College Admission Process

c.a.p. basics

• Meet with your Guidance Counselor
• Check C.A.P. Basics at your individual school
• Search colleges and universities College Search
• Utilize college websites for specific information
• Check admission requirements for your college choices
• Take virtual online tours through the schools’ websites
• Visit schools of interest to you
• View the list of colleges that use the common application at commonapp.org
• Complete hard copy applications and/or apply online
• Make address labels of these colleges for future mailings
• Check deadline dates for SAT/ACT tests, regular applications, early action, early decision, financial aid and acceptance deposit
• Seek out letters of recommendations
• Contact coaches/moderators who are familiar with your special talents
• Outline, write, rewrite essays and then show them to an adult proofreader
• Arrange for interviews – required or recommended
• Type and update activities profile/résumé
• Investigate financial aid opportunities through school and other websites
• Revisit schools before your final decision

Essays

Write…Rewrite…Proofread…Edit…numerous times.

Ask an English teacher or other qualified adult to check your essay for content and mechanics.

Follow the guidelines in terms of word limit, topic, and format.

Creativity is a plus, but a well organized essay that addresses the topic in your own voice and from your own perspective will attract an admission counselor’s attention.

Remember your essay will be read and evaluated by more than one admission counselor.

Be wary of college consultants who will write “ your” essay for an astronomical fee.

Some colleges may compare your essay to your SAT Writing sample/score.

Tip: Estelle Rankin, co-author of Writing an Outstanding College Application Essay, offers the following Do’s and Don’t’s.

Do…

• write about a passion or genuine interest
• let your personality come through
• focus on the question
• limit yourself to a single meaningful episode or anecdote
• open with an interesting style
• make the reader want to meet you
• read it aloud
• proofread

Don’t…

• be negative
• criticize your school, community, etc.
• forget the topic you have chosen
• ignore the word limit
• use inappropriate language or tone
• forget the essay is about you, not a friend, influence, etc.

activity profile

Heading should include name, address, home phone, cell number, e-mail [if you use it].

Type neatly.

List most current activities first and in their order of importance to you.

Sample Résumés:
Sample Resume 1
Sample Resume 2

college calendar

interview

Neat and casual attire is desirable regardless of the current trends in fashion

Know the school’s mission statement and philosophy before the interview

Here is a list of questions to ask [A] or that may be asked of you [B]

It is appropriate to bring a notepad with questions or to jot down notes

Write a thank you note to the college, preferably to the person who interviewed you

Letters of Recommendation

Remember that your grade average in a subject does not always reflect your characteristics as a hardworking student.

It is usually beneficial to choose two different subject teachers, preferably those who teach academic subjects.

For select majors [art, music, drama], teachers familiar with these talents should write a letter.

Most colleges prefer that you limit the number of letters you send.

You should supply stamped envelopes for the person writing the letter of recommendation.

Be sure to write the application deadline date and your name under the flap of the envelope.

Write a thank you to the people who have written letters for you.

financial aid

Investigate the requirements for academic scholarships at each individual college.

Check websites of individual colleges.

Corporations, businesses, unions, local organizations, societies, and not-for-profit organizations offer scholarships that are not always based on academics.

If you are an athlete, do not assume that you will automatically receive “monies” to pay for the college.

Information about Free Application for Federal Student Aid - FAFSA www.fafsa.ed.gov

Tips for filing the FAFSA FORM
***GATHER YOUR PAPERWORK FIRST AND USE THE WORKSHEET***

1. Apply for a PIN number on the website. It may take about 5 to 10 days to receive the PIN number needed to file the application. This PIN number is used as your online signature.

2. Married couple file using both W-2 forms.

3. Custodial Parent uses only their W-2 information.

4. Household includes all people claimed on the W-2 but not the student.

5. You may estimate using last year’s tax return if it is similar to this year’s tax return; however, you eventually must use the current year’s correct numbers.

6. You must add any interest and any other income that is reportable to the government.

7. Use ROUND NUMBERS for income – for example, $32,000 NOT $31,599.62

8. You must report untaxed income such as 401K and/or IRA accounts.

9. You must report Child Support.

10. Do not report Social Security and/or Public Assistance.

You may list up to 10 schools using their FAFSA code on your aplication. As each school receives your information you can eliminate these schools and add new schools if needed.

