Evanston Township High School
College Planning
Guide
Prepared by ETHS College & Career Services
847-424-7160
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section One: Getting Started
1
Checklist for Getting Started
2
Choosing Your Team
3
Self-Assessment
4
ETHS College & Career Services Resources
5
Junior Guidance Calendar
(January 2016 through June 2016)6
Choosing Your College Priorities
7
Section Two: Investigating Your Options
9
Doing Your Research
10-11
Know-Want-Learn (KWL) Chart
12
Charting Your Course for College
13-14
Family Connection by Naviance
15-16
Admission Requirements Comparison Chart
17
College Representative Visit Guidelines
18
Sample College Visit Schedule
19
Section Three: Pieces of the Application Puzzle
21
The College Application Process at ETHS
22-24
Types of Admission Plans
25
Advantage to Applying Early and Application Tips
26-27
College Application Questions and Answers
28-30
Standardized Tests
31
2015-2016 ACT National Test Dates
32
2015-2016 SAT and SAT Subject Tests Calendar
33
Test Preparation Resources
34-35
The Application Essay and Essay Tips
36-37
1
Section One: Getting Started
Sometimes getting started can be the hardest part!
Check out the following pages to learn how to make
your college search easier and more efficient.
Colleges are looking to admit students who will be a good fit for their
institution.
What are colleges looking for in an applicant?
Course selection
Grades
Test scores (maybe)
Diversity
Character
2
CHECKLIST FOR GETTING STARTED
Yes No
Have you logged into Family Connection (Naviance)?
Are you keeping up with your studies, working to the best of your ability and trying to develop good study habits?
Are you participating in a valuable extracurricular or community activity?
Have you made certain that your academic preparation is adequate for admission to most colleges and institutions of higher learning? (See page 14.)
Are you familiarizing yourself with the types of questions on standardized college entrance tests? Have you decided which tests to take and when you will take them? Have you completed the career interest inventory or personality profile on Naviance?
Do you discuss college plans with your parents/guardian?
Have you made an appointment with your counselor to review your plans, actions and/or career goals?
Have you accessed a college website?
Do you talk to college students, recent graduates and teachers about their schools?
Are you starting to make a list of schools you want to consider?
Do you listen to or read daily announcements about scholarship and college information?
3
CHOOSING YOUR TEAM
Getting into college is a team effort. You are the captain of your team, but you will need to surround yourself with individuals who can help you shine. Your team should include:
Counselors
They should bring knowledge and experience – what it takes to get in. Counselors are great sources of information, and can open your eyes to possibilities. Don’t be afraid to pick their brains about potential schools and if you might be a good fit. Nobody knows more than your counselor.
Family Members
They should bring support and guidance. The best thing they can do is help you stay focused on your goal, make sure you meet deadlines and offer you encouragement. They should also support you in your decisions and accompany you through the steps necessary to get where you want to go.
They should avoid running your research. The right college/career for mom and dad may not be right for you.
Friends
They should bring support and encouragement. Associate with others who value you and your goals. Avoid those who may interfere with the short-term goals that need to be accomplished to meet your ultimate goal.
References
They should bring the ability to positively speak not just about your accomplishments, but about your passions and potential. These can be teachers or other adults who know you well. A reference might be someone you worked with on a volunteer project, an employer or church leader. They should be willing to contact a potential college on your behalf. Most colleges require letters of recommendation from at least one teacher so it pays to be in good standing. Do you have a class you like or a teacher that is particularly engaging? A good relationship with a teacher can lead to a good recommendation and this can help open college doors for you. Get to know your teachers. If you know your teachers, they will be better equipped to write your recommendations.
My Team
Counselor Friends & Family
References
4
SELF-ASSESSMENT
The process of choosing a college begins with a careful look at yourself; not with a list of colleges. You should examine a number of factors; including your goals, interests, attitudes, and abilities. It is important to recognize your strengths and to acknowledge your weaknesses. An honest self-appraisal will yield valuable information about yourself, which will enable you to proceed in this process with confidence.
Student: "What is a Good School?"
