(Adapted from College Counseling Sourcebook, 6th Edition)
For a list of colleges & scholarship programs that require a CSS Profile form go to CSS/Financial Aid Profile Section of the College Board website. The College Application Process:SC's should be aware:
-applications include:transcript, profile, recommendation, essays, standardized test scores, supporting documents - the application process of popular colleges -admissions & scholarship priority dates and deadlines *dates for auditions are different than application dates. -develop calendars & procedures to keep students on task during aplication process -create a school profile (describes your school to admissions personnel0 -assist teachers in writing meaningful recommendations & preparing them to give helpful advice to sudents preparing essays -school's policy for handling applications(school mails all documents, transcript only, some such as transcript, recommendations, school profile and/or secondary school report) -review application materials before mailing ( may include a postcard for colleges to return confirming receipt) -time allotted :generally schools ask students to grant them 2 or 3 weeks to process their part of the application process (whether they are responsible for sending all the documents or only the transcript) -provide students with Handouts 4A & 4B (College application checklist & Tips for undertaking the application process) -most colleges have applications online that are fast & easy to obtain (paper applications can be requested by contacting the admissions office) - students having completed the correct application(e.g. there are different applications for Early Decision & Early Action Plans) -Handouts 4C & 4H provide useful information regarding the application process (4C: College application FAQs, 4H: Online Application/Dos & Dont's) The Common Application: www.commonapp.org -is accepted by approx. 350 institutions & makes no distinctions between its use & that of the college's own form -aware that the application need only be completed once (photocopies & printouts can be sent to participating colleges) www.universalcollegeapp.com is accepted by more than 80 other large colleges in other states. Transcripts include: grades in academic subjects, evidence of rigorous courses, AP,IB, or honors. Under FERPA, transcripts can not be released to a 3rd party( such as a college or scholarship program) without a written request from a student who is 18 or older, or from a parent. *Release of recommendation letters: Some schools ask students of age or parents to sign a form that waives their rights & authorizes release of recommendation letters. *Find out what the school's policy is and whose responsibility it is to gather teacher recommendations on time (it's generally the student's responsibility however, schools which mail all parts of the application often find that students erroneously assume that they will also follow up with teachers for recommendation letters as well). GPA's: Some schools weigh the GPA & give extra points for honors, or Ap courses; some don't weigh GPA's & treat all courses equally. Test scores: -who's responsibilty it is to have test scores sent to the colleges by the deadline (most schools make it the student's responsibility, find out your school's policy) -refer students to a College Board program which gives students the option of which scores to send colleges (from SAT & SAT Subject Test scores). For information, go to www.collegeboard.com - |