The College's Admission Decision

THE COLLEGE’S ADMISSION DECISION

A well done and thoughtfully presented application is crucial to the admission process. Admissions officers can tell when a student has spent time on the application. This sends a signal that the student is truly interested in their college/university. Although all colleges may vary in how they review applications for most schools the following criteria will be essential in their decision.

Rigor of High School Curriculum
Colleges will look closely at the courses you have chosen to take across your four years of high school. Admission officers want to see you challenging yourself within your high school curriculum, which means taking advantage of advanced courses such as Advanced Placement (AP) and honor courses. Most colleges will want you to take 4-5 solid academic courses each year. Most school require at least two years of a foreign language, however, it is more important to continue in the same foreign language beyond the first two years if your high school offers more. In addition, it is important to continue taking math and science throughout your four years of high school. Don’t believe the myth that you can slack off your senior year. College admission officers will pay particular attention to the courses you have chose to take as a senior. Colleges may interpret a weak senior schedule as a lack of interest or motivation, so continue to work hard your senior year.

Performance in High School
Admission officers will pay close attention to the actual grades you have made in your course work throughout your four years in high school. They will notice both upward and downward trends in your grades, as well as consistent performance. In some cases a college may recalculate your GPA based solely on your academic course work. The combination of the rigor of your high school curriculum and your performance in your course work is one of the best predictors of how well you will succeed in college course work.

Writing Sample
Most colleges will require that you submit at least one essay as a part of the application. The essay will be examined closely to see if you have solid technical writing skills. In addition, they will look closely at content and hope that they will learn something about you that has not been revealed in other parts of your application. Thus, it is important to spend time and thought on your college admission essays. At the point of applying to colleges, it is the one thing you have total control over and a well written essay can make a difference in your application. There is no magic for college essays. Make sure that you read the instructions to see if the college gives a page length or word count. If no length is specified essays need not to be more than two pages.

Your Contributions to your Home, School, and Community
Most colleges will ask that you list the activities, jobs, and special programs which you have been involved. They are usually looking beyond simply the breadth of your activity to determine the depth of commitment that you have to your activities. It is much more important to be committed and involved, serving as leader and receiving recognition in several activities, than to simply join numerous activities and approach them in a half-hearted manner. In addition, admission officers will closely examine your recommendations from teachers and others who know you will to gain further insights on how you have made an impact inside and outside classroom.

Your Standardized Test Scores
Most colleges require that you submit either SAT I or ACT. In some cases, you may be required to submit SAT II scores. You need to check with college/universities to which you are applying to determine their exact standardized test requirements. While standardized test scores play a role in the admission process because they give admission officers a standard by which you can be compared with students from very different high schools from across the US and world, remember that they do not have data on motivation, self-discipline, concern for others, sense of humor and all qualities of mind and heart that are extremely important when a college is selecting a first year class.

The best preparation for standardized tests is consistent work in academic courses. Reading is essential to the preparation for the tests because they all emphasize skills such as vocabulary and reading comprehension. Understanding and being familiar with what the test looks like and what types of questions may be asked can be also be important.

Other Admission Selection Criteria
The following may also be considered when admission decision is made.
· The impact that a student may have on an area of the college such as athletics or music.
· Family ties to the college/university.
· Early Decision or Regular Decision: student’s degree of expressed interest.
· Whether or not the application deadline was met by the student.
· The overall appearance of the complete application.

College Application Essays- Do's and Don'ts

Ten Do's and Don'ts for Your College Admissions Essay




The Do's
1. Unite your essay and give it direction with a theme or thesis. The thesis is the main point you want to communicate.
2. Before you begin writing, choose what you want to discuss and the order in which you want to discuss it.
3. Use concrete examples from your life experience to support your thesis and distinguish yourself from other applicants.
4. Write about what interests you, excites you. That's what the admissions staff wants to read.
5. Start your essay with an attention-grabbing lead--an anecdote, quote, question, or engaging description of a scene.
6. End your essay with a conclusion that refers back to the lead and restates your thesis.
7. Revise your essay at least three times.
8. In addition to your editing, ask someone else to critique your essay for you.
9. Proofread your essay by reading it out loud or reading it into a tape recorder and playing back the tape.
10. Write clearly, succinctly.




