College Admissions and Applications 101

1. College Admissions and Applications 101 Suzette Stille Director of Admissions College of Charleston stilles@cofc.edu 843-953-8148

2. Topics for Discussion • Considering options • College Visits • The Admissions Process • Trends and Tips • Important Factors • Transcripts • Standardized Testing • Essays, Recommendations, Activities • Admissions Decisions • Scholarships /Financial Aid • Helpful Websites • Questions

3. Considering Your Options Begin by thinking about the characteristics that are important to you ……what learning environment is best? What social, cultural and physical atmosphere do you prefer? Size, distance from home? Don’t have any idea? Talk to friends and family members about their college experience Familiarize yourself with college campuses whenever you have the opportunity. What do you like/dislike? It’s about finding the right FIT for you, not anyone else!

4. Now, get out there! • Summer • Pros: More time to see schools, Less high school classes to miss • Cons: School not in busy session so not realistic view, List may be very long • Fall • Pros: School in session so more realistic • Cons: Missing high school classes/work • After acceptances (usually Spring) • Pros: Less schools to visit (maybe!), More time to research • Cons: Late for visits, May miss out on seeing some other options • Second visits: Helps you make the final decision

5. College Visit Tips • Be prepared! Bring umbrellas, comfortable shoes, change for meters, cash for garages, etc. • Be on time. Allow time for parking and getting to the Admissions Office or Visit Center. • Research school/stats/majors before arrival. • Ask questions you can’t find the answer to on the website. • Talk to current students and Admissions front desk staff. • Eat the food on campus. • Get the contact information for your Admissions Counselor. • Write down your impressions right away! • Do the “bench test”

6. The Admissions Reality • It’s never been easier to get into college • It’s never been harder to get into college

7. The Admissions Landscape • College enrollment in the US is at an all-time high. Total college enrollment is expected to continue to increase until at least 2017. • Largest HS graduating class peaked in 2009. Number declines until 2017 when it rises again. • Almost all colleges are reporting record numbers of applications, but because of competition with other colleges, more students are being admitted than ever. • Students are adding a “financial safety” to their list of college options.

8. What factors are most important in the admissions decision?

9. Transcripts • What are we looking for? • Strength and rigor of courses – AP, IB, Honors • Variety and depth in academic subjects • Consistent grades throughout high school • Overall GPA, rank in class, trends in grades • Full senior year schedule

10. Standardized Testing • SAT vs. ACT • Take BOTH! • Look at equivalency chart to compare scores (example: 26 ACT = 1200 SAT). • Electronic submission directly from testing service is fastest. • Best preparation for these tests is a rigorous and broad college prep program. • Writing component

11. Essay • Answer the question. • Use the appropriate amount of words. If the max is 250, write close to that. • Be yourself (one of your only opportunities to do so)! • Proofread it yourself (read it out loud). • Let someone else read it. • Be open to suggestions but keep it true to you. • Use the right college/university’s name (double check)!

12. Letters of Recommendation • Academic letters are best (teacher or counselor), then employers, mentors, coaches. • Check if required. • Check number required. • Do not send more than required, usually no more than two. Good way for us to get insight into your attitude, motivation and ability.

13. Extra Curricular Activities • Quality over quantity. • No right or wrong choices. • Highlight leadership. • Great to tie into essay or free write section if an activity is important to you. • Look at what is offered as extracurricular at the college to see if you will have things to do that interest you outside the classroom.

14. Miscellaneous Application Components • Interviews • Some schools will require. For others, it is optional and not used for admissions. Make sure you know which kind you are going into. • Be on time and dressed appropriately. • Bring questions and be prepared to answer questions about yourself. • Speak clearly and professionally but still be you! • Check if particular programs require additional materials or specific application deadlines. • Auditions • Portfolios

15. Tips for the Application • Biographical Information • Use full legal name for all correspondence • Make new e-mail address for college applications and check often • Sound professional • sarahmiller2013@gmail.com vs. QTPie100@aol.com • Save everything! • Document conversations and submission of documents • Stay ahead of the rush!

16. Admissions Tips • Treat all correspondence with a school as a first impression and a reflection of yourself. • E-mails, phone calls, online chat sessions, letters, applications, etc. • Be proactive! • Always include your first name and student ID number in all correspondence so you are easily identified. • FERPA: • Keep notes about all of your conversations. Try to communicate with the same person each time.