Counselor: "A GOOD SCHOOL IS A SCHOOL THAT MEETS YOUR NEEDS" Some questions you can ask yourself are:
What am I looking for in a college? What criteria have I established that will help me narrow down my choices?
What type of classroom experience do I prefer? What is my preferred learning style? In what areas of study have I excelled? What talents and interests would I like to develop? Do I want to be challenged?
Do I want to lead or join activities on campus? What is my cumulative grade-point average?
Which college entrance examinations do I need to take? When should I take them?
What special talents or interests might make me a unique candidate to a college admissions committee?
What are my expectations of professors?
What features of a college would I like to see when I visit a campus? What questions do I want to ask?
How do I plan to finance my college education? How much will my family be able to contribute toward college?
What special talents, interests, abilities, etc. might qualify me for scholarships? When will I have the opportunity to visit campuses?
5
ETHS College & Career Services
The HUB (W201)
847-424-7160
What is available?
Individualized assistance from a post-secondary counselor (walk-in or by appointment) o Exploring various pathways to careers
o Navigating the planning process o Searching colleges and careers
o Completing college and scholarship applications o Writing college and scholarship application essays College representative visits
Quality programs throughout the year dedicated to topics relevant to your needs Financial aid and FAFSA completion assistance
Information regarding community colleges, scholarships, military options, athletics recruiting, summer programs, gap year, study abroad, standardized testing (ACT, SAT), and much more Extensive library of ACT/AP/SAT test preparation manuals and books related to career and college
and miscellaneous post-secondary resources Check-out of materials from our resource library Internet access and individual computer work stations Naviance registration codes
Online interest assessment tools and career database
Who is available?
Mrs. Beth Arey, College & Career Coordinator 847-424-7160 Provides comprehensive post-secondary counseling and coordinates areyb@eths.k12.il.us
college planning programs.
Mrs. Michelle Vazquez, Post-Secondary Counselor 847-424-7163
Provides comprehensive post-secondary counseling and coordinates vazquezm@eths.k12.il.us
career exploration programs.
Ms. Joyce Anderson, College-Bound Student Athlete Advisor
Provides NCAA eligibility and athletic recruiting advising to student andersonjo@eths.k12.il.us
athletes considering collegiate athletics.
Ms. Nancy Wolf, Support Specialist 847-424-7160 Provides support to students and College & Career Services staff. wolfn@eths.k12.il.us Ms. Porsha Bostedt, ISACorps Representative 224-806-1996
Provides financial aid counseling and scholarship assistance. porsha.bostedt@isac.Illinois.gov
ETHS College & Career Services 8/25/15
Check your email and visit the College & Career Services web page regularly! (listed under “Students & Families “on the ETHS website:
6
2016
JUNIOR COUNSELING CALENDAR
JANUARY 2016 Jan 5 & 6 Planning Meetings (Counselor-specific small groups)
Jan 8 Deadline for ACT Registration (Test Date: February 6, 2016 at ETHS)
Jan 21-Feb10 Educational Planning Individual Conferences (Student with counselor)
Jan 23 AP Winter Combine (Insight & information about taking AP courses), 9:00am (Beardsley Cafeteria)
Jan 23 SAT and Subject Tests (at ETHS)
Jan 30 Gap Year Fair, 1:00-3:30pm, New Trier High School, Winnetka campus
FEBRUARY 2016
Feb 3 – Apr 28 Summer School Mail-in & Online Registration
Feb 5 Registration Deadline for the Redesigned SAT (Test Date: March 5, 2016 at ETHS) Feb 6 ACT Test (at ETHS)
Thru Feb 10 Educational Planning Individual Conferences (Student with counselor)
Feb 11 College Planning Night: The College Search, Junior Families, 7:00pm (Auditorium)
Feb 16 – 19 Military Visit Week (W201)
Feb 25 ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test), 8:30am-12:30pm (W124) Feb 25 Spring Parent Teacher Conferences
TBD Black Teen Summit Field Trip, Oakton Community College
