The_Application_Process

							  The Application Process



    Applying To College
           Part 2
 October 9th, 2008 7:30 PM
Orange High School Cafeteria
                    Table of Contents

•   Table of Contents
•   1. Applying To College
•   a. College Applications
•   b. Support Material
•   c. Electronic Applications

•   2. Admission Process
•   a. Application Process
•   b. Offers of Admission
                                                  Applying To College
                                                     Applications


•   Apply to College
•   Research the application process for each college you have chosen.
•   Once you have chosen the colleges or universities that interest you, it is time to begin the application process. Visit each
    school's Web site or contact somebody in their admissions office to get information about the school's application process.
•   Many schools have a spring application deadline for fall admission. You will have to submit everything no later than March
    if you want to attend college in September. Check with the school you're interested in for exact deadlines. They're usually on
    the school's Web site, or call the office of admissions.

•   College Applications
•   Review our tips before completing a printed or electronic college application.
•   Remember, your application makes your first impression for you. Keep a few things in mind when filling out your
    application:
•   Give yourself plenty of time to meet deadlines. Arriving late won't make a good first impression.
•   Answer all questions. Don't leave anything blank.
•   Follow all the directions, completely.
•   Type or print your answers. Be neat. Presentation is important.
•   Include supporting materials (letters of recommendation, outstanding examples of your work or interests).
•   Make a copy. Applications can get misplaced.
•   Sign the application.
                                           Applying To College Continued



•   Include any required processing fees with your application.
•   If the application requires an essay, practice writing one before putting the final version on the application.
•   Fine tune your essay. Don't ramble. Have someone else review your draft.
•   Be yourself. Don't exaggerate your achievements or abilities.
•   Proofread your application. Have a parent or a friend proofread it, too.

•   Support materials
•   Some things you will have to provide when you fill out a college application:
•   Personal information (like your Social Security Number)
•   Family information (like parents' names, addresses, and Social Security Numbers)
•   Educational background (where you went to high school)
•   Test scores (SAT and/or ACT)
•   Academic experience (specific courses you've taken)
•   Awards and honors
•   Extracurricular activities (including school, religious, civic, work, and volunteer)
•   Written essay
•   Recommendations from teachers and counselors
•   An official high-school transcript (you can usually submit an unofficial one when you apply, but your acceptance will require
    an official one eventually)
                                            College Applications

•   Electonic applications
•   Applying to several schools can be tedious and time consuming. However, there are many electronic applications available
    online that can cut down on all the paperwork.
•   The basic idea is the same for all of them: create, edit, and proof your application once, and submit it to multiple colleges and
    universities in print or electronic format.
•   How do I know if a college accepts electronic applications?
•   Each online application has its own list of participating colleges, and many colleges participate in more than one system. But,
    before you apply, make sure the school you want to attend accepts electronic applications.
•   How are electronic applications submitted?
•   Some of the applications can be submitted electronically. Others, you can print and mail. Some colleges offer their own
    online applications. Visit the Web site of a college to find out which options are available.
•   Where do I find electronic applications?
•   Web sites that offer electronic applications include:
•   The Common Application
    The Common Application is the recommended form of 230 selective colleges and universities for admission to their
    undergraduate programs.
    www.commonapp.org
•   Princeton Review
    Easy access to a simple to follow approach to applying to hundreds of colleges online.
    www.princetonreview.com
•   CollegeNET
    An easy to use searchable connection to online college applications.
    www.collegenet.com
                                                  The Admissions Process



•   The Admissions Process
•   Learn about the admissions process to improve your chances of getting into your school of choice,

•   The admission process for freshmen entering a college or university varies from school to school.
•   To improve your chances of getting admitted to the school of your choice, you will need to understand the following informati on.

•   1. Application process
•   Common documents required for most admissions applications:
•   Application for admission
•   Official test scores
•   Official high school transcripts
•   Official college transcripts (for transfer students)
•   Application fee
•   Additional requirements that you may need to complete or include with the application:
•   Essays (may be a critical application component)
•   Admission standards (may include class ranking and secondary school courses required by institution)
•   Residency requirements (non-US residents may be tested for English proficiency; and may need to provide resident alien credentia ls)
                                                    The Admissions Process




•   2. Offer of admission
•   If your application is approved, you'll receive an offer of admission from the institution.

