Overview of the College Admissions Process Prepared by

Overview of the College Admissions Process Prepared by Alfred E. Tsai Columbia University ’ 17 2013 Scholarship Recipient Greater New York Chinese Dollars for Scholars 2015 Mc. Donald’s Education Expo Sunday, September 20, 2015 Sheraton La. Guardia East Hotel | Flushing, NY

Overview 1. About Alfred 2. The College Application Process 3. Recommended Readings 4. Q&A

About Alfred • Columbia University (2013/08 -2017/05) • Economics and Political Science • National Taiwan University (Fall 2016) • Stuyvesant High School (2009/09 -2016/06) • E-mail: aet 2142@columbia. edu

The College Application Process (1 of 4) 1. High School Student Transcript Grade Point Average (GPA) Academic Rigor Graduation Requirements Advanced Placement (AP) and elective courses 2. Standardized Test Scores The SAT ACT (American College Test) SAT Subject Tests Balancing school work and test preparation

The College Application Process (2 of 4) 3. Letters of Recommendation Two to three teacher evaluations Performance in the classroom Character and individuality Choosing a teacher or an advisor 4. Application Form The Common Application Extracurricular Activities The Personal Essay School-specific Writing Supplements

The College Application Process (3 of 4) 5. Interview “Tell me about yourself. ” “Why are you interested in our college? ” “Why do you want to major in this field? ” “What will you contribute to our community? ” Questions of your own 6. Scholarships and Financial Aid Need-based Financial Aid Merit-based Scholarships Tuition-free Institutions FAFSA and the CSS Profile

The College Application Process (4 of 4) 7. Choosing the Right Colleges and Awaiting the Decisions Academics Geographical Location Campus Setting Dream, Target, and Safety Schools Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) Regular Decision (RD) Notification: Accepted, Rejected, Deferred/Waitlisted

Recommended Readings (2 of 3) For Students Get it Together for College (3 E, 2016) By the College Board Completely updated for the redesigned SAT and current college application procedures, this planner covers everything from how to look for colleges to what to take to the dorm. Checklists, timelines, and FAQs are presented in a practical, quick, and easy format that helps students relieve stress and take control of the process. Features complete junior-senior year calendar showing what to do and when to do it.

Recommended Readings (3 of 3) For Students Essays That Will Get You into College (4 E, 2015) By Barron’s Educational Series College applicants will find a wealth of guidance for the essaywriting portion of their applications in this trusted book. This updated fourth edition presents 50 model essays written by successful Ivy League college applicants. Each essay is followed by constructive comments that delve into both the strong and weak points in its author's style and content. College Essays That Made a Difference (6 E, 2015) By The Princeton Review Not sure how to tackle the scariest part of your college application— the personal essays? Get a little inspiration from real-life examples of successful essays that scored!

Overview of the College Admissions Process Prepared by Alfred E. Tsai Columbia University ’ 17 2013 Scholarship Recipient Greater New York Chinese Dollars for Scholars 2015 Mc. Donald’s Education Expo Sunday, September 20, 2015 Sheraton La. Guardia East Hotel | Flushing, NY