Applying to College Using Technology in Helping Students Through the College Application Process Dana Zungolo March 1, 2005

Junior Year Decide what you are looking for in a college Think about a major Adjust current course selection Prepare for the SATs or ACTs Contact schools for admissions information

Senior Year Have all applications ready to be sent out by Thanksgiving break Retake SATs if needed Work on essay Think about asking teachers for letters of recommendation

What are you looking for in a college? School Setting Size Location Sports and Activities Variety of Majors

Finding the Right College Create a profile using your personal preferences and deciding what is important to you

Narrowing Down Your Preferences Check admissions criteria with individual colleges will rank the colleges in a variety of categoriesttp:// See where you fit in

Visiting the Schools Formal Visits Call the admissions office and set up a tour and an interview. Sit in on a class Visit during an open house ** Students are allowed 3 excused absences for formal visits per year.

Visiting the Schools Informal Visits Spend time on campus Eat in the cafeteria Explore the city or town Visit the library or the bookstore Arrange an overnight visit in the student residence

Making the Formal Application Call admissions office or visit the school’s website for application materials. File paper application or apply online. Check to see if the school accepts the common application. Gather letters of recommendation, resume, and application essay. Be aware of all deadlines.

Building a Resume Some schools will require a resume to be included with your application. Be sure to include all your activities and work experience from 9 th grade on. Be sure to note any offices or positions held within your experiences Have someone check your resume for spelling and grammar mistakes

Letters of Recommendation Most schools require at least two letters. At least one should be from a teacher of an academic subject area Try to only use teachers from grades 9-12 Fill out recommendation form and allow them at least 2 weeks to prepare you letter and hand it in to your guidance counselor

Application Essay Application essays are quickly taking the place of mandatory admissions interviews. Application essays are the major way to show colleges who you are as a person, aside from your transcript and test scores. Application essays can “make or break” your application package.

Tips for a great Application Essay Essays should not be considered “optional.” If they suggest an essay, send them an essay. Keep within the requirements of the essay (length, font, topic, etc) Make it personal. Use the essay to show how you overcame a tough situation (make sure the outcome is positive) Check your work, check it again, and have someone else check it for you too. You don’t want any mistakes. Essays also serve a purpose as a writing sample.

Paying for College Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) UPromise Pennsbury Scholarship Scholarship Board Scholarship websites

Scholarship Websites Students are given a comprehensive list of useful websites from their guidance counselor to help them through the college application process.

We’re Here to Help We realize this process is long and tedious, but we are here to help you through- step-by-step! Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with us for any reason (Parents too)!

One More Thing… Don’t forget to keep your counselor updated on your acceptances as you receive them. We care about you and look forward to seeing you succeed!

More Information is Available Dana Zungolo Please visit my webpage: Information contained in this presentation is based on my research paper, entitled “The College Application Process”The College Application Process