•   The Offer:
•   Is sent to student's permanent address
•   Is sent within institution-specific dates or on a rolling basis*
•   Contains student's deadline for acceptance and payment of enrollment deposit
•   *Offers of admission for a specific semester may depend on the date the institution receives the student's application. Some institutions send offers of
    admission on a rolling basis.
•   Additional information and requirements that may accompany the offer of admission includes:
•   Deadlines for registration, housing requirements, and financial aid.
•   Information concerning orientation and campus life.
•   Students are advised to visit the institution's Web site or write to the institution requesting information on the admission and post-admission process.
                                                      The Schedule

•   JULY
•   Establish a bank account near your school. Make a last visit to the college campus. Locate businesses and community sites of
    importance (churches, synagogues, grocery stores, post office, doctor's office, etc.). Set up an address/phone book for
    relatives and friends you want to keep in touch with. Include emergency numbers like doctors and insurance companies. If
    you haven't done so, make sure that you schedule and attend freshman orientation.

•    AUGUST
•   Request admission and scholarship applications and information from colleges. Visit schools and/or plan fall visits to help
    narrow your choices. Set up a college file for the information you request and receive from colleges as well as copies of the
    information you send to them. Explore college and scholarship information online. Register for the ACT given in September.

•    SEPTEMBER
•   Mark your calendar for college fairs and admissions representative visits. Look into fall overnight and weekend college
    visitation programs. Meet with your high school counselor to develop a college admissions plan. Register for October or
    November SAT, ACT, and/or prep courses. Consider early decision/early action admission programs. Inquire about
    admission application fee waivers to see if you qualify. Inquire about on-campus housing availability at your target schools.
    Male students must register with the Selective Service by their eighteenth birthday to be eligible for federal and state
    financial aid.
                                                      The Schedule



•   OCTOBER
•   Create a schedule of admissions and scholarship deadlines. Begin applications and essays. Request transcripts and letters of
    recommendation. Take the October SAT/ACT if you are registered.

•   NOVEMBER
•   Follow up to ensure that you have collected letters of recommendation or that they have been submitted independently to
    your target schools. Submit applications for early decision/early action programs. Discuss college costs with your parents.
    Register for or take the SAT or ACT if you haven't done so.

•   DECEMBER
•   Ask your high school counselor if there will be a financial aid program event for you and your parents. Complete, photocopy,
    and submit your admission and scholarship applications. Obtain a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from
    your high school counselor. Find out if your high school will have a financial aid program for you and your parents and
    attend them. Review the form and organize the information you will need to complete it. Obtain any other financial aid forms
    that may be required by your target schools. Continue to research and apply for scholarships. Meet scholarship application
    deadlines.
                                                      The Schedule


•   JANUARY
•   Obtain income tax information and/or complete taxes early to help in completing the FAFSA. Complete, photocopy, and
    submit the FAFSA. Schedule retakes of SAT or ACT if you think retaking the exams might be beneficial. Schedule personal
    interviews at your target schools, if required.

•   FEBRUARY
•   Participate in Financial Aid Awareness Month activities that can help you seek additional aid to attend the college of your
    dreams. Make sure that you have submitted all required financial aid forms to your target schools. Watch the mail for
    requests or responses from colleges regarding financial aid and admissions.

•   MARCH
•   Ask about Advanced Placement (AP) exams for college credit. If selected for verification, send copies of your and your
    parents' income tax forms to financial aid offices. Watch the mail for your Student Aid Report (SAR). Take some time to
    review your files and follow up on submissions and requests to and from colleges and financial aid programs. Look for a
    summer job.

•   APRIL
•   Watch the mail closely for admissions notifications and financial aid award letters. Compare financial aid awards to the cost
    of attendance at your target schools. Make your final enrollment decision and submit the enrollment deposit if requested.
    Remember there are deadlines for enrollment deposit; check with your selected school. Notify the schools you will not be
    attending as soon as possible. Sign and return award letters and any other required financial aid forms.
                                                      The Schedule




•   MAY
•   Study for your AP exams and finals. Contact the financial aid office at your selected college to check your status. If you are
    pursuing student loans, send your Master Promissory Note (MPN) to your chosen college. Finalize college housing plans, if
    you plan to live on-campus.

•   JUNE
•   Complete any remaining financial aid forms. Have your high school guidance office send a final official transcript to your
    chosen college. Plan for college orientation and transportation. Start a list of everything you will need to bring to school.
    Make transportation arrangements. Purchase airline tickets early to save you money. Plan a budget. If you are just now
    deciding that you want to attend college, it may not be too late for some schools. Contact the school you are interested in
    attending to find out what you need to do. Pre-lease an apartment if you plan on living off-campus.