ALL college applications are due into the counseling office by December 1.

Be sure to visit LOTS of colleges!  It is difficult to know where you want to go  without a visit.    Please pay attention to whether you see yourself at a large,  medium or small sized school.  Also note what type of setting is inviting to you:

•      rural, urban or a college town.

 All students have a total of 5 days that will be excused for the purpose of  visiting colleges.  Please bring a note to the counseling office, signed by a parent at least one day prior to the planned  visit.

Some schools require letters of recommendation.  You will need to give your teachers or counselor at least two weeks notice to write a letter.
          When asking an adult for a letter, please provide them with a resume.

****Most schools have a COLLEGE PREP FORM or a COUNSELOR FORM.  Please download this and turn it into your counselor so they can complete their portion and mail this along with your official transcript.

Your application will not be complete without this information.

There are two ways to apply to college:

Option #1 - Apply online

This is the most popular way that students apply to college. You can access the applicatios on the college websites. Please follow these guidelines:

• Read the application thorougly
• Complete the application
• Pay any fees
• Print the Counselor Form (sometimes called Secondary School Report) and turn this into your counselor two weeks prior to the due date
• Print any teacher recommendation forms and give these to your teacher at least two weeks in advance of any due dates
• Submit the application
• Advise the Counseling office that you need a transcrip sent; bring an addressed envelope with sufficient postage
• Recommendations are mailed with the transcript

Option # 2 - Paper Applications

Obtain a paper application from the college or by downloading it. Complete this and bring to the Counseling office. Packet will be mailed along with the transcript and any necessary recommendations.

 

Application Strategy
Students generally apply to three or four colleges or universities.  What is critical in developing a college list, however, is that the final list includes schools in each of the following categories: reach, realistic and safety.
Reach	A student’s top choice college. A reach refers to colleges that generally accept students with higher GPAs and College Board scores than those of the applicant. It is fine in this group to include one or two “long shots.”
Realistic	This category refers to colleges that generally accept half or more of the students with GPAs and College Board scores that are similar to those of the applicant. Realistic colleges are those at which the probability of admission is even to slightly better than even.
Safety	This category refers to colleges that almost always accept students with GPAs and College Board scores that are comparable to those of the candidate. Safety colleges are those which the highly likely to certain.
Application Procedures
Once you have selected the schools in which you are interested, the first step is to request the applications from those schools (or access these on line). It is extremely important that you read and follow directions contained in the information you receive from schools. You will receive instructions on how to fill out application forms and will be told exactly what additional materials you will need to submit in support of your application. If you need help, see your counselor. You have the responsibility for knowing specific details applicable to each school to which you are applying. Make sure you check deadlines, admission requirements, tests to be taken, etc. Fill out the applications as legibly as possible. Type, use your computer or use a black or blue ink pen. The Application Package: Putting It Together There are two parts to the application package: the student portion and the high school portion. The student should fill out his/her portion of the application and mail it to the college. The school’s portion of the application, or transcript package, is mailed from the Counseling Office. The transcript package can include:     1 A transcript of high school courses with grades and grade point averages.   2 A counselor statement.       3 Secondary School Report for the college’s application.