The Eagle’s Guide to College (Senior Information Guide)
TYPES OF ADMISSION A. Deferred Admission: This type of admission allows a student to delay enrollment in college for up to a year while still accepting an offer of admission. B. Early Decision: The early decision option allows students who apply early to receive offers of admission earlier. This option is a binding agreement in which the student is committed to enroll if offered admission. Typically, early decision graduates are sure of the school they want to attend and closely match that school’s academic profile.
C. Early Action: Students apply earlier and are notified about the admissions decision earlier but are not committed to attend. D. Rolling Admission: Student applications are reviewed as they are received and students are notified shortly after an admission decision has been made. Because of this process, schools with a rolling admission will not have specific deadlines for applications or notifications. E. Open Admission: Schools with an open admission policy will accept any high school graduate in good standing.
RECOMMENDATIONS Many colleges prefer that students send in only two letters of recommendation from teachers. Teachers should always be given the courtesy of two or three weeks to write your letters of recommendation. Remember, they work with many students besides seniors, and this is a courtesy to give ample time to write an effective letter of recommendation. Approach a teacher with whom you have a good relationship to write a recommendation for you. Do not ask someone to write a recommendation for you just because he or she is an important person and have no relationship with you. For the most effective recommendation letters, give the person a resume of your school career and/or a completed Senior Autobiography form for them to have information about you. Make sure recommendations are on file with your counselor for them to be used throughout the school year for college applications and scholarships. Please write a thank you note to the individuals that provide your recommendations.
SECONDARY SCHOOL REPORTS/COUNSELOR FORMS Various colleges and universities have a secondary school report/counselor form that should be completed by your school counselor. This form can typically be found at the end of the online application, on a separate link, or on the paper application. The secondary school report must accompany your request for a transcript. Colleges and universities may not consider your application complete without this report from guidance. Please remember to complete the student portion before submitting the request. Christopher Newport University
Randolph Macon College
George Mason University
The College of William and Mary
George Washington University
University of Mary Washington
Hampden Sydney College
University of Richmond
Hollins University
University of Virginia
James Madison University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Longwood University
Virginia Military Institute
Lynchburg College
Virginia State University
Norfolk State University
Virginia Tech
Old Dominion University
Virginia Union University
Radford University
Washington & Lee University
Schools not listed above may also have a Secondary School Report.
ESSAYS: Tell them who you are and what makes you tick!
Put a lot of effort into your essay. This could “tip the balance” among equally qualified candidates.
Craft your essay to the specific questions asked on the application making sure the response would only fit your personality.
Carefully proofread and spell check.
Do not regurgitate your resume!
Give a personal response; make it unique. DO’s
DON’T’s
Do think “small” and wr ite about something that you know about.
Don’t wr ite what you think other s want to r ead.
Do r eveal your self in your wr iting.
Don’t exagger ate or wr ite to impr ess
Do show r ather than tell. By giving examples and illustr ating your topic, you help bring it to life.
Don’t neglect the technical par t of your essay
Do wr ite in your own “voice” and style.
Don’t r amble: say what you have to say and conclude.
85% of applicants write essays about their grandparents, a mission trip, the winning shot, a trip overseas, or discuss the contents of their resume. Try to be original and spice things up!
FINANCIAL AID/SCHOLARHIPS Financial Aid
Scholarships
U.S. Department of Education: www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov or 1-800-433-3243
Students may access Landstown High School scholarship information by visiting the LHS website and clicking the guidance link, by visiting the guidance office and referencing information on the scholarship table, (which is updated monthly) and by accessing Scholarship 15 on Edmodo at edmo.do/j/ktpd7e. Joining code is 3z4yva. Scholarship Central is also located on the LHS website; Scholarship Central incorporates city-wide scholarship information. A junior/senior email list will also provide you with scholarship information. Students may sign up in guidance for biweekly email blasts.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): www.fafsa.ed.gov (This form cannot be submitted until January 1st of the student’s senior year). All students must complete this form for many college financial aid offerings. We encourage all seniors and their parents/guardians to complete the FAFSA form. Students may meet with the ACCESS Advisor (Ms. Hechtkopf) on Wednesday-Friday from 8AM-3PM. Her office is located at the entrance of the 300 hall.
