The College
aDmissions
Process
How Many Schools To Apply To
•No “right” number
•“Diversify” you applications
•“Safe” schools
•“Match” schools
•“Reach” schools
•Be sure to adhere to deadlines
•When requesting transcripts allow at least 10
working days before the due date
Decision
Factors
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Size of school
Location
Distance from home
Activities/Athletics
Public/Private
Coed/Single sex
Entrance requirements
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Entrance difficulty
Reputation of School
Majors available
Commitment to major
by school
• Cost
• Campus personality
Benefits to Going on a Campus
Tour or Interview
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Indicates your level of interest
Allows you to get beyond the statistics
Puts a “face” onto the college
Gives the college an opportunity to get to know
you on a more personal level
• Use days off this fall (Sept. 29th or week of Nov.
7th) to make visits. Be sure to “sign-in” when you
visit so the college knows of your interest.
How Colleges Evaluate Candidates:
• Course selection (difficulty, extended languages, extended math
& science, honors & AP courses)
• Grades/GPA/Rank in Class
• Sat scores
– Take the SAT in the spring of your junior year and the fall of
your senior year
– Check schools for SAT Subject Test requirements
– Review for the SAT or take an SAT prep course. Scores will
improve with practice ( SAT Prep Course available at BTHS
at a great rate!)
• ACT Option
• Activities- quality rather than quantity
• Essay
• Letters of Recommendation- ask early and provide a resume
Simplifying the Application
Process
• Use the Common Application-used by 460
colleges and universities-www.commonapp.org
• Apply online- preferred by virtually every college.
Be sure to request that your transcript and any
letters of recommendation be sent from the
Counseling Office
• Applying to Rutgers? You must apply online and
self-report your graded. No official transcript
accepted until after HS graduation
TRANSCRIPT REQUEST
NAME:_________________________ DATE REQUESTED: ______________
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST TWO (2 WEEKS PRIOR TO DEADLINE
1. NAME AND ADDRESS OF COLLEGE OR SCHOLARSHIP:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
DATE APPLICATION DUE:
If submitted online, check here: ___________
Essay Required: YES____ NO:____ If Essay was submitted on-line, check here: ___________
List all Teacher Recommendations to be included: ____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
List all other forms to be included with your transcript: ________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. NAME AND ADDRESS OF COLLEGE OR SCHOLARSHIP:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Etc. Etc.
Students are responsible for requesting letters of recommendation from teachers. Be sure to give teachers sufficient time to return their
letters of recommendation to the counseling office
*APPLICATIONS WILL BE RETURNED IF ANY ITEMS ARE MISSING*
THERE IS A $3.00 CHARGE FOR ALL TRANSCRIPTS SENT OUT CERTIFIED MAIL
Hearing From the Colleges
• Regular Decision (April 1)
• Rolling Admission (reviewed as received)
• Early Decision (early application &
commitment)
• Early Action (early application & no
commitment)
Where To Go From Here
www.burltwpsch.org
Go to schools – click on the High School then click on Guidance
On the counseling page, scroll down to find the following
• College Open Houses
• Career/ College/ Financial Aid Web Sites
• Check out the BTHS Scholarship Bulletin under “Scholarship
Information”
• Check out links for “College Information”, Application Essay
Guide” & Tips for Applying to College
Seniors Need to Complete
By December 2011
• Complete applications on the schools to which you
plan to apply
• Check to see if the schools you are applying to
accept the Common Application
www.commonapp.org
• Take the SAT or ACT by December
• Take the SAT Subject Test if required by college
• Check the Scholarship Bulletin regularly and apply
for any scholarships that you are eligible for
• Register for a scholarship search on a web engine
such as Fastweb www.fastweb.com
FAFSA
Get started on applying for
financial aid by:
• Going to www.fafsa.ed.gov
• You and your parent/ guardian apply for a
pin number
• Download the 2012-13 FAFSA on the web
worksheet
Students who wish to compete in
College Athletics (Division I or II)
• Register with NCAA Eligibility Center
(www.eligibilitycenter.org)
• The eligibility center is responsible for certifying all
college-bound student-athletes wanting to compete
in NCAA college athletics. This is done in two
ways:
•Academic Certification & Amateurism Certification
•Do you meet the eligibility requirements
•Have you kept your amateur status?
JUNIORS – Things to Do
• Take the PSAT in October (October 15th)
Register in the Counseling Office- $20 fee
• Take the SAT or ACT one or two times
between December and June
• Check the Scholarship and Open House
information
• Register for a scholarship search on a web
engine such as Fastweb
(www.fastweb.com)
• Meet with your Counselor often
SOPHOMORES & FRESHMEN
Things to do
• Take a challenging curriculum
and excel in your coursework
• Begin to familiarize yourself with colleges,
careers and scholarship opportunities
through the various websites
• Consider taking the PSAT on October 15th
• Meet with your Counselor often
UPCOMING EVENTS
• October 15th – PSAT @ BTHS – 8:00 AM
• November 6th – National College Fair in
Philadelphia
• December 3rd- SAT and SAT Subject Test at
BTHS
• December 8th – “Ultimate Money Skills-College
Funding” presentation at BTHS – 6:30 PM in the
HS Cafe
• January – FAFSA Workshop – Date TBD
Are You – Or Would You Like to be an
NJ STAR?
• Students in the top 15% of their class at the
beginning of Senior year may qualify you as an NJ
STAR!!
• Qualifies you to attend BCC tuition-free for up to
five semesters, depending on state funding
• NJSTARS students who earn an associates degree
with a 3.25 GPA and meet other eligibility
requirements may qualify for an NJSTARS II
award which can be used to supplement tuition
costs at a NJ public college or university
• Go to www.hesaa.org, click on the
Students/Parents link, then click on the
• Welcome to Ms. Kati Spurrier
• Senior Recruiting Specialist, Burlington
County College