The College Application Process

By Jeri Williar

College Application Process•The majority of colleges prefer online applications•Use the Common Application when an option. www.commonapp.org.•Check the websites of colleges to see their deadlines – pay attention to these deadlines!•The majority of colleges require an essay. The college essay is a critical factor. Following directions and stay on topic! Proofread!

College Essays

• The majority of colleges require an essay. The college essay is a critical factor. Following directions and stay on topic! Proofread!

• All applications require an application fee and the majority can now be paid online. You may also mail payment directly to the college -if you do so – make sure that you attach a letter with your name & Date of Birth or Student ID (if the college has assigned one )so that your fee will be applied to the correct application.

• Make sure that you list all of your activities, community service, work, athletics, honors and any leadership roles! This is the time to brag about yourself and your accomplishments!

• Make sure that you submit recommendations – if required.

• Request your transcript to be sent. Form needed is in your packet.

I’m #

1!

Hurray for ME!

• Keep track of your user ID and password - if possible use the same one.

• Request your test scores be sent (ACT and/or SAT). Your scores are listed on your transcripts and some schools will use this information but others will want official scores sent. • You can do this by going on line to www.collegeboard.com for SAT scores and www.act.org for ACT scores.• You should apply to 3-5 colleges!

Letters of Recommendation

• Many colleges will require a letter from your Guidance Counselor or a form to be completed – if there is a specific form – please make sure that you download it and complete your section. Please submit this information two weeks in advance.

• Some colleges will require a teacher or a personal recommendation. It is courteous to give the teacher or person at least two weeks to do this. It is also nice to give them an envelope that is addressed and stamped so that it is easy for them to mail (this is not necessary with the Guidance recommendation)

SAT / ACT

• Make sure that you have registered to take them again if you need to do so. It is best to take them as early as possible so that you do not miss an application deadline. To register for the SAT go to www.collegeboard.com and for the ACT go to www.act.org.

• There are some colleges that require SAT II’s. If they require them, it will be listed on their website.

• If you need to have scores sent directly from SAT – go to their website,

www.collegeboard.com and if you need to have scores sent directly

from ACT – go to their website, www.act.org

Scholarships

• As we receive information regarding scholarships, we are placing this information on the Guidance page on the SJA website: www.sjaweb.org. We will also have copies in Guidance, please come in if you have any questions regarding any of these scholarships.

• We do also receive scholarship information from specific colleges at times and are posting this information on the website as well.

• FAFSA form is online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. This is one form that is required to apply for financial aid for all colleges. Each college may have their own form for you to complete regarding financial aid. You will need to contact the college directly regarding this. I will host a Financial Aid meeting on December 6th.• You will be able to apply for the Bright Futures Scholarship as of December 1. The website is: www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org. I will give you more information when we get closer to December.

FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIPS https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/ua/sawstua_uaform.asp

APPLY AFTER DECEMBER 1ST FOR A FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIP

FLORIDA ACADEMIC SCHOLAR REQUIREMENTS: Grade Point Average (GPA): 3.5 weighted GPA using the credits listed below, combined with the test scores and community service hours listed below. Weighting for more challenging, higher level courses is prescribed by law as .50 per course per year. (Note: GPAs are not rounded.)

Required Credits: Courses must include 16 credits of college preparatory academic courses. 4 English (3 with substantial writing) 4 Mathematics (Algebra I level and above) 3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab) 3 Social Science 2 World Language (sequential, in the same language) 16 Credits (May use up to two additional optional credits from courses in the academic areas listed above and/or AP, IB, or AICE fine arts courses to raise the GPA if necessary )

Community Service: 100 hours, as approved by the district or private school

Test Scores : •Best combined score of 1280 SAT I/SAT Reasoning Test (based on the combined Critical Reading and Math sections only) or best composite score of 28 ACT (excluding the writing section) •The writing sections for both the SAT and ACT will not be used in the composite •SAT Subject Tests exams are not used for Bright Futures eligibility •ACT scores are rounded up for scores with .5 and higher; SAT scores do not require rounding •Sections of the SAT or ACT from different test dates may be used to meet the test criteria• For spring eligibility evaluations, test dates through January 31 will be admissible •For summer eligibility evaluations, test dates through June 30 will be admissible

Grade Point Average (GPA): 3.0 weighted GPA using the credits listed below, combined with the test scores and community service hours listed below. Weighting for more challenging, higher level courses is prescribed by law as .50 per course per year. (Note: GPAs are not rounded.)

