Steps towards preparing for
College Admissions
Start Now!! Avoid Stress Later!!
1.
Analyze yourself: What’s important to you? What
do you have to offer to a college?
2.
Read & Research: There are LOTS of resources!
3.
Ask questions: Talk to people to gain other
perspectives.
4.
Visit the colleges.
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Why do you want to go to college?
Who are you:
academically?
 activities?
 attitude & values?
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What college characteristics are important to you?
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Location
Size
Type: 2-year/4-year/technical
Competitive atmosphere
Majors
Athletics
Special Programs (ROTC, Study Abroad, Honors Programs)
COST!
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Stop by the Counseling Office to check out our Lending
Library!
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search - You have 3,952 college
options. Choose categories important to you to help narrow down your choices.
www.uscollegesearch.org/ - Search for Colleges in the US by major or state
quickstart.collegeboard.org - A link to the College Board, a comprehensive guide to
College planning and SAT registration.
http://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings.aspx 376 Best Colleges
according to The Princeton Review.
Projectopportunity.net - great resource for access to Washington’s colleges
Checkoutacollege.com - good information on two year and technical colleges in
Washington
http://wiche.edu/wue -Reduced tuition plans in the Northwest
www.gocollege.com – Search colleges and how to finance college
www.careersandcolleges.com –Search colleges and learn about career plans
www.campustours.com – Quick facts and virtual tours of every college in the US
www.ConsumerReports.org/college: Free guide to colleges and help in navigating
the steps in college research and selection.
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Counselors
Parents, Family & Recent Graduates
Teachers
College Admissions Representatives
College Night –
October 10 @
CKHS
National College Fair
–November 2 & 3,
Seattle
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What do you like & dislike about the school?
Who teaches the classes? Professors or graduate
students?
How much time do students spend studying?
Where?
How is the food? Where do most people eat?
What do students do on the weekends?
Is it easy to make new friends here?
Are sports a big deal here? Do people go to games?
Where do people live? What are the dorms like?
What are the off-campus housing options?
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It is like “Little House on the Prairie” in the middle of nowhere.
Everything is on a hill-up and down hills. I hate hills!
It’s part of the city-no campus.
The campus is beautiful, lots of grass and trees and all kinds of
cool places to hang out or study.
Everyone was studying all the time – no one looked like they were
having fun.
People were very snobbish!
Everyone was so friendly and helpful!
The dorm rooms looked like prison cells.
The dorm was one big party – loud and impossible to study.
The dorms had really spacious layouts and balconies –really cool!
There were really yummy food options.
The food was like what they served in our elementary school
cafeteria.
This place rocks.
I just want to get out of high school now and start school here
tomorrow!
ANALYZE YOUR RESEARCH
Now that you’ve narrowed down your selections,
look at the possibilities of being admitted:
Selectivity
Rolling Admissions/Open Admissions
Early Decision/Early Action
Cumulative GPA, including courses taken & grade trends
SAT/ACT/AP scores
Participation in extra-curricular activities, sports, clubs &
jobs
 Overcoming personal, educational or economic
disadvantages
 Exceptional talents
 Expression of self on admissions essay
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I’ve selected my top College choices.
Now what?
...the SAT or ACT
Check
the college
website to see which test
is required
Check to see when/how
scores are to be submitted
...for High School Info
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Official Transcripts
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Student Data (Class Rank / GPA)
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School Reports
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Mid-year Reports
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Counselor or Teacher Recommendations
…for Letters of
Recommendation
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Have a completed
information sheet filled out
http://wwwckhs.cksd.wednet.edu/Counseling/PDF%20o
r%20uploads/LETTER%20of%20RECOMME
NDATION%20FORM.pdf
Submit request (for counselor &
teachers) with application form FOUR
WEEKS before date needed
LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FORM
** This form is also available on the CKHS website under Counseling, then Handouts. You can
type on the form itself in the shaded areas, and it will expand as necessary! **
STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES:
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Make sure the person you ask to write your letter knows you well.
Make personal contact (appt) with the person; do not leave the request in a mailbox.
Give the writer at least TWO WEEKS notice!
WRITER’S RESPONSIBILITIES:
The information on this form can also be typed out on a computer rather than hand written.