Feb - April Spring College Representative Visits at ETHS, Check schedule on Naviance
Feb - April Post-Secondary Planning Conferences continue (Counselor, student, and parent/guardian) MARCH 2016
Mar 4 Deadline for ACT Registration (Test Date: April 9, 2016 at ETHS) Mar 5 Redesigned SAT (at ETHS)
Mar 8 – Apr 28 Summer School Walk-in Registration
Mar 12 AP Spring Training (Learn what to expect in your AP courses), 9:00am (Beardsley Cafeteria) TBD Siguele Field Trip (for Latino students), Oakton Community College, Des Plaines
Mar – April Post-Secondary Planning Conferences continue (Counselor, student, and parent/guardian) APRIL 2016
Apr 8 Registration Deadline for Redesigned SAT & Subject Tests (Test Date: May 7, 2016 not at
ETHS)
Apr 9 ACT Test (at ETHS)
Apr 13 Niles College Night, 6:30-8:30pm, Niles West High School Apr 23 AP Academy (AP Exam Review), 9:00am-12:00pm (W201) Apr 28 Summer School Mail-in, Online, & Walk-in Registration ends
April Post-Secondary Planning Conferences continue (Counselor, student, and parent/guardian) MAY 2016
May Academic and Extracurricular Awards Programs May 2 -13 Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
May 5 Registration Deadline for Redesigned SAT & Subject Tests (Test Date: June 4, 2016 at ETHS) May 6 Deadline for ACT Registration (Test Date: June 11, 2016 at ETHS)
May 7 Redesigned SAT and Subject Tests (not at ETHS) May 31–Jun 2 Summer School Final Registration, 7:00am-4:00pm
JUNE 2016
Jun 4 Redesigned SAT and Subject Tests (at ETHS) Jun 7 Summer School begins (ends July 20)
9
Section Two: Investigating Your Options
“College is a match to be made…Not a prize to be won.” By Frank Sachs, The Blake School, MN
It is important to use all of the available resources to
help build your knowledge so you can make an informed
decision!
Take time to think about your goals and consider what is important to
you to help you decide what to look for in a college. It is imperative that
you utilize the many resources that are available to you including:
your counselor
Naviance
College & Career Services
admission representative visits
college fairs
correspondence from the schools
college web sites
18
ETHS College & Career Services
COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE VISIT GUIDELINES
Representatives are scheduled for one class period in the HUB (W201) unless
otherwise noted. The purpose of these college visits is for the colleges to inform
you about their curriculum, student opportunities, amenities, and to answer your
specific questions. You are advised to plan ahead and frequently check for an
up-to-date schedule of visits on Naviance.
You may only miss one class per day, and you cannot miss the same class more than
once per week.
NOTE: If you are unable to attend a desired session, sign up for the
session online; then stop by College & Career Services (W201) after the
session to pick up any informational materials left by the college rep. You
are also encouraged to communicate with the rep about your interest.
Contact information for the rep is listed in Naviance.
Students who abuse the privilege of attending college representative visits will not
be allowed to continue to participate. When these procedures are not followed,
teachers have the option of treating attendance at a college representative visit as
unexcused. Teachers are encouraged to notify Mrs. Arey, College & Career
Coordinator (W201), of students who abuse this privilege.
8/25/15
You are encouraged to sign-up for college visits through Family Connection.
You must request permission from your teacher at least one day in
advance. Permission to attend will be at the discretion of your teacher.
Admittance to a visit is on a first-come first-served basis. Students
should arrive promptly to ensure a seat in the presentation.
You will sign the College Visit Attendance Roster during the college visit.
21
Section Three:
Pieces of the Application Puzzle
Completing college applications is a multi-step process;
a list of boxes to check.
The following pages provide detailed information on
what different colleges may be looking for in the
application process.
Read carefully and consider familiarizing yourself with the
details provided. These are parts of the application that
you can get started on now.
