College 101
General
Information: Scholarship
Information:
www.collegebound.net
www.scholarships.com
www.mycollegecalendar.org www.zinch.com
www.collegedata.com www.scholarshippoints.com
www.collegeboard.com www.cappex.com
www.morethangrades.com Register at www.actstudent.org
www.collegesolutionblog.com It
is recommended that students
www.mymajors.com take the
test at least twice:
Click
on “testGEAR”
Most colleges
won’t accept Click “Create new portfolio”
applications until
fall of your
Enter site ID: 1212403
senior year, but
you can start Enter Password: collegeplanning
researching
colleges before then. Then choose “testGEAR”
The summer after
your junior year
is a great time to
visit colleges and Visit www.petersons.com
work on
application essays. Click on “quick test prep”
NCAA
Information: Athletes must
register with the clearinghouse at the end of their junior year. Visit www.eligibilitycenter.org. The fee
to register is $65. You may be able to receive a fee waiver if you have already
received a waiver for the ACT. Students should have their ACT scores sent
directly to the Eligibility Center, using the code 9999.
Application
Tips:
- It is best to type your application, but if you must write it, make sure that your handwriting is legible.
- Check for spelling mistakes and typos (remember, spell check does not recognize the difference between “principal” and “principle,” but an admissions office will). Always have someone proofread it for you.
- Check for application deadlines and make sure that you send your materials in on time. You also want to make sure that you send your materials to the correct address and person.
- Ask for letters of recommendation well in advance, so the recommender will have plenty of time to write a good letter. Ask a teacher who knows you well and who will write about you in a positive manner. Even if you have straight A’s, a bad letter of recommendation can ruin your chances of acceptance.
- Make sure you include everything the application asks for, such as a letter of recommendation, transcript, test scores, etc.
- Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket! You should apply to more than one school. You should aim high, but apply to a “safety” school, too.
- If the application requires an essay, make sure to write one in your own voice. Do not use big words, just to impress the admissions office; it is obvious that you had someone else write it for you. You want your essay to stand out from the crowd, so be creative and avoid writing about a generic experience. If the application gives you a specific topic to write about, make sure you stick to that topic.
Extra
Tips of the Trade:
- Before visiting a college, make arrangements to visit with an admissions counselor and to take a tour of the campus. After your visit, write a thank-you note, letting the counselor know how much you enjoyed your visit. Remember, colleges receive thousands of applications and you want to make yours stand out from the crowd.
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