COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
HANDBOOK
High School Guidance/College Counselor
Dave Elsner
Phone: 508-543-2508 x 272
Fax: 508-698-7298
FRCS CEEB Code: 220841
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION 3
II. CALENDAR FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS 5
III. SELF EVALUATION 7
IV. CHOOSING A COLLEGE 8
V. TESTING FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS 9
VI. THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS 10
A. Steps in Applying for College
B. Requesting Teacher recommendations
VII. THE COLLEGE VISIT AND INTERVIEW 11
VIII. HELPFUL WEBSITES ______12
IX. FINANCIAL AID 13
X. HIGH SCHOOL ORGANIZER 15
XI. SAMPLE RESUMES 20
I. INTRODUCTION
Your junior year is the time to begin the college admissions process and planning for your future after you graduate from high school. It is time to evaluate your goals, think about your interests, and define your strengths. It is also the time to explore questions like like: What type of student am I? What are my talents? Do I do well independently? Do I prefer working with other people? What have I enjoyed doing most in my part-time jobs, volunteer work, school activities, and/or community service?
The information in this guide is designed to help you move through the steps for the college admissions process and explore alternatives if college is not your choice after graduation. It will help explain procedures involved in taking required tests, completing college applications for admissions, and applying for financial aid.
This planning guide is provided to help you and your parents/guardians in conjunction with your guidance counselor. There will also be individual meetings and advising classes to clarify and supplement this information. The following general suggestions are made to help you prepare for your education beyond high school:
1. KNOW YOURSELF (and our school’s CEEB Code!)
Achievement, abilities, interests, ambitions, and values are important factors to be considered in setting your goals. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, FRIENDS, AND PARENTS. A High School Organizer form is provided at the end of this packet to help with this process. Junior and senior advising class will also have assignments and activities which will help you think about your interests and goals.
The CEEB Code is the number that uniquely identifies FRCS as a high school. Our number is 220841. You will use this for college applications, sending test scores to colleges, and financial aid. It is very important – memorize it.
2. GET GOOD GRADES
Getting the best grades you can is absolutely critical!! While some colleges will accept students with lower grades, a student’s chances for admission to a college are better when the academic record is strong. Most colleges list grades and the difficulty of classes as the most important factor in admission.
3. VISIT COLLEGES
Write or telephone for an appointment and a campus tour. Spend time visiting classes, labs, dormitories, the student center, athletic complex, and dining facilities. Talk with a professor if possible. Eat a regular meal on campus. Talk with current students about what they like and don’t like about the college. Check out the library and other special buildings like academic services, medical clinic, and campus security. Find out what life is like on the weekends.
Finally, ask yourself - “Can I picture myself at this college?”
4. STUDY OCCUPATIONS
Find out as much as possible about various occupations that interest you. If possible, get some experience in these occupations. Consult with people in these fields. Go on a Job Shadow. Attend career programs sponsored by the school and/or community. Research online and take advantage of the Kuder.com website account you will get in Junior Advising.
5. PLAN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
Certain courses are required for entrance to college. Consult with your school counselor and teachers. The degree of difficulty of your overall course schedule (combined with grades) is the most important part of your college application.
6. LEARN HOW TO BE A GOOD STUDENT
Develop GOOD STUDY HABITS including how to take notes from lectures and research materials. Strive to improve your study habits as you progress through high school. Also work on improving your organizational and time management skills.
7. BECOME A WELL-ROUNDED INDIVIDUAL
Develop hobbies and outside interests. Get involved in the school’s student life organization, accept leadership positions, become a member of community organizations and clubs, participate in church activities or athletics, get to know people with similar interests and attend conferences, workshops, or other events.
8. SELECT YOUR COLLEGE OR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
Investigate the schools that offer the types of programs you desire (based on your interests and what you have found out about the related jobs and careers). Consult with people who have attended these institutions such as friends, relatives or college representatives. Learn about the academic expectations in our selected major. Attend college information programs conducted by admissions representatives from all types of schools.
9. LEARN ABOUT COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE
Talk with your counselor or consult written materials to learn about the requirements to various colleges. Each college’s application process is different. Know the application procedures and deadlines established by each college. Review the Common Application at www.commonapp.org.
10. PREPARE FOR APPLICATION PROCEDURES EARLY
Get references, transcripts, applications and other materials ready. Make a list of all your activities, awards, and accomplishments. Take the Common Application assignment in Junior Advising seriously. It will help you tremendously as a senior.
11. PLAN YOUR FINANCES
Parents and students should become knowledgeable about financing a college education. Consideration should be given to federal, state and local sources of financial assistance. Be sure the sources used are current and up-to-date. Scholarship applications should be completed prior to deadlines.
Please make use of the information and resources in this booklet. Begin to explore, but don’t panic if you cannot decide exactly what you want to do. People who begin working in this decade may be in the work force for 45 to 50 years! You have time to try various jobs, make mistakes, change your mind, grow out of one career and into another. On average now, people change careers five times in a lifetime, so consider your interests, set goals, be aware of your own feelings, and use your common sense.
II. SUGGESTED TIMETABLE FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS
CALENDAR FOR JUNIORS
Junior Year September - November
_____I have prepared an area in my home to keep only college materials. (I have organized these materials into separate files: financial aid information, SAT materials, college applications, college information.)
_____I have researched opportunities to learn more about post-secondary education (college fairs, career counseling, online career surveys, etc.).
_____I have compiled a list of high school courses and activities I have completed so far. I have also included a list of my achievements, abilities and interests.
