College Preparedness

The Journey Begins….

Remember, you are choosing your college as much as your college is choosing you.

As long as you seek schools that suit you, there’s no need to stress.

Going to college……Terms to know:College – An institution that delivers post-secondary education and grants

Associates Degree– The general term used to define post-secondary courses– The term used to define a specialized area of study within a

university

University• An institution of higher learning that grants degrees upon completion of

academic requirements• Composed of several colleges (i.e. college of nursing, college of business)

College hours– The term used to denote the amount of credit one

receives upon successful completion of a class or course– A reference for how long a student will spend in the

classroom each week

Diploma – a degree or certificate of completion of learning requirements for an institution of higher learning

Residency – a determinant in tuition fees for college students

Developmental classes– Remedial classes required for students who do not meet the

minimum requirements of knowledge in a subject– Do not generate college hours that apply to a degree

Financial aid• Monies available to students to help pay for classes• Based on grades, need, financial status and other criteria• Some restrictions may be dictated as to how monies are used• Grants: money that is not repaid to the lender• Scholarships: monies awarded to students based on merit and not repaid• Loans: money that must be repaid to the lender• Payments may be deferred until after completion of the degree or

certification• Interest rates may be lower than interest rates for other purposes

Course numbers– Designate the course and academic level– There may be several sections of a course

Section numbers – used when more than one time is available for a course

Instructors/professors• Individuals hired to teach courses• Must meet the educational standards of the institution to

qualify to teach

Registration– The process of selecting classes for a term– Depending on the institution, this may be done manually, on-line, or by

phone

Course catalog – contains information about requirements for attending the institution, financial aid, class schedules, fees, etc.

Application form – the form completed when applying to an institution

THEA • Texas Higher Education Assessment• Tests the reading, writing, and math skills of students entering Texas public

colleges and universities• Required for all entering students

Degree plan – the courses and number of hours required by the community college or university, that must be completed, before a degree can be conferred

Available seats – how many students can attend a particular class section

Steps in college planning…

Choosing your college: The Basics

Take a moment to consider that college is not just about getting a great education…

It’s a huge leap into a whole new world of social experiences, personal growth, and independence.

Not to mention a new level of hard work, studying,

and academic achievement.

Identifying basic college criteriaStart your college search with the basics which will help

identify the colleges that will best suit you academically and personally.

Think of your values, unique needs, and what is important to you.

By looking at what is important to you, then you can focus on the things which make your school a perfect fit.

Things to consider…

1. Geography/location2. Setting3. Size4. Type5. Cost/scholarships/financial aid

Geography/Location

Geography/Location

Location is important because college is more than just an education, it’s a journey so consider what you hope to experience along the way.

Year-round sunshine?Winter ski season?Compose essays in the shadow of the Eiffel tower?Prefer comforts of home?

Setting

Setting: consider the ambience of your surroundings…

Need nightlife? Think city.Need great outdoors, grassy areas, open space? Think rural area.Beaches or Mountains?Urban vs. suburban area?Malls and movie theaters?“Type” of social groups?Conservative vs. Liberal?Religious/ Beliefs?

Think about how much of a change in setting from where you grew up do you want.

There are colleges in every environment you can imagine.

Size

Size: colleges come in all sizesHow far do you want to walk to get from one class to

another?

Transportation needs?

Did you go to a small high school or large one? Did you grow up in a city or rural area?

Do you like being places where everybody knows you, or do you like the anonymity of a crowd?

Type: colleges and universities are not all the same…

What do they devote time and resources to: research, teaching, or learning.

Do they have a specialty in one specific area or are they known for providing a broad education?

Are they single sex or co-ed?Do they have a religious affiliation?Are they public or private?Specific ethnic majority?

Large schools typically have large campuses as well as a healthy selection of student services and things to do.

Small schools may offer individualized attention as well as a more intimate and personalized experience.

Cost/Scholarships/Financial Aid

Cost

Not all colleges have the same price tag and there are a variety of ways to cut your costs.

