Applying to College
Tips and Tools
for High School Seniors
Registering for the SAT/ACT
Paper Registration
Forms are available in the Counseling Office.
Online Registration
SAT: www.sat.collegeboard.com
ACT: www.actstudent.org
Cost
SAT: $47.00
ACT: $33.00 (no Writing); $48.00 (Writing)
** Register by the regular deadline to avoid paying
a late registration fee.
Follow the directions carefully!!
How should I prepare for
the SAT/ACT?
Full-length
practice tests and testtaking strategy booklets are available
in the counseling office.
SAT and ACT websites offer practice
questions and assessments.
Prep books offer tips, strategies and
lots of opportunities to practice
questions.
#1 Tip: Be familiar with the test
format!
testGEAR Prep Program
ELCO students have FREE access to
the testGEAR program.
Access testGEAR at www.bridges.com
After students create an account and
take a diagnostic test, a program of
study will be specifically developed for
the student.
A handout with detailed instructions on
how to access testGEAR is available in
the counseling office.
College Search Resources
Websites (refer to handout)
College Catalogs and Viewbooks
Books
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•
College Guides
College Board “Book of Majors”
College Reps visiting ELCO (check schedule
on bulletin board)
School Counselor
Where should I apply?
Factors
to consider:
Size of the Institution
Location/Distance from Home
Academics/Commitment to Major
Student Body/Diversity
Financial Situation/Financial Support
Public vs. Private
Religious vs. Non-Denominational
College Visits
• A critical part of the college selection
process.
• Complete a pink “school visitation” form
to have an excused absence from
school. (This form must be submitted
to the main office prior to your visit.)
• Attend Open House programs offered
by the colleges but also take an
individual tour.
• Be prepared… know what you want to
ask, find out, explore.
The Application Process
 Complete the application (either online or on
paper).
 Gather any required supplemental info (teacher
recommendations, institutional forms, essays,
activity statements, etc.).
 Bring the entire package (everything that needs to
be mailed), with the correct postage and a
completed transcript request form, to the
counseling office.
 Make a note if your counselor needs to complete a
form or enclose a recommendation letter.
Typical Parts of an Application

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Application Form
Transcript
Essay
Letters of Recommendation
Activities Summary/Resume
Application Fee
Application Forms
Paper
– Traditional method of applying but decreasing in
popularity.
Online
– Apply directly on the college’s website.
– Most institutions prefer to receive online
applications.
– PA’s public universities have established a
collaborative agreement (complete info on one
school’s website, transfers to other schools’
websites within the PASSHE system).
The Common Application
• Universal application form accepted by nearly
•
•
•
300 colleges.
Complete it once, photocopy, send to multiple
schools OR
Complete online, send to multiple schools via the
Common Application website
(www.commonapp.org).
Check the specific requirements of each school
to see what additional forms are required.
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Requesting a Transcript
Virtually every post-secondary school and scholarship
for which you apply will require a transcript, which is
a record of your final grades, class rank and GPA.
 Complete an orange “Transcript Request Form” in the
counseling office. Parents must sign this form. Also,
be sure your dates are accurate.
 If the counseling office is mailing your transcript,
attach 2 stamps for postage. (Transcripts sent to
colleges must be mailed directly from the counseling
office.)
 Give your completed “Transcript Request Form” to
Mrs. Moyer or your counselor.
Writing the Application Essay
The purpose of the application essay is to provide the
admissions committee with additional insight into who
you are as a unique individual and also your writing
skills and abilities.
The essay should directly address the prompt
provided by the school.
Be sure to adhere to specific word count guidelines.
Sample essays and strategies may be found in the
guidance office.
The essay should NOT provide a general overview
but focus on specifics and what you have learned
from your unique experiences.
Letters of Recommendation
 Some
college applications and scholarships require
students to submit letters of recommendation from
teachers and/or their counselor.
 Give teachers/counselors plenty of time to write a
letter of recommendation (at least 2 weeks).
 Schools generally prefer letters from teachers in an
academic subject area and within your intended
major area.
 Provide recommendation writers with information create a resume or complete the form available in
the counseling office.
Application Cautions
 Watch deadlines!
• Each school establishes its own deadlines. Students are
responsible for knowing the deadlines and following the
deadlines.
• We recommend that students mail applications to colleges
in September and October.
 Complete your applications carefully!