Required Credits Courses: must include 16 credits of college preparatory academic courses.

4 English (3 with substantial writing) 4 Mathematics (Algebra I level and above) 3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab) 3 Social Science 2 World Language (sequential, in the same language) 16 Credits

May use up to two additional optional credits from courses in the academic areas listed above and/or AP, IB, or AICE fine arts courses to raise the GPA if necessary

Community Service: 75 hours, as approved by the district or private school

Test Scores: • Best combined score of 1020 SAT I/SAT Reasoning Test (based on the combined Critical Reading and Math • sections only) or best composite score of 22 ACT (excluding the writing section) • The writing sections for both the SAT and ACT will not be used in the composite • SAT Subject Tests exams are not used for Bright Futures eligibility • ACT scores are rounded up for scores with .5 and higher; SAT scores do not require rounding • Sections of the SAT or ACT from different test dates may be used to meet the test criteria • For spring eligibility evaluations, test dates through January 31 will be admissible • For summer eligibility evaluations, test dates through June 30 will be admissible

FLORIDA MEDALLION SCHOLAR REQUIREMENTS:

• Always call the college financial aid office if you have questions.

• Remember – apply, apply, apply!!!!! No amount is to small!

Athletics

• Do not forget to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse if you are planning to play sports or hope to be recruited by a college. The website is www.ncaa.org. You will need to register online, pay a fee and then bring a copy of the agreement to the Guidance Department and we will send your transcript for you.

Important Facts to Remember

• Early Decision is binding. If you are admitted under an Early Decision Program, you are truly committing yourself to that college. You should only apply Early Decision if that college is beyond doubt your first choice.

• Early Action is not binding – you will just be notified at an earlier date.

• Date Specific Admissions – colleges publish dates to apply by and dates that you will be notified as to the decision.

• Rolling Admissions means that applications are evaluated and a decision is made as soon as they have received all of the necessary information.

Accepted!!!

• When offered admission to any college, you have the right to defer your decision until May 1st. You must request the extension from the colleges. This should be done in writing.

• You are allowed three college days! Use them wisely!

• Pay attention to details! There are many deadlines in the process and they vary from school to school.

These general rules apply to all college and university application procedures. The most important thing to remember is to be sure to check the procedures/policies at the schools to which you are applying.

Please do not hesitate to ask questions! It is never a problem and no question is too small!

SAT® Test Dates & DeadlinesU.S. registration dates and deadlines

Go to www.collegeboard.com to register.

St. Joseph Academy CEEB code: 101480

SAT TEST DATE REGISTRATION DEADLINE LATE REGISTRATION

October 6, 2012 September 7, 2012 September 21, 2012

November 3, 2012 October 4, 2012 October 19, 2012

December 1, 2012 November 1, 2012 November 16, 2012

January 26, 2013 December 28, 2012 January 11, 2013

March 9, 2013 February 8, 2013 February 22, 2013

May 4, 2013 April 5, 2013 April 19, 2013

June 1, 2013 May 2, 2013 May 17, 2013

     

for more information, visit www.collegeboard.com

Go to www.actstudent.org to register.

St. Joseph Academy CEEB code: 101480

ACT TEST DATE REGISTRATION DEADLINE LATE REGISTRATION

September 8, 2012 August 17, 2012 August 18-24, 2012

October 27, 2012 September 21, 2012 September 22-October 5, 2012

December 8, 2012 November 2, 2012 November 3-16, 2012

February 9, 2013 January 11, 2013 January 12-18, 2013

April 13, 2013 March 8, 2013 March 9-22, 2013

June 8, 2013 May 3, 2013 May 4-7, 2013

     

for more information, visit www.act.org

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