HS College Planning Tips: for week of Sept 13

Preparing Your College Application

You need to start your college application to meet submission deadlines:

Early Admission: deadlines are in October -November
Regular Admissions: deadlines are in early January

Key elements of the application.

College Application:

Request an application form from each of your colleges. You can find it online or request it from the school.

The package will include the application form, submission requirements (essays, transcripts and other) and self-addressed envelopes for the letters of recommendations.

See if your school use the COMMON application form
the COMMON application form is used by 300+ schools. This can save you time from completing multiple application forms: see form at ww.commonapp.org

you can save the COMMON application form online until you are ready to submit it electronically to participating schools

Early Decision Note:
you need to decide if you are going to do early admission. If so, you will need to have your application completed and ready to submit between October and November of your senior year.

The advantage of early decision is that you will know whether you have been accepted by early January. The disadvantage of early decision is that you may be legally bound to attend that school if you are accepted. So decide on early decisions for schools that are your first choice.

College Essays:

Your college admissions application will most likely require 1- 2 essays. Use the weekends to write and edit your essays. The essay is an important decisional parameter for college admission.

Essay resource and editing services:
use this resource to edit your essay — you will expert advice from professionals who are experts in college essay review
EssayEdge.com

College Recommendations:

Most college admissions require 1-2 recommendations from teachers and/or community leaders. Select who should write your recommendation. Give the person plenty of time (about 3-4 weeks prior to your deadline).

Also provide them a short autobiography, a list of your outside activities, school transcript and a self-addressed envelope as instructed by your college. Please note that the teacher works with hundreds of students. So give them plenty of time.

School Transcripts:

Double check your transcripts when you start your senior year. You will need to forward these transcripts to colleges for admission review. Make sure you have the following:

• all grades are posted correctly
• all required courses for graduation are listed
• all required courses for college admittance are listed

  It is important that these transcripts are correct and up-to-date. If not, meet with school administration to repair any errors.

Extracurricular’s:

Take a swim, tennis, karate or other class over the fall semester (either with your school or community group). You want to show well-roundness in your application. Just the right amount of studies (with good grades) and outside activities.

Don’t think that a lot of extracurricular activities are a must. You just need to show a balance.