If you are planning to attend a college or technical school, you will need to see Mrs. Addison in the school counseling office to order a transcript.  The transcript will cost $2.00.

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Requesting letters of recommendation

Please be advised that there are forms that need to be completed when requesting letters of recommendation.  See your counselor for a copy of the forms.  Allow two weeks for letters to be written, so please plan accordingly.

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What Are Colleges Looking For?

On your application?

Grades and standardized test scores:  It’s obvious, but these marks are one of the first things colleges look at.

Extracurricular activities:  Quantity doesn’t mean quality.  Have you taken a leadership role in your chosen activities?  What have you accomplished?

Rigorous course schedule:  Schools want to see challenging courses that will help you grow academically.  Don’t take classes just to pad your GPA.

Follow the rules:  If an application asks you to choose one essay, don’t answer them all.  Read the application directions completely before answering any questions.

Include everything:  Verify all forms have been signed and that you’ve included all essays and recommendations.  Double check that you haven’t left out anything.

On-time arrival:  Note when the application deadline is and send it in with plenty of time to spare.  You may wan to send your application via certified mail for added assurance that it arrived on time.

On Your Application Essay?

Show, don’t tell:  Don’t just list your attributes; get specific.  For example, saying that you’re helpful is not as dynamic as relating your experiences with helping younger students learn how to read.

Creativity counts:  Avoid clichés or standard essay topics.  Try to come up with something an admissions office hasn’t seen a million times before.

No spelling errors:  First, spell check your essay.  Then, read it again for usage mistakes.  Have a parent or teacher look it over for spelling and grammar errors.

Personality:  The application essay is your opportunity to show your prospective college what makes you you.  Ask yourself whether what you’ve written is memorable, engaging and in your own voice.

In Your Interview?

Arrive early and dress the part:  Know where the interview will be held ahead of time so you won’t arrive late.  Dress on the conservative and understated side.  If you have questions about the dress code, call the college and ask.

Identify:  Admissions offices want to know you as a person.  If you’re discussing your accomplishments, highlight why they were meaningful for you, or what you got out of them.

Spontaneity, positivity, confidence:  Sounding like you’re reading off of a cue card won’t leave them with a fond memory.  It’s a good idea to rehearse, but remember that the interview should be a conversation.  Be natural, sure of yourself and optimistic about your future college career.

Interest in the college:  Come prepared with questions or impressions you have about the college to demonstrate your interest level.  Place less emphasis on your plans after graduation and more on what you want to learn and accomplish while a college student.  Follow up with a thank-you note.

1.  Size

Colleges come in all sizes, from a school in California that enrolls only 26 students to schools like Pennsylvania State, which can enroll 30,000 or more. Which one is better? Well, that depends on you and what you're comfortable with. Did you go to a small high school or a large one? Did you like the size of your high school? Did you grow up in a city or a rural area? Do you like being places where everybody knows you, or do you like the anonymity of a crowd?

2.  Type

All colleges are not the same. Some have large graduate programs and devote much of their time and resources to research. Others enroll only undergraduates and focus their attention on teaching and learning. Some schools have a specialty in one specific area, like engineering or writing, while others are best known for giving their students a broad education. Other differences include whether schools are single sex or coed, if they have a religious affiliation, and whether they are public or private. 

There are also historically black colleges, schools with co-op programs where you earn money while going to school, and schools with large evening and part-time programs. The options really are almost limitless.

3.  Location

There are colleges in every living environment you can imagine, from tiny towns in Minnesota to the middle of New York City. If you have always lived in the suburbs, choosing an urban campus can be an adventure. But after a week of urban noise, dirt, and rude people, will you long for a grassy campus and open space? On the other hand, if you are used to the suburbs and mall life and choose a college in a rural area, will you run screaming into the Student Center some night looking for noise, lights, and people? Think about where you grew up and how much of a change you want from that when you go to college.

4.  Distance from Home

Closely tied to location is the issue of how far from home you want to be. For some people, going to college is a chance to explore a totally different part of the country. For others, they want to make sure they can have dinner with their family once a week, or go home to do their laundry. When you decide how far you want to be from home, think about how likely you are to get homesick, and how much money you can afford to spend in travel. The farther you are from home, the less often you'll be able to visit. On the other hand, with email and cell phones, you can still feel close to home even if you're in California and your sister is in New Jersey.

