Current Location: PHCS » Offices and Groups » Guidance Department » College Admissions
Articles on This Page:
Last-Minute Application Checklist
Just one of hundreds of free advice articles on Petersons.com, Last-Minute Application Checklist gives students an overview of things to remember as they complete their college applications. Below is a brief sample of the article.
- If you're applying electronically, did you type carefully and check your spelling? If you're applying on paper, was your application filled out neatly?
- Did you take shortcuts? A partially completed application is a clear signal that you are not an eager applicant.
- Did you send too much information? If a two-page essay is requested, did you send in four?
- Did you send all the information requested including transcripts, test scores, and recommendations?
- Did you meet or beat deadlines?
With deadlines in sight, keep in mind that admission offices are inundated with applications for a few months each year. Consider getting yours in when the staff doesn't have hundreds and hundreds of them to read. Stragglers are accepted of course, but why send yours in at the last minute when you could get it there before the rush hits?
Application Do's and Dont's
DO follow directions. How you fill out an application is just
as important as the information you include.
DO focus on who you are and conveying that information in the
best way you can. Stay true to yourself and the acceptance letters will
come.
DON'T put another college's name somewhere in the application
or misspell the college's name. Either error signals a major lack of
seriousness about wanting to attend that particular school.
DON'T use a gimmick to impress application readers, either.
Sending cookies or balloon bouquets doesn't make a good impression. It's better
to get noticed for the right things, like academic excellence and leadership
qualities.
From: www.petersons.com.
College and Scholarship Application Essay Practice
The essay: It's the most important part of your college and/or scholarship application, and it can be the hardest. But the essay shouldn't keep you from applying. Take a look at some of the most commonly asked essay questions and use them to prepare for your applications. Brainstorm ideas, do some research or create your own "stock" of essays. When the time comes, you'll be ready to write your way to success!
Your Field of Specialization and Academic Plans
Some scholarship applications will ask you to write about your major or field
of study. These questions are used to determine how well you know your area of
specialization and why you're interested in it.
Samples:
How will your study of _______ contribute to your immediate
or long range career plans?
Why do you want to be a _______?
Explain the importance of (your major) in today's society.
What do you think the industry of _______ will be like in the next 10
years?
What are the most important issues your field is facing today?
Current Events and Social Issues
To test your skills at problem-solving and check how up-to-date you are on
current issues, many scholarship applications include questions about problems
and issues facing society.
Samples:
What do you consider to be the single most important
societal problem? Why?
If you had the authority to change your school in a positive way, what specific
changes would you make?
Pick a controversial problem on college campuses and suggest a solution.
What do you see as the greatest threat to the environment today?
Personal Achievements
Scholarships exist to reward and encourage achievement. So you shouldn't be
surprised to find essay topics that ask you to brag a little.
Samples:
Describe how you have demonstrated leadership ability both
in and out of school.
Discuss a special attribute or accomplishment that sets you apart.
Describe your most meaningful achievements and how they relate to your field of
study and your future goals.
Why are you a good candidate to receive this award?
Background and Influences
Who you are is closely tied to where you've been and who you've known. To learn
more about you, some scholarship committees will ask you to write about your
background and major influences.
Samples:
Pick an experience from your own life and explain how it
has influenced your development.
Who in your life has been your biggest influence and why?
How has your family background affected the way you see the world?
How has your education contributed to who you are today?
Future Plans and Goals
Scholarship sponsors look for applicants with vision and motivation, so they
might ask about your goals and aspirations.
Samples:
Briefly describe your long- and short-term goals.
Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
Why do you want to get a college education?
Financial Need
Many scholarship providers have a charitable goal: They want to provide money
for students who are going to have trouble paying for college. In addition to
asking for information about your financial situation, these committees may
want a more detailed and personal account of your financial need.
Samples:
From a financial standpoint, what impact would this
scholarship have on your education?
State any special personal or family circumstances affecting your need for
financial assistance.
How have you been financing your college education?
Random Topics
Some essay questions don't seem directly related to your education, but
committees use them to test your creativity and get a more well-rounded sense
of your personality.
Samples:
Choose a person or persons you admire and explain
why.
Choose a book or books and that have affected you deeply and explain why.
While you can't predict every essay question, knowing some of the most common
ones can give you a leg up on applications. Start brainstorming now, and you
may find yourself a winner!
Visit The Winner's Circle Scholarship Handbook for more expert advice.
Adapted from Fastweb.com
Your Campus Visit Plan
If time and distance will allow, the ideal visit sequence will include at least three visits to the colleges on your short list.
When to visit
Plan to visit colleges
as early and often as possible. Talk with your parents about combining college
visits with business trips, family gatherings, and vacations. See as many
places as possible early in your search. Even if a college does not appear on
your list, spending time on its campus will give you valuable perspective for
more informed decision-making later in the process. Besides, the things you
discover at a previously unknown college may impress you. More than a few
students have chosen colleges that emerged from such random visits.
Look/see
This is the initial survey
visit. Take a tour. Attend an information session. If the college is far from
your home and an interview is offered, take it. The purpose of this visit is to
determine if you want to keep the college on your list. Visit as many colleges
as possible. Resist the temptation to make emotional commitments right
away.
You may find yourself falling in love with a place, but there is much more to learn before you are ready to rule out other options. The best time to make this visit is during your junior year or the summer prior to the start of your senior year.