1. Financial aid2. Scholarships3. Work-study programs4. Grants5. Student loans

Cost

Public universities often offer much lower tuition rates to in-state students but their fees for out-of–state residents are usually similar to private schools.

Private schools charge everyone the same tuition, but have privately funded scholarships so it’s worth applying even if the price tag seems to high.

Cost

A school’s tuition isn’t necessarily what you will pay because it doesn’t reflect financial aid or extra expenses like housing, books, and living expenses.

It’s important to check out what’s out there and compare cost of going to college.

Obtain and complete all financial aid forms by the deadline!!!!!!1. generally there is money every semester that someone could have used if the proper application process was followed.2. some funds may be in obscure sources, so get to know the financial aid office staff!!!3. be aware that some campuses may have fees fro security and parking, lab fees, student activity fees, etc. which are assessed every semester in addition to basic tuition fees.

Creating your college list: finding the right balance

large public universitiessmall private collegescommunity collegesurban universitiessmall-town collegesliberal environmentconservative environmenttraditional academicalternative academicreligious colleges

Visit campuses to explore differences

Visit colleges before applying!!!! Make an appointment with an advisor to discuss

options and opportunities.Schedule a tour of the campusCheck out the “campus visits” link Attend future freshman activitiesLook at student housingLook at the town/city itself

Diversify your list geographically

Are you planning on coming home every weekend, every month, end of semester, end of the school year, or ??????

Most students attend college within a few hundred miles from home.

Branch out and visit campuses beyond the “normal boundary”.

Balance your list by difficulty of admission

How hard is it to be admitted?

Is it very competitive admission process?

Establish the schools that are at the upper end of your reach group by comparing your high school curriculum, grades, test scores, class rank, and other talents to the reported data from colleges that interest you.

Balance is the key…

Don’t overload your list with schools that are real stretches.

Similarly, don’t under-apply, seeking only colleges that won’t reject you.

It’s OK to say “No” to colleges, and to apply to schools that will say “No” to you.

Often, you may be very well qualified, but due to the large number of similarly qualified applicants you may not be among those admitted.

Avoid the usual suspects, easy labels, and this year’s hot school.

Students at high school tend to establish a classic clustering pattern around the same group of schools.

When too many students from the same area bunch up at the same college admission offices, you can be sure they will reasonably limit the letters of admission they offer in each area.

That means you may have a harder time standing out from the crowd.

Be yourself, take the driver’s seat, have an open mind, and don’t give up!

You will be spending two to four years of your life pursuing an education..

A major goal is to discover your calling, establish your credentials, and prepare for a rewarding career.

There is more than one perfect college out there to help you accomplish these things, and you should build your list by trying to identify a mix of schools that each could potentially work well for you personally.

Be open to new ideas and possibilities.

Remain persistent through your senior year.

Balance your list, and establish the goal of opening up several exciting choices for yourself in the spring of senior year.

Get a head start on the college applicationThe earlier you start, the better your opportunity to prepare effectively.

Even if you are not applying to college under Early Decision or Early Action, getting an early start on your college application is a smart idea.

Taking your time will help ensure a flawless presentation to your future alma mater.

Last minute applications have more last-minute mistakes. When it comes to things like your essay, you want to avoid those at all cost!!!!

Submitting your application early may help in terms of how it’s processed.

The real deal on getting your application in early.

Make sure all of your materials are submitted in a timely fashion so your completed application can be considered fairly with the rest of the competition.

If you apply early you may get first dibs on cool digs.

When schools have two-part applications, submit Part One ASAP!

Remember…When you hit the “submit” button on your college

application, you can’t take it back.It’s essential you check and re-check everything

you’ve completed to be sure it’s accurate.An error could cause a delay in processing which

might jeopardize your chances of getting in.If you apply online, be sure to contact the college to

confirm they have received everything they will need to evaluate your application.

It’s is your responsibility!!!!!!

