1. How To Plan For College: Admissions Applications
How To Plan For College: Admissions Applications
By: Andrea Navarro
ASA College Planning Center

2. The College Search & Your List Admission Application Process
Writing Admissions Essay
College Interview Skills 03 10 15 21
Agenda
How to Plan for College

3. ASA College Planning Center
About Us
ASA College Planning Center

4. ASA College Planning Center
What we do
Free Services
Walk-in only, no appointment necessary!
One-on-one Advising
Assistance completing applications and forms
Resources on education, financial aid and loan counseling
Multilingual Advisors
English, Spanish, Chinese, French, and Haitian-Creole
@ASAPlan4College
ASA College Planning Center

5. ASA College Planning Center
Come visit us!
Main location: Boston Public Library, Copley Square
700 Boylston St. Boston, MA 02116
(617) or Toll-free: (877)
Mon-Thurs. 9AM-7:30PM Friday-Saturday 9AM-5PM
Satellite Location: Bunker Hill Community College – Chelsea
70 Everett Ave. Chelsea, MA 02150
Every Monday, 11AM-5PM
Satellite Location: Asian American Civic Association
87 Tyler St. Boston, MA 02111
Every Wednesday 9AM-12PM and 1PM-5PM
ASA College Planning Center

6. The College Search
How to Plan for College

7. Vocational Certificate
Make College a Reality
Work
Tech/Trade or
Vocational Certificate
Pathways to College
2-Year College
High School
4-Year College
4-Year University
How to Plan for College

8. Choosing the “Right” College
It’s important to keep in mind that there might not be just one “perfect” school for you.
Keep doing research and consider stepping out of your comfort zone
Website’s like CollegeBoard’s Big Future! © and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES.ed.gov) are helpful when trying to pinpoint certain specific attributes
Free CollegeGo Mobile App (by CollegeBoard)
How to Plan for College

9. College, Defined Community College (or Junior College)
Grants students Associates Degrees
Usually two years or less
Colleges & Universities
Grants students Bachelor’s degrees and higher
Usually 4 to 6 years
How to Plan for College

10. Price Compare Colleges What is my return on investment?
What about Official Rankings? What do they mean, and are they an important factor?
Distance
Admissions (Acceptance) Criteria
Facilities/
Student Body
Price
Actual Cost of Attendance
What is my return on investment?
Five-year programs and Career Office
Graduation and Retention rates
Personal Attention
How to Plan for College

11. Consider the following: Cost of attendance? “Needs blind” admission?
Compare Colleges
Financial Aid is an important factor at this stage. Complete each College’s Net Price Calculator for an estimate of potential Fin. Aid including gift aid.
Consider the following:
Cost of attendance?
“Needs blind” admission?
Percentage of students receiving financial aid?
Opportunity to renew financial aid after first year?
Average debt of recent graduates?
How to Plan for College

12. Compare Colleges
Write in categories that are important and unique to you. Ex. athletics, improv. & theatre team, clubs, etc.
How to Plan for College

13. Admission Application Components & Proccess
How to Plan for College

14. 2-Year College Admission Requirements
High School Diploma or HiSet (formerly the GED)
Admission Application:
“Phone book” information
Intended program of study
All previous college transcripts, if transferring
Accuplacer / Computer Placement Test
Required of ALL students in Math and English
Some colleges may also require:
applicants who do not list English as their first language must take an English proficiency test such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
Non-English speaking applicants must meet minimum testing scores on one of these tests to be considered for admission. These minimum scores may vary from one college to another.
How to Plan for College

15. 4-Year College Admission Requirements
Early Action – Non-Binding
Early Decision – Commitment to attend
Regular Decision
Rolling Admission
– Application form
– A personal statement or essay
– High school transcript
Entrance Examinations: SAT or the ACT
(for juniors and seniors)
– Subject Tests (for seniors)
Ask if you are eligible for
Application Fee Waivers!
Some colleges may also require:
multiple letters of recommendation
An interview
How to Plan for College

16. The Common Application
Fill out one application for all participating colleges. It will be sent to them automatically.
Check each college’s website to see if they accept it or if they have their own
The Common application will also include a personal statement known as the “college essay”
Some colleges will also include a “SUPPLEMENT” This is a mini application specific to the college. It may include extra essays.
Create an username and password. You can start logging on right before the start of Senior year.
How to Plan for College