Standardized Tests
The Application Essay
22
The College Application Process at ETHS
What does applying to college involve?o Completing & submitting an online application (paper applications are rare) o Requesting school documents be sent
Official Transcript
School Report form (completed by counselor)
Counselor Recommendation Letter (often required with Common App schools, sometimes required for other schools)
ETHS School Profile
Application Fee Waiver (for students on free/reduced lunch) Letter of explanation for AVID and/or Senior Studies
o Requesting Teacher Recommendation Letters (when required)
o Sending official test scores via actstudent.org and/or collegeboard.org (SAT) - unless the college is Test-Optional
The application
o Applications are generally available on-line by late August.
o Some colleges use the Common Application (www.commonapp.org). The Common App opens on August 1. You can complete and submit one Common App to multiple schools, but you must first register with Common App through its website. Individual schools often also require that you complete a school-specific supplement, and pay their application fee. Follow instructions for each school carefully. (See Common Application Specifics)
o Read the application instructions carefully. Your application is not complete until you have completed all parts of the application, and colleges hold you responsible for this. Look for any essays you need to write or letters of recommendation you need to request. Note each school’s application deadline.
o ETHS typically begins accepting Transcript Request Forms the second week of school. Best time to apply is prior to December 1. Prioritize the completion of applications by deadlines as well as order of preference. To be considered for scholarships/financial aid offered by individual colleges you may be required to submit applications earlier. Apply well before each school’s deadline.
o Types of deadlines include Rolling Admission, Priority Deadline, Early Action, Early Decision, and Regular Decision. (Refer to Types of Admission Plans, page 25.)
o ETHS will automatically send schools your 7th semester senior grades/midyear transcript. o Your final transcript will be sent to the school you will be attending after completion of the Senior Graduation Survey after May 1. Final transcripts are sent approximately the second week of June.
23
Requesting school documents be sent
o Request your official transcript and other school documents be sent to the schools to which you are applying by submitting a Class of 2017 Transcript Request Form (TRF) for each school to which you apply. This form is available in the Counseling Office, College & Career Services and on the ETHS website.
o Once a student submits a Transcript Request Form, the Counseling Office will be preparing and submitting the requested application materials electronically via Naviance eDocs.
o You must submit a Transcript Request Form to the Counseling Office according to ETHS deadlines. This means you must be prepared to turn in your Transcript
Request Form(s) 3 weeks before the college’s application deadline. This allows ETHS staff ample time for the preparation and submission of your application materials. You also will be asked to write your initials on the Transcript Request Form to verify that you already have submitted your application or you are finishing your
application and will submit it by the college’s application deadline.
o Some schools now require students to complete a Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR); they do not want an official transcript to be sent during the application process. You still should complete and submit a Transcript Request Form to the Counseling Office. Submitting the TRF allows us to more easily facilitate the process of sending a final transcript later if you are admitted and decide to attend the school.
o Many applications require that a School Report form be completed by your
counselor. The Common Application has its own School Report form. Most colleges also want to see an ETHS School Profile. The ETHS School Profile and the
appropriate School Report form are automatically submitted for each of the schools for which you submit a Transcript Request Form.
o Set up an appointment with your counselor for a mandatory Recommendation Interview if your application requires a Counselor Recommendation Letter. Allow your counselor at least three weeks to write your letter.
o Application Fee Waivers are available for students receiving free or reduced lunch. See your counselor’s secretary to obtain a waiver. For Common App schools, student must complete fee waiver requests via his/her Common App account at
24
Requesting Teacher Recommendation Letters (when required)
o Teacher Recommendation Letters must be requested in person from your teachers. o If your recommender is not a current ETHS teacher, please provide the recommender with
stamped envelope(s) addressed to your college(s) so that the recommender may mail their recommendation letter directly to the college(s).
o Allow your recommenders at least three weeks to write your letter. A thank-you note to your recommender(s) is always appreciated.
Sending official test scores (unless the college is Test-Optional)
o Send Score Reports to colleges (ACT and/or SAT) if you did not request your scores to be sent when you took the test. Go to www.actstudent.org (ACT) or
www.collegeboard.org (SAT).
o A fee will be charged for each score report sent to each college requested. o ETHS does NOT send test scores on behalf of students.
Interviewso Interviews are generally not a required part of the application process. However, if you are offered an opportunity to do an interview with a college, take it. Interviews can be offered on campus (during a visit) or locally by an admissions representative or alumnus in our area.
