Basics of the College Admission Process

1. Basics of the College Admission Process Doug Wiegand Rising Sun High School

2. Getting Started • Finding the “right” school for you • Environment • Academic Program ( No Marine Biology at North Dakota State) • Cost • Proximity to Parents (and Vice Versa) • Selectivity (How tough is it to get in)

3. College Shopping • Take your own tour after the admissions office tour • Acknowledge your reactions to a campus visit • Process these reactions with your child (in the car, they are trapped) • Think of this process as the same as buying a house • In reality, your child is moving there

4. Admission Options Regular Decision • Receive a decision by a clear date • Submit an application by a certain date • Non-binding commitment • Decide by May 1st

5. Rolling Admission • Applications are reviewed throughout the year • Decisions are made as applications are submitted • Non-binding commitment • May 1st is usually the deadline

6. Early Action • Apply early with the intent to receive a decision early • Early action is usually about two months prior to the regular decision deadline • Non-binding commitment • Still have until May 1st to decide

7. Early Decision • You have made a commitment to this school as your first and only choice • 100% sure that this is where you want to go to school • Deadlines are early (Usually Nov.1st ) • Commitment is binding • Breaking the commitment would make other Colleges/Universities wary of you.

8. Application Tips • Apply Online • Many Colleges/Universities are paperless, or as paperless as possible • Send a Thank You card to the representative if you meet with one. • Approach this process as if it is another class

9. Important Dates • Early November- Early Decision/Action Deadlines • November/December- Filling out Applications (mostly online) • December- Last time to take the SAT’s for 4 year college purposes • Financial Aid/FAFSA Workshop

10. Important Dates • January is FAFSA-time • February- Mid-Year Transcripts sent to College Admission offices • March- Student Aid Report (SAR) • March/April- Acceptance Letters • April- Decisions and Deposits • May- Avoid Senioritis • Graduate

11. “What’s a parent to do?” • Be Involved in the process • Counselor/Student/Parent meetings • Visit Colleges with your child • Help organize the paperwork, but let your child do the majority • “peeking over their shoulder”

12. Student and Parent Responsibility • Organization of Materials • Payment of application fees • Deciding where to go to school • Payment of Tuition, Room and Board • Managing the due dates and deadlines

13. School Responsibility • Transcripts $2.00 per transcript • Example; 3 Transcripts= $6.00 • Completing School Report on Admission Application • Transcripts and School Reports are sent by mail and electronically by Guidance • Transcripts become unofficial if opened by someone other than college official

14. Shared Responsibilitya.k.a. “Working Together”

15. Thank You!!! • Good luck in College!!!