From Schoolcraft to
Harvard…
Planning for Success beyond High School!
Thomas Kasper
Past-President
Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling
Senior Admission Advisor, Eastern Michigan University Office of Admissions
We’re your partners for success!
www.nacacnet.org
www.macac.org
The Facts:
The more you learn,
the more you’ll
earn!
Planning for Success:
A good Philosophy
 Options exist for EVERY STUDENT after high school
 All work is honorable
 It is just like buying a pair of shoes, you will have to try a few
options on to find the one which is the best fit for you
 Make informed decisions:




Know yourself – strengths, interests, skills and weaknesses
Research and visit colleges and career programs
Consider cost and financial aid options
Start planning now– which option will best prepare you for your
future career goals?
Start Planning now…
Four-Year
Colleges and Universities
 A Variety and Flavor for Every Student!
o National (most students are from out-of state) versus Regional (most
students are from in-state)
o Public (state-funded, typically lower tuition) versus Private (smaller size,
bigger price-tag)
o Athletics: Division I versus Division II (fewer athletic scholarships) versus
Division III (no athletic scholarships)
o Single-Sex, Religiously Affiliated, LGBTQ inclusion, Veteran-friendly,
‘Green’ or special program focus (Art and Design, Culinary, etc.)
Four-Year Colleges and Universities
 Most schools accept most applicants – 68% of
applicants in the United States are accepted
 Highly selective schools are well known, but small in
number (fewer than 100)
 Approximately 150 Schools have more than 20,000
students
 Most Colleges have less than 2,500 students!
Lots of
Options
‘Close’
to Home
Four-Year Colleges and Universities
What it Takes…
 Study! Study! Study! High school courses, GPA and test
scores will be the most important part of your college
application
 Prepare for the ACT and SAT by utilizing test
preparation resources and by taking real practice tests
 Register for the ACT (part of the March MME each junior
year) and SAT (mostly for out of state colleges)
Four-Year Colleges and Universities
What it Takes…
 “Try it on” by attending representative visits at
school, going to college fairs, and visiting campuses
 Determine which colleges fit your needs based on:





Academic program variety and availability
Size
Location
Scholarship offers and total cost
Campus life, activities and other “fit” factors
Four-Year Colleges and Universities
What it Takes…
File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
or FAFSA early for best Financial Aid Offers!
fafsa.ed.gov
Student and Parent(s) will need a pin to sign the FAFSA
pin.ed.gov
Four-Year Colleges and Universities
Making the Right Choice…
 Compare financial aid awards
 Calculate financial aid offer versus total cost = $ the bottom line
 Calculate your total out of pocket cost by subtracting scholarships,
grants, loans and other offers from total cost of attendance.
 Make sure it’s the best fit!
 Visit campus again
 Meet with faculty in your proposed major, and talk with current
students
 Sit in on a class or two
Planning for Success
 Take advantage of the valuable resources available to you
right now:
 Your School Counselors
 Representatives from colleges, the military and career
programs (high school visits, fairs, campus visits)
 Printed materials
 Web Resources
 When in doubt: ASK!
The Application Process
Things to Remember





Take your time
Ask for help when you need it
Do it correctly the first time
Get things in on time
Have realistic expectations
Application Strategy
Apply Broadly
 Reach: Your dream college (2)
 Match: You meet the minimum
requirements (2)
 Safety: You exceed the minimum
requirements (2)
Application Strategy
What Colleges May Look At
 Academic Record
 Breadth & Depth of courses – How many, how challenging,
which ones
 Grades
 Consistency or improvement
 Class Rank
 Standardized Test Scores
 In terms of ranges
 Out-of-Class Activities
 Depth of involvement – variety and how long
 Initiative – leadership
 Creativity, service or work
 Recommendation
The Application








