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BUILDING A LIST

NUTS AND BOLTS

DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES

REP VISITS & EVENTS

FORECAST AND TIMELINE

PARENTAL SUPPORT

The College Application Process

AGENDA

College fit and exploration

Review of application components and resources

Timeline and miscellaneous processes

See what’s coming up in the College & Career Center

An overview of the entire process from start to finish

What families can to do support their Senior

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Building The List

The College Application Process

Determine Fit

Academic

Admissions Stats on Schoolinks

Financial

Net Price Calculator

Personal

Visiting Campus, Virtual Tours, Alumni chats, Meet with College Rep

Balance

You should have equal numbers of Reach, Match, Likely

Make it manageable
This is your decision

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The College Application Process

College list balance

REACH

MATCH

LIKELY

10%

Members of the Class of 2025 Enrolled

36%

Members of the Class of 2025 Enrolled

54%

Members of the Class of 2025 Enrolled

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The College Application Process

Factors

DIRECT

Factors where the applicant has control

INDIRECT

Factors where the applicant does not have control

Academic Profile

Character

Strength of HS Curriculum

Letters of Rec

Essay and Writing

Process Engagement

Activity

Test Score

Academic Interest

Land Grant

Institution Laws

Size of Applicant Pool

Strength of Applicant Pool

Testing Policies

Institution

Priorities

Academic Rigor

Financial Need

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COMPONENTS OF COLLEGE APPLICATION

Application

Transcripts �(Self-reported or Official)

ACT/SAT Scores*�(If required)

Letters of Recommendation

Essay

Application Fee or Waiver

Portfolio/Auditions (Fine Arts)

Interview (Highly Selective)

The College Application Process

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The College Application Process

Types of Applications

School-specific app
Length and requirements vary
Available on school’s website

INSTITUTIONAL

COMMON APP

OTHERS

Apply to multiple schools with one app
Personal Essay
45+ IL member schools
Available at www.commonapp.org

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The College Application Process

PROCESSES

Transcripts - via Schoolinks OR Self-Reported
ACT Scores - ACT.org
SAT Scores - CollegeBoard.org
Letters of Recommendation

Focus on required
Relationship > Subject

Early Decision
Restrictive Early Action
Early Action
Regular Decision
Rolling Admissions

DEADLINES

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The College Application Process

EA - Nov 3

ED 1 - Nov 3

ED 2 - Jan 5

RD - Jan 5

EA - Nov 1

RD - Jan 5

EA - Oct 15*

RD - Jan 10

Rolling

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The College Application Process

Letter of Rec Student Procedures

Students must make sure that your Student Profile on Schoolinks is updated and complete.

To complete/update Student Profile, log-in to www.schoolinks.com/login
Sign in with Google option or via Classlink
Click on your name in the upper right corner
Complete all appropriate sections of the Student Profile

Students must reach out to the teacher, coach/sponsor, staff member of their choice and formally ask for a letter of recommendation and ask what that individual requires from the student.

Students must complete the required additional information which could be in the form of a survey, interview, or other means of contact with the staff member.

Students must go into Schoolinks and request their letter(s) of recommendation. You can do so in the College Application Manager.

Do you even need one? It is important to do your research to see what your colleges require vs. what they allow. You should focus solely on what is required, unless it is a reach school where you feel you may need the additional support. If the college doesn’t need it, they won’t read it. Additionally, some schools, such as UIUC, don’t even allow students to submit letters of recommendation. Please do not make unnecessary requests.

10-Day Notice Policy: Students must give teachers/staff a 10-school day notice in advance of meeting a college’s deadline for a Letter of Recommendation. This does not include weekends, holidays or other miscellaneous days off.

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The College Application Process

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The College Application Process

Log-in to Schoolinks
Click School Events tab on the dashboard
Select the visit(s) you are interested in
Click Register for this event

Student Responsibilities:

Students must sign up on Schoolinks to attend Rep Visit meetings
Students must sign-up 24 hours in advance
Students must speak to the teacher well in advance (not the day of) if they are missing an academic course to attend a College Visit meeting.
A student should not miss delivery of a project/presentation or summative assessment to attend a college rep visit
If you are unable to attend but would like

information from the meeting, email Ms. Byerle (kbyerle@lths.net).

College Rep Visits

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The College Application Process

College Rep Visit Meetings
College Application Checklist
LT College & Career Planning Guide
Common Application Guide
College App Week (Oct 27 - Nov 1)
Common App Lunch & Learns (Every Wednesday)
Essaypalooza (Sept 10 and Oct 15)
Scholarship Club (Kicks off Nov 1)
FAF$A Fridays (starts Nov 14)
New! LT Enrollment Map

COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER

Important Events &

Resources

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The College Application Process

College Rep Visit Meetings
College Application Checklist
LT College & Career Planning Guide
Common Application Guide
College App Week (Oct 27 - Nov 1)
Common App Lunch & Learns (Every Wednesday)
Essaypalooza (Sept 10 and Oct 15)
Scholarship Club (Kicks off Nov 1)
FAF$A Fridays (starts Nov 14)
New! LT Enrollment Map

LT Enrollment Map

Important Events &

Resources

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The College Application Process

ASSISTANCE

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT

Schedule a Meeting with your Counselor

ON DEMAND SUPPORT

Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun and the fourth-largest by diameter in our Solar System

