Top Ten Reasons to Finish Your College Applications

10) Your mother will stop asking you "have you finished your applications?"
9) You will be able to eat turkey in peace without extended family asking "have you finished applying yet?"
8) You may get an admissions decision prior to the winter holidays.
7) You can go back to watching your favorite TV shows without nagging guilt hanging over your head.
6) You can sleep in peace...especially if you have included an application to a college where acceptance is highly likely.
5) You can concentrate on other things-like senior prom and graduation.
4) If you have forgotten some part of your application, you will still have time to send it in.
3) Many colleges and universities give housing assignments based on the college application receipt date.
2) Many scholarships are offered to students who apply prior to or by a stated priority deadline.
1) Did I mention that your mother will stop asking you "have you finished your applications?"

Go ahead. Get them done. You'll be glad you did!

Explanation Needed: When to explain a deficiency in a transcript

Your test scores are stellar. You took rigorous courses. Your grades are superb....except for that one semester. So you ask yourself, "do I tell the admissions office why?" When should you explain the low grade or the semester of low grades? Let's take a look at when you should explain and when you should not.

The following may be included in reasons you should explain.
You suffered from an extended illness or injury that kept you out of school.
Your home life was significantly changed, either through divorce or the death of a parent or sibling.
You moved and changed schools in the middle of a semester.


Just as important as knowing when to account for a deficiency, is knowing when to avoid clarification. Never use excuses. Never try to blame others. Justifications that include "the teacher was unfair, " "I broke up with my boyfriend/girlfriend," or "the class was boring" are best left unspoken.

Use these guidelines to help you decide whether to expound on your transcript! Happy searching!

College Application Mistakes

Many of us make mistakes everyday. But none of us want a mistake that can keep us from attaining our dreams. St. Andrews Presbyterian College has posted a list of the 10 Most Common College Application Mistakes. So, take a look and hopefully avoid a costly mistake!

Early?

Trying to decide what option to use when applying to a college or university? Schools have a variety of choices. Here are the most common:



Early Decision

• apply early (often prior to Nov. 15)
• notified of admission early (usually prior to winter break)
• Binding: if accepted, requires student to remove all other college applications
• if accepted, requires student to attend this college or university
• May not have financial award package information

Early Action

• apply early
• notified of admission early
• non-binding
• can apply to multiple schools
• can wait to see financial aid awards to help make final decision

Regular Decision

• apply prior to priority deadline (varies)
• notified on set date or on rolling admissions (notified when decision is made)
• non-binding
• can apply to multiple schools
• can wait for financial aid award to make a decision

Best Recommendations

When you are applying to a college, especially to a highly selective college, recommendations can be very important. Just think, if everyone has terrific grades, outstanding test scores, and is ranked in the top percentages, recommendations can be one way to differentiate a student from the rest of the pack. So start smart. Follow these guidelines to get the best recommendations and recommenders.

Stick to the basics. Most colleges and universities want recommendations from academic teachers, not Aunt Sally. If a school wants a recommendation from someone other than a teacher or guidance counselor, they will specify that.

Early is good. Your best bet is to ask a teacher early in the year, or better yet, line them up at the end of the junior year. Good teachers may be asked to write dozens of recommendations, so ask early.

Details, details. Give your teacher a reminder about how you contributed in the class. Did he/she tell you that your project was one of the best she has seen in all her teaching years? Then remind her of that comment and perhaps bring in that old paper. Details are important in teacher recommendations. Don't hesitate to jog his or her memory with them.

Tick-Tock. Give your prospective recommender a proper amount of time to write the recommendation. A good estimate is to give at least two weeks for the letter. Strong recommendations are like strong papers. They take time. Do not ask one day prior to the deadline.

Ask politely and don't forget to thank your recommender. It is the best payment for extra work.

Dont' forget to include the stamped and addressed envelope. Include specific instructions and a due date.

For your eyes only...not. Remember, recommendations are usually considered invalid if the student reads them. However, it is alright to follow up with the writer to see if the recommendation has been sent. Universities and colleges also may have mechanisms in their application process to check the status.

OK, it is time to go. If you haven't already, line up those recommendations and get those applications completed.

College Application Check Up

Last week I visited my physician for my annual physical. An interview of sorts. This was a chance to see how my body was holding up. Two hours of various blood tests, measurements, and a full head to toe exam. It was also an opportunity for the dear doctor to see if I had heeded her advice. Advice to make the changes that could help me live a longer healthier life.

So how about completing your own college application readiness check-up? Take a look at where you stand. Here are some of the things you may want to assess:

What are you reading this summer?
What are you curious about?
Have you spent time improving on your own best skills and talents?
Have you used those skills or talents to better your own community?
Have you gathered up all your stats? GPA, Rank, test scores, etc
Have you looked over college application essay topics?
Have you checked to see when your favorite college applications are available?