ACCESS Financial Aid Workshop: November 5, 2014, at 6PM in the Auditorium Junior/Senior Information Night: November 5, 2014, at 7PM in the Auditorium
REQUESTING A TRANSCRIPT It is your responsibility to know the application deadline for each school to which you are applying. Complete your section of the application carefully and completely. It is strongly recommended that your application is typed or submitted online (it may be the only mental picture the admissions committee will have of you). You will be required to mail your portion of the application. You should request an official transcript from the guidance office to be sent to each college to which you are applying.
A minimum of ten working days is required for processing time.
If a counselor’s letter is requested, you must complete and submit a Senior Autobiography form or resume to your counselor at the time of request. Remember, we receive many requests; we would like the time needed for giving you the best service! There is a $2.00 charge for each transcript.
Information for Student Athletes Students who plan to play sports in college should speak with their coaches to get advice on the potential for college-level recruitment and what steps they recommend athletes take to pursue playing on the college level. If you are a prospective Division I or Division II athlete, the NCAA Clearinghouse must certify your academic eligibility. Please see the NCAA Website for specific details: www.eligibilitycenter.org The only way to register is online. Go to the above website and click on the phone in the upper left corner to begin the registration process. Once you have registered online, come to the guidance office to request your transcript to be sent to NCAA.
To find which courses in your high school are considered “core courses” by the NCAA, complete the following steps: Go to the NCAA Clearinghouse website: www.eligibilitycenter.org Click on NCA A College Bound StudentAthletes Click on Resources, then US students, then List of NCAA Courses Enter your high school code number (472273 for Landstown H.S). Click on Search, Select Show all Subject Areas
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTING SAT Test Dates Registration Deadlines
On Time Fee $50.00 Late Fee $27.00
ACT Test Dates
Registration Deadlines
On Time Fee (no writing) $35 (plus writing $50.50 Late Fee add $21.00
11-Oct
8-Nov
6-Dec
24-Jan
14-Mar
2-May
6-Jun
12-Sep
9-Oct
6-Nov
29-Dec
13-Feb
6-Apr
8-May
30-Sep
28-Oct
24-Nov
13 -Jan
3-Mar
21-Apr
27-May
13-Sep
25-Oct
13-Dec
7-Feb
18-Apr
13-Jun
8-Aug Aug.9– Aug 22
19-Sep Sept. 20Oct 3
7-Nov
9-Jan
13-Mar
8-May
Nov. 8-21
Jan 10-16
Mar 14-27
May 9-22
SAT online registration: www.sat.org/register ACT website: www.actstudent.org/start When registering, code in the colleges to which you are applying so that scores are sent directly to the desired schools and are considered official. It is the student’s responsibility to have official scores sent to colleges. Community College Placement Tests: These tests are required by the community colleges and can be scheduled through the community college. LHS CEEB Code: 472273 It is recommended, at the very least, that students take college admissions tests once in the spring of their junior year and once in the fall of their senior year. *Please see the ACCESS Advisor (Ms. Hechtkopf) to see if you qualify for SAT/ACT and college application waivers.
COLLEGE VISITS Visit the campus
Take a campus tour.
Eat a meal.
Visit a class.
Visit the student union and bookstore.
See the dorms.
Visit the athletic facilities.
When to visit? The best time to visit is during Spring Break of a student’s junior year or the summer between 11th and 12th grade. Make sure to receive prior permission from administration and proof of your visit from the school’s office of admissions.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES
What is the biggest reason most students choose this school?
What are the most popular majors? Are there any five-year Master’s programs?
What are the security precautions taken on campus?
What do most students do on the weekends?
What percentage of students live on campus?
Are students required to have their own computer?
What opportunities are available for internships, work experience, travel abroad and research?
Who teaches class….professors or graduate students?
What is the student/teacher ratio?
How well do professors know their students?
Does your school have a 24-hour computer lab?
