Steps to College Admission

Step 1: Research Colleges & Majors (Spring of Junior Year)

• Do a self-evaluation and think about what you want in a college and which majors/careers interest you.
• Meet with your counselor to discuss your plans.  Use computer searches and/or books to help identify colleges to visit and majors to explore.
• Keep an open mind and consider private colleges and out of state schools. Sometimes private and out of state options become affordable due to scholarship offers and/or financial aid.
• Take the SAT and, if feasible, the ACT.  Register online (and on time) at www.collegeboard.org and www.act.org.  SAA’s school code is 112696.

Step 2:  Parents & Students- Look at Your Financial Situation (Spring of Junior Year)

• If you have not already done so, examine your family’s financial options.
• Get a ballpark idea of how much loan debt the student and/or parents are able and willing to accept.
• Consider future plans (advanced post-graduate degrees, etc.) and how that affects your financial picture.

Step 3: Visit Colleges (Spring Break or Summer)

• Visit some different types of colleges (city/suburban, large/small, etc.).
• Take an official tour.  If possible, attend an open house or a Q&A session.
• Observe students in busy areas, and check out the school newspaper or other printed publications, if any.
• If you are visiting many colleges in a short span of time, take notes so that you keep the details clear.
• Visit Savannah’s area colleges, especially if you can’t visit schools that are further away. 

Step 4: Prepare for Senior Year and the College Selection Process (Spring/Summer)

• After identifying a career field of interest, see if any opportunities exist for an internship or job shadowing.
• Get more involved in the community and work on community service projects.
• Prepare a draft of your resume.

Step 5:  Narrow Your List (Fall of Senior Year)

• Determine which colleges you would be interested in attending and begin applying.
• Make sure that you have a balanced list that includes some schools that are likely to accept you.
• Meet with your counselor again to brag about your progress and review your options.
• Take the SAT and/or ACT again, and use the four free score reports.
• Check application and scholarship deadlines early and read all instructions carefully well ahead of time. 

Step 6:  Apply to College (Fall/Winter of Senior Year)

• Make a list of your application deadlines. Apply online.
• If using the Common Application, add your counselor so we can upload supporting documents.
• Have SAT and/or ACT scores sent to colleges to which you have not already sent them. This is done through the websites of College Board and ACT.
• If a college is test optional, decide whether to send your scores.  Look at the college’s average scores at bigfuture.collegeboard.org.
• Allow time to write good college essays.  Don’t wait until the last minute to write your first draft.
• Be organized and stay ahead of schedule.

Step 7:  Apply for Financial Aid (Starting October of Senior Year)

• File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1st.
• Be aware of financial aid deadlines for the schools to which you have applied.
• Look for scholarships through online searches and information posted by the counseling department.

Step 8:  The Forlorn and Forgotten Step: Eyes on the Prize

• Remember what your goal is in this whole process.  Is it to get accepted to a college of your choice or is it to attend a college of your choice and be successful?  There is a huge difference.
• Don’t forget to continue doing everything you can to prepare for the rigor of college work.  Remember that you will spend much less time in class in college and will have more responsibilities out of class. 

 

Resources

Researching Careers & Majors:

• Use gafutures.org to take free career interest and aptitude tests
• The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information from the U.S. Dept. of Labor about various careers and includes growth trends, preparation, working conditions, etc.  The website can be found at bls.gov/ooh.
• If you are drawn to a particular career, think about whether it would be possible for you to job shadow or intern with somebody during the summer.  Ask parents/guardians, friends, or other relatives if they know someone who might be able to do this for you.  You could also try just meeting with someone in that field and asking questions.

Researching Colleges:

• Use Big Future on the College Board website for college searches and other tools.  bigfuture.collegeboard.org.