30% of students who file FAFSA will be selected for verfication. Schools will write to you and ask you to send any documents that they will require to verify you information. Communication is important.

***FOR ATHLETES, NCAA FORMS MUST BE FILED***

When a decision is made, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR).

Need + Cost of School Will Dictate the Financial Aid Package

Package may include:

• Scholarships – based on academics or need
• Grants – based on scholarship or need
• Student Loans
• College-Work Study program
• EFC – estimated family contribution

SEOG Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant for the neediest students. If you receive SEOG, you automatically receive Pell.

Student Loans:

PERKINS
• Most desirable. Maximum amount up to $4000 a year.
• Payment begins 9 months after graduation.
• Interest rate about 5%.
• Campus based, so it is first come first served.
• Schools will set the limits in order to stretch the funds.

STAFFORD
• For new freshman. $3500 maximum.
• Currently 6% interest, expected to go down.
• Payment begins 6 months after graduation.
• Based on need.
• Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, charges interest while in school. You can pay the interest and wait till after graduation to begin paying the principal.

LOANS FOR PARENTS
• Principal can be deferred.
• Must begin payment of interest within 60 days.
• Currently 8.28% interest credit check for this loan.

CSS Profile - College Scholarship Service

Check on www.collegeboard.com for this form

Some colleges require this form. Since this form is costly, we suggest that you check the website if the school you are applying to requires this form and then call the school. [$9.00 application fee, $16.00 per school]

When you call the college's Financial Aid office ask them one of two questions:

“I will be filing a FAFSA form, do I need to file a CSS profile?”

or

“I will not be filing the FAFSA form, do I need to file a CSS profile?”

The college’s financial aid office will advice you as to whether they require this form or not.

Websites:

www.fafsa.ed.gov
Filing the FAFSA form

www.studentaid.ed.gov
Iinformation about PELL GRANTS,etc

www.fastweb.com
Free search for scholarships

www.collegeanswer.com
Financial aid information. Go to 'Checklists', offers easy to understand information

sports

NCAA Updates and Tips:
NCAA Clearinghouse is now called NCAA Eligibility Center.

Coach Evaluation Periods:
The summers are major evaluation periods. During the sport’s season, the coaches are at their games. If the weather is good, their team is playing. If the weather is bad and their games are cancelled, then your games are usually cancelled too.

Basic Facts:
There is a 20% turnover of head coaches at colleges.

Amount of funding to college sports determines the Division of the school’s specific sport.

For Juniors:
Register before the summer of your senior year.

Phone calls to coaches are more important then letters.

Students can contact coaches anytime. Coaches are only permitted to contact students for the first time “officially” in April of their Junior year.

Any commitments before early signing in November of Senior year are strictly between coach and student, not the college admissions office.

All League…All Conference players do not necessarily land the Division 1 schools. It is very important that the athlete will be able to handle the academic rigors of the colleges that they are interested and/or colleges that are interested in them.

***All students regardless of the parents’ financial status and the “Athletic Scholarship” status must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Questions to ask on your visit to colleges:
How flexible is the school with regard to certain majors and their requirements? If an extra semester is required, is there any chance for financial support?

Sometimes certain colleges will only accept a certain number of specific majors on their roster due to certain subject-major responsibilities; for example, science labs, student teaching, internships.

If summer classes would alleviate the time issue with
subject-major requirements, would the school [or sports program] pay for the summer classes?

What is the retention rate of their athletes?

What is the school’s policy on injury? [at any point in their college career] Remember: it is important to know that every student has the right to appeal any decision.

Guidelines for Sophomores – Juniors in searching for possible athletic opportunities.

Pick 10 – 15 colleges. Be sure to diversify. Do not put all your hopes in “D 1” schools. Add leverage by searching multi-divisions.

Send an e-mail to the coach. Be sure it is personalized using the coaches’ name. Do your homework about their school’s recent season. This adds a personal touch.

Inquire as to where the coach will be during the summer for evaluations. If you are not seeking out these summer evaluation times, you are seriously diminishing your chances.

Check the NCAA website – www.ncaastudent.org in January of your Junior year for student athlete regulations.

An official acceptance letter comes from the admission office not from the athletic coach. The exceptions to this procedure are miniscule.