The Application – online or on paper
The Fee – do you qualify for a waiver?
Official high school transcripts
High school profile
Official test scores
Letters of recommendation
Essay
Other and miscellaneous
The Application
 Personal Information – Name, Date of Birth, etc
 Mailing Address – often used to determine
residency status
 Can you make use of the Common Application?
 Be complete and honest.
Fee or No Fee?
Application fees range from $0 to more than $100
with the average being $40
 Many colleges offer a free or discounted fee for applying online
 Online applications usually require a credit or debit card for payment
 Application fees are sometimes waived at open house programs or other
special events
 Colleges will waive the application fee for families with financial need.
Fee Waiver applications are available through The College Board, NACAC,
and high school counselors
Official High School Transcripts
 High school GPA is the best predictor of academic
success in college
 Many colleges recalculate GPA based on AP or
Honors courses, core versus elective courses, and
other factors
 You have to request your transcript!
 When possible, send electronic transcripts!
Official High School Transcripts
 Official transcripts must arrive at the college in a
sealed envelope or via Parchment / Docufide from
your high school – request transcripts at least a
month before your application is due
 Some colleges may accept official hand-delivered
transcripts from you for faster processing
 Prospective student athletes must submit
transcripts to the NCAA Initial Eligibility Center
High School Profile
 Your High School Profile is
often the Admissions
Office only view of critical
data about your high
school
 It lists test score averages,
course offerings and
information about your
teachers, counselors and
administrators
Official Test Scores
 Scores are sent for free to four schools you identify when you
register for the ACT or SAT
 Most high schools receive official score reports which can be
attached to your transcript
 Never send your student score report to colleges - student
reports are not official!
 Which test does your college prefer? ACT, SAT or both?
Recommendations
Guidance Counselor Recommendations
 Many colleges require a letter of recommendation from your high school
guidance counselor
Teacher Recommendations
 How to decide whom to ask?
 How well does the teacher know you?
 Has the teacher taught you for more than one course?
 Has the teacher sponsored an extracurricular activity in
which you made a contribution?
 Do you get along with the teacher?
 Is the recommendation is required/recommended from a
specific subject-area instructor?
 If you declare an intended major, can you obtain a
recommendation from a teacher in that subject area?
Recommendations
What to provide your Recommender
 Request a recommendation at least 2 weeks in advance
 Provide the recommendation form and information on
the college
 Provided a copy of your application
 Provided a copy of your Academic Résumé
 Include a stamped, addressed envelope if needed
Academic Résumé
What to include in your Academic Résumé
 GPA
 Honors/AP courses (completed and in
progress)
 Standardized test scores
 Out-of-School Activities (offices,
length, contribution)
 Awards, Honors and Recognition
 Special Talents (sports, arts, music)
 Part Time Jobs
 Educational and Career Goals
 Family background, if needed
Essay
 Some colleges require short essays
 Make sure your essay:
 is authentic
 answers the application question
 describes your true self without narrating your transcript or
résumé
 is written by the student
 avoids spelling or grammatical errors
Essay
In other words,
your essay is
your chance to
make yourself
stand out!
Other requirements
 For Music, Theatre or Art majors a portfolio or audition may be
part of the application requirements
Are you using
“The Common Application”
Common Application: Over 450 colleges (including the University of
Michigan) use the Common Application form exclusively. All give
equal consideration to the Common Application and the college's
own form.
Additional Application Requirements?
 Application
 SAT Reasoning/ACT, some req. SAT Subject Tests
 Essay
 Teacher Recommendation
 School Report
 Midyear Report
 Supplemental forms
www.commonapp.org
Keep it organized…
 Have a college binder and
use a checklist for each
school… this one from
cappex.com or make your
own.
 Save everything each
college sends you in your
binder
 Make copies of everything
you send each college and
keep in binder
Final Thoughts…
 Give yourself Plenty of time!
 Follow a time line to give your counselor and any
recommenders plenty of time as well
 Work on the applications in steps, not all at once
at the last possible minute
 Be patient with your colleges, this process can
take 3-12 weeks!
Thank You and Good Luck!
Thomas Kasper
Past-President
Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling
Senior Admission Advisor, Eastern Michigan University Office of Admissions
tkasper@emich.edu
www.nacacnet.org
www.macac.org www.collegeisyours.com
www.zinch.com
www.cappex.com
www.collegeboard.org
www.actstudent.org
www.fastweb.org
www.knowhow2go.org