There are a lot of other areas that you could include in your own check up. But start somewhere so you don't turn up empty at one of the most important interviews of your life.

Organize your College Application Process

Earlier this week you read a post about the importance of preparing. Let's take this preparation to the next step. Getting organized with your college process will help you save time and perhaps your sanity! So here is one way to help you organize.

Get a notebook and a small box of sheet protectors.
Allow at least one sheet protector for every school to which you will apply.
Organize them alphabetically.
In each sheet protector, put a cover sheet. Behind each cover sheet, place all correspondence and information to or from that college/university
.
Here is what the cover sheet for our center includes:

College Name:______________________________________

Address/Website:___________________________________

Info. Requested:_(Date)_______________________________

Info. Received:_(Date)________________________________

College Application Deadlines:________Use Common App? Yes No

Application Fee Cost______________ Waiver used? Yes No

Need academic recommendations?:Yes ___No___How many?______
(include addressed and stamped envelope for each recommendation or give web access information to teacher)

Teacher Recommendation given:_____________________________
Name Date

Teacher Recommendation__________________________________
Name Date

Guidance Portion?:_Yes No

SAT/ACT (mid-50%) SAT CR _______M______W______ ACT_______

Need essay? __________

Cost of Attendance__________________________________________________

Sports:_________________Div I Div II Div III (money only available at I and II)

Sororities/Fraternities_______________

On Campus Housing _______________

Car for freshmen? ___________

Scholarships:_____________


ADDITIONAL NOTES:


Hope this helps get you begin to get organized. Let me know if you have any tips that have helped you through this process! If you go to Richland Northeast, stop by our Career and College Center for free copies of the cover sheet OR send me an email and I'll send you the attachment and you may print as many copies as you like. Email me at ksanders@richland2.org .

College Application Fees

If you are one of the students getting ready to apply to several colleges in the fall, be prepared. College application fees can reach up to $75 per application. Though most fees are less, when you are applying to several schools, your out of pocket expenses can go up. The average cost of an application fee is approximately $35 according to College Board and it is usually non-refundable. But...there are ways to help decrease your costs!

• Are you on free lunch? If you are eligible for free lunch at school, you may be eligible for an SAT or ACT fee waiver. AND...if you qualify for an SAT or ACT fee waiver, you may also be eligible for college application fee waivers. This will help decrease the amount of money you will have to pay in the fall.

• Additionally, there are some web sites to explore to help you save time and money:
• Common Application
• Universal Application
• Black College Application : One $35 fee to apply to 33 HBCU's

• Some colleges offer free or reduced applications if you apply online and early in the fall. This doesn't mean early decision, but applying early in the application season. Take a look at your favorite college or university web site early in September to see if they offer a free application.

• Students may also want to prepare for the fall application fees by earning a little extra spending money. Mow a lawn, babysit, or save some money from your summer job.

If the average fee is $35 and the average student applies to 5-7 schools, you can see why saving money is important. Don't ever let money be a reason to skip out on applying. Talk to your guidance counselor or your college center early about your concerns. He or she can help identify resources that may help you.

Change of Address

Are you getting ready to write an admissions office requesting information? Apply to college? Write a note to a teacher requesting a recommendation? Then take a look at your email address. Email addresses like "Iwearshortshorts" just may tell an admissions counselor more than they want to know. Applying for college or for a job requires that you put forth your best and most professional impression. Take a look at your email address today and make a change if necessary. It will also help keep you organized if you use one address specifically for your college search and application process. Google Gmail is one source of free email addresses.

College Application Essay Brainstorm Exercise

Many college admissions representatives have shared that in a college application essay they are trying to learn something about the applicant that they haven't seen in the rest of the application. It may mean they learn more about what interests you, what your passion is, your writing skill and style, how you spend your time, or how you see yourself. Ultimately, all questions lead back to "tell me more about yourself." Keeping this in mind, here is an exercise that may help stimulate the gray matter and get you ready for getting YOU down on paper.

REMEMBER: THIS IS A BRAINSTORM SESSION! Write down the first answers that come to your mind for each exercise. There are no right or wrong answers!

1. Set a timer for 3 minutes: Write down at least 10 things that you love spending time doing.
2. Set a timer for 3 minutes: Write down 3-5 political/international issues that intrigue you. Review your list. Rate those issues in order of importance to you 1-5, 1 being most important.
3. Set a timer for 3 minutes: Write down the names of five people you would like to talk with. Choose one of those people and put a star by their name.
4. Set a timer for 3 minutes: Write down 3 questions you would ask the person you marked with a star. (Pretend you will have only 15 minutes with that person and write the three most burning questions that you would want to know.)
5. Set a timer for 5 minutes: Write 10 two- word descriptions of how you would like to be known when you are 75 ( jazz musician, brilliant scientist, phenomenal teacher...)

OK, now look over your lists. What do you see about yourself? Did you discover any new insights? These lists may help jump-start your essays. Use them! The admissions application essays are waiting!