If your desire is to play sports in college, you may have to think outside the box and investigate Division II and Division III schools.

It is rare that a Division II/Division III school will offer money for sports.

Be sure you have options for college choices other than your select sports colleges.

Juggling sports and academics in your new environment will take organization, endurance, and the ability to say “no” to certain social events if college assignments are due!

campus life

Whether you commute or choose dormitory life, the college campus is an extension of your home. Therefore, the campus should be a place where you feel comfortable.

When investigating schools, talk to students and find out whether weekend life is mostly spent on or off campus.

Are there a variety of on-campus activities offered on the weekend? Find out what were the three most popular on-campus events during the last school year.

Is there Greek life and, if so, how important is membership in a sorority or fraternity?

Is there a good variety of clubs, activities and intramural sports programs?

Do students tend to live on campus for all four years?

Are you guaranteed four years of college housing if you wish to live on-campus for the entire four years?

Can you expect to have just one roommate or is there a possibility of being involuntarily “tripled” or even “quadrupled”?

How safe does the campus appear to be, e.g., security officers patrolling on bikes, the presence of a number of “blue light” emergency phones and alarms?

How secure are the dormitories during the daytime hours and at night? Are there security desks at the door? Does a student “swipe card” let one into any residential building or only one’s own dorm?

How secure do students tend to feel when venturing off-campus into the local neighborhood?

Do the dorms have state-of-the-art fire safety systems including sprinklers?

How is the food plan designed? Do you get so many meals per week or is it more of a debit type, pay-as-you-go plan?

How much variety is there in the food service menu? Will it accommodate your particular dietary needs, e.g., vegetarian or Vegan considerations or particular health needs, e.g., gluten-free meal choices?

Is there frequent transportation provided both within the campus and to local attractions, e.g., shopping mall, Cineplex, etc.?

At what point in your college career are you allowed to have a car on campus?

How much of the campus is wireless?

If your computer crashes, are there computers and printers accessible to you? Is there adequate technical support to help with problems with your laptop or PC?

learning disabilities

Colleges accepting federal aid are required to provide services for LD students.

Most schools provide services but not every school provides a full range of accommodations.

Lists of colleges and universities offering some level of services can be found at: www.college-scholarships.com/learning_disabilities.htm

Check with your High School Guidance Department for further information, if you think you may be eligible for special testing accommodations for the PSAT/SAT/ACT.

community college

Check with the college’s registrar to see which courses will be transferable to a four-year college. On occasion, you may lose some credits in the transfer process.

Students may elect to attend a community college for academic, financial or personal reasons.

Community colleges also offer certificate programs.

State community colleges may have a joint admissions policy with their four year colleges.

study abroad

Look into the quality and variety of each college’s study abroad program while you are comparing colleges and making campus visits.

If you’re considering studying abroad, freshman year is not too early to apply for your passport.

Ask about the transfer credit policies of your home institution.

Sit down with a knowledgeable person at your home college to plan your study abroad curriculum so that the credits will be fully transferable upon your return.

Course schedules at schools abroad can always change so get pre-approval for more courses than you actually plan to take so that you will have back-up choices.

The usual minimum standard of academic performance that a home institution will grant credit for is a grade of “C’ or its equivalent.

Some colleges do not let you apply your merit scholarship money to a study abroad experience. Find our before you decide where to attend.

Some study abroad locations have a language requirement. Be sure to check.

On return to the states, make sure you keep all your course materials and completed work on hand in case there are any questions from the registrar or study abroad office of your home school.

Share Your Study Abroad Experience
E-mail us at info@collegeapplicationprocess.com and we will post it or share your experiences on our Blog.

Click Here for Student Reflections

c.a.p. basics

• Meet with your Guidance Counselor
• Check C.A.P. Basics at your individual school
• Search colleges and universities College Search
• Utilize college websites for specific information
• Check admission requirements for your college choices
• Take virtual online tours through the schools’ websites
• Visit schools of interest to you
• View the list of colleges that use the common application at commonapp.org
• Complete hard copy applications and/or apply online
• Make address labels of these colleges for future mailings
• Check deadline dates for SAT/ACT tests, regular applications, early action, early decision, financial aid and acceptance deposit
• Seek out letters of recommendations
• Contact coaches/moderators who are familiar with your special talents
• Outline, write, rewrite essays and then show them to an adult proofreader
• Arrange for interviews – required or recommended
• Type and update activities profile/résumé
• Investigate financial aid opportunities through school and other websites
• Revisit schools before your final decision

college visits

Make sure that you contact the college’s admissions office, as early as possible, to make a reservation for the date you want to visit. Find out what kind of admissions events will occur on that particular day. An full open house? A campus tour only? A tour and informational session? An opportunity for an interview?