_____I have completed a list of areas where I need improvement and courses/activities I have left to take.
_____I have registered for and completed the PSAT/NMSQT. (This test is taken to prepare for the SAT and to increase eligibility for special honors and National Merit Scholarships.)
____ I have completed the High School Organizer at the end of this packet.
____ I have reviewed my PLAN test results, interpreted the score report, and identified areas for improvement.
Junior Year December - February
_____I received my PSAT/NMSQT scores in December. I interpreted the score report and identified areas needing improvement.
_____I reviewed my lists of interests and goals. I will use my lists to identify important college traits to be used in my college search.
_____I have begun to research specific scholarship opportunities through my high school guidance counselor, public libraries, local civic organizations and the Internet scholarship search services.
_____I have asked my guidance counselor for information about Advanced Placement (AP) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests.
_____I have started my college search by identifying colleges, which match the traits I have listed most important. I have called or written to these schools to arrange visits and to receive college information and applications.
Junior Year March - June
_____I have taken Advanced Placement Exams (given in May).
_____I have taken the SAT, SAT II or ACT test (March, April, May and June).
_____I have identified and spoken to teachers, employers, and activity leaders who will write letters of recommendation to colleges for me.
_____My family and I have planned visits to colleges in which I am interested.
Junior Year Summer
_____I have found a summer job to earn savings for my college expenses.
_____ I have started, or am continuing, working, volunteering, or otherwise participating in activities related to my
career interests.
CALENDAR FOR SENIORS
______
Senior Year August - September
_____I have registered for the October and/or November SAT or ACT exams.
_____I have reviewed all of the information in my college folders. I have thrown out all unnecessary information to focus better on my top choices.
_____I have prepared a list of all deadlines and necessary materials for the schools that remain in my college folders and updated them on my Your Plan For The Future account.
_____ I have revised and updated my High School Organizer form and/or my Your Plan For The Future pages.
Senior Year October - November
_____I have made my final college visits and contacted alumni from the schools I am interested in to get advice on the applications process.
_____I have taken the SAT or ACT exam in October.
_____I have contacted the financial aid office at the schools I am considering and have found out what forms they need to consider me for financial aid and the deadlines for submitting those forms.
_____I have applied for private scholarships.
_____I have obtained a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that my family can review the application requirements.
_____I have completed any "early admissions" applications my colleges may offer (many schools require these applications to be received by November 1st or 15th).
Senior Year December - February
_____I have finished all of my essays and applications and I have made sure that all of my recommendations have been prepared.
_____I have kept copies of all of my tax information (and my parents have kept copies of their tax information). We will use these materials to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
_____My family and I have filled out the FAFSA and we will return it to the processor as soon after January 1 as possible. (The FAFSA cannot be processed if returned before this date.)
Senior Year March - June
_____In March I received my Student Aid Report (SAR). (The date I received this depends on the date I returned the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This report tells me about my eligibility to receive a Pell Grant and it also includes a calculation of my estimated family contribution.)
_____I have reviewed and signed the Student Aid Report. I have returned this report to the processor along with documentation regarding any state or private scholarships I have been awarded. If there are errors on the Student Aid Report I will send the necessary corrections back to the processor.
_____I have reviewed the college financial aid award packages that I have received. My family and I are considering how much debt we will need to incur and how much we can afford to repay.
_____I have decided on my college and I have begun making attendance preparations. (I need to schedule meetings with the financial aid office, new student orientation, and other on-campus events.)
III. SELF EVALUATION
A. SELF-AWARENESS
An honest and thoughtful self-evaluation can reveal what you should look for in a college or a job and prepare you for statements you may be asked to make about yourself in essays and interviews when you apply. Completing the High School Organizer will help with this process.
Consider the following:
1. What interests occupy most of your time and thought?
2. Which of your accomplishments bring you the most fulfillment so far?
3. What are your strong points as a person?
4. How do you learn best? (Ex.: hands-on, reading, exploring in an open-ended way, doing research, hearing lectures…)
5. Have you had a job? Doing what? What kinds of things did you learn about yourself or others at that job?
6. In what areas of schoolwork do you feel most confident?
7. Are there any personal circumstances that have interfered with your academic performance?
8. How have your interests and goals been influenced by family?
9. Describe a controversial issue that means something to you and tell me what your thoughts and feelings are regarding that issue.
10. Do you have any goals or interests that you will be pursuing in college and in your future?
11. Describe two books that have read recently that have changed your way of thinking. How did the books influence your thoughts?
12. What do others see as your best qualities?
IV. CHOOSING A COLLEGE
HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE
Answering these six questions:
· What kind of college do I want to attend? A liberal arts school, a specialized school, etc.
· What size school do I want?
· Where do I want to be? Do I want to be able to visit home easily? Do I want to stay in the northeast?
· What location do I want (urban , suburban, or rural)?
· What life-style do I want? There are conservative schools, liberal schools, fraternity/sorority oriented schools, sports-oriented schools, and religiously oriented schools.
· What special program or opportunities do I want? Cooperative education, internships, study abroad
The way to answer these questions is to consult college resources books located in the guidance office, write or call colleges to get on their mailing lists, ask them to send you their catalogs or view books, review their web page, and talk with graduates or current student of the college. BUT……THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF CHOOSING A COLLEGE IS VISITING THE CAMPUS.
In deciding which colleges you want to attend, you should first evaluate yourself to determine your needs and what you have to offer. Then you should consider criteria to be met by the colleges in which you are interested: academic reputation, size, geographic distribution of students, student-faculty ratio, campus facilities, co-ed/single sex, extracurricular program, social opportunities, cost, financial aid, career counseling, academic competition, location, private/public, religious affiliation, etc.