MANAGING THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS Chaminade College Preparatory College Kick-off November 3, 2016
It s about YOU -- NOT the Bumper Sticker The student must take ownership of this process Rankings should not define your college list There are never guarantees in college admissions Seek variety! Select your schools based on your criteria Have a reason to apply to each school
Top Factors in Admission Decisions: Most important - Academic Information: GPA, Grades, Rigor of Coursework, Trends, Test Scores (in that order). School or Community Involvement: Quality versus Quantity Personal Achievement: Demonstrated Passion and Consistency Evidence of Leadership: Going Above and Beyond. Students are evaluated within the context of their school.
What does a college application include? The Application (online) CS/UC websites Commonapp.org Coalition Application School Specific Website 1 or more essays/personal statements Teacher recommendations (usually 1-2) Not for UC or Cal State Counselor school report & recommendation Not for UC or Cal State Official high school transcript(s) Official SAT or ACT scores
The All-Important Essay Only part of the application you still control Gives you room for explanation Should reflect YOU and be YOUR voice Should share aspects of yourself that ARE NOT already included in your application
Testing Recommendations We recommend beginning test prep in early spring Shmoop, Khan Academy FREE programs! Free test prep links on Blackboard Take both SAT & ACT at least once before the end of junior year Subject tests in spring, if applicable Leave fall of senior year for retakes, if necessary Beware of testing burnout!!
Starting Your College List Add schools to your Colleges I m Thinking About list on Naviance built on ideas, curiosity, dreams, research, etc. Create a list based on academics and admission standards: REACH TARGET SAFETY The bulk of your list should be in the TARGET and SAFETY ranges. Choosing your schools wisely will give you the best options! You should be happy to attend any school on your list.
REACH SCHOOLS Schools in which your academic profile falls within or below the bottom 20-25% of admitted students (ie. your 3.3 vs. their 4.3) While these schools are long-shots, they should still be possible In other words, applying to Harvard with a 2.5 GPA is not a reach -- it s a dream! Everyone is entitled to have a dream school!
THE TARGETS Schools where your profile resembles the middle 50% of admitted students These schools offer you the greatest chance of admittance These should make up the bulk of your college list These schools generally fit you well! Getting in is only half the battle.
THE SAFETIES Schools where your academic profile resembles the top 25% of admitted students Should be good fits academically and financially You have an excellent chance of being admitted to these schools Best chance of getting scholarship opportunities You should still be happy to attend these schools!
DO YOUR RESEARCH! Start with NAVIANCE/FAMILY CONNECTION: http://connection.naviance.com/chaminade Gather information about college College RepLunch Visits Visit Campuses College Fairs or Regional Visits Case Studies Night March 23, 2017 @6:30pm Utilize your counselor We are actually a big part of your application process.
NAVIANCE SCATTERGRAMS Naviance scattergrams allow you to explore options and see whether schools might be reaches, targets, or probables for you. It also allows you to see the specific pattern of Chaminade student acceptances at a certain school.
Don t forget about Blackboard! Important announcements are posted here regularly. Documents and power points will be posted in the Documents tabs as a resource for you. Students, make it a habit to check this page!!
BLACKBOARD External Links
MORE RESOURCES There is really no way to create your list without researching. You must put in the time! Other suggested websites: www.collegeboard.org www.princetonreview.com www.collegeprowler.com College Navigator (Natn l. Center for Education Statistics) http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
Never Underestimate the College Visit! Actually seeing a campus for yourself is very powerful. Take advantage of different opportunities to see campuses in person BEFORE applying whenever possible! Local college tours in the spring for Juniors only Chaminade-hosted college tours in the fall AND spring Spring 2017 Colorado Fall 2017 Midwest Family vacations, weekends, days off, and holiday breaks.
College Tour Itineraries Spring 2017 Northeast Tour: Tuesday, April 4th - University of Colorado, Boulder Wednesday, April 5th - Colorado State, Fort Collins - University of Northern Colorado Thursday, April 6th - University of Colorado, Colorado Springs - Colorado College Friday, April 7th - University of Denver - Regis University Fall 2017 Midwest Tour Tentative List of Schools Notre Dame University of Indiana University of Michigan Loyola Chicago University of Dayton Northwestern
JUNIOR WORKSHOP SERIES Creating Your College List and Choosing a Major January 18 OR January 30 Your Senior Year Timeline. and What to Do About Those Letters of Recommendation! February 13 OR February 22 Essay Writing Tips February 27 OR March 13 All workshops are held during X-block at 2:15pm in the Media Center
Summer Before Senior Year Summer programs, college courses, internships, research opportunities, employment, or volunteering. Brainstorm college essay ideas or explore applications..but don t stress over them yet. Get a leg up by coming to one of our summer Application Bootcamps!
APPLICATION BOOTCAMP We will offer 2 different sessions for incoming Seniors. Students will be able to register for one of the sessions through the Chaminade Center for Excellence online registration site. SESSION 1: TBD SESSION 2: TBD
What is your role as a parent? Be Your Student s Biggest Cheerleader Summer before senior year = Naviance Brag Sheet Encourage Your Student to Take Ownership Have discussions with him or her about balance Don t let college conversations take over! Make a weekly time to check in Listen to their words AND actions Take your student to visit schools on his/her list when possible
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