The Don'ts
1. Don't include information that doesn't support your thesis.
2. Don't start your essay with "I was born in...," or "My parents came from..."
3. Don't write an autobiography, itinerary, or resume in prose.
4. Don't try to be a clown (but gentle humor is OK).
5. Don't be afraid to start over if the essay just isn't working or doesn't answer the essay question.
6. Don't try to impress your reader with your vocabulary.
7. Don't rely exclusively on your computer to check your spelling.
8. Don't provide a collection of generic statements and platitudes.
9. Don't give mealy-mouthed, weak excuses for your GPA or SAT scores.
10. Don't make things up.







Source: Accepted.Com

Learn about North Carolina Colleges

Learn about NC colleges/universities- visit CFNC.org (College Foundation of North Carolina). NC Colleges/Universities provide excellent education opportunities at a very reasonable cost.

College Planning Tips for High School Seniors

Senior Students

1. Don't get senioritis- your senior year counts



2. Most colleges request a midyear and final grade report/transcript



3. Spend time developing your college admissions essays/personal statements



4. Schedule appointment with Guidance Counselor to discuss: scholarships, letters of recommendations, college admission and financial aid action plan



5. Develop calendar and mark with registration, admissions, financial aid deadlines and fees



6. Meet with college representatives who visit your school.



7. Visit you top schools- make an appointment to meet with faculty, staff and students in your intended career major.



8. Attend College Fairs, College Planning and Financial Aid information night hosted by school or community organizations.
   

Senior Parents

1. It is important to attend financial aid presentations and career day functions WITH your student. Many of these events will be held in the evenings and on weekends. If you don't know when they're scheduled, contact your son or daughter's high school counselor. (Attend these events even if you did so last year or with a different student - there is new information all the time!)



2. Ask them monthly, "What are you working on and what scholarships have you applied for?"



3. Sit down with your student and prepare a list of what he/she is looking for in a college and then help him/her sort through the information they receive from the different institutions to decide which ones offer what's on the list.



4. Complete applications with the student.



5. In November, register for a PIN so you can assist your student with financial aid forms.



6. In January or February, you will need to help your student complete the FAFSA. Your PIN will help speed up the process.



7. In March, the award notices will start coming in. Look at the financing carefully and contact the schools with any questions. Make comparisons!



8. Go on trips with your student to as many of his or her top school choices as possible. A visit to the campus is invaluable to making a decision.

Best wishes in the application process.

A2Z College Planning

http://www.a2zcollegeplanning/. com 919-450-0171

Sources: A2Z College Planning and Mapping Your Future

College Planning Tips for High School Juniors

College planning tips for juniors


Your high school junior year is the best time to explore the possibilities ahead of you - whether those possibilities include college, travel, or a career. Now is the time to ask questions about your future, shadow a job, visit colleges, take interest surveys, and set up a checking and/or savings account.

Your junior year is the last complete year that colleges may review, so it's important to maintain good grades. Keep in close touch with your guidance office about your grades and course selection.

Month-specific tips
A few of the steps you'll take to prepare for college during your junior year should be done during a specific month:

October
Register for and take the PSAT/NMSQT Test that will be held in October. By taking the PSAT/NMSQT, you can gain knowledge that will assist you when it comes time to take the SAT I and II. Also, by taking this test, you will be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Competition.

May
Set up a savings plan for summer earnings.Are you planning to work during the summer before your senior year of high school? Set up a plan, determining the portion of your earnings you'll save to reduce the amount you may have to borrow for college expenses.

