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College Prep:�College Application Steps

LHS College & Career Center

College & Career Specialists: Becky Wachtman, Jillian Moss

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INTRO

Purpose of today’s session

When should I be applying?

Ideal: Start now, DRAFTS by end of summer
Minimal: Identify work by end of summer

Agenda

Register for tests
Choose application deadlines
Set up online college applications
Identify application requirements for each college
Write essays & short answers
Get recommendations
Get transcripts
Submit applications & Prepare for Financial Aid

[Jillian]

Hi everyone, we are Becky and Jillian, your College and Career Specialists.

Purpose of today’s session

You each have a copy of our College Application Overview and Tasklist. Today’s session is focused on the second checkbox to the bottom, starting with “register for any required tests”
Our conversation today assumes you’ve got your College List ready – you know what colleges you want to apply to and are ready to work through the application process.

When should I be applying?

Ideally: Start application steps NOW and have drafts of your application information, essays, and answers ready before summer ends.
Minimal: Identify the work you need to do by the end of the summer; you’ll then have to balance Senior year classes with this extra college application work in the Fall

Agenda (Organized in the order you should do things in, follows the college application checklist)

Register for tests
Choose admission deadlines
Set up online college applications
Identify application requirements for each college
Write essays & short answers
Get recommendations
Get transcripts
Submit applications
Prepare for Financial Aid

Note: Hold questions until the end, we’ll do Q&A time permitting

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1.�STANDARDIZED TESTS

Standardized test policies:

Test optional

Scores not required, but may be submitted
No penalty for not submitting
Submit if greater than school’s 50th percentile

Test blind/free

Scores not required; not considered if submitted

Test required

Must submit scores to be considered

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1.�STANDARDIZED TESTS

Register for tests

SAT (6x/year) Remaining Dates:

8/24, 10/5, 11/2, 12/7

ACT (7x/year) Remaining Dates:

7/13, 9/14, 10/26, 12/14

Recommend: Finish by October

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2.�APPLICATION DEADLINE

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3.�ONLINE APPLICATIONS

3 application types:

Common Application

Online college app platform (1000+ colleges)

System Application

Single app for entire system of schools
e.g. UC Apply (9 schools), Cal State Apply (23 schools), SUNY (64 schools)

Direct Application

Specific to a single institution
e.g. MIT, MSU, NAU
Only use if school is not on Common App

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3.�ONLINE APPLICATIONS

Set up your Common App account:

Add your schools
Add your counselor
Enter your preferred admission plan for each school

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3.�ONLINE APPLICATIONS

Set up accounts for non-Common App Schools:

UC Schools

apply.universityofcalifornia.edu

CalState Schools

calstate.edu/apply

Schools not on Common App

See individual school websites

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4.�APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Create “To Do List”

Test Scores: Usually not req’d; Most schools want self-reported, not official
Letters of Rec – Counselor and/or teacher(s)
Essays/Questions – Common App personal statement and any school-specific questions
Transcripts – Unofficial or official
Financial Aid application

FAFSA (Federal App For Student Aid)
CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile

Separate applications (e.g. Honors)
Portfolios (e.g. Art-based program)

[Jillian]

Once you have your online applications set up, they are a great source of information about what each school’s application requirements and deadlines are. The online apps will literally tell you.
Unless you are only applying to one college, it’s best to create some sort of To do list for yourself that tracks all of the different things you have to do to apply to each school
Take the time to determine the following for each school:

Test Scores: Usually not req’d; Most schools want self-reported, not official
Recommendations – Counselor and/or teacher(s)
Essays/Questions – Common App personal statement and any school-specific questions
Transcripts – Unofficial or official
Desired Financial Aid application

FAFSA (Federal App For Student Aid)
CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile

Separate applications (e.g. Honors)
Portfolios (e.g. Art-based program)

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5.�COLLEGE ESSAYS

Essay Tasks

First, breathe, you can do this!
Choose personal statement prompt
Gather school-specific questions
Draft your essays/responses
Get Feedback
Copy/paste into your online apps

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5.�COLLEGE ESSAYS��Common App Personal Statement Prompts��650 word limit

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6.�RECOMMENDATIONS

Letters of Recommendation:

Many colleges don’t require; don’t ask unless needed
Counselor, Teacher and/or Other Recommender
Ask in September (Minimally 2 wks before due)
To request:

Ask your counselor/teacher first
Make request thru Common App (or other site)
Email completed Letter of Recommendation request form (link on website)

Detailed instructions on our website

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7.�TRANSCRIPTS

High School Transcripts

Request Transcripts in September
Official versus unofficial
Use Parchment.com to get transcripts
How to order

Unofficial – Send to self
For Common App – Send to “The Common Application (First Year Applicants)”
For non-Common App - If official, send directly to college

Detailed instructions on our website

[Jillian]

Request transcripts in September
Official versus unofficial

Both types contain the same information. However, an official transcript needs to be sent directly from your school to the requestor. A document that is received directly from a student applicant cannot be considered official.

Use Parchment.com to get transcripts

Liberty High School uses an online system called Parchment for both official and unofficial transcript requests. Visit Parchment to create an account and/or place an order for an transcript. You are eligible to receive 5 transcripts at no charge, with a $5.25 fee for each additional transcript.

How to order

Unofficial – Send to self
For Common App – Send to “The Common Application (First Year Applicants)”
For non-Common App - If official, send directly to college

Detailed instructions on our website

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8.�SUBMIT APPLICATIONS & PREPARE FOR FINANCIAL AID

Submit Apps &Prepare for Financial Aid

Submit applications 1 week before deadline
Pay attention to e-mail for follow ups
Fill out FAFSA or CSS Profile (open 10/1)
Research & apply for scholarships

Local
College-based
Private

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Questions?