SELECTING A COLLEGE

Much has been written recently about the difficulty a student may encounter being admitted to college unless he is outstanding in every way.  It is important to understand that this is NOT universally true.  There are many kinds of institutions of higher learning in all parts of the country, each with different standards.  It is true that there are colleges that are highly selective and are forced to turn down qualified students because of the large number of applications they receive for a limited number of spaces.  It is equally true that there are many good colleges whose admission standards, while still high, are not as demanding.  There are also many colleges whose admissions standards are geared to the average student.  A four-year college is not by any means the right educational choice for every high school graduate.  Consideration should also be given to junior colleges and community colleges which have both transfer and terminal programs and to the many excellent technical and professional schools.  The choice is wide.

The junior year in high school is the time when important educational decisions are made.  The student and his family must make certain basic decisions which will be discussed below.  Once these decisions are made, the student should find the specific college(s) which meet his/her requirements.  The counselor can then be of great help in determining how realistic these choices are and in making suggestions about additional colleges he/she might investigate.  If this process of finding a college which meets the student’s needs is started early, there should be no reason for panic over college admission, provided the student has an academic record indicating potential for the program he/she wishes to pursue.

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HOW TO FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT COLLEGES

1. Ask your counselor.
2. Use the college catalogs and reference books in the Career Center.
3. Attend college fairs
4. Speak with college representatives during our college /career fair.
5. Visit the college of your choice.  This is highly recommended!
6. Have your list of questions with you when you visit a college.
7. Book stores sell college reference books with helpful information.
8. Use your (or Russell County High School’s) on-line service to visit college web sites.

INFORMATION TO LOOK FOR AND QUESTIONS TO ASK

1.        Is the college or university accredited?

2.        Does it have broad course offerings?

3.        What is the total cost per year?  (tuition, room, board, books, incidentals, travel)

4.        How large or small a school am I seeking”

5.        How far from home do I want to travel?

6.        Do I want a public, religious or private school?

7.        What facilities do I want on campus or nearby?

8.        Does the college or university have the curriculum I am interested in pursuing.

9.        Do I meet the school’s entrance requirements?  (course and test scores)

10.    Will credits transfer to other schools if I become dissatisfied?

11.    What activities are available on campus?

12.    Does the regular staff teach freshman classes or are there graduate assistants teaching?

13.    How large are the classes?

14.    Are counseling services available?  Job placement services?  What success has the school had in placing graduates?  Where?

15.    What type of campus do I want (city, rural)?

16.    Type of dorms (coed, male/female, new, old)?

17.    Campus rules (having a car on campus, where can you room and board, visiting hours, etc.)?

18.    What financial aid is available, work-study programs, etc.?

19.    What session plan does it use (semester, tri-mester, 4-1-4, etc.)?

20.    What type of admission policy does the school have (early decision, regular, rolling, etc.)?

21.    What ROTC classes does it have, if any?

22.    Can I receive advanced placement credit?

23.    Is there a cooperative work program?

24.    Is there an opportunity for a year of study abroad?

INVESTIGATE ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES

EARLY ACTION - - (Used by Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton, MIT and others) - - This plan is similar to the early decision plan, however, students notified of admissions need not accept the college’s offer of admissions and may file other applications.  Several features to remember are:

-          early action candidates can be rejected

-          no financial awards are made until April

-          must have superior records - - this process is highly selective

EARLY DECISION – Early decision is a plan where you may submit your credentials early to a college, usually by November 1 of your senior year.  You are notified of your status by December 15.  It is appropriate only when you are sure that this college is your first choice because, as part of an early decision plan, you are required to sign a statement agreeing to accept an offer of admission from the college if it is made.  Early Decision is highly competitive and acceptances are generally based on the highest entry requirements for that college.

REGULAR ADMISSION -- The regular admissions process is the plan under which you submit your credentials during December or January.  Your application is evaluated during February and March and you are notified of your status by April 15.  Most students apply to college under this plan.

ROLLING ADMISSION - - Rolling admissions is the plan where you submit your credentials at your convenience, often late as April.  You receive an offer of acceptance or rejection within approximately four weeks.  Remember, however, that admission is only open until the class is filled, so apply early.

OPEN ADMISSION - - Open admission is the plan where colleges grant acceptance to all high school graduates without regard to additional qualifications such as test scores or specific high school courses.

DEFERRED ENROLLMENT - - Deferred enrollment gives students an opportunity to delay or defer enrollment for a semester of year.

DELAYED/PROVISIONAL ADMISSION - - This plan accepts students for admission but not necessarily for the fall semester of the upcoming school year.  They may begin after either successful completion of a summer program on campus or a fall semester at another college.

EARLY ADMISSION - - This plan allows students to complete their high school requirements at college.  This program if for the exceptional student and usually requires approval of the parents and the high school, as well as selective screening by the college.

HOW AND WHEN DO I APPLY?

PREPARE APPLICATIONS

In most cases, you do not need to submit applications before the fall of your senior year.  However, you should apply to service academies in the spring of your junior year or in the summer prior to your senior year.  R.O.T.C. programs generally have strict early fall decisions.  You should write directly to the college’s office of admissions for applications and catalogs.  Most selective colleges request that applications be received before December l.  It is wise to check each individual college deadline.

After a thorough examination of the available options, you should apply to colleges which have accepted students with credentials similar to yours.  Most students choose to apply to three colleges; to apply to more than five colleges is not an unusual practice.  One or two colleges of the five may be schools where your acceptance is not certain - - “dream” schools.  You should take the precaution, however, of applying to what is called a “safety” or “back-up” school, one where you acceptance is very likely.