25
Types of Admission Plans
(Application Deadlines)
There are two main categories of admission options: non-restrictive and restrictive.
Non-restrictive application plans do not restrict students from applying to other institutions. You’ll have until May 1st to consider your options and confirm enrollment. There are three application plans under non-restrictive:
Regular Decision Rolling Admission Early Action
Regular Decision means that you turn in your application by the college’s deadline, and you are informed of the decision by a specified date.
For Rolling Admission, schools review applications as they’re submitted and make decisions throughout the admission cycle (usually within 4-6 weeks of submission of the application; sometimes a few days). It is wise to send your application as soon as possible since some colleges will fill their class by early winter and admissions gets more competitive as fewer spots become available.
With Early Action, you send your application by the early deadline and the college sends you its decision earlier. Some colleges do have additional restrictions on their early action programs, though, so make sure to reread carefully the instructions from each college.
Priority is similar to Early Action in so much as you get a decision earlier. Regular Decision and Rolling Admission colleges use this to accept a larger part of their class early in the admission cycle. After the priority deadline, admission becomes more competitive because there are fewer spots available. This is true of University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign and Illinois State University. There are two types of restrictive application plans:
Early Decision
Restrictive Early Action
When you decide to apply Early Decision, you are committing yourself to going to that school. Early Decision is for those students who already have a clear first-choice college. If you’re still comparing colleges and don’t want to limit your choices yet, Early Decision is not for you. Why? Early Decision is a contract between you and the college. You agree that if the college accepts you, you’ll withdraw all other college applications and attend the early decision college. Because of this commitment, you can apply Early Decision to only one college.
The other restrictive option is Restrictive Early Action. This one means that you apply to your school of choice and get a decision early. Be aware, though, that some schools restrict applicants from applying to any other early plans at other schools. If you go this way, you’ll have until May 1st to confirm that you’ll be attending.
These early options can be confusing – some schools even have more than one of these options – so talk to your counselor if there’s anything you don’t understand.
Colleges respond to early applications in one of three ways: acceptance, rejection or defer applications to regular decision.
26
Advantage to Applying Early?
Many students make an effort to apply through one of the early application programs because they hope to beat the competition of regular decision. Whether it’s easier to get accepted early than later depends on each college’s policies.
One factor to consider is whether your academic record will be stronger later in your senior year. If you had stellar junior-year grades, this may not be a concern. But if you think that your application would be stronger with the addition of your grades for the fall of your senior year, waiting for regular decision may be the way to go.
A possible advantage to applying early, especially Early Action, is that you will receive admission decisions early. If you’re accepted to one or several colleges, you may feel a bit less stress about the rest of the college admission process. (And if you’re accepted Early Decision, your college search is over.) If your application is declined at one or more colleges, you have some time to re-assess your college choices, if necessary. Colleges can also choose to neither accept nor reject, but rather defer your application to regular decision. If this happens, make sure to send updated information in time for the regular decision deadline to bolster your application. First semester, senior grades are automatically sent to all colleges applied to.
Application Tips
There is no need to apply prior to September (transcripts are not ordinarily available until the second week of school)
Create an email account just for college-related correspondence.
Document and save all application account usernames and passwords.
Use your legal name (needs to match your high school transcript).
Have the following information on hand: o GPA
o Courses completed and grades (print transcript from HAC) o Courses in progress
o School Code/CEEB 141860 o Graduation date
o Term enrolling
o Credit card (if not eligible for fee waiver)
o You may also need to provide your counselor’s name, phone number, e-mail address and fax number.
27
Intended Major: If you have a major, great! If not, do not leave this blank. Indicate undecided or undeclared. Some schools will have their own special designation, such as general studies.
Application fee waivers are available for students receiving free or reduced lunch.
It is your responsibility to request test scores from www.actstudent.org or
www.collegeboard.org
Print application checklist (recommended)
Remember… participation in blogs, chat rooms, forums and social media (such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.) are never private. Inappropriate content may come back to haunt you.
Be sure to consult with the college about the appropriateness of any changes to your senior schedule. Your counselor is a great resource to help you with this.
28
COLLEGE APPLICATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
How many college applications should I plan to send?
