What You Need to Know
to Apply to College
A QUICK GUIDE
Mr. Giordano
The SAT
You should take at least two SAT tests.
 You can take as many as you like.
 Don’t wait too long, it is best if you take
the test by November.
 If you are applying to very competitive
schools, check to see if you need to take
SAT subject tests.
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The SAT
If you have to take subject tests, you will most
likely take 2-3. It is best to take one math, one
science, and one history or Literature. Some
schools may specify requirements.
 To register for both the SAT and subject tests
visit www.collegeboard.com
 To qualify for a fee waiver bring me a 2011 tax
return (1040) or verification of public assistance
or social security.
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SAT II
If you are applying to a competitive
College you might need to take 2-3 SAT
subject tests.
 To register visit www.collegeboard.com
 Most schools recommend a math and/or a
science and a history or language.
 Visit the school’s web site or call the
admissions office to verify this information
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The SAT
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If you take the test in October, those scores will be
included on your high school transcript in time for your
college application. Some schools may still require
scores sent directly from the collegeboard (Binghamton,
Stony Brook, and Buffalo)
If you take a test after October, you should add the
schools that you are applying to as score recipients
during the SAT registration. These scores will most
likely not reach your transcript in time for the college
application. Send “all scores”
You can keep sending scores to colleges even after you
have completed the application.
If you have not done so already for the October test,
everyone should add CUNY UAPC (code:2950) as a score
recipient. To do so, log into your collegeboard account
and click on “send scores.”
Appointments
I will begin scheduling appointments
shortly.
 I have waited because I want you to be
prepared for the appointment.
 Once you have your initial one-on-one you
will have to wait until I finish meeting with
everyone else.
 BE PREPARED and don’t waste your time.
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What you should bring to your
appointment
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Most recent 1040 (2014 tax return)
College questionnaire if you didn’t submit
Social security number
Credit card or fee waiver to pay for SAT/apps.
Social security Income verification (if applicable).
Unemployment documentation (if applicable).
LIST OF TEN PROBABLE COLLEGES!
The Application as a Process
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Just because you submit an application does not mean
that you can no longer send information to a college.
The application is only the first step in the process.
Once you apply to a school a file is opened. The file
remains open until they receive all of your
documentation. Upon receipt of all required
documentation, the school can render a decision.
Even after a school renders a decision, you can appeal
with updated info. (SAT scores, mid-year grades, etc..)
This process will go on well into January and sometimes
into March. That gives you plenty of time to complete
the application process.
Making the right match
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It is important to show an upward trend in gpa from 9th
– 12th grade.
Your essay should address your transcript, particularly
when it comes to gaps in attendance and/or poor
performance.
Counselor recommendations and calls made to schools
are considered.
Early on aid is heavy and becomes less as the year
proceeds.
It is important to consider lesser competitive institutions;
particularly since there may be more scholarship
opportunities.
Do not count on the wait list. Most students never make
it off of the waitlist.
College Visits
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There are several ways to visit with a college
– Go directly to the school and take a tour
– Sign up for college visits in the college office.
Admissions counselor are visiting tapco to speak with
you. Limit ten per session.
– Open houses – All colleges have open houses. Visit
the web site of the school to find out when it is.
– College Fairs – There are several college fairs that
you can attend on your own. They are free and take
place locally. Check my web site and facebook page
for info.
The SUNY Schools
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For students with low household incomes who want to apply for
SUNY schools (EOP), make sure you check the appropriate box on
the common application or the SUNY application
If you would like a fee waiver for the SUNY schools and you are
using the SUNY application, then you must fill out a SUNY fee
waiver form. If you qualify for EOP then you DO NOT need to fill
out this form. This form can be downloaded online or obtained from
my web site. I need a copy of your parent’s 1040 or a budget letter
to sign the fee waiver.
If you are not applying for EOP, you can use the commonapp to
apply to most SUNYs excluding the technical schools and community
colleges (Cobleskill, Morrisville, Delhi).
The deadline for most SUNY schools is rolling which means that the
earlier you apply the better.
Students are accepted until there is no more space available
The CUNY Schools
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To apply to CUNY you must open a portal account at
www.cuny.edu.
Once you open a portal account you will be able to begin the
application.
For $65 you will be able to apply to 6 schools. The schools must be
listed in order, starting with your first choice.
Make sure you select some safety schools (Bronx
Community/Hostos).
There will be few, if any, fee waivers for this application.
If you want to complete this application during your meeting with
me, you will need a credit card or $65 money order made out to
CUNY UAPC. You can bring me the money order at any time and I
will store it in your folder. Only ten people get a fee waiver and
those are given to the first ten people that meet with me who meet
the requirements.
The priority deadline for the CUNY application is February 1st, 2016.
All applications received after that date will be reviewed on a space
available basis. The deadline for the CUNY honors college is
December 1st.
The Commonapp
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Most private and public schools will now accept the
commonapp. To access the commonapp visit
www.commonapp.org. Those that don’t may allow you
to send documents electronically through SendEdu.
Once you open up a commonapp account you will be
able to add the schools that you want to apply to. Each
school that you add requires a fee.
You will also be required to fill out a supplement for
each school. Once you have completed the application
and supplement , you can submit it.
Under the forms section of the application you will have
to add my name and email address in order for me to
send your transcript. My names is James Giordano and
my email address is tapcocounselor@gmail.com.
The Commonapp fee waivers
If you received a fee waiver for the SAT,
then you will automatically be eligible for a
fee waiver for the commonapp.