17. Standardized Testing
Test Registration deadlines will be 4-6 weeks before the testing date. Keep track of deadlines! Late registrations fees may apply…
Opportunity for all students to receive free SAT test resources when you make a Khan Academy Account at
ACT
SAT
Content-based exam. The ACT has a science section, unlike SAT (emphasis on interpreting data)
The writing test is optional on test day, but still required by many schools
English, Math, Reading, and Science scores between Composite score is the average the four sections; ranges between 1-36
No penalty for incorrect questions.
Offered 6 times per year
New, redesigned SAT test format debuted March 2016.
Has stronger emphasis on vocabulary and reasoning with an optional essay
Scale ranging from 400 to 1600
Rights-only scoring (no penalty for guessing)
Scale ranging from 200 to 800 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing; 200 to 800 for Math; 2 to 8 on each of three dimensions for Essay. Essay results reported separately
Offered 7 times per year.
Presentation Title

18. Writing Admissions Essay
How to Plan for College

19. The Admissions Essay
This is your opportunity to showcase your best qualities, both in writing style and in content. And to show the Admissions Committees what makes you stand out!
If you can, find out from each school how they view the essay as an Admissions component. Some schools will consider it more than others, but usually it is of considerable or moderate importance.
A powerful, well-written essay can also tip the balance in your favor! Especially where Admissions Officers are looking at applicants with very similar grades and SAT scores.
How to Plan for College

20. The Admissions Essay
SHOW, don’t TELL
In short answers ( words) or longer essays (max. 650 words), you have to be concise and to the point.
Avoid always telling the audience how you felt, instead show them with a story that shows the feeling, without always having to tell them with the same few words. (i.e. “I was so happy”)
How to Plan for College

21. The Admissions Essay: Three Types of Questions
Type 1: The “You” Question
The College wants to get to know you better- to see how students introduce themselves.
Example: "The University of Montana values a diverse student body. What contributions might you make to our campus community outside of academic achievement?"
Pros: Direct question, offers a chance to reveal something other than grades and scores.
Cons: They can be so open-ended that it could lead to the narrative being a bit scattered.
Source:
Focus on just a few things and avoid the urge to "spill everything" at once.
Do not simply write out your resume in paragraph form. It's better to develop one small event, person, place or feeling with a lot of narrative and specifics.
This is a "tell us a story" question. You should tell a story that only you can tell
Advisor’s Tips:
How to Plan for College

22. The Admissions Essay: Three Types of Questions
Type 2: The “Why Us” Question
Admissions Officers want to get to know your goals and interest in their particular college.
Example: "How did you become interested in Boston University?"
Pros: Provides a focus for the essay; that is, why the student chose this particular college or path — and the answer to that will (hopefully) be clear.
Cons: Any factual errors in the essay will reveal that the student really hasn't thought deeply about the choice.
Source:
Students should make absolutely sure they know their subject well.
Don’t go overboard with flattery. You should sound sincere and authentic.
Keep a solid focus, and don’t forget to showcase your attributes as well.
Advisor’s Tips:
How to Plan for College

23. The Admissions Essay: Three Types of Questions
Type 3: The “Creative” Question
The purpose of this question is to evaluate a candidate's ability to think and write creatively and to assess the breadth of the student’s knowledge.
Example: "Sharing intellectual interests is an important aspect of university life. Describe an experience or idea that you find intellectually exciting, and explain why."
Pros: This kind of question gives you an opportunity to convey your personality and views.
Cons: Easy to take "creative" aspect of the question as license to be obscure, or to not have a clear outline.
Source:
Importance of writing an informed essay. Don’t make factual errors, even if it a creative piece.
Don’t write about a topic that you’re not comfortable just because you think it will sound impressive.
Less is more. SHOW don’t TELL
Advisor’s Tips:
How to Plan for College

24. College Interview Skills
How to Plan for College

25. College Interview Skills
A college interview is an opportunity for you to talk about your goals and experiences-- to enhance and elaborate what’s already in your application.
Shows interest
in the school
There are two basic kinds of interview. If students plan to (or are required to) interview, they should find out which type the college is offering them
Few colleges require an interview. Many offer interviews as an option. Some institutions do not offer interviews at all, like some public universities.
Evaluative
Informational
How to Plan for College

26. College Interview Skills
5 things you should not do in a college interview (or a job interview)
Arrive late
Wear inappropriate attire
Not do enough research about the school
Not speak enough about what makes you unique
Fail to send a Thank you note after the interview
How to Plan for College

27. For Free Education Advising
Visit us at the
ASA College Planning Center
Located at the Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
(The lower level of the Johnson Building)
Phone:
How to Plan for College

28. Thank you