If you are planning to attend a four-year college, we suggest you apply to colleges with a good balance of the “admission risk factor.” A list should include schools you have a strong chance of getting into as well as those you will get into confidently (safely). A “safety” school is one that you meet or exceed the admission criteria and would attend if you are denied from all others. Your safety school should be one that is similar enough to the others you applied to that you are okay with the possibility of going there. For financial reasons, you might choose to include a good balance of financial safety schools as well.
Many ETHS seniors submit six or seven applications. Those who apply to more than 10 were usually unable to limit their choices generally because of an inadequate search early on. There is no limit to the number of applications you may send, but remember that there are fees
associated with applying to college. Fees for applications, transcripts and test scores can add up quickly. Limiting your choices in the fall will also help make your final decision easier in the spring of your senior year.
Should I bother to apply to an out of state or private college if I’m concerned about paying for
college?
Yes! You won’t know the level of financial aid you will receive until after filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and being admitted, so don’t let cost (the sticker price) stop you from applying to a college. Remember, many private colleges have endowments that are used to help offset the cost of attendance and some out of state public universities offer assistance to non-resident students. However, it is recommended you diversify your list regarding cost.
When do I start applying to colleges?
We ask that you begin applying to colleges in the fall when school is back in session. Soon after school starts, your counselor will explain the procedure for submitting applications and the process of getting them to colleges.
College application deadlines vary. Pace yourself so you won’t have to rush to complete all your applications at once.
Read over each application, looking for any essays you may have to write or letters of
recommendation you’ll need to acquire.
Submit your state school applications early. Remember, the University of Illinois
Urbana/Champaign application has to be submitted to counselors by October 15th to be
received by UIUC by November 1st.
Meeting priority deadlines gives you the best chance at being admitted. Applying well before
the stated deadline shows colleges with rolling admission your interest and motivation to complete the application. Remember, all requests for transcripts and supplemental material must be turned into your counselor three weeks prior to the deadline. Note: As you apply, you’ll need to send an official copy of your test scores to each college if you did not do so
when you took the ACT or SAT. Your request can be made at www.actstudent.org or
29
One of my college applications requires me to write an essay. Who can help?
While writing a personal essay can be more challenging than a paper for a class, the same principles of good writing apply. Here are some tips to help you:
Take time to brainstorm the best topic. Talk over your writing difficulties with those who
know you best.
Have someone (your counselor, English teacher, or College & Career Coordinator) read over
your rough draft to make any suggestions.
Proofread final copy! Have others proofread. A misspelled word or glaring grammar error
can ruin all your efforts.
See The Application Essay (pages 26-27).
Be careful not to use the college’s name when writing your Common Application essay.
I need a letter of recommendation. What do I do?
First, determine who your recommender will be.
Always give your recommender a minimum of two weeks to write the letter! Don’t assume
that he or she will, or even can, “drop everything” for you! Your recommender may request a list of your extra-curricular activities, work experience and goals, so be prepared.
Check back with your recommender in about a week as a “friendly reminder” so that they
don’t forget to write the letter. And always, send a Thank you for their efforts on your
behalf.
Some teachers are comfortable completing evaluations online. Be sure to communicate
about their preference.
See Letters of Recommendation (page 28).
Follow directions carefully. All applications do not require a letter of recommendation. Do
not send letters unless asked and do not send more than required. (If you have a special case, please see your counselor.)
Does Early Decision affect financial aid?
If you need financial aid, you’ll probably need to complete a CSS Profile or the college’s
institutional form at about the same time as the early decision application. The college’s financial aid office can then send you a tentative financial aid package (tentative until you can send the college your tax return and other supporting documentation). Each college does this a little differently, so check with the financial aid office or admission office of the college to be certain of their procedures.
“If the initial aid offer in mid-December is seen as inadequate, we encourage the family to have a conversation with our financial aid director. That process almost always resolves the problem,” says Richard C. Vos, vice president and dean of admission and financial aid at Claremont
McKenna College (CA).
However, Early Decision may not be the best choice if you want to compare financial aid
30
I’ve been accepted. How do I let colleges know if I am attending or not attending?
