The Guidance Department of Nipmuc Regional High School
presents
Post-Secondary Planning - Part 2
The College Application Process
from research to “application”
A QUICK REVIEW
Last year as Juniors , you…
 selected courses for senior year that fulfilled high school graduation and
college admission requirements
 compiled a list of potential colleges with the use of resources such as
collegeboard.com and Peterson’s pages
 collected information on colleges of interest based on online resources,
college publications, and meetings with Counselors
 took the SAT I (and SAT II subject tests, if necessary) or ACT
 visited college campuses
A “Self-Evaluation”
The first step in finding the right match
You examined your . . .
– goals and values
– academic interests, abilities, and
learning style
– activities and personal interests
– your personality and relationships
– career awareness and interests
You have thought about colleges in terms of . . .
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Programs of study
Location
Size
Diversity
Its atmosphere
Special programs (ROTC, Comprehensive Learning Centers)
Financial commitments
Selecting colleges for YOU
Ask yourself, “ Can I succeed in this college?”
• Match your academic abilities to the criteria set by the school
• Selectivity is determined by the GPA and SAT/ACT scores set
by the college
REACH – college standards exceed your scores
REALISTIC – college standards comparable to your scores
SAFETY – your scores exceed that of the college
a timeline for Seniors
September - October - November
 Sign up for the SAT/ACT in October/November
 Continue to visit colleges, attend college fairs
 Meet with College Admissions Representatives
 Prepare Personal Essay in English 12 classes
 Compile a “short” list of colleges, generally 5 to 8 based on
selectivity (reach, realistic, and safety)
 Determine admission deadlines for each (Early Action, Early
Decision, Rolling, Regular)
 Prepare the necessary paperwork required for each college
The “Paper Trail”
• Student and Parent Questionnaires*
– The “yellow” student questionnaire
– The pink parent “brag” sheet
• Common Application Forms
– www.commonapp.org
– 2 Teacher Evaluation Forms*
– Secondary School Report
Remember - Complete the “Student” portion of each Common
Application Form and sign ALL of them
*to be completed by every senior for each teacher providing a letter
THE COMMON APPLICATION directions
Teacher Recommendation Forms 1 & 2
–
Complete the “Student/Applicant” portion
of both Teacher Recommendation Forms.
–
Remember to check off whether or not
you waive the right to review the
recommendation upon matriculation
–
Sign and date both forms in
the designated box.
–
Provide the two-page form to those
teachers whose recommendations you are
seeking. Each teacher will complete the
forms with a letter and send them to the
colleges to which you apply.
-OR –
Rather than use the hard copy forms, you may
“invite” your teachers via the Common
Application web site to complete the Teacher
Recommendation Forms online.
THE COMMON APPLICATION directions, continued
Secondary School Report
–
Complete the upper portion of the form
with personal information as requested.
–
List your current courses for the entire
year and designate whether the course is a
full year or half-year credit course.
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Sign and date the form and bring it to your
Guidance Counselor.
–
Your Counselor will complete the
Secondary Report, attach a letter of
recommendation, and send the form with
the School Profile, a letter regarding block
scheduling, your personal resume, and an
official transcript
-ORYou may “invite” your Counselor to complete
the form online at www.commonapp.org
The Application
Step 1
Collect personal data and that of your parents for the
application before preparing your applications – a time saver!
Step 2
Obtain applications from the Guidance Office or colleges
OR
Download updated applications from college websites
OR
Complete an online application for electronic submission
Step 3
Always CHECK your application and make a copy before
hitting “send”
Step 4
If you prefer a hard copy of your application, type your application
or print neatly with black ink
NOTE - You can have the Guidance Office send the application and
fee (check payable to the college) with the application packet
The Application Process
Student Responsibility
•
Complete/send the application
•
Ask one or two teachers for
recommendations
•
Provide teachers with Common Application
Teacher Evaluation forms and stamped
addressed envelopes, if needed
-OR“Invite” teachers and counselor to submit
recommendations via Commonapp.org.
•
•
•
Submit a Transcript Release Form to your
Counselor (one for each college at $4.00
each) at least 2 weeks before deadline
Send SAT/ACT scores to colleges directly from
The College Board/ACT
Counselor Responsibility
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•
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Write a recommendation
Complete Secondary School Report,
either on line or hard copy
Sign/seal Official Transcript
Prepare an application packet for
each college and send packet to
college before deadline
Send copies of Midyear Grades to all
Common Application and requesting
colleges
Send Final Transcript to the college
the student is planning to attend
About those recommendations…
Counselor Recommendation –
Teacher Recommendation(s) –
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•
•
•
Senior Questionnaire*
Parent Brag Sheet*
Student Resume
Academic Records
State schools – I teacher and counselor
letter
Private schools – 2 teachers and
counselor letter
In order for the letter to be personal
Individualized, anecdotal, and a “living”
profile of you, we need YOUR input so
don’t be modest!
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* Due ASAP!
Ask teachers who know you best
Preferably junior/senior teachers
Other letters (coaches, employers)?