The application…

Complete the applicationa. obtain the application form from the web or in hard copy formatb. use black ink to complete formc. print legibly – remember you are judged to some extent by how your paperwork looksd. pay careful attention to residency requirements

e. double check all information requested is with the application form before it is sent or turned in to the admissions office.

1. transcripts2. scholarship applications3. registration fees

I

• www.ApplyTexas.org• www.CollegeforallTexans.com

• Check the college or university website for admission application procedure and link to their preferred online application site.

• Check to see the preference of how an application is to be submitted: online or if a hard copy is permitted.

100’s of applications blur together over time.

How do colleges/universities decide between applications when they start to look the same?

SelectivityReflects the % of students who are accepted out of all who

apply.

Colleges don’t have room for everyone.

The most difficult schools to get into will likely have students who were able to meet stringent admission criteria.

Are you competitive enough to go up against other top students to get into a more prestigious school?

The college application: Behind the closed doors…

Let’s begin looking into what goes on after hitting the submit button…

What happens to your application when it reaches the admission office? Did it reach the admission office?

Who reads it?What will they think?How will they decide?

Answer: It’s not that simple

Colleges and universities use different systems depending on their applicant volumes, levels of selectivity, and agendas.

Bottom line: Candidates who meet predetermined standards are referred to the admission committee for further review.

How admission decisions are made: an introduction

Remember: admission professionals are looking for the right students to ensure a great outcome for everyone involved so they take their jobs very seriously.

There are many factors involved in making the decision.

The paper trail…Everything you and your high school (and anyone else) sends to

each school is filed into a folder with your name on it.

Every scrap of paper which bears your name on it goes into your file:supplemental essaysphone messagesthank you notesrecommendation lettersinvolvement at the campus: meet with advisor, tours, etc.

Each folder is reviewed and read carefully which takes time.

Big Factors…There are many things included in your application

and each one of them will be evaluated to determine who you are and what kind of student you will potentially be.

Schools require the same basic requirements but some prefer certain other things in students.

Yes, schools have a “wish list” of the students they want.

They are looking for just the right mix of students.

Application goes to committee for review They look at the following things:AcademicsTest scoresExtracurricular activities LeadershipEssaysRecommendationsInterviews on campusOther: touring campus, meeting with advisors, involved in

“camps” or programs offered to future freshmen.

Once in committeeMultiple people read an application before any decision is made.

Readers vary from staff hired specifically to read applications alphabetically to specialists in particular majors or academic disciplines.

There are more than one person who reviews and reads your application.

Applications go through any number of different routes.

Remember: It is a competitive process!

What do “readers” do?1. Review your credentials: Transcript – noting both the

strength of your academic program and your academic successes relative to other students in your school.

2. Look at scores, essays, and extracurricular activities: Noting any “hooks” or points of distinction.

3. Develop a sense of what you have to offer and where you fit in the competition: “what do we get by admitting this student?”

4. Scan recommendation letters to look for validation(evidence that supports the information on your application).

Admission officers

They are skilled at understanding the discrepancies among schools and the ways that grades are awarded, recorded, etc.

Hint: 1. They know that at some schools only students who walk on

water earn “A’s” while at others anyone who hands in their homework is considered an honors student.

2. They can read between the lines of transcripts and school profiles to ascertain your school’s strengths, such as what percentage of graduates to on to four year colleges and what advanced classes are offered.

Important to remember…Purpose of admission officers is to create a freshman

class which will further the university’s aims.

In a nutshell…they have their likes and dislikes which have to meld their priorities with the college/university’s.

The more selective the institution, the less likely its selection process is to be “fair” and “logical”.

How admission decisions are made: Academics

In evaluating your application, your high school transcript is almost always the most important ingredient.

Obtained from your high school along with your transcript:Among the many pieces of paper reviewed, admission officers will probably receive a profile of your high school detailing the curriculum and grading system. It may even list average grades for each class.

Apples to apples

Admission officers recognize good students at challenging, competitive high schools may have lower grades and class ranks than their counterparts at easier ones, and that some student may not be ranked or even graded.

