Applying to College

Organize

• Visit the Career Lab to gather and assemble all the application materials you need, including 2 of the 3 following items:  your parent's driver's licence number, vehicle registration number, or voter's id number 
• Create a calendar and note all application deadlines
• Set deadlines for yourself
• Create a folder to organize all of the following items

The Application

Where can I find the application?

Most colleges prefer applications submitted online.  Use a search engine like Google or www.princetonreview.com, or the "Colleges Handbook" in the career lab to find the website. 

What is the common application?

Most in-state unversities and community colleges accept the state's common application.  This is one application that can be used for many colleges.  To locate this application:

• www.facts.org
  • Applying for College
    • College Applications
      • Click Continue
• Enter your facts.org login ID and password
• OR Select "New User? Create Login ID and Password"

The Essay or Personal Statement

The essay is the time to shine!  It should be typed in an easy-to-read font and double-spaced (if not submitted online).  Have your parents, teachers, counselors, etc. proofread for grammar and content. 

Attend after school tutoring on Tuesdays in the media center to have AP English students and teachers proofread your essay.

What are colleges looking for in the essay?

When writing the essay, many students make the mistake of writing a brief history of thier lives, or turn their essay into a "laundry list" of extracurricular activities and/or awards. Colleges are actually looking for an essay to take the place of a "personal interview," thus show the student's personalities and character traits gained or expounded from personal circumstances, setbacks, trials, or tribulations. 

Although the subject of "obstacles that one has overcome" is a popular one that, written properly, can prove to be successful, it is not the only successful topic.  Be creative!  Think of an event, a conversation, a book, a person, or an experience that has had a meaningful influence on your life and expound on it!  

Create a catchy introduction in a memorable way such as revealing a vivid detail or emotion.   

After the introduction of your theme, move the essay into the personal gains achieved from your topic.  Expand on how the topic has made you a better person/student/leader/friend, etc.

Sum the essay up with how you plan on using your gains and traits to contribute to the future college community, career, and/or major.

A good essay should:

• Be creative!  Take time to brainstorm.  Talk to friends and family, read old journals or look at old photo albums to uncover unique ideas.
• Tell your story. 
• Provide an explanation for shortcomings in GPA or test scores, if necessary.  For example, maybe you have changed high schools many times, or maybe you have dealt with illness.
• Tell your educational and career goals.
• Tell what you plan to contribute to the college community.

A good essay should:

• NOT be a biography or brief history of your life.
• NOT restate things provided in the application such as a list of your extracurricular activities, GPA, etc..  Highlight only the important things that contribute to the theme of your essay.
• NOT be a sob story.
• NOT bog down the reader with details. 

Use the form below to plan out your essay:

Letters of Recommendation

Are letters of recommendation required?

Letters of Recommendation are sometimes, but not always required.  It is strongly recommended that you include 1 or 2 letters with your application.  They cannot hurt you, only help. 

Only include a letter of recommendation if it gives information that is not provided through your application or through your essay.  A good recommendation letter provides additional information. 

Who should I ask to write a letter of recommendation?

Teachers, counselors, and employers are good choices, but only if they really know you well. 

You should request recommendation letters in a timely manner; give the people you are requesting them from at least 2 weeks, if possible. 

Provide them with a written request and a copy of your academic resume.

Ask them for several copies so that you will have them for future use.

Official Transcripts

Who should send them?

Most colleges request that the high school send your transcripts directly, sometimes even electronically. 

Fill out a Transcript Request Form and turn in to Mrs. Plankenhorn or Ms. Bragg. 

It is recommended that you request all of the copies of transcripts that you will need at once, if possible.

When should I request them?

It is not necessary to wait until you have submitted your application to request transcripts be sent.  If your transcripts arrive at the college before your application, the college will know to be expecting your application in the future. 

College Entrance Exam Scores

How will the college receive my SAT or ACT scores?

You may have already requested that your SAT or ACT scores be sent to up to 4 colleges when you registered for the test.  If so, then you need not do anything more.

If you did not select a college that you need, you can send your scores online or on the phone.

Colleges will NOT accept scores sent from the student or guidance counselor. 

Send SAT Scores

 http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/scores.html

or call (866) 756-7346

Send ACT Scores

http://www.actstudent.org/scores/send/index.html

or call (319) 337-1313

Application Fee

How can I pay the fee for the application?

Many online applications will allow you to pay with a credit card online.  Some may require you submit a check via mail.

Can I get a fee waiver?

Yes.  Any student who has previously used a fee waiver for the SAT, and is still eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch, is eligible to receive up to 4 college application fee waivers to use at participating schools.

See Mrs. Plankenhorn to receive your waiver.