WHAT COLLEGE WANT,
WHAT YOU WANT
New Haven REACH
Mentor Check-in!
• Finalize application checklist with mentor
• Make sure all deadlines and requirements are correct
What do colleges look for?
• Students who:
• Demonstrate initiative
• Challenge themselves
• Are balanced
• Invest in their interests and passions
• What does this look like?
• Challenging course load
• Good grades, especially improvement
• Solid standardized test scores (ACT, SAT, subject tests)
• Quality involvement in extracurricular activities; DEPTH
• Community service, work experience
Colleges Seek Diversity
• Want to build a mosaic of a student body
• Show unique aspects of your personality
• Involvement in specialized extracurricular activity or
experience
• Personal essays can set you apart
• Family background
APPLICATION PROCESS
Overview of the application process, how to get started,
and the resources available to you
Common App
• www.commonapp.org
• Create an account with a safe password!
• Profile
• Family
• Education (need transcript)
• Testing
• Activities (resume)
• Writing
Additional Documents Needed
• Education section:
• Transcript
• Testing section:
• Official score reports from the Collegeboard or ACT
• Recommendation letters from two instructors
• Counselor’s school report
Writing Essays
• Activities “blurb”
• Personal essay, 650 words
Recommendations
• Teacher recommendations
• Who to ask
• When to ask
• Guidance counselor recommendations
• Get to know your guidance counselor
• Explanation of your transcript – make sure they have information
• Coach/mentor recommendations
• Not all colleges will accept
• Can be useful
Payments
• College applications are expensive—average fee is $41,
but can go from $10 to $90
• NACAC fee waivers
• Fee waivers from Collegeboard
• Also get standardized tests waived
College-specific supplements
• Many colleges require!
• May be extra essays or art samples
• Often but not always on Common App
• Check the school’s application website
• Also check the deadlines for the supplements—often later
• Call school with any questions
• Consult guidance counselor or REACH mentor
Collegeboard
• https://www.collegeboard.org/
• College search resources
• Company that administers the SAT, AP, and subject tests
SATs and ACTs
• SAT vs. ACT
• What are subject tests?
• Many colleges don’t require
• Those that do often require two
• Collegeboard fee waiver
• When to take?
• How many times?
• How to prepare?
• Practice!
• Take a prep course
• Buy self-study books
• Ask guidance counselor and teachers for
resources
Deadlines!
• Absolute deadlines
• Rolling admissions (i.e. Gateway CC)
• Check all deadlines – admission, financial aid,
supplement
• Often January 1st
Applying Early
• Early action vs. early decision
• Advantages:
• Hear back earlier
• A school you love
• Narrow down list of schools to apply to
• Disadvantages
• Less time to work on materials
• ED is binding!
• Financially bound too
• Early deadlines are usually November 1st
RESUMES
What is a resume? What do I include in mine?
What is a Resume?
• A summary of yourself!
• List of extracurricular activities, jobs, service experiences,
clubs, etc.
• What do you spend your “free” time on?
• Shows colleges what you do aside from academics
• Have to decide what’s most important to you!
• Keep it within a page long—concise
• For college apps, use for Activities section or attach in
“additional information”
Format
• Clear, organized, and concise—for a fast read!
• Group into sections:
• Education
• Jobs/Internships (Work Experience)
• Volunteering
• Clubs and Extracurriculars
• Honors and Awards
• Other Skills
• Write brief descriptions of each activity, including when
you did them, leadership positions
• Want to include numbers, tangible facts
• Only include high school activities
Format
• Include contact info (name, e-mail, phone number) and
your education info (high school, class rank if available)
• These should be at the top
• There are lots of ways to organize this nicely- find a
template you like online!
• http://www.newhavenreach.com/resume.html
• Download “Sample Resume Format 1”
• “Resume Worksheet” from previous years
Where to Start?
• Fill out the “Resume Sheet 2014”
• Make a list of everything you do or have done in high
school
• Jobs/Internships
• Volunteering
• Extracurriculars: sports, clubs, summer programs, etc.
• Awards: honor roll, etc.
• Skills: computer, languages
• Keep it recent
• Both in and outside of school
What to Include
• Needs to fit on a page and be descriptive
• Pick the activities that are most important to you!
• What commitments define you?
• Emphasize leadership positions
• Demonstrate your work habits and strengths
• Reveal what experience/skills you have
• Organize your resume sections based on your “best”
areas
• List your activities by the most important, most involved
Assignment
• Register for the SAT!
• Fill out Common App basic information sections
• Fill out resume sheet prior to independent meeting with
mentor
• NOW: Start working on resume sheet
QUESTIONS?
We’re here for you!
WWW.NEWHAVENREACH.COM
Student Resources Section
Info@NewHavenREACH.com