• Accurate information.
• Clean handwriting if completing a paper application…
correct typing if completing online.
• If completing a paper application, use the same pen
throughout the application.
• Check spelling, grammar, etc. (Do a rough draft first!)
• Presentation counts! Your application is the first
impression you are giving to a college.
What Colleges Look
for in an Applicant…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Grades in academic courses
SAT or ACT scores
Grades in all courses
Class rank
Essay or writing sample
Teacher recommendations
Counselor recommendation
Interview
Work/Extracurricular Activities
Student’s demonstrated interest
The Community College
Option
 Offer diverse programs that lead to a certificate or
associate’s degree OR complete the first two years
of a four-year education and then transfer to a
four-year college.
 Typically costs less than a four-year college.
 If you plan to transfer to a four-year college, meet
with an academic advisor to discuss how credits
transfer to different institutions.
 May be the solution for students who are not quite
ready for a four-year college for academic and/or
personal reasons.
Considering HACC?
 Francis J. Dixon Foundation Scholarship
$1,000 scholarship for students who enroll full-time at
HACC immediately following their high school
graduation - students must have graduated from a
Lebanon County high school and submit an application
by the deadline date (usually April)
 www.hacc.edu
 Contains information about the five campuses, various
courses of study, and the admissions process.
NCAA Clearinghouse
All prospective student-athletes planning to compete on
the Division I or II level must register with the NCAA
Clearinghouse.
Students must go to www.eligibilitycenter.org and
complete the “Student Release Form” (cost to register is
$60).
Students must meet minimum academic eligibility
standards (CP/Honors courses, GPA, SAT/ACT scores).
SAT and ACT scores must be sent directly to the NCAA
Clearinghouse (code 9999). They will not accept scores
from a transcript.
Print out authorization form - bring to guidance office - we
will then mail your transcript to the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Resources for Athletes…

The National Directory of College Athletics
contains contact information for all athletic
programs in the country.
 An information packet for students planning to
compete in collegiate athletics is available in the
guidance office.
 Inform your coach of your interest… he or she
will be a source of advice and may assist you in
the process of contacting college coaches.
Financial Aid
The official process of applying for financial aid
essentially begins after January 1.
At that time, students and parents are able to complete the
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which
determines a student’s eligibility for financial aid.
The FAFSA should be completed online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov. A worksheet to help you complete the
“FAFSA on the Web” will be available in the guidance office
in December.
The FAFSA is required to be completed in order to be
considered for any type of financial aid (including student
loans and federal work-study).
In addition - Check to see if the schools to which you are
applying require the PROFILE… if they do, this form will be
available online on October 1, 2010.
www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
The FAFSA4caster is a great resource to give you
an early estimate of your eligibility for federal
student aid.
Students who complete the FAFSA4caster will
have all of their data directly transferred to the
FAFSA on the Web, making the application
process faster in January.
This website is also a great introduction to the
financial aid process for both students and
parents.
www.pin.ed.gov
A PIN allows students and parents to
electronically sign their FAFSA on the Web.
The PIN can be used each year to apply for
federal student aid and to access your federal
student aid records online (in other words… do
not lose your PIN!).
Both the student and a parent should request a
PIN.
This may be completed NOW! Do not wait until
January!
Scholarships
Scholarship announcements are posted on the
bulletin board in the guidance office.
Other scholarships are available, but you have
to be proactive and look for them (websites,
publications, parents’ employers, community
organizations, etc.).
Applying for scholarships does take time - you
have to put in the effort in order to get the
rewards!
Helpful local websites:
www.lebcounty.org/Womens_Commission
www.tfec.org
Mark your calendar…
 December 8th - Financial Aid Night at
ELCO
Representatives from lending institutions and
a college financial aid office and will be
here to discuss the financial aid application
process and options available to finance
the cost of higher education.
Do you want to be “in the
know?”
 Visit our Wiki and access updates
throughout the year on college reps
visiting ELCO, scholarships, financial
aid, and more!
 Click on the Wiki icon next to Ms. Haas
on the ELCO High School home page.
A Final Word…
Planning for after graduation is YOUR
responsibility. We are here to help you and
support you, but YOU need to come to us
when you need our assistance.
YOU are responsible for ensuring that
deadlines are met and all the documents are
filed.
This is YOUR future - be proactive and true
to yourself.