If you choose to schedule a personal interview with one of the admissions counselors, make these arrangements well ahead of your visit as these appointment slots can fill up fast. Inquire beforehand as to the nature of the interview. It may be purely informational and non-evaluative. That kind of contact typically does not help your chances of getting into that college, but may still be worth scheduling anyway. It provides an opportunity to ask more targeted questions than you could in a general Q&A session.

If there is an opportunity to set up an evaluative interview, it is generally recommended that you do so. It can be a great chance to present yourself in a more natural and informal way than the essay or personal statement allows. An application might be treated more favorably if the admissions person can associate a face and a voice with it.

Dress for campus visits is usually fairly informal, a casual shirt with slacks or jeans or even shorts in the warmer months. You might want to bump the outfit up half a notch for an evaluative interview, but even that might be overdoing it in some settings.

Lay out your geographical plan of attack! Schedule visits to colleges that are in the same part of the state or country for the same block of days so as to avoid unnecessary, redundant travel.

Be realistic in terms of how much you can hope to accomplish within a day or even series of days. Don’t over-schedule. It makes no sense to bail out of a campus tour before it’s over because you have to race to an interview at another college--only to wind up wishing that you had spent more time exploring the first college because it turned out to be a better fit for you. Seeing too many colleges within the same short period can makes one’s impressions overlap into one hazy blur. Be aware of your own personal point of overload and super-saturation.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions both during the large Q&A session and especially during the small group tour. Try not to be shy; your future is worth speaking up about. Let your parents jump in with their questions too. Despite the momentary embarrassment, what their question may reveal about the strengths or weakness of the college’s security, library, or freshman retention rate may turn out to be an unexpectedly important factor in your decision.

Try to strike up informal conversations with current students whom you see around campus. If you’re wondering about the quality of the cafeteria food or the noise level of the dorms, you‘re more likely to get the real scoop from them than from the college’s printed materials and or even from the work-study students who are employed by the admissions office to be your tour guides and help market the college.

Ask students why they chose this particular college. Were they most attracted by the location, the strength of the faculty, or the parties and the nationally ranked lacrosse program? A pattern of answers may reveal something about the particular culture of a place.

Often your tour guides or even other students will offer you their email address or even cell phone number if you have any later questions. That kind of information can come in real handy later on when you are making your final decision or if you wish to arrange an overnight campus visit. If such contact information isn‘t automatically volunteered, ask for your tour guide’s email address anyway. Generally the students employed by admissions offices are sincere and friendly people, eager to be of assistance and genuinely enthused about their school.

Consider taking some pictures or even a brief video of each place. Cell phones have made this a lot easier. If you feel self-conscious snapping pictures or shooting footage during the actual tour, take your own private mini-tour later after the official one disbands. Again, that picture or film clip of a place you visited in the fall may prove very useful when you are agonizing with your decision on April 30th and could use some visual stimuli to refresh your memory.

Write down all of your impressions of the college as soon as possible after your visit. You may remember details of the first couple of campuses fairly well but--trust us--they will all fuse together by college visit six or seven. Make note of anything that mattered to you, no matter how trivial it would seem to someone else, e.g., “awesome Ultimate Frisbee team,” “long walk from dorm to cafeteria,” “excellent music practice rooms,” All of these little things contribute to your sense of a place and inform your ultimate decision.

For colleges you are seriously considering, an overnight visit (spending a night in the dorms, attending a class or two) is a very good idea. That can be arranged through the admissions office or even informally if you have a friend who already attends that college.

For colleges where climate may be an issue, always try to spend some time at the campus during the worst time of the year. You might find that that southern college that was beautiful in November is oppressively warm in April or that northern New England is far less comfortable for you in February than it was in August.