Course choices do matter. These choices affect how your application is evaluated.

Know what you are up against

It’s important to know early on what sort of college you hope to attend and what the requirements are and plan your high school curriculum accordingly.

Minimum courses taken in high school may not even get colleges to look at your application. Especially selective and more competitive admission schools.

Minimum vs. Challenging CoursesMinimum (Recommended Plan)English: 4 full year coursesSocial Studies/History: 3yearsMath: 3 yearsScience: 3 yearsForeign Language; 3 years of 1 language or 2 years of at least 2 languages

Challenging (Distinguished Plan):English: 4 or more yearsSocial Studies/History: 4 yearsMath: 4 years through calculus (or at least through pre-calculus)Science: 4 years (including 2 or more lab sciences)Foreign language: 3 - 4 years of at least one language

How admission decisions are made: Test Scores

Test scores are strategically listed after your transcripts.

Sometimes the scores can make or break your application.

Why do test scores matter?

Admission official prefer students who demonstrate their ability to perform well in school.

This information will be reflected on your transcript.

Your test scores are important because they help admission officers get a more focused picture of the type of student you are.

You may barely squeeze by in the race for a spot if your test scores are terrific but y our transcript is loaded with C’s.

On the other hand, your favorite college may never admit you based solely on poor test scores.

For that reason, it’s a good idea to take your tests seriously, even if you have stellar grades and don’t think y our scores matter so much.

Especially at the most selective colleges, the smallest differences between applications can mean the difference between and acceptance and a rejection.

Admission officers will be looking at patterns and indicators to determine the following…

Is your testing pattern consistent?Did you clearly have an off day?Are your scores compatible with your academic achievement? If

not, why not?Do you have strengths in one area but weaknesses in others?Did you take your tests under special conditions (i.e. extended

time)? Do you have a diagnosed disability?Is English spoken at home?Did you take SAT subject tests close to course completion or a year

or more later? If your language test scores were low, ho many years of study did you have?

Your application demonstrates your strengths in other ways than just your overall high school grade point average.

Solid test scores and GPA is a good indicator to colleges about your overall ability to achieve.

If there are inconsistencies between test scores and GPA, the admission committee may peruse your scholastic history more closely to determine your potential.

Start Now!

Get a good start by getting out of the gate early.

As tempting as it may be, high school is not the time to slow down.

It’s time to rev up….Your future is ahead of you!

The bottom line….Test scores are just one of a number of factors that are taken into

account when you apply to college.

Schools wouldn’t ask to see them if they did not matter.

Check the college/university website to see the minimum SAT/ACT score for admission along with minimum score required for admission into specific disciplines (majors).

If your scores aren’t where they need to be, consider re-taking the necessary tests. You could improve the scores!!!

Put some time into getting ready!!!

How admissions decisions are made: extracurricular activities and leadership

Colleges are not picky about how you spend your down time, as long as you are doing something meaningful outside of the classroom.

Colleges/Universities are on the lookout for students: *who demonstrate leadership potential and excellence.*who are diverse *who participate in extracurricular activities

They won’t know if you spend hours upon hours playing video games; they will notice a lack of notable activities on your college application.

You can demonstrate to the admission committee some level of accomplishment, initiative, commitment, and leadership.

All of this demonstrates your interests and strengths and helps them to get a better sense of who you are and what attributes you may add to the campus.

What colleges look for…

1. Dedication: how significant is your contribution?Think depth over breadth

2. Leadership : “evidence of leadership” is what separates you from someone who ends up on the waitlist.

3. Balance: “well roundedness” and diverse ventures is more appealing. Not all your eggs in one basket.

4. True involvement: Real hands-on involvement in volunteering.

5. Specialization: Being extraordinarily talented in some area or with a truly off-the-wall interest or experience.

6. Entrepreneurship: starting or developing something on your own

According to colleges , “It’s exciting to see unusual activities on an application – not always student council, the newspaper, athletics, the yearbook, etc.”