It is your responsibility to inform all the colleges to which you have been accepted about your decision. Most colleges must be notified of your decision by May 1st.
You should inform colleges that you will not be attending in the fall by sending them a short letter (can be email), which thanks them for the offer of admission but informs them that you will not be attending. If you are comfortable in doing so, it is acceptable to let the college know to which school you are attending. This information can be useful to colleges as they research reasons why students do not accept their offers of admission. Sending an enrollment deposit to a college confirms your acceptance of that college’s offer of admission.
In any event, it is your responsibility to let a college know what your plans are. You expected the colleges to reply to your application quickly in the fall; grant them the same courtesy in the winter and spring!
What does deferred mean and what do I have to do?
You are under consideration for admission based on further review of submitting additional details compared to others applying for regular admission. Basically the university likes what they see, but is looking for additional reasons to admit you. The additional details that will be reviewed include your seventh semester grades (automatically sent by ETHS), new and improved ACT scores (if applicable), and a statement including any new activities or honors / awards received. Providing this information also expresses continued interest in the college which can help with acceptance. Visiting at this point, particularly if you haven’t before, can help.
What do I do if I’m waitlisted at a school I want to go to?
Similar to being deferred, the college didn’t find your application as compelling as the other applicants. Unlike being deferred they don’t need further evidence that you would be successful, they just don’t have room for you. If you would like a chance of going to that school, respond that you would like to remain on their waitlist. Next, you will need to pay the deposit at your next choice school. In most cases you will not be made aware of being selected from the waitlist until June. You should become okay with attending the college where you will deposit. Each school takes students from the waitlist differently. Colleges may choose by major, financial need, demographics, order of academic preference or even randomly.
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STANDARDIZED TESTS
ETHS School Code 141860
Information for standardized tests, including registration, fee waivers, and test prep, may be obtained in the Counseling Office (E118) or College & Career Services (W201).
Register online for both ACT & SAT (*credit card required): ACT: www.actstudent.org
SAT: www.collegeboard.org
*Fee waivers are available in the counseling office for students receiving free or reduced lunch.
Helpful Hints for SAT/ACT Registration Procedure
Register on time in order to avoid a late fee (fee waivers do not cover the ACT late fee). Use the same information each time (full name, address, birth date), otherwise a
student may be considered to be two different people.
The test center code is essential for the student to be able to take the test in the location desired. ETHS test center codes are: ACT 174050 and SAT 14305. If the student registers late, he/she may not get the center requested.
The high school code is necessary in order for the high school to receive the scores. The ETHS School Code is 141860.
Photo upload required with registration. Photo ID required to check in on test day.
(Unless otherwise noted, SAT and SAT Subject Tests are given at the same time on each of the test dates. You cannot take both on the same day. You can take up to three Subject Tests on the same date.)
Reporting your scores to colleges and NCAA: You should indicate where your scores
are to be sent while registering for the test. If, at a later date, you wish to send your official scores, you will need to request your score report from www.actstudent.org (there is a charge of $12.00 per score report).NOTE: Colleges will review the highest composite score submitted for the ACT; they may also choose to review individual sub-scores for admission to particular majors or create a new “super score” by averaging the highest sub-scores from various test dates. The NCAA adds the highest sub-scores from each test date to review for eligibility.
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THE APPLICATION ESSAY
Colleges are seeking to get to know the person behind all the data on the application; more than just knowing your grade point average, and test scores. Colleges seek to learn about your interests, aptitudes, social development, and leadership skills. They want to know what you will bring to their campus. You should not join clubs just for the application; you should get something out of it that you can share. It’s what makes you interesting.
A growing number of colleges require a personal statement from students. This is a very important part of the college admission process, especially at selective schools. More and more schools are requesting an essay, for several reasons:
1. The essay serves as a writing sample. Can this student develop a logical thought? Can he/she organize his/her ideas in a rational fashion? Can he/she communicate on a very basic level? Does this student utilize critical thinking skills?
2. The essay allows a college to see the person behind all the facts and data. This is a great opportunity to personalize the entire admission process.
