1 Junior Year College Planning Tips 1.Review and complete College Activity Resume. 2. How and when to use the Common Application. 3. Discuss the Do’s & Don’ts of writing a college essay. 4. Recommendations

2 Sample College Activity Resume

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5 The Common Application  Application – Student Data Form  Teacher Evaluation Form  Secondary School Report Form  Midyear Report Form  Final Report Form  College Specific Supplemental Forms **Remember to sign all forms!!!

6 commonapp.org commonapp.org To Access a common application type in the link illustrated below. Google Common Application or select common app within Naviance

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11 commonapp.org commonapp.org To Access a common application type in the link illustrated below. Google Common Application or select common app within Naviance

12 Common Application Essay Topics  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.

13 Common Application Essay Topics (Continued)  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.

14 Common Application Essay Topics (Continued)  Topic of your choice.

15 Dos and Don’ts on Writing the College Application Essay Do s Keep your focus narrow and personal —your essay must prove a single point or thesis Prove it— develop your main idea with vivid, specific facts, events, quotations, examples, and reasons Be specific– to avoid clichéd, generic, and predictable writing, use vivid, specific details

16 Do s and Don’t s on Writing the College Application Essay Don’t s Don’t tell your readers what you think they want to hear. Don’t write a resume. Don’t use 50 words when 5 will do. Don’t forget to proofread—typos and spelling or grammatical errors can be interpreted as carelessness or just bad writing!

17 Summer Checklist Continue to...visit colleges, take tours, have interviews, collect applications Refine and narrow your college list Write your college essays Update your resume