““The College Thing”The College Thing”Tips and Information Tips and Information For SeniorsFor Seniors

Self Assessment For Collegehttp://www.collegeboard.org

Occupational Outlook Handbook (US Dept of Labor career profiles)http://www.bls.gov/ooh/     

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success Apply Early – Get it out of the way:Apply Early – Get it out of the way: Most Most

schools begin taking applications in early schools begin taking applications in early September. September.

Be TruthfulBe Truthful (they do check)(they do check) Extracurricular, Volunteer work, Awards & Extracurricular, Volunteer work, Awards &

HonorsHonors: NEVER exclude by underestimating : NEVER exclude by underestimating the power of a seemingly un-important factthe power of a seemingly un-important fact. . Admissions counselors DO look at the Admissions counselors DO look at the details, everything.details, everything.

Use the INTERNETUse the INTERNET to apply (its EASY). For to apply (its EASY). For most Texas schools do it at (most Texas schools do it at (http://www.applytexas.org). Able to copy, ). Able to copy, then edit & forward to other schools.then edit & forward to other schools.

More Keys to SuccessMore Keys to SuccessKEEP YOUR GRADES HIGH THIS YEARKEEP YOUR GRADES HIGH THIS YEAR In the fall for college admission and in the spring for scholarships In the fall for college admission and in the spring for scholarships (steady, increasing trends favored by admissions counselors). (steady, increasing trends favored by admissions counselors).

Keep taking SAT, and ACT to improve Keep taking SAT, and ACT to improve ACT :ACT : September, October, December, February, April, JuneSeptember, October, December, February, April, June

http://www.act.org/http://www.act.org/

SAT :SAT : October, November, December, January, March, May, June-October, November, December, January, March, May, June-https://sat.collegeboard.org/homesat.collegeboard.org/home

Apply to THREE or more schools Apply to THREE or more schools Local, in-state, out-of-state (keep your options open)Local, in-state, out-of-state (keep your options open)

Things to RememberThings to Remember Quickly identify the name and phone number of the Quickly identify the name and phone number of the

admissions counseloradmissions counselor in charge of your file at each in charge of your file at each University.University.– Understand the admissions requirements (they differ Understand the admissions requirements (they differ

by school) by school) – STAY IN TOUCH - CALL OR GO ON-LINE TO CHECK STAY IN TOUCH - CALL OR GO ON-LINE TO CHECK

STATUSSTATUS Letters of recommendationLetters of recommendation Have your references Have your references

“lined-up”. Provide a list of activates youhave “lined-up”. Provide a list of activates youhave participated in.participated in.

Senior-level fall-semester coursework is IMPORTANTSenior-level fall-semester coursework is IMPORTANT, , especially for majors heavy in Math and Science especially for majors heavy in Math and Science subjects. Send Mid-term grades to your college subjects. Send Mid-term grades to your college admissions counselors. admissions counselors.

Those not in top 10% will go into review at competitive Those not in top 10% will go into review at competitive schools. schools.

Complete Applications Complete Applications Include:Include:

ApplyTexas Application (or other, if applicable)ApplyTexas Application (or other, if applicable) EssaysEssays Official H. S. Transcript (fill out request form)Official H. S. Transcript (fill out request form) Rank: unless you are top 10% or 25%Rank: unless you are top 10% or 25% Test Scores (directly from SAT/ACT for some Test Scores (directly from SAT/ACT for some

schools)schools) Application FeeApplication Fee Senior Year Schedule (on applytexas)Senior Year Schedule (on applytexas) Expanded resume (if applicable – see sample on Expanded resume (if applicable – see sample on

bealonghorn.com)bealonghorn.com) Major Specific items (if required)Major Specific items (if required)

A college with holistic admissions is A college with holistic admissions is trying to evaluate the whole applicant trying to evaluate the whole applicant rather than reduce the applicant to a few rather than reduce the applicant to a few pieces of empirical data such as test pieces of empirical data such as test scores and GPA. Holistic admissions are scores and GPA. Holistic admissions are the reason why a student with a 4.0 GPA the reason why a student with a 4.0 GPA might get rejected from Yale, but a might get rejected from Yale, but a student with a 3.6 who has other student with a 3.6 who has other impressive accomplishments might get impressive accomplishments might get accepted. When colleges say they are accepted. When colleges say they are looking for well-rounded students and looking for well-rounded students and students with leadership potential, they students with leadership potential, they are signaling that they have a holistic are signaling that they have a holistic admissions process.admissions process.

College AdmissionsCollege Admissions

Tips to HelpTips to Help TSI (Accuplacer)TSI (Accuplacer) –Math/English placement test – can be –Math/English placement test – can be

exempt based on SAT/ACT scores (1070 SAT w/ 500 R & M; 23 exempt based on SAT/ACT scores (1070 SAT w/ 500 R & M; 23 ACT w/ 19 E & M)ACT w/ 19 E & M)

EssaysEssays – students should be creative and insightful - tell a – students should be creative and insightful - tell a story. They want to know who you are, not what you’ve done. story. They want to know who you are, not what you’ve done. – Students should brainstorm for topics Students should brainstorm for topics – I have examples of – I have examples of

what the colleges are looking forwhat the colleges are looking for– Review essay’sReview essay’s with someone before submitting the with someone before submitting the

application (grammar, spelling, substantive, to-the-point, application (grammar, spelling, substantive, to-the-point, complete)complete)

Essay A

Personal Essay 1 (if applying for summer/fall 2008 & beyond)

Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you.

Essay B

Personal Essay 2 (if applying for summer/fall 2008 & beyond)

Choose an issue of importance to you—the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope—and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.

Optional Essay C

There may be personal information that you want considered as part of your admissions application. Write an essay describing that information. You might include exceptional hardships, challenges, or opportunities that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, personal responsibilities, exceptional achievements or talents, educational goals, or ways in which you might contribute to an institution committed to creating a diverse learning environment.

Your Online Access Code

If you took the PSAT, Look at If you took the PSAT, Look at the Score Reportthe Score Report

Create a free collegeboard.com Create a free collegeboard.com accountaccount to access MyCollege to access MyCollege QuickStart at QuickStart at www.collegeboard.com/psatextra. www.collegeboard.com/psatextra.

www.collegeboard.orgwww.collegeboard.org

Free, personalized resources:

• My SAT Study Plan• My Online Score Report

• My College Matches• My Major & Career Matches

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/?navid=gh-cp

Financial Aid & ScholarshipsFinancial Aid & Scholarships

FAFSA FAFSA

- submit after January 1- submit after January 1stst. Need tax return . Need tax return information in order to complete the FAFSAinformation in order to complete the FAFSA

- - Get PIN now for students & Get PIN now for students & parents:parents: www.fafsa.ed.gov www.fafsa.ed.gov

Applying for aid at the college – is there a Applying for aid at the college – is there a separate application?separate application?

Importance of Importance of deadlinesdeadlines and and deposits!deposits! Scholarship search begins now! (see Scholarship search begins now! (see

websites)websites)

Contact me with any Contact me with any questions:questions:

Email: Email: nancy.gaddnancy.gadd@bacschool.org@bacschool.org Other important websites: Other important websites:

– www.applytexas.orgwww.applytexas.org– www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com– www.collegefortexans.comwww.collegefortexans.com– www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org– www.bacschool.org (our college code is: www.bacschool.org (our college code is:

444088)444088)– www.ncaaclearinghouse.net (for athletes www.ncaaclearinghouse.net (for athletes

wanting to pursue Division I or II)wanting to pursue Division I or II)