Researching Costs, Financial Aid & Scholarships:

• GA Futures (gafutures.org) has a section that explains how financial aid works.
• Look for the Net Price Calculator on your colleges’ websites.
• You can access scholarship information throughout senior year, including details about many of the local scholarships that are less competitive than the big national awards.  Info is posted on our website and are available to anyone.  We also send out information through our Google Classroom for your class. The scholarships we list only represent a very small fraction of what is available.  So, it is very important that you begin exploring other resources.
• Become acquainted with Fastweb (fastweb.com), the leading scholarship search site.  You may not find too many scholarship programs for high school juniors, but you will at least be set up for next year.

Test Prep:

• Many resources are available for SAT/ACT preparation.  Khan Academy is the official free test prep site for the SAT program: khanacademy.org.  

 

Financial Resources that may be helpful include:

• scholarships.com
• ecampustours.com
• studentaid.gov
• scholarshipamerica.org

 

Help Your School Counselor Help You

Mike Pugh, fastweb.com (some alterations have been made to the original text)

When it comes to selecting and getting into a college, school counselors are invaluable. But they can't help you unless they know what you're looking for. Help them give the guidance you need by following these tips from counselors across the country.

• Visit early and often. Get to know your counselor during your freshman year. Check back with them as needed to discuss courses and extracurricular activities. Start discussing colleges during your junior year and keep your counselor informed throughout your college search.
• Let your counselor get to know you. When meeting with your counselor, be prepared to talk about yourself. Provide them with a list of your extracurriculars, jobs and summer experiences. Greet them and remind them of your name as often as you can—in the halls, at after-school functions, etc. "You don't want to be a student the counselor barely knows," says Paul Marthers, Dean of Admissions at Reed College. "The result will be a generic recommendation."
• Prepare for meetings. Know what issues you want help with and compile a list of questions you want answered. "I always like it when my students come with specific questions prepared ahead of time," says Bonnie Laughlin, director of college counseling at Francis Parker School in San Diego, CA. With questions in hand, your counselor can focus your work to make your meeting as productive as possible.
• Do your own legwork. Start reading college guides during your junior year. Check out the Web sites of colleges that interest you. Then visit your counselor for help narrowing down your choices.
• Attend workshops and seminars. School counselors frequently organize workshops and seminars to discuss college admissions. Participate! Many of your questions will be answered there. You'll then be able to devote your one-on-one time to more specific concerns.
• Provide materials well before the due date. "Give your counselor all requested materials (recommendation interview sheet, etc.) early and, preferably, all at once," says Nancy Scarci, former counselor at Roosevelt High School.
• Show them your best. You'll get better advice and better letters of rec if your counselor really knows what makes you tick. Show your counselor what motivates and inspires you, and impress them with your motivation.
• Pay attention. Listen carefully to what your counselor says. Even if you don't agree with what they're saying, listen closely and make your own decision.
• Thank them. Be sure to thank your counselors for their help. Send a written thank you note after your counselor writes a letter of recommendation.
• Your school counselor is a very busy person—but not too busy to help you with your biggest education decision. Get the guidance you need by helping them help you.
• Fastweb publishes several great articles like this one, including articles about parental involvement, choosing colleges, interviewing tips, checklists, timelines, and more. fastweb.com  

 

College Selecction Worksheet

The most common mistake that is made by college-bound students is choosing a school that is not a good fit.  Less than half of college students graduate from the college where they start.  Please use this tool to help you clarify what’s important to you.  Complete the table below and then have your parent/guardian complete the table.  Compare your choices, noting the differences.  Having an open discussion about the differences can substantially reduce stress, tension, and frustration during the search process and may lead to much better results for all.