 To apply for a fee waiver you must select
the NACAC fee waiver option (easier
choice) under the payment section. If you
select this option, I will have to verify that
you meet the requirements.
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NACAC FEE Waiver
Students are eligible to use the form if:
 Student has received or is eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing
fee waiver.
 Student is enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or
Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL).
 Student's annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility
Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
 Student is enrolled in a federal, state or local program that aids
student from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as
Upward Bound).
 Student's family receives public assistance
 Student lives in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home or
is homeless.
 Student is a ward of the state or an orphan.
Fee Waivers
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Remember, the fee waiver process for college
applications is much more difficult than for the SAT. I will
need to verify that you meet the requirements for college
application fee waivers. You can qualify for fee waivers
based on the following:
– For the COMMONAPP, you can use VERIFICATION of free or
reduced lunch. Even if you receive free lunch, if you are not on
the Free or Reduced Lunch List, you can not use this method.
– For SUNY, you must meet income requirements as verified by
your parent’s 2011 tax return. For example, in a household of
three, your household income can not exceed $35,570. SUNY will
verify this information. If you use a fee waiver and do not
qualify, they will revoke your application and make you pay. For
a complete list of income requirements download the SUNY fee
Waiver from my web site www.admissionsandaid.com.
– Verification of public assistance. You automatically qualify for fee
waivers if you receive public assistance.
SUNY EOP GUIDELINES
Household Size
Income
1
$21,590
2
$29,101
3
$36,612
4
$44,123
5
$51,634
6
$59,145
7
$66,656
8
$74,167*
*Plus $7,511 for each additional family member in excess of eight.
Income Guidlines Do Not Apply If:
•The student's family is the recipient of Family Assistance or Safety Net payments
•The student lives with foster parents who do not provide support for college or
•The student is a ward of the state or county.
Other applications
Some schools do not accept the
commonapp.
 For those schools, visit the school’s
website for the online application. It is
usually found under the undergraduate
admissions section of the web site.
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Transcripts
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All SUNY and commonapp schools can receive transcripts
electronically from me. As long as you put my email
address and the name of your high school on the
commonapp I will be able to send a transcript
electronically.
For CUNY schools, if you are currently attending a NYC
DOE high school (YOU ARE), you should have entered
your nine-digit OSIS number in Section 2 of the
Admission Application. This will enable CUNY to retrieve
your transcript electronically*. If you did not enter your
OSIS number, please contact the Help Desk for Students
at aonline@mail.cuny.edu or call 212-997-CUNY (2869).
For all other schools you must complete a transcript
request form and submit it to me.
Recommendations
If you are required to submit a counselor
recommendation letter, then you must either email me
your resume and a short bio or submit these documents
by completing my online questionnaire at
www.admissionsandaid.com
 Your bio should be informal and should include any
personal facts that I can put into your recommendation.
Let me decide if it is relevant.
 Remember, for the commonapp schools, you must add
my name and email address. Make sure you spell my
name and email address correctly!
 For teacher recommendations, you must ask the teacher
well in advance of the deadline. I have a form in my
office and on my web site which might make it easier to
request the recommendation.
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Scholarships
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There are many different scholarships.
Some scholarships require an application, while
others do not.
Some schools automatically consider you for a
scholarship, others do not.
Scholarships are very competitive.
If you do not qualify, do not waste your time.
Check my web site and facebook page for
updates.
College Essays
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I have edited most of the personal statements that you
provided to your English teacher last year.
CUNY General Admission does not require essays.
If you would like me to edit your essay, email it to
tapcocounselor@gmail.com. Be sure to include your
name.
Essays should be PERSONAL. They should set you apart
from other applicants. It is your one opportunity to
share with an admissions person personal events in your
life. Examples are: unusual family situations, family
illness, neighborhood crime/poverty, languages spoken
in house, first generation to college, accomplishments,
etc.
My web site
I continually update my web site and
facebook page with information.
 My web site is
www.admissionsandaid.com.
 There is information about scholarships,
open houses, college fairs, and college
applications.
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Financial Aid
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Financial Aid (FAFSA) will be dealt with in December.
For now, don’t even think about the FAFSA.
Focus on completion of your applications.
Some schools require additional financial information
such as the CSS financial aid profile. The deadline for
this varies, but it can be as early as November.
To find out if your school requires the CSS profile or to
complete the application visit
http://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile
You might also have to complete a non-custodial parent
profile. If so, be sure to complete it because without it
you won’t get financial aid.
NCAA Clearinghouse
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If you are going to play division I or II
athletics in college you need to complete
the NCAA application found at
https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/co
mmon/.
College Fairs
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Check my web site and facebook
regularly
Admissions Deadlines
CUNY General Admission: February 1st.
 CUNY Macaulay Honors College: Dec. 1st.
 Most SUNY Schools: Rolling
 SUNY Binghamton: January 15th.
 Columbia: January 1st.
 NYU: January 1st.
 Most Competitive schools: Jan. 1st – 15th.
 Fordham University: January 15th.
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Other Deadlines
For a full list of deadlines, fees, and
requirements visit
https://www.commonapp.org/commonapp
/MemberRequirements.aspx.
 CSS Profile: Varies per school can be as
early as November 15th
 FAFSA Deadline: Varies per school can be
as early as January 15th.
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Important Information
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My name: James Giordano
School Code: 330838
School Name: Theatre Arts Production Company
School.
Phone: 718-584-0832 Ext.5190
Email: Tapcocounselor@gmail.com
Title: College Counselor
Class Size: 80
Entry Date into tapco 9/2012
Graduation Date 6/25/2016