a testimony against procrastination charting the college application process
TRANSCRIPT
A TESTIMONY AGAINST PROCRASTINATION
Charting the College Application Process
Applying to College Can Be a 2 Part Process
August- December: College Applications
January-March: Financial Aid
Overview Timeline
Q&A Session
So You Want to Go to College
Apply to more than one school Safety Reach
Be aware of Application Options Early Decision-Early decision plans are binding. You
get accepted around December. Early Action-Early action plans are similar to early
decision plans, but are not binding. You get accepted around December
Regular Decision- Apply to multiple colleges and then select by May 1st.
Due dates for early action or early decision differ from regular admissions
Update for 2011 Applicants
Early Action Harvard Princeton Stanford Yale
Early Decision Penn Cornell
Organization is Important
Establish a list of colleges you plan to apply to The longer the list, the better your chances I applied to ten and was accepted to nine
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 Possible college equivalent financial form
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 accoladesKnow testing deadlines and the latest you can
take an exam for each schoolDraft a curriculum vitae or CV (academic
résumé) Include sports, clubs, leadership positions, and volunteer
hours
My Testing Deadlines
August-September: began appsOctober-took ACT (1st time)November- retook SAT (2nd time)December- retook ACT (2nd time) December- SAT II’s Literature ExamDecember-submitted all appsJanuary- SAT (3rd time)
I highly recommend you to take SAT II’s immediately after an AP exam corresponding to that subject
The CV: Curriculum Vitae
Definitely an integral part of the application Makes the Common App easier (section on activities)
Make yourself stand out Find internships
Law offices Special Fields
Special programs Congressional Academy for American History and Civics (US
Dept. of Edu.) Seminar for Tomorrow’s Leaders (Rotary International) H.O.R. or Senate Page Program Local Volunteer Work
Quality vs. Quantity
The College List-Who makes the Cut?
Applications are EXPENSIVE—choose wiselyCommon App/Reach Schools
Brown- $75 Columbia- $80 Princeton- $65 NYU- $70 Yale- $75
Safety Schools Ashland- FREE FSU- $30 Rutgers- $65 Tulane- FREE UF-$30
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)
College Transcripts- SFCC is $5 per out-of-state school
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 processOnly way to apply for some schoolsNot every school uses the Common Appwww.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/2011-admission-decisions-chart/?ref=edlife
Working on the Application
Longest part of the processTake your timeProofread—get third party opinionsSell YourselfBe OriginalConsider 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 thisFamily Info-profession, sibling infoEducation-input CEEB code (there is a search
box)Academics-rank, AP scores, SAT scores, current
year coursesActivities-report extracurricular activities Writing-essaySupplement- 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 youVary your writing style and make your topic
sound interestingBe yourself and use your voiceDon’t repeat something already stated in your
applicationGrab the reader’s attention right awaySleep 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: Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have
taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
Topic of your choice.
Therefore…
There really are no wrong answersBut there are poorly written essaysThe 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
The Good, the Bad, and the Weird(U.V.A. essays)
John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’ was sung by Fox’s new show, ‘Glee.’ In one particular episode, a deaf glee club performed this song. I heard it before when John Lennon sang it: unfortunately I did not care much for it. When I watched this episode while the deaf adolescents were singing it, and soon joined by another glee club, it surprisingly affected me…John Lennon sang it like a professional, but what he did not have was the emotion behind the words. He sang it more staccato than legato. He sang it like it was his job, and nothing more. These singers from Glee sang with powerful emotions. …
I strode in front of 400 frenzied eighth graders with my arm slung over my Fender Stratocaster guitar — it actually belonged to my mother — and launched into the first few chords of Nirvana’s ‘Lithium.’ My hair dangled so low over my face that I couldn’t see the crowd in front of me as I shouted ‘yeah, yeah’ in my squeaky teenage voice. I had almost forgotten that less than a year ago I had been a kid whose excitement came from waiting for the next History Channel documentary.It was during the awkward, hormonal summer between seventh and eighth grade when I first heard Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit.’ The song shocked my senses — until that point my musical cosmos consisted mainly of my father’s Beatles CDs.
Supplements
Each school will ask for different componentsSome 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 essayResearch the school thoroughly if the
question calls for it
Additional Requirements
Send OFFICIAL (sealed) transcripts to each school Provide Mrs. Carlisle with enough time and correct
undergraduate office addresses 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 breakCreate domains on school websites to track
your application and documentation receivedCall undergraduate offices if necessary; it’s
their job to help youMake copies of all receipts and of your
ApplicationsKeep all correspondence with schools Take a short break because…
Financial Aid is A Bear
Two types: need-based and merit based Need-based
under $60,000 household= full ride 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
Supplemental Financial Aid Forms
CSS Profile Collegeboard application At least 100 very personal questions, if not more
“Enter the total amount you expect to receive from your relatives and all other sources.”
Be careful of the information you disclose—the more money colleges think you have, the less they give
Underestimate rather than overestimateKnow when the CSS is due for each school
I was late on Princeton’s and Brown’s (Feb. 1) Yale and Columbia were due March 1
You pay to send the CSS profile ($9 application fee + $16 per school)
https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp
Tuition Rates
Ivies- flat tuition rate (only need-based awards offered)
Ivies are expensive Princeton is the least expensive ($49,069 per year) Columbia is the most expensive ($56,684 per year)
State schools and some private universities have lower rates for residents
Estimating family contribution: Financial aid calculators available on school websites https://sweb2.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/FinAid/
finaid_form.pl
I Paid How Much?!?
If paying for apps, testing, and other fees is a concern, the Sebring High guidance office can assist with fee waivers to those who qualify.
“Fee waivers are not available through the College Board.”
--http://sat.collegeboard.com/register/sat-fee-waivers
My Pre-College “Investment”
$975
Some Colleges have their own Financial Aid Forms
Princeton’s PFAA is a separate form
Gave me full tuition while FAFSA gave me nothing
Be Proactive
Look for scholarships on your ownwww.fastweb.comwww.questbridge.org (need-based)http://www.whitepicketcollege.com/tag/
college-scholarships/ **Non-need basedwww.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 sectionCollegeboard.comAct.orgwww.collegeconfidential.com **
Helpful discussion boards on almost every college topic
Talking About College is the Easy Part
Senior year was my most stressful yearChoosing a college is one of the single most
important decisions in your lifeEasy to lose sight of goalIncredible amounts of stress require
allocated breaksRemember 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 (10.01) or SAT II PSAT (10.12) 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!