3. The essay reveals what is important to you and shows how you think.
Below are some actual essay questions from college applications.
Try your hand at answering these. This would be good practice for you.
Briefly describe your extra-curricular activities and experiences, then choose the one activity or experience which has been most important to you and explain its significance in your life. In an essay, describe your educational and professional goals.
Why are you applying to our college? Why should we accept you over other candidates? In an essay, tell how a play, movie, book, piece of art or musical composition has influenced
you most. Assume we are familiar with the subject of your essay - do not do a "book report". In this space, feel free to tell us more about yourself. Use this space to let us get to know you
better.
Many students find this part of the application process to be most difficult. It's never very easy to write about yourself, much less your goals, dreams, and ambitions. It may be possible to choose a topic that can be tailored to fit more than one college’s essay question.
When students understand that the personal essay serves to allow the applicant to shine through all the college admission statistics, they usually can relax with the process.
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ESSAY TIPS
Before you begin. Read the question/prompt carefully. Are you being asked to “list”, “define”, “explain”, “compare and contrast”? Pay close attention to the requested length. More is not better; less may weaken your efforts.
Define your purpose. What’s the point of what you are writing: to explain your academic performance, to highlight activities, to display your creativity or special interests?
Add depth to your application. What do you want the college to know about you that they won’t know from the rest of your application? Don’t spend time repeating information that you
have previously filled in on the application.
Focus on what makes you unique. Think about a personality trait, an experience, your family situation or a world view that sets you apart from other high school seniors. However, don’t reveal something about yourself that may be inappropriate or offensive to others.
Strategies to get the job done right:
Get your point across quickly and clearly.
Grab the reader’s attention with your introduction.
Structure your essay logically – guide the reader from point to point with strong transitions.
Write in first person. (Just be careful not to start every sentence with “I”.)
Use your own voice and vocabulary.
Use examples and details to make your point.
Make sure you have someone else read it!
Key admission counselor quotes:
“Don’t tell me about Aunt Sally’s death. Tell me about how her death affected you.” “Don’t tell me about the action, tell me about your reaction to it.”
“The goal line means nothing – I want to know how you got there.”
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LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
The last piece of the admission puzzle at many schools is the letter ofrecommendation. These are vital links in the admissions chain. Pay close attention to
application requirements; not all colleges require letters of recommendation. Discuss with your counselor whether or not you should send a letter when it is not required. The Counselor Letter
Your counselor spends a great deal of time on each letter he/she writes. Your
academic history and extra-curricular activities are highlighted and explained in detail in these letters. Any personal reflections your counselor can offer regarding your values or character are also included. It's very helpful if you and your counselor have established a solid working relationship.
The Teacher Recommendation
The choice of teacher is very important. You want and need to find a teacher who knows you very well as a student - your academic strengths and weaknesses; your intellectual ability in all its dimensions; and one who knows you very well as a person - your values, aptitudes, goals, and character. Your recommender should be a teacher in a core academic area - English, Math, Social Studies, Science, Language, or Fine Arts (if applying to an art program) who can support your skills or interests. This does not have to be a class where you earned your highest grades, but one where the teacher can write on behalf of your work ethic and academic potential.
The Extra Letter
If permitted, you may include a letter from a non-academic core teacher, coach, music teacher, vocal coach, community mentor or club moderator; someone who will add details about your interests and passion to the application.
Don't try to pad your application with many letters. If a college wants one, two, or three letters of recommendation, they will tell you. There's an adage in college admissions offices: "Beware of the too-thick application folder." Suspicion can be aroused when a student presents a vast array of recommenders, particularly when such letters are from wealthy alumni of the college, board members, or clergy. Very often, these letters are very vague and do little to tell a college about who you are; rather, they tell a college about who you know.
It is best to discuss your choice of recommender with your counselor or the College & Career Coordinator. They may have good insight as to whom you might ask. You should allow a minimum of two weeks for your recommender to write your letter. Be sure to ask (not demand) your counselor or teacher. Drop by your teacher's classroom or counselor's office to express your thanks for their help. Remember, a letter written at a moment's notice will not be as strong or as revealing as a