Tips for the entire year

The majority of the things you'll want to do to prepare for college aren't specific to a period of time.

Selecting a school
Start/continue your college search. This includes attending college fairs and college financial aid sessions. Start to think about visiting some college campuses to see which ones suit you. Continue to research colleges through their websites, college fairs, admissions representatives and applications, books, and college guides. By doing this you will get an idea of what's required and take the mystery out of the process. You may want to research military academies and colleges. Review websites and meet with military representatives when they visit your school or visit the schools. Most military academies and colleges start the admissions process earlier than traditional colleges and universities. You may need to take the ASVAP test as part of the admissions process.

Careers
Explore career interest paths. Discuss possible career paths with your guidance counselor, based on your interests. Ask your counselor about a computer-based career and educational guidance system.

Create a resume

Your resume should talk about yourself outside of school. The school to which you are applying will already know your grades and test scores since these are included on your school transcript.

Items that should be included are: school activities, community activities, community service, sports, awards and recognition, hobbies, and work experience.

Admissions and preparation

(1)Make note of registration deadlines and prepare for the upcoming SAT I and SAT II tests and the ACT assessment. When researching colleges, be sure to note whether they require the SAT I, SAT II test or the ACT assessment. Some colleges will require or recommend one or the other, others accept either. Your counselor also can provide guidance. Prepare for the test(s) you plan to take. Some states (e.g., Colorado and Illinois) require all public school eleventh-grade students to complete the ACT assessment. For more information, talk with your high school guidance counselor.

(2) Meet with your counselor to ensure you are on track for college with your course selection. Are the courses you are taking or are scheduled to take in high school meeting college admission requirements? Talk to your counselor about taking more challenging courses such as honors, college prep, or Advanced Placement courses. Ask about any courses that you can take that may help you decide if a particular career direction is right for you. Discuss whether or not you should take the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Also, remember to maintain good grades.

(3) Read, read, and read some more!

(4) Stay active in extracurricular activities. While your grades in high school are important, colleges also look at what you do outside the classroom. They like to see that you are involved in sports, student government, and community activities, and that you take on leadership roles when available.

Paying for school
Discuss college finances with your family. When performing your college search, you need to know how much your family will be able to contribute towards your college education. Always remember, just because a college may seem expensive and out of your reach, never assume anything. There are several types of financial aid that may enable you to attend a college that may seem too expensive.

(1)Save, save, save money for college!

(2) Attend a financial aid night to learn the basics of financial aid. Many schools will hold financial aid nights in the fall. Make sure to attend one. You can also search the Internet to find out additional information or contact the Department of Education. If you haven't already, start researching scholarships through the Internet, local businesses, and your guidance counselor's office. If you have already started, continue searching. Register for free online scholarship searches and visit scholarship search sites.

(3)Start to build good credit. Open a checking and savings account if you have not already done so.

Advice for parents of juniors

As parents of high school age students, you may question if you have any degree of influence in their decision-making processes. Be reassured that they are listening to you, probably much more often than you think. So what can you do to help them in their search and preparation for college?

(1) First, show them your support in their quest to gain knowledge, experience and expertise beyond high school.

(2) Attend financial aid and scholarship presentations while they are juniors.You will be more prepared, and have fewer surprises, than if you wait until they are seniors to take advantage of these presentations.

(3) Encourage them to build their resume by:
taking college prep classes, participating in extracurricular activities, and volunteering at programs outside of school.

(4) Explore other FREE websites for information on careers, colleges, and ways to pay for college.

Source: Mapping Your Future

PSAT

PSAT- Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)



The 2009 PSAT/NMSQT test dates are Wednesday, October 14 and Saturday, October 17. Check with your School Guidance Counselor for registration information. This test is administered by high schools, not through College Board test centers. Visit http://www.collegeboard.com/


10th Graders-It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT.

11th Graders- Remember your 11th grade PSAT scores are used as qualifier for National Merit Scholarship.