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Please consider the following in your letter: scholastic ability, leadership qualities, cooperation, initiative,
motivation, maturity, personality, integrity, and reaction to criticism
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You may also wish to include: examples or anecdotes, reasons why the student is qualified, and your phone
number or email address in case further information is needed.
STUDENT’S NAME: ___________________________________ GRADE: ____ DATE:
Letter to be addressed to (college, scholarship organization, etc):
1. FUTURE GOALS:
2. POST-SECONDARY PLANS:
3. AWARDS/HONORS:
_______
…the Application
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Complete the application
ACCURATELY
 make extra copies
 save copies of essays
 create a spreadsheet to track progress
Type A: those only requiring an official
high school transcript
Type B: those requiring an official high
school transcript, school report, and/or
counselor recommendation
Type A: CWU, Evergreen College, EWU,
PLU, SPU, WSU, WWU
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Complete the online application
Have test scores sent directly
to the college
Request an official transcript
from Mrs. Jones in the
Counseling Center.
Allow 24-48 hours for processing.
Type A: University of Washington
Complete online
application including the
Core Subjects page
Have test scores sent
directly to UW.
Do not request official transcript.
Request an unofficial transcript to complete
the Core Subjects Coursework section.
Type B: Private Schools /
Common Application
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Complete online
application.
www.commonapp.org
Student mails out
supplemental items.
Submit school report/mid-year
report/counselor recommendation to
your Counselor with 3 stamps/report.
Allow four weeks to process.
FINANCIAL AID &
SCHOLARSHIPS
I’ve applied!
Now how am I going to
afford to go to College?
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Savings (GET or other accounts)
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Work
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“Parents or Grandparents”
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Financial Aid (grants/loans)
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Scholarships (merit, need, military, talent, group
affiliation)
Dual credit programs (AP, Running Start,
TechPrep)
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File a FAFSA (After January 1st)
• www.fafsa.gov
• You must reapply every year
• Seek assistance- College Goal Sunday events
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Indicate all the schools you’ve applied
Respond to requests for additional information
Collect “award letters”
Decide what works best for you and family and
“accept” award
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Many, many other opportunities
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Local high school
Local colleges or universities (scholarship offices)
Local library
Brainstorm list of any group affiliation within community
• Insurance company, health care professionals, clubs,
churches, employers
• Think broadly within immediate family
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Create a seeker profile at www.thewashboard.org
In most cases, scholarships will reduce amount of
loans in aid package
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Start early
Achieve and
maintain at least a
cumulative 3.0 grade
point average
Be involved (school
and community)
Be a leader
Nurture a special
talent or ability
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Be persistent
Search the
Scholarship Office
website and the
department you are
interested in
Be thorough
Apply only if you are
eligible
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“This scholarship is guaranteed or your money
back.”
“You can’t get this information anywhere else.”
“May I have your credit card or bank account
number to hold this scholarship?”
“We’ll do all the work.”
“The scholarship will cost some money.”
“You’re a finalist in a contest,” - that you never
entered
 The
Scholarship Newsletter
 College Websites
 Internet Websites
www.collegelink.com
www.fastaid.com
www.fastweb.com
www.students.gov
www.freshinfo.com
www.collegeboard.com
www.collegenet.com
www.thewashboard.org
www.collegeanswer.com
www.collegeplan.org
www.finaid.com
www.collegelink.com
www.salliemae.com
www.scholarships.com
www.anycollege.net
BOOKS
 College Board Scholarship Handbook
 The College Board College Costs and Financial Aid
 And many, many more!
Now:
 Develop preliminary list of colleges
 Stop by Career Center if interested in ROTC or
Service Academies.
 Research and start Admissions Essays
September:
 Narrow your list of colleges
 Register for SAT or ACT
 Check on all admission requirements and
deadlines
October:
 Attend College and Career Night
 Talk to your counselor and teachers about
letters of recommendation. (4 weeks notice)
November:
 Begin filling out college application
materials
 Attend National College Fair
December:
 Attend Financial Aid Night at CKHS
 Submit application materials to Counseling
Technician 2 weeks prior to deadlines
January:
 Submit the FAFSA form soon after Jan. 1.
 Continue checking scholarship newsletter.