Important note

You recognize how much effort went into planning the Pep Rally, how tough it was to sacrifice a season of soccer for a semester in Germany, or how many lines you had to learn for One Act Play, but admission officers have heard it all before.

Be sure you present your extracurricular activities and accomplishments well, and differentiate between meaningful and minimal contributions.

Pursue your passions: Extracurricular activities

Look beyond your high school and into the community to get involved.

Look past your academic year and into the summer months.

Look at your personal hobbies and interests.

The college connection?Colleges ask for you to detail what has been most meaningful to

you.

Be involved with what fits you and your interests.

It makes sense for you to write about your most important activities or personal hobbies and for these involvements to flow from your interest and dedication not from any manufactured effort to impress.

Be able to exhibit commitment, consistency, persistence and creativity along with having fun doing it.

How admission decisions are made:Essays

Admission Essays

It’s your admission essays that will set you apart from the others.

A great essay can really make an admission official sit up and take notice.

Show your mastery of the English language, but don’t forget to let your stellar personality and strength of character shine through.

This is opportunity to market yourself.Put time and effort (and proofreading) into it.This may clinch the college acceptance you are seeking!

Writing your college essay

In your college essay, you have an opportunity to communicate to colleges what is most essential to you personally, socially, and academically.

Strong essays reveal something intimate and unique about the person behind the file.

Explore topics and stories that show who you really are…

Consider your strengths and interests.

Think about what you want colleges to know most about you.

Explore some topics, stories, and approaches which might help you show yourself to your readers.

See the essays as puzzle pieces working together to present who you are more completely.

Keep working at itTo write a great essay, you will need persistence.

Expect to work over multiple drafts.

You may start with sketches of ideas, outlines, or lengthy stream-of-consciousness prose.

Have others read over your essays and provide input on content, tone, and form.

Remember: writing should be free from spelling and grammatical mistakes and be neither too casual or too formal. ( no slang words)

Make it your own

Read your essay out loud to yourself numerous times.Does the language sound like you?Is the essay grammatically correct?Is it awkward?Can friends, counselors, teachers, and parents recognize the essence of you in the essay?could no one but you have written this particular piece?

Remember: College admission readers note that they are looking for a student’s voice in the essays.

Does it speak to people?

View your essay as a public document you are presenting to a large audience, or as a revelation of a personal confidence.

Break out of your shell and you will be much more likely to make an important connection with your admission audience.

Make sure the glimpse you give the admission committee into your character, background, and writing ability is the very best possible.

Top 10 application essay tips:

Keep these key application essay tips in mind as you write…

1. Don’t “thesaurus-ize” your essay. Do use your own voice.

Admission officers can tell Roget from a high school senior.

Big words, especially when misused, detract from the essay, inappropriately drawing the reader’s attention and making the essay sound contrived.

2. Don’t bore the reader. Do be interesting.

Admission officers are not looking for a new way to view the world; they are looking for a new way to view you, the applicant.

You don’t want it to blend in with all the others.

3. Do use personal detail. Show, don’t tell!

A good college application essay is concrete and grounded in personal detail.

It does not merely assert “I learned my lesson” or “these lessons are useful both on and off the field.”

The essay shows it through personal detail.

4. Do be concise

Wordiness not only takes up valuable space, but it also can confuse the important ideas you’re trying to convey.

Short sentences are more forceful because they are direct and to the point.

5. Don’t use slang, yo!

Use appropriate language.

Slang terms, cliches, contractions, and excessively casual tone should be eliminated.

6. Do vary your sentences and use transitions

Use a variety of sentence lengths mixed within any given paragraph.

Remember that transition is not limited to words like nevertheless, furthermore, or consequently.

7. Do use active –voice verbs

Passive-voice expressions are verb phrases in which the subject receives the action expressed in the verb.

Passive voice employs a form of the verb to be, such as was or were.

Overuse of the passive voice makes prose seem flat and uninteresting.