Sincerely,
The A2Z College Planning Team
http://www.a2zcollegeplanning.com/ 919-450-0171

CFNC-College Application Week

The College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and the Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (CACRAO) are pleased to announce that College Application Week is November 16-20, 2009. The goal of the College Application Week is to provide every graduating high school senior the opportunity to apply to college online using CFNC.org. However, the focus is placed on first-generation students and students who may not otherwise apply to college.

To register visit www.cfnc.com and on home page look for "Register for CFNC Events." For more information, please see your School Guidance Counselor.

Best wishes in the college application process.

A2Z College Planning
www.a2zcollegeplanning.com

ACT vs SAT- 10 Major Differences

Preparing for college is a trying time for students, and the emphasis on standardized testing does not make this time any easier. Some students are not sure whether to take the SAT or the ACT or both—or what criteria colleges seek. Enclosed is a concise description of ten major differences between the SAT and ACT, which may help students in making their test-taking decisions:

(1) ACT includes trigonometry (typically 4 questions); SAT does not.

(1a) ACT has occasional questions on Matrices, Logarithms, Radians, and unreal numbers; SAT does not.

(2) ACT includes “science reasoning”, which is logical reasoning based on data and scientific terms, but not based on classroom science.

(3) SAT deducts points for wrong answers. However with coaching, students can actually use this to their ADVANTAGE.

(4) SAT Math demands scrutinizing the English aspect of math questions. ACT is more straightforward, making it a more comfortable test, but not necessarily easier.

(5) SAT directly tests high level vocabulary. This rewards students who are big readers or are good vocabulary absorbers.

(6) SAT Critical Reading relies more on inference; ACT Reading asks questions that rely more on retrieving information from the text.

(7) SAT Writing includes a written 25 minute essay. The ACT essay (30 min.) is optional, though most colleges require it.

(8) The SAT Essay is more likely to ask about abstract topics; the ACT Essay will ask a practical question usually relating to high school life.

(9) The ACT is more fast-paced; there are more questions to be done in a shorter amount of time.

(10) One difference that could be considered “major” is colleges’ USE of the SAT vs. ACT: Almost all competitive colleges “cherry-pick” SAT sub-scores, meaning they consider the best combination of Math, CR and Writing earned on different dates. Very few colleges do this with the four ACT sub-scores. Thus for most competitive colleges, a student who does not ping strong scores on all ACT sections on the same day, is being dragged down by one or more weaker sections, whereas the cherry-picking of the SAT scores means one weak section on one day does not hurt.

Our suggestions: Make a comparison. Buy The Official SAT Study Guide ISBN # 0-87447-852-9 and take any of the first three full length tests under timed conditions. Buy The Real ACT Prep Guide ISBN # 076891-9754 and take any of the three tests therein under timed conditions. If you really need to save time, you need not do the Writing sections for either (they compare almost the same). Score them and use the accompanying table to compare the non-Writing sections (1600 SAT scale) with one another.

Absent a comparison (or if the comparison shows nearly identical scores): most students seeking admission to competitive colleges who are capable of absorbing vocabulary should study for SAT and disregard ACT if scores are strong. Add ACT prep if you have time or if after two SATs the scores are unlikely to impress your target colleges.

Our equally important suggestion: START EARLY. Colleges credit the best score, so it’s important to have three or more opportunities to take these tests. With vacations, proms, and graduations, that means the students who plan in advance will have the best opportunities. This is especially true for families that want to take advantage of Early Decision. For students who’ve had a semester each of Algebra and Geometry by the end of sophomore year, the summer before junior year and/or the fall of junior year are usually the best times to prep.

Bottom Line: the tests are similar. ACT remains a bit broader in content.

No college requires one over the other, and to our knowledge, no college has a preference.

The conversion table between ACT and SAT scores can be found at: http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/pdf/reference.pdf