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College Admissions
Start researching the application requirements of the schools you want to apply to during the summer before your senior year. You can check for most colleges' admissions requirements on-line. Most colleges also allow you to apply on-line, and many use a common application. Make a list of what is required and by what dates. Students normally apply to college in the fall of their senior year. Some colleges, however, offer early and rolling admission plans. If you are applying to multiple schools, one should be a "safety school." A safety school is one that you believe will admit you because you meet all the criteria for the average freshman profile and your family can afford the cost.
Types of Admissions
Basically there are four types of college admission:- Early Decision-Early Decision is for those students who absolutely know their first - choice school. Admission applications are normally due in by November 1st of the senior year, and selections are made by the end of December. The benefit of Early Decision is that you will know by the end of the year if you will get into your first-choice college. However, keep in mind that Early Decision is a binding contract and you are legally committed to attend this school. This could have an effect on financial aid considerations.
- Early Action- Early Action has the same timelines as Early Decision. However, Early Action is not binding, and you will not have to make your final decision until May 1st of your senior year. Unlike Early Decision, you can apply Early Action to more than one school. Early Action allows you to know in December whether you have been accepted, rejected, or deferred by a college.
- Regular Decision-Regular Decision applications are due into most colleges by January/February of your senior year. Selection letters come out in early April.
- Rolling Decision-Rolling Decision basically means that there are no application deadlines. For the student who decides to apply in the spring of his or her senior year, this is no doubt the best admission program.
The College Application
Most college applications ask for the following types of information:- Personal data
- Family information
- Educational experience
- Test scores
- Academic experience
- Awards and honors
- Extracurricular activities (including school, religious, civic, and volunteer)
- Work experience including volunteer work
- A written essay
- Recommendations from teachers and a counselor
- A high school transcript.
Unfortunately, you have to fill out a separate application for every school on your list. However, many schools allow you to file electronically, and many schools use a common application. Also, if you have an updated Student Portfolio, you can easily transfer your data to each application.
Read your applications carefully before filling them out. Follow the directions. Note any deadlines. Answer all questions. Be neat. Type or print your answers. Be sure to proofread each application before you send it off.
The Application Essay
Summer is a great time to start writing the essays that are part of the college application process. Many colleges will publish their essay topic in July or August. The more colleges you are applying to, the earlier you need to get started on the essays.
A good application essay will help your application stand out from others. The admission committee will look at both the technical and creative merit of you essay. It's important that you do a good job. Writing about something you know will help set you apart from other applicants and it will let the reader know you on a more personal basis. Focus on showing the application committee who you are and not what you've done (they can read about that in the rest of your application). Use specific facts, details, events, and examples.
There are a variety of resources available that offer advice and guidance on how to write the college application essay. The Getting into College section of the College Board's website.
www.CollegeBoard.com offers excellent information on types of essays and essay questions, how to write an essay, and even gives some sample application essays. Take advantage of these resources, but make sure that the final product is yours alone. College admission officers read thousands of essays each year and are experts in deciding which ones are not original.
Letters of Recommendationion
Some college applications need recommendations from your teachers and counselors. Start to think about who you will ask to do these for you. Here are some tips on making sure you get good recommendations:
- Prepare a resume of the activities, awards, and information that you think should be part of the recommendation. Use the Extracurricular Community Activities Worksheet to help you. Remember that teachers and counselors may be asked to write many recommendations for students. They will appreciate your helping them remember some of the highlights of your own high school years.
- When asking teachers and counselors for recommendations, put the request in writing and include a copy of your resume.
- Give the teachers and counselors plenty of time to write the recommendation letters. Do not expect your letters to be returned within a week.
- Request copies of your transcripts from the person at your school who handles these. Again, do not wait until the day before the mailing deadline to make this request. Give yourself, the clerk, and your principal plenty of time to get this done before you actually need the transcripts.
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