With pleasure and honor that we announce that
GRACE HILL has been chosen as the Class of 2010's
D.A.R. Good Citizen Award, as voted by our PNHS faculty. Not only is Grace recognized as the recipient, she is also able to continue her participation in the local and national D.A.R. scholarship competitions (and could potentially win up to $3,000 in national scholarships). In order to compete, she will write a timed-supervised essay and will complete other necessary forms, etc. Grace and her family will be acknowledged in March at a reception for all local D.A.R. recipients.
Please extend your congratulations to Grace. We are all very proud of her as she embodies the characteristics of leadership, dependability, service and selflessness. Again, our congratulations to
Grace Hill.
COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS: What to do to apply?
- Decide WHERE to apply (should have 2-3 schools in mind now!!)
- 4 year college / university = need ACT (or SAT, depending on school…)
- 2 year community college = do NOT need ACT!
- Almost all schools want ONLINE applications. Go to their website, go to admissions; apply online.
- Will need a credit card for application fee.
- PRINT “COUNSELOR PAGE” or “SCHOOL REPORT” PAGE.
- Very few schools do not have a counselor page. If you can’t find one on the website…keep looking to verify. Then, tell your counselor that there wasn’t one. We will usually call the school to confirm with them.
- Bring that “counselor” page into counseling office.
- Give counselor page to Michelle (counseling secretary).
- Be sure that your NAME and the NAME OF YOUR SCHOOL are printed clearly (in ink) on this pasge.
- Michelle will put together your transcript & test scores.
- She will give counselors that paperwork. Counselors will complete their portion and will mail out rest of application.
- 2 free transcripts. Each additional transcript = $3 (not $2).
- You’ll receive written notification when your application has been sent out of our office.
- Most apps leave our office within 5-7 days upon receipt.
- If a letter of recommendation is required from the counselor, it may take up to 14 days to send out.
- Applications should be completed THOROUGHLY and ACCURATELY on your part. This is the first look that colleges will have of you. Make a good first impression.
- Again, on the “school report” page, print your name & info clearly so we know to whom the app belongs.
- Make and keep copies of everything you send/do!!!
• Your application will be considered “complete” by the college/university when all components are received: your online app, essays, your payment, transcript, test scores and letters of recommendation.
THE COMMON APPLICATION
- The “common app” is one single application that many schools use. If your school of choice requests the common app, you can download that file from their site and fill it out. You will need to fill out a separate common app for each school that requests it. This common app usually means that there is no specific “school application”… just the common app.
- K College is good example of the common app…plus other smaller schools. Many Ivy League schools use the common app also. Check www.commonapp.org for complete list of schools.)
- The teacher pages for the common app can be done online or in paper form.
- THE COUNSELOR PAGE NEEDS TO BE IN PAPER FORM. Our software is not compatible with theirs in terms of electronically sending the transcript.
- Be sure to write in your name and sign where indicated on the “common application” if you print it out and give the paper form to your teacher/counselor.
- Also, please be helpful and fill out the counselor’s name / address / phone info in the space at the bottom. Detailed info attached.
- Some colleges have specific application requirements. Some universities ask for supplements to the common application. For example, Harvard asks for a specific Harvard supplement, in addition to the common app. It is your responsibility to check each school’s application criteria. Use their website as a resource.
ADMISSIONS:
- Schools that have “rolling” admissions (WMU, MSU, GVSU, CMU, EMU) will notify you within 4 – 6 weeks.
- EARLY RESPONSE: apply early = get response earlier
- MOST SCHOOLS WILL HAVE OFFICIAL DEADLINE BY JAN. 1, 2010. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPLY TO ALL YOUR CHOICES BY HALLOWEEN...
- U of M applicants should apply by the end of SEPTEMBER.
- U of M teacher recs & counselor page can be online or in paper form. Ask teacher & counselor which they prefer.
National Association for College Admissions Counseling:
Top Factors for Admission Decisions in 2008:
1. grades in college prep classes
2. strength of curriculum
3. test scores
4. overall GPA (each school will focus on their own version of weighted vs unweighted)
5. essays (your time to shine) and letters of recommendation
6. rank in class
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Read your school’s application carefully.
- If a college requires a letter of recommendation, give the person (teacher, whomever) you are asking a brag sheet or resume so that they will have some background on you. Ask someone who knows you well.
- Give teacher/person at least 1-2 weeks notice to complete letter.
- A TEACHER LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION SHOULD BE A “SPOTLIGHT” ON YOU, YOUR PERFORMANCE, BEHAVIOR AND LEADERSHIP IN THAT CLASS.
- THE COUNSELOR’S LETTER WILL BE A “FLOODLIGHT” ON YOUR 4 YEARS, YOUR OVERALL COURSEWORK, TEST SCORES, ETC.
- Use www.collegeboard.com (go to college matchmaker) to search and research colleges. We have many resource books in our office as well.
- Also, use www.cappex.com to research colleges and manage your search.
COLLEGE VISITS:
- Check glass case outside counseling office, check counseling website and listen to announcements for dates and college representative visits. Get pass from counseling office before visit.
- See Michelle in our office regarding all college visit questions.
- Use this time / opportunity wisely! It’s a great chance to know more about a college and for a representative to meet you & get to know you! These are the representatives that will make a decision about YOU and your application. Meet them so that they can put a face to your name.
- This time is also great to learn more about specific programs and areas of study.
TEST SCORES:
- Be sure that you have your test scores sent directly from ACT or SAT to your college / university. It is not good enough to get a copy from us. Schools need to see the official score from ACT or SAT.
- Go to their websites to have scores sent directly.
- Take the practice tests online. Print out full length tests. Use the “Taking the ACT” workbook in our office. Colleges ONLY look at your highest score!! Take it as many times as you want.
TRANSFER STUDENTS:
- If you start at a community college (KVCC and many others) and want to eventually move on to a 4 yr school, you will then apply to that college or university as a “transfer student”. You might not have to re-take the ACT or send your ACT scores after successful completion of a certain number of credits, depending on your GPA, number of credits and the transfer school’s requirements.
- Do well so that you can transfer in easily! Call ahead to learn about the transfer school’s requirements (ACT? GPA? # of credits? Specific courses, etc…).
SENIOR YEAR:
Stay strong! Keep your grades up your senior year!
- Many colleges request senior grades (2nd semester and/or final transcripts).
- Often, schools will revoke prior admission based on poor senior grades.
- If your school requires final transcripts, you must request that Michelle send your final transcript to your particular school of choice.
- Don’t get lazy and let your grades slip…it could cost you your admission!
- Counselors will return in Nov. to discuss Financial Aid.
- Complete college apps between now and Halloween!!!