Ask teachers as soon as possible and give
them:
-your resume
-teacher evaluation form
-list of colleges and deadlines
-addressed, stamped envelopes unless
you file your application electronically
Teacher Recommendation continued
Teacher Name
Nipmuc Regional High School
90 Pleasant Street
Upton, MA 01568
College/University Name
Office of Admissions
123 Street Name
Any Town, State
For colleges not affiliated with the Common Application and where electronic submission is not an option:
Provide a stamped envelope, addressed to the college’s admission’s office for each college recommendation
to be sent; print the teacher’s name w/ Nipmuc address as the return address:
Nipmuc Regional H.S., 90 Pleasant St., Upton, MA 01568
The Application Packet
• Application with essay/fee (if submitted by counselor)
• Recommendation(s)
– Guidance Counselor
– Coach/Employer (optional)
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Secondary School Report (if Common Application college)
Official Transcript
School Profile
Self-addressed, stamped postcard
Letter on Modified Block Scheduling
Your resume
resume
•Highlights your activities and
achievements
•Limit your list to those activities
you participated in during your
four years of High School
Johnnie B. Goode
90 Pleasant Street
Upton, MA 017
(508) 529-2142 jbg@comcast.net
Sports
Varsity Lacrosse, 2005-2008, Captain, 2008
J.V. Soccer, 2004-2005
Cheerleading, 2004-2008
Clubs and Organizations
Peer Education, 2004-2008
National Honor Society, 2007-2008
Impact Team, 2005-2008
•Break your list into related topics
such as “sports,” “academic
honors,” “community service,” etc.
Community Service
Cancer Society Relay for Life, 2004-2008
Special Olympics, 2007
•Check for proper grammar,
spelling, and punctuation.
Work Experience
Assistant Manager, Friendly’s Restaurant, 2007-2008
Lifeguard/Swim Instructor, YMCA, 2005-2006
•Limit your resume to 1 page if
possible
Honors and Awards
High Honors Dinner, 2005-2008
Smith College Book Award, 2007
Baush & Lomb Science Award, 2007
College deadlines
Watch those deadlines!
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Early Action – November 1 and 15
Early Decision – as noted by college and binding
Regular Decision – January through ?
Rolling Admissions – early notification
Some suggestions:
 Plan to have all your regular decision applications completed by the beginning of December
 The Guidance Office is CLOSED during the holiday break so all materials due
January 1st must be mailed before the holiday week begins
 Get your application materials in at least 2 weeks prior to the college
deadline; it takes time to reproduce all the forms, print the transcript,
and write the best recommendation we can
“Now What?”
Or, “How do I know which college to choose?”
Select colleges to apply to that will be a good fit for YOU!
Consider once again:
- Location
- Size
- Academics
- Athletics
- Campus Activities
- Special Programs
- Diversity
- Cost (Parents - plan to attend our financial aid night)
“
“Are we there yet?”
Midyear Reports
Term 1 & 2 grades need to be sent out to all Common Application colleges
and requesting colleges therefore
KEEP THOSE GRADES UP! *
*Remember that your admission is contingent upon
successful completion of your senior year.
Check with your counselor at the conclusion of Term 2 to make sure
updated transcripts are sent to your colleges
“I Got in!” the next step(s)…
• Bring a copy of your acceptance letter to the Guidance Office
• Complete an acceptance form noting the college colors so
Mrs. Moore can make your pennant
• Collect all the financial aid packages from each college so you
can compare them
• Research Scholarship opportunities
in the Guidance Office on a weekly basis
 About those rejection letters...
Selecting a college: The final decision
• Compare pros and cons of each college and narrow your list to
the very top few
• Go back and visit the colleges while in session
- arrange an overnight
- attend a class or two
- talk to students at the college
- eat a meal
• Consult with the Financial Aid Offices to see if financial
packages can be improved
• Remember- there is no college that will meet ALL your needs
Applications: Parent Responsibilities
It’s not all about money
(hmmm…)
Here are some things parents can do:
Help your child organize college materials
Accompany students on college visits
Review their personal essays, but don’t rewrite them
Collect personal data needed for applications, including financial
information
o Attend the Financial Aid Night in late November/December (TBA)
o File the CSS Profile (fall) if needed and the FAFSA (after January 1)
o Listen to and be patient with your child! 
o
o
o
o
Graduation and beyond…
Once you have made your decision you should…
 Notify the Guidance Office of the college you plan to attend
 Send notes to the other colleges to which you have been admitted
declining their offers
 Enjoy your success, BUT continue to work toward the successful
completion of your senior year
 Check in with your Guidance Counselor frequently to keep us posted on
your progress!
Congratulations!
The Nipmuc Guidance Staff
Cynthia A. Bucken, Counselor
Patricia Crowley, Counselor
Katherine Larracey, Counselor
Ona Moore, Admin. Assist/Scholarship Coordinator
Transitioning to College – some “helpful” hints
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Differences between high school and college
IEP’s and 504 Plans in the college setting
What is FERPA and how does it affect the student/parent?
Resources to assist students/parents with the transition
(collegeboard.com , education.com)
o College resources for students/parents
The key to success at college is to
know what resources are available to
students and to use them!
Any questions about the post-secondary planning session
and/or the application process can be directed to the
Guidance staff at:
Phone
508 529-2140 (Guidance Sec’y Mrs. Ona Moore)
FAX
508 529-2142
EMAIL
cbucken@mursd.org
pcrowley@mursd.org
klarracey@mursd.org
omoore@mursd.org
Nipmuc Regional High School
90 Pleasant Street, Upton, MA 01568