	Very Important	Fairly Important	Not Important
Distance from home
Two-year college
Four-year college
Selectivity or competitiveness
Cost
Campus life
Major(s)
Size
Athletics
SAT or ACT scores
Living arrangements
Setting (urban, etc.)
Study abroad
Co-op programs
Activities
ROTC
Reputation
Safety
Public
Private or religious

 

A General guide by Anne E. Weisel

Self-Assessment

• Begin thinking about what things are important to YOU: Sports, clubs, a particular major, location (big city, small town?) religious affiliation, fraternities & sororities, prestige, study abroad?
• Talk with the people who support you: Parents, teachers, counselor, coach, etc.  What do they see as your strengths, realistic academic & athletic ability level, etc. Do they have any suggestions?
• Pool your info and take a realistic look at yourself.  How do your interests, SAT/ACT Scores, transcript, and financial need come together?
• This will give you the outline for a school that is the right fit for you!
• Check out www.gafutures.org , or use the College Board’s My Road software.  These computer generated searches are so helpful!! 

Visit, Visit, Visit!

• Visit schools you have no intention of attending (YES! I’m serious!) to get a no-pressure exposure to the visitation process.
• Visit ALL the schools you apply to arrange an alumni interview if you cannot visit the campus.
• Individualize your visit to your interests: Meet teachers, coaches, students, see facilities, sit in on a class, determine if this school is a good fit for you, use your self-assessment as your guide.
• Know your basics!! Check out the college’s website, read the Peterson’s Guide description, and have questions prepared so you know as much as you can at your visit and are prepared for questions.
• YOU should ask the questions!! It is very important that you take ownership of your visit.
• If you are touring the campus WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!! Most campus tours last at least 1 hour.  Also remember that many admissions offices look out over the parking lot.  You are being watched when you arrive!
• Remember to write a thank you note after your visit to EACH person you met with, including your tour guide.  This is especially important if you met with an athletic coach or professor regarding a particular major.
• Start a college notebook.  After visiting a number of campuses, especially on an out-of-town trip, your memory of the details of each one will get fuzzy.  Make a page for each school you visit.  In the few minutes after your visit, write your immediate thoughts on the page.  When you are trying to remember months later which school it was that had the student center you loved, this will come in very handy! 

College Fairs

• An excellent way to get an overview of many potential schools in one place.
• PROBE in both spring and fall here in Savannah.
• Visit nacacnet.org for a listing of National College Fairs, where you can see hundreds of schools from all over the world.
• Prepare ahead of time by researching the list of participating schools and knowing who your priorities are.  Don’t waste time wandering up and down the isles!
• Make address labels that include detailed contact information and any extras you are looking for (majors, sports, clubs, support services, etc). Instead of standing there filling out the card, you can be talking to the college representative. 

Getting to Know Your List

• Many admissions offices now have Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as student blogs  that are geared specifically to prospective students.
• Explore the websites, read the college newspaper, and check the coming events on the campus.
• Attend athletic events or performances if the school is within driving distance.
• All of these things will help give you a feel for the campus environment, and eventually help you to know if this feels like a place you could call home for the next four years. 

From this process, you should develop a list of schools you plan to apply to that include both financial and academic reaches, middles, and safeties.  No school should be anywhere on your list unless you can truly see yourself happy there…you never know, you might end up attending it!  

from College Board

How to Get the Most Out of a College Fair

Going to a College Fair

• Take a pen and a small noteboook.
• Take a bag to carry the brochures you pick up.
• Print out some address labels with your name, address, phone number, email address, high school, and year of graduation. Spend your time at the college tables asking questions, not filling out contact cards!
• When you arrive, check out the floor plan and find out where the tables for your top choice colleges are located so you can go directly to them.
• write down your most important questions in advance so you don't forget them.
• Check on whether any information sessions, such as financial aid, are being offered. Interested? Budget your time accordingly.
• Jot down notes about a college while your memory is fresh, such as right after visiting the table.
• Pick up the business cards of any respresentatives you talk to, so you can contact them if you have any more questions.

After You Get Home

• Make a point of going through the materials and your notes within one week after the fair. You'll probably remember more about your conversations with college representatives while the memories from the fair are still fresh.
• Follow up with any college that interests you by contacting the admission office to ask further questions and, if possible, plan a visit to the campus.