Colleges with highly competitive admissions turn away two to four “qualified” students for every one they accept.  The admissions process involves more than test scores and class rank, as schools also seek a diverse student body.  Your application should give a thorough impression of you as a candidate.  Give college’s full information about your nonacademic achievements.   Use the form that has been provided by the college and focus on those activities that are of real significance to you.  Remember that your application is the only impression of you that the college may see.  Typed applications make a better impression than handwritten ones, unless the college specifies that it should be handwritten.

With the exception of service academies, the college application process begins in earnest in the early fall of your senior year.  You should follow these steps:

1. Get the applications directly for the colleges or check in the guidance department, beginning in August and September.

2. Copy the applications before you fill them out.  Practice on the copy.

3. Make a list of all your activities/community service.  This will help you determine what information you want to include on you application.

4. Make a draft of all required essays.  Allow them to “rest” while you complete the application form.

5. Read the directions carefully and obey all instructions.

6. Note application deadlines.  Allow TWO WEEKS for the guidance department to process its part of the application and send transcripts.

7. Complete one application at a time, rather than working on all of them in bits and pieces.

8. Start with the simplest applications and save the one that matters most for last.

9. Type or print neatly. 

10. Answer all questions.  Use N/A (not applicable) if the question does not apply.

11. Put your essays in their final form.

12. Select references wisely.  Use those who personally know you, your academic record, your strengths and your accomplishments.

13. Make a copy of each application for your records.

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COLLEGE APPLICATION

Expert tips for your student

A well-crafted application can boost your child’s chances of getting accepted to the school of his or her choice.  To help your youngster create an application that hits all the right buttons, check out these pointers from college-admission pros.  There’s also advice on common pitfalls to avoid.

Show you relish challenge.  All colleges are impressed by good grades - - even more so than high scores on college-entrance exams such as the ACT and SAT.  But keep in mind that colleges want to see students who’ve tackled tough courses, even if their grades are lower as a result.  High grades in less-challenging classes aren’t as impressive.

“Honors level and/or advanced placement courses raise students to the next plateau academically,” says Barry Ward, Director of Admissions at Monmouth College in West Long Branch, New Jersey.  “Taking difficult courses indicates that a student wants to grow and learn and not just get by.”

Tout your leadership skills.  Admissions officers like applicants who can handle responsibility.  For example, if you moved from a member position on the annual staff to the editor or some other position of management, that shows leadership.  The same holds true if you’ve been in the band or another school or community activity.  “It’s not being involved in a bunch of activities that’s impressive, but becoming a leader in one or two of those activities,” says Shirley Binder, associate vice president for student affairs and director of admissions at the University of Texas, Austin. 

 Take the essay seriously.  Most college-entrance applications include some sort of essay question.  How much importance is placed on it varies from school to school.  For some colleges, it’s second only to grades.

Admissions officers agree that a spelling or grammatical error on the essay can be damaging to your child’s chances.  What to do?  “Edit, edit, edit,” says Ward.  As far as the content of the essay, be yourself; suggests Nancy Maly, acting director of admissions at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa.  “The best essays I’ve read have been on simple topics.  You don’t have to have swum the English Channel to write an impressive personal statement.”

Follow up with a phone call.  A few weeks after sending in your application call the school.  It gives you a chance to establish a link with the person handling your application, says Ward of Monmouth College.  “A phone call helps connect a voice and a personality to a name.

Dodge common mistakes.  Even a minor error on your application, such as a misspelled word, can sidetrack your chances of acceptance, says Pamela C. Kloeppel, senior coordinator for guidance in Norfolk City Public Schools in Norfolk, Virginia.  Other mistakes:

• Omitting an explanation of poor grades.  “You may be an “A” student, but if your grades were poor one semester due to a death in the family, you need to explain that,” she says.
• Marring your application with eraser marks or correction fluid.  Neatness counts, says Kloeppel, so make a photocopy of your application and complete it first.  Then, transfer that material to the real application.  Use a typewriter, if possible.  (We have a typewriter in the guidance department for your use).
• Forgetting to include vital information or a part of your application.  Make sure that your birth date and social security number are correct, and that you use your formal name throughout the application process.  It’s also your job to assure that test scores, recommendations, and transcripts arrive at the college on time.
• Sending information, such as the answer to an essay question, to the wrong school.  Keep separate folders for each college application.
• Failing to send in the application fee.  Without it, your application won’t be processed.
• Submitting your application late.

PRESENT YOUR ACADEMIC RECORD

PROVIDE A HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT - - Your high school transcript should present the most academic program possible chosen from a broad range of courses in the liberal arts:  English, mathematics, history, science and language.  You should try to have both breadth and depth in your high school courses.  If you are applying to highly competitive colleges, your transcript should reflect the most challenging courses offered in your school.  If high school courses of a particular interest have been exhausted, you might pursue courses at Chattahoochee Valley Community College.  Colleges evaluate transcripts by noting the level of courses taken as well as the grades earned in each course.  If you present a transcript with less than challenging courses, colleges might question the degree to which you are prepared to do college work.  Ask your counselor to review your transcript and comment upon the content of your curriculum.

INCLUDE GRADE POINT AVERAGE - - Russell County High School gives the colleges your exact GPA.  We calculate student GPA’s at the end of the junior year, in January of the senior year, and in late May of the senior year.  Colleges have tended to place high value on GPA and use it as a determining factor in the admission's process.  In fact, some highly competitive colleges compute a grade point average of only the selected academic courses and use that instead of a GPA that includes elective classes and core academic courses.

WHEN YOU SEND IN AN APPLICATION TO A COLLEGE BE SURE TO REQUEST A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPT BE SENT TO THAT PARTICULAR COLLEGE!!!!!