COLLEGE APPLICATIONS 101

CONGRATULATIONS!

OVERVIEW

Senior year = choosing your schools and applying!

Tonight we will discuss:

1. Application types and timelines

2. How to access scholarships

3. Components of the college application

(Essay, test scores, transcripts, recommendations, etc.)

APPLICATION TYPES

Different colleges have different kinds of applications

Two Year schools typically use an online admission application (located on website)

Four Year schools may use one of the following:

• Common Application

• Coalition Application

• School-Specific Application

Note: Some schools will accept more than one type of application

APPLICATION COMPONENTS

TheCollege

Application

Transcript

SAT or ACT scores

Essay(s)Letters of

Recommendation

List of extracurricular activities, jobs, and/or awards

APPLICATION ORGANIZERS

APPLICATION PROCESS 2-YEAR COLLEGES

There are many community and technical colleges in Washington state. Visit www.sbctc.edu for more information about what each college offers.

Steps to apply:

1. Complete the online admission application.

2. Register for and take a placement exam. *High school state exams (SBA) can also be used to determine placement if you provide your transcript. Make an appointment with an academic advisor to choose classes.

3. Register for classes.

Note: Community colleges don't require the SAT or ACT tests and don't require a transcript during the application process.

APPLICATION PROCESS 4-YEAR COLLEGES

Steps to Apply:

1. Access the online application through the college's website/Common App/Coalition App.

2. Depending on the application, you may need to order your official transcript(s) from our counseling secretary.◦ Current students may fill out a Transcript Request Form or pick one up in the RHS Counseling Office. Your transcript(s) will

be ready within 24 hours. There is a one-time $10.00 transcript fee payable to the RHS Bookkeeper.

3. Request that the SAT/ACT testing agencies send score reports directly to your colleges.

4. Not all 4-year colleges require counselor/teacher letters of recommendation. If your school requires a letter of recommendation, please submit the Counselor Letter of Recommendation packet a minimum of 2-3 weeks prior to the deadline. This packet is on the wall in the Counseling Center.

ADMISSION TYPES

Early Action

▪You can apply to more than one school. Acceptance is non-binding.

▪You have the opportunity to compare different financial aid and scholarship packages. Find out early, but don't have to decide or commit early.

Early Decision

▪You are ready to commit to one specific school.

▪If accepted you must accept offer and withdraw any other applications to other schools.

▪You won’t be able to compare multiple financial aid packages to determine what would be your best offer.

"Rolling Admission"

"Pooling Admission"

"Deferred Admission"

EXAMPLES OF REGULAR APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR FALL ‘20 ADMISSION

Note: Some of these schools offer early action/early decision deadlines as well. Some of these schools accept applications after these deadlines.

• University of Washington –November 15

• Washington State – January 31

• Western Washington – January 31

• Seattle Pacific University – January 15

• Central Washington – Feb 1

• Eastern Washington –Feb 1

• UW Bothell –January 15

• Bellevue College – May 1st to Sept 6• Cascadia College – April 30th

REACH, MATCH, AND SAFETY SCHOOLS

1-2 schools in each category recommended

❑Reach

❑Match

❑Safety

= 3 to 6 schools total

WESTERN UNDERGRADUATE EXCHANGE – “WUE”

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Program allows students throughout the western United States, the Pacific Island US Territories and free-standing states to enroll at a reduced tuition rate while seeking their first undergraduate degree. Some states that include participating colleges are:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, and more

Eligible students must:

▪Complete the FAFSA (students are not required to demonstrate financial need)

▪Maintain residency in an eligible state

▪Maintain at lease half-time enrollment status.

The College & Career Center –What do we do?✓ACT/SAT✓Apprenticeships✓Career Exploration✓College Visits✓CTE Dual Credit✓Employment Opportunities – Job board✓Financial Aid Information✓Internships & Opportunities✓Military Visits✓Non-College Options✓Scholarships✓Summer Pre-College Programs✓Volunteer Opportunities✓WANIC – Washington Network for Innovative Careers

The College & Career Center :

College Visits – open to students & parents.✓Before & after school, no appointments necessary.✓Meet with admission officers from schools across the country.✓Visits start the week of September 9th. For the updated list of whatschools will be visiting RHS, go to the Career Center Power Learning page. Find us under the “extras” tab.

SAVE THE DATE –✓The RHS annual college fair will be on Wednesday, November 6th from 4:00-6:00 pm. Join us as we host 4-year public & private schools, 2 year community colleges, trade & technical schools and the Military!✓For a full list of college fair attendees – go to the College & Career Center Power School Learning page. ✓Schools added daily, check back often!

✓Follow us on Instagram: RHSCOLLEGECAREERCENTER

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

❑Check the weekly scholarship bulletin on College & Career Center Power School Learning page

❑Set up a profile with scholarship search websites

❑There are so many different kinds of scholarships available!

TURN IN A SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP DATA FORM!Complete the Senior Scholarship Data Form with your information and turn it in to Mrs. Cothran in the College and Career Center. You will be notified if there are available scholarships that you are eligible for!

COLLEGE ATHLETES

❑If you are a student athlete you must register with the NCAA eligibility center in order to be eligible to play a sport in college.

❑Even if you are recruited, you must meet minimum eligibility requirements.

❑You must take high school NCAA approved classes. Check with the NCAA for details.

❑You must meet NCAA grade requirements (maintain 2.3 in core classes).

❑Contact the eligibility center if you have questions.

SENIOR TIMELINE – 4 year schools

✓You will see a timeline for the college application process on the back of your handout

✓You can also locate this timeline on our RHS Counseling Power School Learning website

Managing Senior Year Stress

• Start the application process early• Know your deadlines• Communicate with your counselor• Take advantage the Career Center• Take advantage of Tuesday & Friday

Homeroom

Self-Care impacts it all……• Healthy eating• Sleep a minimum of 7 hours a night• Spend time with friends• Exercise• Take breaks to do things you enjoy

NEED MORE HELP?▪Xello- college info, career info, interest inventories

▪ Counselors will be meeting with each senior this fall

▪College & Career Center

▪ College Representatives

▪ College comparison books

▪ College & Career Specialist

▪Attend the Redmond High School College Fair on November 6th from 4-6pm

CONTACT YOUR COUNSELOR

A – CAL: Kimberly Herring kiherring@lwsd.org 936-1808

CAM-FAN: Lindsey Hanson lihanson@lwsd.org 936-1807

FAR - HUL: Nikole Lalas nlalas@lwsd.org 936-1805

HUM-LOO: Jim Allen jallen@lwsd.org 936-1817

LOP-MIK: Katie Bunyard kbunyard@lwsd.org 936-1823

MIL-RAP: Ellen Zambrowsky-Huls huls@lwsd.org 936-1806

RAR-SUR: Justine Chun jchun@lwsd.org 936-1862

SUS-Z: Alisa Zemke azemke@lwsd.org 936-1865

CONTACT THE COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER

College & Career Specialist:

Andrea Cothran acothran@lwsd.org 936-1875

College & Career Center Assistant:

Cheryl Ferry cferry@lwsd.org 936-1876