Part 3

The Application—Parts of the Whole

19. My Dog Ate My Transcript

What’s a transcript?The value of courses and grades

Early high schoolJunior yearSenior year

Anatomy of a Transcript

• Courses of Course• What Colleges Look

For• The Bare Essentials

The Bare Essentials

• English: 4 years• Math: 3 years• Natural sciences: 3

years• Social sciences: 3

years• Foreign Languages: 2

years

The Value of Grades

• A record of strong performance in demanding courses will take you a very long way

• Grades are not the only thing!

• Good grades in unchallenging courses will be less impressive

Junior Year

• Probably the most important year of high school for college admissions officers.

• Juniors are grooming for leadership positions they will earn senior year—captain of a team, newspaper editor, yearbook editor, etc.

Senior Year

• Don’t give up now! Although it may be natural to want to ease up a bit (senioritis), keep up the good work. This is the last leg of the marathon!

Suggestions

• We all have strengths and weaknesses. Take advanced courses that you enjoy.

• Check your transcript to ensure that the courses and grades are correct. On occasion a mistake may be made.

• If your academic performance does not meet a standard you’re proud of by the end of sophomore year, it’s not too late to improve. Remember: Junior year is the last full year’s worth of grades the college will see.

20. Name, Class, Rank and Serial Number

The value of class rankThe problems with class rank

Possible solutionsA call to action

The Value of Class Rank

• Class Rank is a method of assigning each student a place in the high school class, based on GPA

• Class Rank tells you where you are in relation to your class members. A class rank is only a value in terms of that relation.

The Problem with Class Rank

• Some admissions officers find class rank the “easy” way to evaluate the academic ability.

• Some high schools are more demanding than others.

• Weighting & all courses vs. “majors”

Remember this…

• Class rank is important because it compares with your academic performance with others in your class.

• Understand what your rank means in reference to the quality of your graduation class.

• Feel free to add a letter of explanation, if you feel your grades or rank need to be clarified.

21. The Acronym Game (Part 1)

This test is only a test…

POP QUIZ!

1. Most college admission-types think that the quality of courses and grades a student has earned are more important than the results of the standardized tests.

2. Many college admissions professionals view the results of standardized tests as an important part of the admissions process.

POP QUIZ!

3. The SAT has recent undergone some changes

4. IN some parts of the country, the ACT is more readily accepted than the SAT

5. Standardized test prep courses are not guarantees for high test results

6. Selective and competitive colleges require standardized test scores when evaluating applications

7. All of the above

You’re right!

• All of the above • The PSAT• The SAT I & II• The ACTRemember this:• Tests are important, they’re secondary• Test prep classes are not a guarantee• Consider taking both the SAT and the ACT

22. An Apple from the Teacher

Why recommendations?

When to ask

What to ask

Why Recommendations?

• Colleges would also like to learn about you from someone who has personally evaluated your academic performance.– How you struggle with concepts– How you’ve grown– Work independently– Work with others– Digest large amounts of info– Analyze info– Struggle with new concepts– Approach controversial issues with an open mind

Timing Your Request

• Beat the Rush!• Ask during the spring

of your Junior year• Certainly no later than

the very early fall of your senior year—like near the first day of classes!

The Few, the Proud, the Teachers

• Ask Teachers Who Know You Best, at Your Best• Check Out the Form• Variety!• Please and Thank You• Waffle, Waffle• Miss Congeniality• Meeting• Follow-Up

23. From Mother Teresa to Joe “Da No Neck”

Activities and the admission process

Stuff you do at school

Stuff you do in the comunity

Extracurricular Activities and Colleges: The Untold Story!

• Colleges want to see what a student offers both inside and outside the classroom.

• More is not necessarily better

• Tell them what you do, why you do it, and what you get out of it.– Activities at School– Activities in the Community

Extracurricular Activities and Colleges: The Untold Story!

• Remember this…– Highlight the things you enjoy doing outside

the classroom– Tell the admissions people what you do, why

you do it, and what you get out of it.– If you have a job, mention it. Explain why you

got the job and why you’ve kept it.

24. Apply Yourself!

What the application doesMakes and models

Steps to an outstanding applicationCharting your Course

Purpose of the Application

• To provide a defined voice to the admissions office

Types of Applications

• Custom Applications

• Something in Common– Do not decide to apply to colleges just

because they are members of the common application group.

– Some counselors believe some colleges prefer students to complete their custom application. Talk to yours for advice.

12 Steps to an Outstanding Application

1. Read it first!

2. Do It Yourself

3. Don’t Lose Track of Time

4. Do As You’re Told

5. Neatness Counts

6. Blanks are Bad

7. Explain Your Actions

12 Steps to an Outstanding Application

8. Support Yourself

9. It Needs Something…

10. Give It a Rest!

11. C.Y.A. (Cover Your Application)

12. Lick It and Stick It

25. Talking on Paper: The Essay

Purpose of the essay

Essay Guidelines

Eighteen possible essay questions

Purpose of the Essay

• Choice (What you choose to talk about)

• Expression (How you express yourself)

Some Essay Guidelines

• Go Back to the Basics

• Go with Your Gut

• What’s Your Point?

• Noodle It Around Some More

• See What Floats– Cheap Trick Handout

Some Essay Guidelines

• Is There a Draft in Here?

• Sore in a Cool, Dry Place

• Huh? What Did You Say?

• Share and Share Alike

• Final Jeopardy!– Sample Questions Handout

26. Essay Tips

Do’s and don’ts

Extra credit work: take a memo

Nine Essay Do’s and Don’ts

• Do Keep It Short and Sweet• Do Be Yourself• Do Follow Directions• Do, for Goodness Sake, Answer the Question• Do Give Yourself Plenty of Time• Do It Write• Do Write the Way You Speak• Do Show Your Work Around• Take a Letter

27. Extra Application Stuff

10 types of stuff

A pause for your cause

Additional Recommendations

• From the high school• Employer letter• From a church or synagogue leader• Community service leader• Medical letter• Family friends• Peer letter• Graduate of the college• Famous person letter• Parent letters

Remember this…

• Provide additional letters from people who have a different perspective of your talents and abilities.

• Submit additional material on your behalf only if it is creative and says something positive about you.

28. Options, options, options

Admissions plans

Variety, the spice of college life

The ultimate goal

Admissions Plans

• Early Admission/Early Entrance

• Early Action

• Early Decision

• Regular Admission

• Rolling Admission

• Deferred Admission

Remember this…

• Carefully consider all of the pros and cons to applying early.

• Apply to a minimum of 2 reaches, 2 ball parks, and 1 looks good colleges.

• The ultimate goal lis to gain admission to a variety of colleges form your list.