8. Do seek multiple opinions: ask your friends and family to read it and to keep these questions in mind:Have I answered the question?Does my introduction engage the reader? Does my conclusion provide closure?Do I use concrete experiences a supporting details?have I used active-voice verbs wherever possible?is my sentence structure varied, or do I use all long or short sentences?Are there any cliché’s such as cutting edge or learned my lesson?Do I use transitions appropriately?What about the essay is memorable? What’s the worst part of the essay?What parts of the essay need elaboration or are unclear?What parts of the essay do not support my main argument?Is every single sentence crucial to the essay? This must be the case.What does the essay reveal about my personality?

9. Do answer the “question” or “prompt”

Many students try to turn a 500 word college application essay into a complete autobiography.

They fail to answer the question.

Make sure every sentence in your essay exists solely to answer the question.

10. Do revise, revise, revise

The first step in improving any essay is to cut, cut, and cut some more!

Following these application essay tips will put you on the path to writing an essay that will help you stand out from the crowd.

Remember you have control over the essay – do all you can to show the admissions committee who you are.

How admission decisions are made: “Hooks”

A “hook” is any advantage which makes you attractive to a particular college.

Having a “hook” can give you a higher rating from the get-go or even move your application from the deny pile into the admit (or wait-list) stack.

If a college has to select one of two students who look the same on paper and one is the child of an alumnus and the other is not, the alumni’s child is probably going to be the one decorating a dorm room in the fall.

However, connections aren’t everything, especially if you don’t have the grades or the ability to be successful.

In most cases, your connections won’t be enough to overcome a poor academic record.

A good “hook” is either something unusual, unique, or something to which you devoted a lot of energy.

So what “hooks” are most revered among admission officers?

Alumni connections: don’t assume you are a shoo in just because of family attended the college but it does mean your file will be reviewed carefully.

Athletics: Playing a sport can give an excellent boost come decision-making time.

Ethnic heritage and socioeconomic background: Many colleges recruit students from minority populations. First person in your family to go to college.

Talent in the arts: if applying to a more generalized school, then your talent may balance any weaknesses in your application.

Geographical diversity: being in-state resident is a great hook but living in various zip codes a long distance away may be unique.

Special talent: let them know of your accomplishment

Extracurricular activities: play instrument, dance, sing, etc.

Leadership qualities: involvement in organizations

Invisible hook: institutional needs which varies from college to college and year to year.

What is your “hook”?

Think about things you do that you get the most excited about and of which you’re most proud.

Think about what makes you different from everyone else you know.

SummaryIn general, it makes sense that you stand the best chance

of getting in by working hard throughout high school and taking part in activities that you enjoy.

However, even top students may be rejected due to limited space, not deficits in their qualifications.

Making a determined effort is your best guarantee for success.

Being focused is the key to success in the college admission process.

Remember

No matter what, it is important to give it the “old college try!”.

Besides, there’s definitely more than one good college match for every student.

Go confidently in the directions of your dreams !

Little tidbits of wisdomMake connectionsMeet peopleTour the campusTour dorms and student housingDrive around the area off campusWalk the campusHave a planGet involvedTime to re-invent yourselfGive them a reason to want youHave fun!

Plan your schedule1. Include how many hours you want to take, when

you want to meet classes, and when you will work if you need to do so.

2. Keep in mind that not everyone gets to have the schedule desired.

3. Remember, that you have paid for these classes so allow enough time in your schedule to complete class requirements.

Textbooks:1. Books will be grouped by discipline.2. Some may be required, while some may be optional3. some are “new” or “used”4. When books are sold back to the bookstore at the

end of the course, remember the sell back value will be much less than the original purchase price.

5. General rule of thumb seems to be that books per semester will cost about the same as tuition.

Daily living things to think about…

Student housing vs. dormOff campus living vs. on campus livingRoommates: potluck vs. friends(s)Meal plans Transportation: Shuttle bus vs. driveParkingAccessibilityWork vs. Not workWork on campus: Work study programWork off campusBeing involved with campus activities or not