5.  Cost/Scholarships & Financial Aid

Cost is one thing that most parents think about when the topic of college comes up, but did you know that not all colleges cost the same amount? Or that there are different types of financial aid at different schools? Or that if your grades - or musical talent or athletic ability - are good enough you could earn a scholarship?

Public universities often offer much lower tuition rates to in-state students, but their fees to out-of-state residents are usually pretty similar to private schools. Private institutions charge everyone the same high tuition, but they often have privately-funded scholarship monies available, so it's worth applying to them even if the price tag seems too high.

6.  Student Population

All college students are not the same. Some schools, particularly large schools and those in big cities, tend to have students from a wide range of ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds. Other schools, especially small schools and those in very rural locations, tend to have a fairly homogeneous student body. Other things to think about in student population is whether most students live at the school or commute, how old the average student is, and how many students are in the Greek system, if there is one.

7.  Majors and Requirements

If you know what field you want to go into after college, it's important to make sure you go to college somewhere that will prepare you for your chosen profession. Some schools are particularly well-known for a specific major, like pre-med or architecture. Going to one of these schools will put you in a great position to get a job in that area when you graduate. If, however, like many entering freshman, you're not so sure what you want to do, you should choose a school that will give you plenty of options.

Some schools require students to take classes in a wide range of areas during their first year or two. These schools are great for students who either want a well-rounded education or are trying to figure out what area to focus on. Other schools let students just dive in to their chosen majors without a lot of other requirements. These schools are great for focused students who know what they want to do and don't want to spend their time in classes that won't help them in their major.

8.  Athletic and Events

Are you a sports nut, or does the sound of a marching band and the sight of a football uniform make you cringe? At some schools, sports are the order of the day, the main social activity on most students' calendars. Other schools may not have a football team at all, or may not pay much attention to it if they do. 

Maybe you're really into going to live concerts, or you love nothing better than to go hiking in the woods. If you like to spend your free time going to shows at clubs, you probably won't be happy at a small school in the countryside where few musical acts stop on tour. However, if you love to be outdoors, a campus in a natural setting can give you just the kind of balance you need to feel your best.

9.  Activities and Special Programs

Have you always wanted to try living in another country? Some colleges have special programs to help you do just that, for a semester or even a whole school year. You'll usually get full credit for your work overseas, plus have the chance to learn a new language, make some new friends, and try some new food. 

Or maybe you're a dancer or a journalist. You'll want to make sure you go to a school that not only fulfills your academic goals, but your personal ones, too. Some schools have great arts and theater programs, or excellent newspapers, giving students a chance to be involved in extra-curricular activities outside their majors. Other schools focus all their attention on great classes, but not much else.

10.  Your Gut Feeling

Trust your instincts. If a place feels right, that's important. Similarly, if it just feels wrong, no matter who wants you to go there or how good it looks on paper, it probably is. College is a very personal choice, and after considering all the other objective factors, the fact of the matter is that it comes down to you. Visit colleges you're interested in, and see how you feel walking around their campuses. Could you imagine yourself going to school there? Once you find a few places that you like, you'll be well on your way to finding the college that's right for you.

Early Decision & Early Action

What Are They and Are They Right for You?

Have you ever noticed a new buzz in your school hallways or Counselor’s office?  “I’m applying early decision.”  “Will I be notified early?”  Has all this early talk gotten you prematurely anxious about applying to colleges?

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

This cliché is the basic concept behind early decision and early action plans.  Your “worm” is knowing in December whether or not you’ve been accepted at your first choice college.  Then, hopefully, you can enjoy the rest of your senior year without stressing about getting into college.  The “worm” for the colleges that offer these plans is locking in students early in the process who really want to go to the school.

Early Decision vs. Early Action

Early decision plans allows you to apply early (usually in November) and get an admission decision from the college well in advance of the usual notification date.  But there is a catch.  Early decision plans are “binding,” meaning if you apply as an early decision candidate, you agree to attend the college if it accepts you and offers an adequate financial aid package.  Although you can apply to only one college for early decision, you may apply to other colleges under regular admission.  If you’re accepted by your first-choice college early, you must withdraw all other applications.  Usually, colleges insist on a non-refundable deposit well in advance of May 1^st.