 

How to Make the Most of a College Interview

• The interview is primarily for you to learn about the college and to allow the interviewer to learn about you. Use it as a tool to assist your college selection. The interview can have a positive effect on your admissions - rarely a negative one. Relax and be yourself!
• Your interview will usually be with an admission staff member, but it may be with a student, an alumnus, or a professional interviewer. Keep this person's perspective in mind.
• The interviewer is eager to get to know you and will try to put you at ease. The interviewer will answer your questions but will be more interested if you have helpful questions that show you have already done some research on the college.
• Be prepared. Know your rank, your test scores, and your present areas of interest. If you are undecided about your career, feel free to say so (half of college students change their intended major). Think through some areas you would like to explore, competencies you would like to develop, and projects or situations that intrigue you.
• Do your homework about the school to get the obvious questions answered. You don't want to be silent when asked, "what would you like to know about our college?" Questions or comments like, "What kinds of internships are offered, and how often do students take them?" show more maturity in your thinking than asking about the number of books in the college library.
• Interviewers may as questions about your interests, extracurricular activities/jobs, books you've read, meaningful experiences, reasons for applying to this college, life at school, and similar topics. Be ready to talk about these subjects.
• Be hones. everyone has strong and weak points.
• Plan to have your interview alone. Most admission officers prefer to speak with your parents after talking with you, rather than during the interview.
• Choose appropriate clothes to wear for the interview.
• When you return home, send a thank-you note to the interviewer. Thank the person for his or her time and refer to something specific you discussed.

 

 

 

from College Board

How can your child find colleges that match specific needs? First, identify priorities. Next, carefully research the characteristics of a range of schools. Finally, match the two. Here are some college characteristics to consider.

Size of Student body

• Size will affect many of your child's opportunities and experiences:
• range of academic majors offered
• extracurricular possibilities
• amount of personal attention your child will receive
• number of academic resource
• In considering size, your child should look beyond the raw number of students attending. For example, perhaps they are considering a small department within a large school. Your child should investigate not just the number of faculty members, but also their accessibility to students.

Location

• Does your child want to visit home frequently, or is this a time to experience a new part of the country?
• Perhaps an urban environment is preferred, with access to museums, ethnic restaurants. or major league ball games. Or maybe it's easy access to the outdoors or the serenity of a small town.

Academic Programs

• If your child has decided on a field of study, they can research the reputation of academic departments by talking to people in their field of interest.
• If your child is undecided, as many students are, they may want to choose an academically balanced institution that offers a range of majors and programs.
• Students normally don't pick a major until their sophomore year, and those students who know their major before they go to college are very likely to change their minds. Most colleges offer counseling to help students find a focus.
• In considering academic programs, your child should look for special opportunities and pick a school that offers a number of possibilities.

Campus Life

• Before choosing a college, your child should learn the answers to these questions:
• What extracurricular activities, athletics. clubs, and organizations are available?
• Does the community around the college offer interesting outlets for students?
• How do fraternities and sororities influence campus life?
• Is housing guaranteed?
• How are dorms assigned?

Cost

• In considering cost, look beyond the price tag. Because of financial aid, most students pay less than the "sticker price," so don't rule out a college that would be a good fit for your child before you find out how much financial aid it will offer.
• Most colleges work to ensure that academically qualified students from every economic circumstance can find financial aid that allows them to attend.

Diversity

• Your child should explore what the advantages of a diverse student body would be. The geographic, ethnic, racial, and religious diversity of the student body can help students learn more about the world.
• Investigate which student organizations or other groups with ethnic or religious foundations are active and visible on campus.

Retention and Graduation Rates

• One of the best ways to measure a school's quality and the satisfaction of its students is to learn the percentage of students who return after the first year and the percentage of entering students who go on to graduate.
• Comparatively good retention and graduation rates indicate that responsible academic, social, and financial support systems exist for most students.