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and also the smallest one in our Solar System. It’s a bit larger than our Moon

KING - https://calendly.com/pking-32

BAUER - https://calendly.com/jbauer-lths

GABRIEL - https://calendly.com/kgabriel-lths

M. ZIROLI - https://calendly.com/mziroli

LT Common App

Support Library

https://bit.ly/LTCAsupport

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The College Application Process

ASSISTANCE

(#20) INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT

Schedule a Meeting with your Counselor

(#21) ON DEMAND SUPPORT

Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun and the fourth-largest by diameter in our Solar System

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and also the smallest one in our Solar System. It’s a bit larger than our Moon

BERAN - https://calendly.com/laurenberan �
IP - https://calendly.com/alexip

SISTO - https://calendly.com/ksisto �
MILLER - https://calendly.com/miller-lths

LT Common App

Support Library

https://bit.ly/LTCAsupport

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Senior Parent Post-Secondary Night

ASSISTANCE (cont.)

(#22) SMALL GROUP SUPPORT

Every Wednesday in College & Career Center�Sign up in Schoolinks

Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun and the fourth-largest by diameter in our Solar System

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and also the smallest one in our Solar System. It’s a bit larger than our Moon

Aug 27: Common App Linking, Add Schools & Deadlines
Sept 3: Common App Profile Completion
Sept 17: Common App Honors, Activities, and Testing Sections
Oct 1: Common App Essay Overview and Support
Oct 8: Common App Office Hours
Oct 22: Common App Self Reported Grades & Self Reported Academic Record
Oct 29: Common App Office Hours
Nov 5: STARs Record and UIUC Self Report

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The College Application Process

Timeline

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

AUG

Most applications open Aug 1

Finalizing College List

Remaining applications open Sept 1

Scholarship Search and Apply

Meeting with Counselor

College Rep Visit Meetings

Essay 1st Draft

Feedback

Essay Brainstorm

1st Round of EA Deadlines - Oct 15th*

Essay Revision & Final Draft

Most Common EA/ED Deadline Nov 1

College of DuPage Application

Common “Priority Deadline” Dec 1

FAFSA Opens - Oct 1

Receive Admissions Decisions

Common RD Deadline for Selective Schools

FAFSA Completion, Verification, Financial Aid Offers

Common Deadline for �College Scholarships

Common RD Deadline for all schools

Receive Admissions Decisions - Selective Schools

Decision Day - May 1

Send AP Scores & Dual Credit Courses

Final Transcript Sent Early June

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The College Application Process

When do I get in?

Rolling Admissions

SPRINT

JOG

WALK

Early Decision
Early Action
Priority

Regular Decision
Selective Schools

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The College Application Process

More selective universities have returned to requiring test scores
Public flagships continue to break application records and are only getting more and more competitive
Business, Medicine and Engineering continue increase standards for admission
Deferrals and Waitlists are becoming more common
#1 reason why students AREN’T attending selective/competitive universities, is $$$

Common App, College Board, and State of IL guaranteed admission
More direct transfer or bridge programs being offered
FAFSA and financial aid should be on time this year
Regional public schools continue to bolster their merit aid �offerings and student experience
Applying with a balanced list can save confusion and disappointment in the end (love your likelies!)
International college options are growing in popularity

Forecast

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The College Application Process

Words of Wisdom

Do not apply to a school unless you can see yourself living there

Colleges have their own priorities, a denial does not diminish your value

Generally, college is less about where you go, but what you do when you’re there

Test optional is real. If schools don’t require test scores, check before sending

Don’t try to be something you’re not. What’s common to you may seem unique to the college/university

When it comes to the application process, quality over quantity. Try to work ahead.

You’re more likely to find things you like at an affordable school, than extra money at an expensive school

Your student can do this.

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The College Application Process

Parental Support

What can I do?

Parent Resources

Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun and the fourth-largest by diameter in our Solar System

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and also the smallest one in our Solar System. It’s a bit larger than our Moon

Allow students to take ownership of the process

Students at the center
Checking In not Checking Off
Ethical practices

Be a support system for your student

Senior year is busy!
Coping with admissions decisions
Making the decision
Leaving the nest

Ask Questions

SR Parent Session Handout

Supporting Your Senior

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The College Application Process

QUESTIONS?

Cody Dailey (he/him/his)

College & Career Counselor

cdailey@lths.net

708-579-6357

https://calendly.com/dailey-lths @ltcollegecareercenter

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Breakout Sessions

7:05-7:30 pm 7:35-8 pm

The College Application Process

Lib A

Letters of Rec

& Transcripts

Jim Pearson from University College Dublin will provide an overview about how admissions works at international universities including application requirements and process/timeline.

This session will provide attendees with an overview of Letter of Rec policy, strategies on who to ask, how to find out how many I need, etc. Counselors will also explain the varied transcript types and how/when to order those.

This session will provide an overview of the college admissions timeline. Details about Group Guidance as well as , upcoming test retake dates, upcoming college fairs, college visits, etc will be shared.

137

International Admissions

Lib B

Upcoming Dates/Deadlines

Reber - Highly Selective Admissions

Rejeannda Robinson from Northwestern University will provide an overview about how admissions works at schools where the admit rate is very low and competitive (aka Highly Selective)