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COLLEGE SEARCH 101

COLLEGE SEARCH 101. The College Application Process. HUGH CUMMINGS HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT. How to be ready. Pursue a challenging curriculum: Honors and AP courses Maintain your GPA Audit your transcript yearly Develop strong study habits Learn time management skills

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COLLEGE SEARCH 101

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  1. COLLEGE SEARCH 101 The College Application Process HUGH CUMMINGS HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

  2. How to be ready • Pursue a challenging curriculum: Honors and AP courses • Maintain your GPA • Audit your transcript yearly • Develop strong study habits • Learn time management skills • Know your career interests • Volunteer • VISIT THE COUNSELING OFFICE

  3. The right college • Think about where you want to be, the state, climate.. • Decide whether you want a large or small school • Talk with people you know • Look for colleges with your possible majors • Determine if the school matches your personality • Speak with current students • Learn about the campus environment

  4. Visit the campus or virtual tour • Take a campus tour, you and parents-it’s a TEST DRIVE • Meet with an Admissions Counselor • Attend a class • Eat a meal on campus • Stay overnight • Meet with a coach or professor • Pick up a student newspaper • Visit again once you’ve narrowed things down

  5. Always consider…. • Environment - location, size, etc. • Admission Requirements • Academics • College Expenses & Financial Aid • Housing • Facilities • Activities • Colleges, like people, are different in many ways so choose carefully

  6. The application • Review all deadlines; Apply as early as possible • Note special admission processes such as Early Action or Early Decision • Proofread your essays, personal statement, resume, addresses…everything! • Check to see if they offer fee waivers • Give your recommendation writers at least 2 weeks notice • Don’t apply to more than 5-7 schools • KEEP up with PASSWORDS and USERNAMES • No gimmicks-follow directions

  7. Early Decision, Early Action • Early decision plans are binding — a student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college; usually requires a non-refundable deposit at time of application • Early action plans are nonbinding — students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1. • Discuss with your counselors to make sure that you understand the difference between the two plans

  8. Admissions criteria • High School Grades/Rank (GPA) • ACT/SAT Scores • High School Coursework • School/Community Involvement • Leadership Opportunities • Family Connections • Letters of Recommendation • Personal Statement • Resume

  9. SAT  vs. ACT • General Reasoning /Problem solving test - reflects content used in all strong college preparatory courses • Test Time- 3 hours, 45 minutes, including an unscored 25 minute experimental section. • TenSections: • 3 Critical Reading • 3 Math • 3 Writing • 1 Experimental (masked to look like a regular section) • Curriculum-based Test that measure achievement in core content areas • Test Time- 2 hours, 55 minutes, including an optional 30-minute Writing Section • Five Sections: • English • Math • Reading • Science • Optional: Writing (required by most) • 1 Experimental section (only added to certain test dates) All colleges will accept either test. The ACT with writing is often accepted by schools who require SAT I & II. Hundreds of colleges require neither.. Students must send scores to colleges/universities directly from the College Board.

  10. SAT and ACT future dates: • SAT here: November 3, 2012/Register by Oct 4 March 9, 2013/Register by Feb 8 May 4, 2013/ Register by April 5 • ACT here: December 8, 2012/ Register by November 2 April 13, 2013/ Register by March 8

  11. TIMELINES… Now – Spring: Visit, visit, visit; Juniors use your summer September – December: Submit applications and visit September - November: Apply Early January – February: Submit FAFSA and other scholarship applications; apply for campus housing Mid-march usually deadline for FAFSA most schools March – April: Review options and visit again; campus housing May 1: Decision Day May – August: Register for classes, receive housing assignment, participate in orientation

  12. Family affair and … • Make college visits a time to see a new place and do a little sight-seeing • Make it an outing for the whole family • Show off your accomplishments • Celebrate the transition • Share with your younger family members • Take a buddy: you can share cost of gas for visits and share ideas

  13. Helpful sites/links • http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applications/early • http://www.cfnc.org/static/pdf/home/sc/pdf/admissions_deadlines.pdf • CFNC.org • Collegeboard.org • Act.org • Sat.collegeboard.org • Fafsa.ed.gov • http://www.usnews.com/education • Fastweb.com • Your school counselor’s office

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