Investigate
When you have determined
your short list of colleges, begin planning a second round of visits. The point
of these visits is to learn as much about the place as possible — from the
insider’s perspective. Visit when the college is in session; you want to
achieve immersion. Become a student on that campus for 24 hours. Talk with
students, meet with professors, and, if possible, stay overnight. Get inside
the culture of the place — especially those elements of campus life that are
important to you (athletics, music, theatre, volunteerism, etc.).
If the cost of attendance will be an issue, you and/or your parents should meet with a financial aid officer. Many financial aid officers will review costs as well as sources and methods of payment
Time to buy
You have been accepted,
hopefully, to several colleges, and now it is time to “buy.” Assuming you
used your priorities and the five points of a good fit as a compass bearing
thus far, you need to rely again on your gut feeling. Attend programs for
accepted students. Stay overnight — again. Imagine yourself in the classroom,
the resident hall and the dining hall. How does it feel?
Adapted from Fastweb.com
Top Ten Tips for College Admissions
Take a strong course schedule. Your class record is a big part of your college application. Don't take courses that simply pad your GPA. Challenge yourself. Take AP or honors courses. Ask your Guidance Counselor, Ms. Scudder, to check with a local community college or university that offers such courses.
Do volunteer work. Make a difference and volunteer for activities that reflect your personality and that matter to you. Volunteering looks great on an application and may make you feel good, too.
Ace the entrance exams. Familiarize yourself with the test by taking sample versions beforehand. Get plenty of sleep the night before and eat a well-balanced breakfast. Read the directions and test questions carefully. Pace yourself so you have time to review your work.
Find the school that's right for you. Develop your ideal college profile. Then find matches with the help of your Guidance Counselor. Check out college and university websites. Schedule a campus visit. Attend college fairs.
Fill out the application accurately and well. Approach each application as if it were the only one that you're filling out. Read the directions carefully and follow them precisely. Tell the truth. Complete a draft copy first, then revise and proofread.
Craft excellent application essays. Start by brainstorming for an original topic and take some time to hone your unique point of view. When writing, be clear, concise and well organized. And don't forget to check grammar and spelling.
Submit applications as early as possible. Many colleges require applications to be in by early January. Online applications are a great alternative for getting your forms in more quickly.
Get great letters of recommendation. Choose adults who know you well such as teachers, employers, coaches, clergy, and community leaders. Provide them with all the necessary materials and information well in advance. Find out if the due date is a postmark date or a receive date. For receive dates, send letters at least 10 days in advance.
Follow up on your applications. If a college hasn't sent you something that they should have, don't be afraid to check on your application. With thousands of applications being processed, mistakes do occasionally happen.
Dazzle them at your college interview. Stay calm. Prepare by practicing with friends and formulate a few questions to ask. Dress for the occasion. Follow up with a “thank you” note.
Adapted from Fastweb.com
Early Decision / Early Action
You've written the college essay, signed the application and sealed the envelope, all before the deadline. Now, you'll spend the next four months wondering if you'll be accepted to the college you love, or if you'll need to rely on your “safety” school.
Fortunately, many schools permit students to apply for "early decision" or "early action." Both options allow students to submit their applications early, usually in November, and find out if they've been accepted by December. But before you apply for early decision, make sure you've made the right decision.
Early Decision
Early decision is binding, which means you must attend that college or university if it accepts you and gives you a reasonable financial aid package. If you are accepted, you must withdraw any applications sent to other schools.
"When you apply early decision, you're saying 'If I get in, I'm coming there,'" says Roz Bolger, director of development at Emory University. "If you know where you want to be and there's no doubt, you get to know early. And early decision can be a real enticement to admissions counselors."
But early decision isn't for everyone. Apply for early decision only if you're absolutely sure about where you want to go to college and are reasonably sure you'll be accepted (i.e., your profile is similar to other students who go to that school). It's not a good idea to apply early if you're worried about the financial aid package or if you're curious about other schools.
Early Action
"There are no real disadvantages to early action," says Ted O'Neill, Dean of Admissions at University of Chicago. "Early action enables students to apply early in the fall and get a response by the middle of December. But admitted students have no obligation; they can still apply to other schools, and they don't have to tell us anything until May 1."
Unlike early decision, early action gives you the opportunity to compare admissions and financial aid offers. But read each college's guidelines carefully, because policies vary.
You should only apply for early action if you have a very strong interest in a school and you can compete with other early action applicants.
The Pros and Cons of Early Decision and Early Action
Pros
- If accepted, you can bypass all the admissions stress that comes with senior year.
- If you aren't accepted, in most cases, your application is deferred until the final acceptance decisions are made—so you have more than one chance to get in.
- Applying through one of these plans is a good way to communicate your interest in a school, which may convince admissions officers to consider your application more seriously.
Cons
- You'll have less time to explore your options. You'll have to rule out other schools that may offer more attractive financial aid packages.
- You won't be able to improve your profile with your first semester grades and activities.
- Early decision and early action candidates are usually very qualified, so it's harder to make your application stand out.
If you're interested in early action or early decision, speak to Ms. Scudder, ask your prospective school for more information and read the guidelines carefully. Then decide if early decision or early action is right for you.
Adapted from Fastweb.com