College Admissions Process

1
College Admissions Process

• Select the school that interest you.
• What are the enrollment requirements?
• What majors are offered?
• How much will it cost to attend?

2
Choosing a college

• Private schools
• Public schools
• Large schools
• Small schools
• City schools
• Small town schools
• Church schools

3
Choosing a College

• Liberal Arts schools
• Science schools
• Technical schools
• Community colleges

4
Choosing a College

• 3,500 colleges and universities in the US
• Look at a variety of options
• Each has a its own advantages

5
Choosing a college

• Know something about yourself
• Your interests
• Your abilities
• Your dreams
• Your goals
• Your reasons for attending college

6
Interest and talent inventory

• What subjects do you like the best?
• List three achievements in your life of which you
  are most proud.
• What are your hobbies or interests outside of
  school?
• Ask a family member or friend.

7
Career Interest Inventory

• Careercruising.com
• pinetreejhs
• longview

8
Choosing a college

• Smaller-sized college
• More personal attention
• Better access to equipment and facilities
• Easier to get involved
• More contact with faculty
• More likely to get into courses that you want to
  take.

9
Choosing a College

• Large colleges
• Better selection of classes offered
• Class size is larger
• Facilities and equipment

10
Choosing a College

• Cost attending the college
• Contact that schools financial aid office
• Dont let initial costs alone determine your
  future.

11
Choosing a college

• What does the college have to offer that
  interests you?
• The colleges distance from your home.
• The colleges environment
• Student diversity
• Residential college vs Commuter college
• Size of college
• College with a religious affiliation

12
Resources for Locating a College

• www.studentaid.ed.gov Check under Choosing
  tab and then College Selections
• www.nacacnet.org Student Resources to link to
  the Steps to College. This site is sponsored by
  the National Assoc for College Admission
  Counseling
• www.collegeboard.com The College Handbook
• www.petersons.com college guide

13
Resources for Locating a College

• www.collegefortexans.com
• www.act.org
• www.collegenet.com
• www.gocollege.com

14
Admissions Policies Early Decision - Binding

• The student makes a commitment to a first-choice
  college.
• The student may apply to other schools but may
  have only one early decision application pending
  at any time.
• The school will notify the student within a
  reasonable and clearly stated period of time.
• The student must apply for financial aid by
  deadlines. Student may withdraw application if an
  award is not offered.
• Immediately upon acceptance, the student must
  withdraw all other applications and make no
  subsequent applications

15
Admission PoliciesEarly Action

• Early action is the application process in which
  students make application to a school and receive
  a decision well in advance of the regular
  response date.
• Not binding student may apply to other colleges
  without restriction.
• The school must notify the applicant of the
  decision within a reasonable and clearly stated
  period of time.

16
Admissions PoliciesRegular Decision

• Application process in which a student submits an
  application to a school by a specified date.
• The student receives a decision within a
  reasonable and clearly stated period of time (but
  not later than April 15th)
• A student may apply to other colleges without
  restrictions

17
Admission PoliciesRolling Admission

• Application process in which a school reviews
  applications as they are completed.
• Admission decisions are made throughout the
  admission cycle.
• A student may apply to other colleges without
  restriction.
• School will respond in a timely manner.

18
Admissions policiesWait List

• An admission decision policy used by schools to
  protect against shortfalls in enrollment.
• School does not initially offer or deny
  admission, but extends to a candidate the
  possibility of admission in the future.
• Expected time period for wait list is never later
  than August 1st.
• In the letter offering a wait list position, the
  school should provide a history of wait list
  decisions.

19
Admission policiesThe follow up.

• Once the applicant receives the decision letter,
  the student must respond within the allotted
  time.
• Submit a deposit before the deadline.
• Make residency plans.
• Contact financial aid department and complete
  financial aid applications. A student applying
  for financial aid must adhere to institutional
  aid application deadlines.

20
Steps for College Enrollment 4 year

• Select your colleges (2 or 3 recommended)
• Contact these colleges and request applications
• Check entrance requirements ACT and/or SAT high
  school course requirements deadline dates
• Return the complete application and fees
• Consider sending a dormitory room deposit
• Office of Admissions should contact you within
  one month
• Contact the Financial Aid Department
• Check the colleges calendar for important dates

21
Steps to College Enrollment 2 year

• Select your college
• Request an application (online)
• Check entrance requirements
• Testing requirements
• College should contact you within one month
• Contact the financial aid department
• Check the colleges calendar for important dates

22
The Application

• Electronic Applications
• The Common Application www.commonapp.org
• State applications
• www.ApplyTexas.org

23
The Application

• Which criteria do admissions officers consider to
  be the most reliable indicators of success in
  college?
• School Achievement 93
• Test scores 87
• Recommendations 50
• Essay 44
• Interview 33
• Activities 30
• The percentages are based on the number of
  institutions identifying the factor as a
  priority.
• Resource College Counseling Sourcebook, 2nd
  Edition,

24
Application ProcessHigh School Grades

• Academic record is an important factor in
  acceptance.
• Occasional poor grades does not mean that you
  wont be accepted
• Colleges are looking for improvement.

25
Application ProcessACT and SAT

• Most colleges require test results. It is one
  predictor of college success.
• Check the colleges website for admissions
  requirements.
• Most schools consider other factors in addition
  to test scores and class rank.

26
Application ProcessRecommendations

• Most schools require recommendations
• Your high school guidance counselor
• An academic reference from a teacher
• A personal reference from an adult who knows you
  well
• Recommendations provide valuable insights about
  you.
• Provide an updated resume and/or Senior
  Information Sheet
• Allow at least one week for the processing of
  letters

27
Application ProcessThe Essay

• The essay is an opportunity to personalize your
  application.
• The essay is a tool used to find out who you are
  as an individual. Admission officers are not
  looking for the correct answer.
• The essay is a demonstration of your writing
  ability a key component of success in college.

28
Application ProcessActivities

• Colleges are looking for students with many
  interests.
• School organizations
• Community volunteer work
• Church and out of school activities
• Leadership opportunities
• Work

29
Application Process

• Submit application before deadlines
• Secondary School Report
• Counselor recommendation
• Counselor seals and student mails
• Midyear Report
• Midyear report reflects senior grades at the end
  of the first semester
• Midyear reports will be sent after the student
  notifies the counselor
• Counselor seals and student mails