
• Junior Fall- PSAT (NMSQT)
• August:
• Begin Common App
• Work on CV (academic résumé)
• Find clubs and activities
• September:
• Practice for SAT
• Refine College List
• Research College Requirements/Deadlines
• Consider Letters of Recommendation
• Take ACT+Writing

• October:
• Take SAT or SAT II
• PSAT
• Continue Common App
• November:
• Refine Essays
• Ask for Letters of Rec.
• Research scholarships
• December:
• Request transcripts
• Send app
• Prep for interviews
• Continue with scholarship search
• Organize for FAFSA/CSS
• Take ACT/SAT for the last time the college allows

The Ideal Timeline Cont.: Financial Aid

• January:
• Submit FAFSA
• Submit CSS
• Continue Scholarship search
• February:
• CSS due for some colleges
• Scholarships
• March:
• Decisions
• School Visits

• May:
• Choose a college by 05.01

REMEMBER!

• Admissions officers are basing their selection on 9-11th grade progress.
• Only the first semester of the senior year is sent before decisions.
• Shine early on; don’t try to have a “miracle comeback”
• If offered, do an interview!

In Case of Emergency or Just to Say, “Hello.”

• akapnitis@kpcsd.org
• 631-269-3394
• REMIND ME
• To receive message updates and important reminders via text,
• text @kpguidance to 81010.
• You can opt-out of messages at anytime by replying,
• 'unsubscribe @kpguidance'

Insiders Guide to Admission

• https://youtu.be/kKARNadxshU

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

• https://youtu.be/DpZI8GQVOlo

What is my Childs Digital Profile?

• https://youtu.be/_JAhq-DP6FE

Directory: schools
schools -> Common Mistakes in the tok essay
schools -> 11th Grade Parent Meeting counseling office
schools -> Citronelle High School Guidance & Career Information
schools -> The Days Pay-Per The Richland High School Parent-Teacher-Student Association Newsletter
schools -> Millry High School
schools -> Citronelle High School Scholarship Information
schools -> -
schools -> Scholarship Descriptions, Qualifications
schools -> Sample Practice Topic—Fast Food
schools -> The Essay Austin English 11 Stages of the Writing Process

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