17. Tips for Parents • DO attend college fairs and college visits with your student. • DO help your child stay organized, and follow application deadlines. • DO keep stress levels under control • DON’T let the college process overtake your life. • DON’T discuss college issues at home everyday. • DON’T take admissions advice from friends. Learn about the process and ask questions of professionals. • DON’T forget that your children are just teenagers. • DON’T do the search, selection, and application process for your child.

18. Tips for Parents Trust that it will be fine in the end!

19. Application Deadlines:Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision* Early Decision (ED) • Binding. • Can only apply to one school ED. • Must withdraw applications to all other schools if you are accepted to your ED school. • Advantages: Indicates to a college that they are your first choice and that if admitted you will attend. Typically the percentage of students accepted in ED is significantly larger than those admitted in early action or regular decision. • Disadvantages: Binding yourself to a school can present problems if you change your mind or if something suddenly occurs that changes your situation (finances, the need to stay closer to home etc.). *Options, terminology, definitions, & advantages will vary by school. ASK.

20. Application Deadlines:Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision* Early Action (aka Early Notification) • Non-Binding. • Not required to withdraw other applications. • Advantages: You will receive notification of your admissions decision earlier than regular decision applicants, typically sometime in December or January of your senior year. You then have a significant amount of time to compare financial offers and make a second visit. • Disadvantages: The Admissions Committee will not see any grades from senior year. Test scores from later tests may not be considered. *Options, terminology, definitions, & advantages will vary by school. ASK.

21. Application Deadlines:Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision* Regular Decision (RD) • Non-Binding. • Not required to withdraw other applications. • Advantages: Keeping your options open. Regular deadlines typically allow students to submit transcripts with their senior grades attached. You will also have more time to take additional standardized tests. • Disadvantages: Deadlines are usually later and the pool of applicants can become more competitive as the year moves forward and the class begins to fill up. Notification of admission usually comes in March or April which limits your time to decide where to attend. *Options, terminology, definitions, & advantages will vary by school. ASK.

22. Admissions Decisions • Accepted – Welcome to college! • Denied – No thank you. • Deferred – We need more information to make a decision. • Waitlisted – We like you but you are not yet admitted. Once we start getting enrollment deposits from accepted students, we will reevaluate if we have room for more. • Usually need to indicate if you would like to stay on Waitlist. • Waitlist decisions (to accepted students off the waitlist) typically come after May 1st. You should make other plans in case you do not hear about your status until after May 1. Be prepared to go elsewhere. May 1: National Decision Deadline. You must have paid your tuition deposit to the school you will attend.

23. Scholarships and Financial Aid • BE PROACTIVE! No one is just going to hand you money for college. • Learn the lingo: • Merit-based aid (scholarships): based entirely on academic performance. • Need-based aid (financial aid): based on need. • FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Based on your taxes and used to determine your “need” based on your EFC. • EFC: Estimated Family Contribution. Determined by the college/university from your FAFSA. • Visit the net price calculator and/or FAFSA forecaster to get estimates of costs

24. Deadlines • Early Notification (Early Action) • Application due: 11/1 • Notification of decision: 12/30 • Regular Decision • Application Due: 2/1 • Notification of decision: 4/1 or before • Scholarship Deadline: 12/1 • Applications for admission must be submitted by 12/1 to be considered for overall Merit based scholarships regardless of major.

25. Admissions Stats • Profile of a typical admitted student (in-state) • GPA: Strong A/B+ range • SAT: 1090-1240 (Critical Reading and Math only; Writing portion is considered) • ACT: 23-27 (Composite score only; Writing required) • Class Rank: top 30% • Strong curriculum: Honors, AP, IB, Dual-Enrollment • 3 years of foreign language

26. Helpful websites • Financial Aid • www.college.gov • NCAA • http://www.ncaa.org/ • SAT/ACT test dates • http://sat.collegeboard.com/register/sat-dates • http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html • College Matchmaker: • www.Collegeboard.com • Zinch, Cappex, etc.

27. Questions? Suzette Stille Director of Admissions College of Charleston stilles@cofc.edu 843-953-8148