Early action plans are similar to early decision plans in that you can learn early in the admission cycle (usually in January or February) whether a college has accepted you.  But unlike early decision, most early action plans are not binding, meaning you do NOT have to commit to a college to which you’ve applied for early action.  Under these plans, you may apply to other colleges under regular admission plans, but some stipulate that you may not apply early (either early decision or early action) to other colleges.  Usually, you can let the college know of your decision in the late spring or when you’ve decided.

Should I Apply Under One of These Plans?

You should apply under an early decision or action plan only if you are very, very sure of the college you want to attend.  These plans make a lot of sense if one college is your clean preference and if your profile closely matches that of the students at that college.

Do not apply under an early decision or action if you plan to weigh offers and financial aid packages from several colleges later in the spring.  Also, you shouldn’t apply early if it is to your advantage to have more of your senior year work to show a college.  If you plan to woo an admission office with your excellent grades this year, you may want to wait until after the semester ends to apply to colleges.

Who Offers Early Plans?

More than 400 colleges offer an early decision plan, an early action plan, or both.  You can find this information in The College Board College Handbook, available in the online store.

Do Your Research

Before you apply to an early action and early decision plan, research all your options to decide which college is the right one for you.  Does this college have everything you want in a school? 

A Last Word of Advice

Get advice from your high school counselor and other trusted advisers before applying to a college as an early decision applicant.  In the Fall, it may seem appealing to get the college decision over with, but as your senior year progresses, you may be very confident that you will thrive at a certain college.  If so, you the type of student for which early decision was created. From the college board website

HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE

Colleges vary in terms of academic program, length of study, size, type of community, location, admissions policy, affiliation, housing, cost, activities, athletics, and composition of the student body.  It is important that you find the right “fit” for you.

Listed below are some things to consider and inquire about as you begin your search:

ADMISSIONS

·         What are the requirements for admission and what is the profile of this year’s freshman class (GPA, rank, SAT/ACT scores)?

·         What percentage of students fail?  Why?

·         What percentage of students maintains their scholarships?

STUDENT LIFE

·         Availability and types of housing

·         Recreational activities and facilities

·         Sports

·         Clubs and organizations

·         Religious activities

·         The Greek system

·         Home town of students

COLLEGE ATMOSPHERE

·         Size and location

·         What makes the school unique

·         Number of students who return after the freshman year

·         Alumni support

·         Friendliness of the students

·         Popular weekend activities

INSTRUCTION

·         Class size

·         Availability and helpfulness of professors

·         Most popular majors

·         Majors available

·         Career services after graduation

·         Number of graduates going to graduate school

FINANCIAL AID

·         Cost

·         Percent of students who apply for and receive aid

·         Availability and types of scholarships offered

·         Co-op programs, internships, campus jobs

HOW COLLEGES CHOOSE AMONG APPLICANTS

When colleges evaluate applicants they look at the following, which are ranked in order of importance:

·         High school academic record (courses taken, grades, and rank)

·         SAT/ACT scores

·         Essays

·         Recommendation for personality and character

·         Special abilities (art, music, athletics, leadership)

·         Service to school and community

·         Extracurricular activities

·         Interview (if required)

·         Neatness and accuracy of the application

POINTS TO CONSIDER

·         Most colleges only consider academic courses when calculating grade point averages, thus excluding grades from the fine arts, physical education, etc.  In most cases the recalculated GPA will be lower than the one stated on your report card.

PRELIMINARY SCHOOLS LIST

Form a list of possible schools.  Think in terms of three categories:  reach schools, range schools, and safety schools.  A “reach” school might be one that is a dream school, but to which you have a slim chance of being admitted or being able to afford.  A “range” school is one that you have a 50/50 chance of being admitted and could reasonably handle financially.  A “safety” school would be a school where you should definitely expect to be accepted and that you could afford with little or no financial assistance.

·         REACH SCHOOLS (I might be accepted)__________________________________________

·         RANGE SCHOOLS (I should be accepted)_________________________________________