DURING SUMMER MONTHS
Rising HS Seniors should have most of their college search completed. Use the summer to visit campuses and prepare for upcoming exams.
College Search:
You should have completed your list of colleges that you would like to attend. Your college list should include a profile of college costs, admission requirements, and study programs.
There are three categories
of schools that should be listed:
2-3 schools that you could definitely get in
4-5 schools that you could probably get in
7-8 schools that you would like to get in
If the application
submission costs for 16 or more schools
is too high, narrow
your search to 3-3-3.
Colleges:
generally smaller in size. They offer
4-year degree programs (BA and BS) and
many 2-year Associate degrees.
Universities:
larger institutions with specialized degrees
in business, engineering, pre-med, etc.
They offer 2-year, 4-year, and many graduate
and professional degrees.
Community / Junior
Colleges:
a small college offering
2-year Associate degrees. Many students
attend local community colleges with the
intent to transfer to a larger institution
to further their education.
Online Programs:
offered by small and large accredited universities.
Programs are offered online with potentially some campus visit during the online course.
Vocational / Career
Schools:
specialized schools of
training for specialized trade jobs such
as mechanics, computer technicians, medical
assistants, etc. Programs may vary requiring
only a few weeks to complete while others
may require a year or more. Upon completion,
graduates will receive a license, certificate
or an Associate Degree.
Have you consider a
major or field of study?
Get the
information you need to make the right collegiate
decision:
Visit collegeboard.org for in-depth
review of collegiate majors and what it takes: www.MyRoad.com/
Read all incoming mail from colleges and send reply cards to your schools of interest.
Take a minute to review our online
study guides and college prep strategies:
Register to take your
college entrance exams for next Fall, if you have not done so already. Check your
college listing or guidance counselor for
information:
College Entrance Exams: colleges require different college entrance exams. You need to check with your college to determine which exam to take. Many students will sit for both exams to make sure they meet qualifications from all colleges. Discuss your exam needs with your guidance counselor.
practice exams and prep materials for these exams: see Fall Semester
Get ready for the
college entrance exams:
Use the summer to take some practice tests that will help prepare for the real tests later this Fall:
Information about
the PSAT (practice exams): the PSAT is the test prep exam for the SAT Test. The SAT tests are administered on behalf of colleges. www.collegeboard.org
ACT test preparation: some colleges use the ACT test. You need to check your college to determine which test they use for admittance. www.actstudent.org
Kaplan Testing Services: Kaplan offers online and in-room simulation tests with guidance on weak points that need to be improved. www.kaptest.com
The summer is a good time to get your college application started. Fill out as much information you have online. Save it. Then come back later to revise or fill in the blanks.
Key elements of the application:
College
Application:
Request an application form from each of your colleges. You can find it online or request it from the school.
The package will include the application form, submission requirements (that include your essays, transcripts and other) and self-addressed envelopes for the letters of recommendations.
See if your school use the COMMON
application form the COMMON application form is used by 300+ schools. This can save you time from completing multiple application forms: see form at ww.commonapp.org
you can save the COMMON application form online until you are ready to submit it electronically
to participating schools
or you can try this:
— order this CD for the most applied-to
colleges application forms: www.ezcollegeapps.com
Early Decision Note:
you need to decide if you are going to do early admission. If so, you will need to have your application completed and ready to submit between October and November of your senior year.
The advantage of early decision is that you will know whether you have been accepted by early January. The disadvantage of early decision is that you may be legally bound to attend that school if you are accepted. So decide on early decisions for those schools that are your first choice.
College
Essays:
Your college admissions application
will most likely require 1- 2 essays. Use the summer to write
and edit your essays. The
essay is an important decisional parameter for college admission.
Essay resource and
editing services: use this resource to edit your essay — you will expert advice from professionals who are experts in college essay review
EssayEdge.com
Most college admissions application require
1-2 recommendations from teachers
and/or community leaders. Select who should write your recommendation. Give the person plenty of time (about
3-4 weeks prior to your deadline).
Also provide them a short autobiography, a list of your outside activities, school transcript and a self-addressed envelope as instructed by your college. Please note that the
teacher works with hundreds of students. So give them plenty of time.
Double check your transcripts when you start your senior year. You will need to forward these transcripts to colleges for admission review. Make sure the following:
all grades are posted correctly
all required courses for graduation are listed
all required courses for college admittance are listed
It is important that these transcripts are correct and up-to-date. If not, meet with school administration to repair any errors.
Extracurricular's:
Take a swim, tennis, karate or other class over the fall semester. You want to show well-roundness
in your application. Just
the right amount of studies (with good grades) and outside
activities. Don't think that
a lot of extracurricular activities are a must.
You just need to show a balance.
The summer is a good time to schedule
college visits and interviews. These
college appointments will go fast, so
start early by contacting your college of
choice:
Campus
Visit Checklist
Start with a virtual tour: this is good place to start prior to making an actual visit: www.campustours.com
When
doing a visit,
check out the library,
student unions,
sporting facilities, and academic centers. Walk the campus to familiarize yourself with the layout.
Review housing facilities and dormitories
to determine whether to live on-campus or off-campus housing. Note the college rules for housing. Some colleges require first-time Freshmen to live in dormitories.
Schedule time to speak with
students and faculty. Visit the clubs and societies
that are part of the campus
life. Check campus rules, safety
programs, and facilities that
maintain the safety of the campus.
Drive around the surrounding
community
to familiarize yourself with restaurants, theaters,
rec areas, job opportunities,
etc.
Take the summer to review your career interest once again.
See if anything has changed to help match the college to your career goal:
Evaluate Your Career Interests your first step in finding the right career is to evaluate what you would like to do and what career fits your overall aptitude www.careerkey.org
Understand your interests
and career relationship: online career assessments for a small fee Strong
Interest Inventory®
federal government web site that reviews your road trip to career success: www.careervoyages.gov
Now lets explore what's required for your career.
See what will be required in order to achieve
your dream:
Visit collegeboard.org for in-depth
review of collegiate majors. Requires log-in:www.MyRoad.com
What do you want to be? Interest
measurement based on varying fields of
study: www.jvis.com
Do you have the aptitude
skills for your selected major?
Learn more about this Vocational Aptitude
exam that measures several aptitudes in
mathematics, general science, reasoning,
and other.
The exam is used by the armed forces in
place candidates in select career fields
— by taking the exam, however, does
not imply that you are enlisting for any
armed service: www.asvabprogram.com
Could you become a Wall
Street trader?
Test your skills!
