Applying to College Anna Batie Program Associate for

Applying to College Anna Batie, Program Associate for Outreach September 2014

About Us The Washington Student Achievement Council is a cabinet-level state agency that provides strategic planning, oversight, and advocacy to support increased student success and higher levels of educational attainment in Washington. The 12 th Year Campaign is an agency initiative that combines the national College Application Campaign and College Goal Washington. The campaign’s goal is to raise the number of students, particularly those from low-income or underrepresented populations, who successfully complete college applications and apply for financial aid.

Agenda Parts of a College Application What Admissions Officers Look For College Application Timeline Resources

Two-Year vs. Four-Year Applications Two-Year College (Open Admissions) Four-Year College (Selective Admissions) Personal Information Transcript Financial Aid Information Letter of Recommendation COMPASS/Accuplacer placement test Standardized Test Scores Program-specific prerequisites Financial Aid Information Resume of Activities Essay and Short Answer Questions

Ask someone who knows you well. Ex. Teacher, counselor, pastor, employer How long has this person known you? In what capacity? Letters of Recommendation Don’t ask a family member Ask the writer at least one month before your application is due. Provide them with your essay and student activities list or resume. Letters of recommendation provide evidence that you are a good candidate for admission from the perspective of someone who knows you well. Ask one academic and one character recommendation (say, a teacher and a coach or employer). Provide them with the required forms and a stamped and addressed envelope. Don’t forget to send a thank you card!

Possible activities include: Clubs Sports Resume of Activities Jobs Student government Community service Religious involvement (youth groups, etc. ) Most colleges will ask you to include a resume of activities as part of the application. Some colleges and universities will ask you to write about every activity you took part in, while others will ask you to write about 3 -5 significant activities. Arts or music Describe: The impact the activity had on you. Any leadership roles. Length of time you participated.

Application Essay Discuss how your family’s experience or cultural history enriched you or presented you with opportunities or challenges in pursuing your educational goals. Tell us a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. The goal of the essay is to demonstrate your fit with the college or university, and to address things that maybe were unable to be addressed in other parts of the application. Why do you feel that Seattle University is a good match with your educational goals?

Agenda Parts of a College Application What Admissions Officers Look For College Application Timeline Resources

What Admissions Officers Look For Academic rigor, quality of senior year courses, and grade trends. Extracurricular activities. Comprehensive Application Review Ability to enhance the diversity of the university. Academic performance relative to opportunity. Did you take advantage opportunities available to you?

Show What You’ve Learned Fit Reflection Writing • • Diversity Interest Community involvement Evidence of past and future academic performance • Ability to grow and learn from challenges • Evidence of critical thinking • • Tone Use of appropriate examples Organization and focus Ability to follow directions

Agenda Parts of a College Application What Admissions Officers Look For College Application Timeline Resources

September October November December January February Figure out which colleges are the “right fit” for you. Make your reach/target/safety list. Plan on applying to 3 -6 colleges. Identify references for letters of recommendation. Create a calendar of application deadlines. March April May June

Finding the Right Fit Size Location Type of College Program of Study Student Services Student Life Personal Values

Reach, Target, Safety Reach Target • Academically challenging--you may not quite fit the college’s academic profile. • Selective admissions. • Potentially high cost of attendance. • You are likely to be admitted based on your academic profile. • You would be happy attending that college. • Would not be financially overwhelming to attend. Safety • You are almost certain to be admitted. • You would be happy and get a good education there. • Affordable with reasonable effort.

October November December January February March Draft your admissions essays. Talk with your English teacher or counselor about your essays. Request your official high school transcripts. Take the SAT or ACT and have test scores sent to colleges. April May June

November December January February Finish application essays. Visit campuses of the colleges you’re interested in. Attend a College Application Campaign event. NACAC College Fair Seattle Oct 31 and Nov 1 Portland Nov 2 and 3 Spokane Nov 5 March April May June

December January February March April May June Be aware of admissions deadlines for your schools of choice—December brings early admission application deadlines and some regular admissions deadlines, too. Attend financial aid workshops and begin preparing the documents you’ll need to file your FAFSA or WASFA.

January and February January February March April May Complete the FAFSA or WASFA. Attend a College Goal Washington event. Complete college and scholarship applications. Keep your grades up! June

March and April March April May June Update your FAFSA after your parents file their taxes. Review acceptance letters and financial aid awards. Decide which college you will be attending. Send in any required materials to the college you’ve chosen.

May and June May June May 1: National Candidates Reply Date Send thank you notes to teachers, counselors, and references who helped you. Request that your final transcript be sent to your college of choice. Be aware of college deadlines for housing, deposits, orientation, and registration. Congratulations on your graduation!

Agenda Parts of a College Application What Admissions Officers Look For College Application Timeline Resources

Test and Application Fee Waivers ACT: http: //www. actstudent. org/faq/feewaiver. html SAT (the College Board): http: //sat. collegeboard. org/register/sat-fee-waivers National Association for College Admission Counseling: www. nacacnet. org/studentinfo/feewaiver/pages/default. aspx High school guidance counselors

Web Resources Ready Set Grad: www. readysetgrad. org/ College Cost Navigator: www. collegecost. ed. gov/ Big Future: www. bigfuture. collegeboard. org/college-search Community and Technical Colleges of Washington State: www. checkoutacollege. com/