140 likes | 150 Vues
This article provides essential information for college applications and essays, including selecting colleges, SAT/ACT scores, recommendations, and financial aid. It also offers resources and tips for personal statements and the application process.
E N D
College Applications & Essays AP Language and Composition
Things to think about now... • What colleges do you want to apply to? • Safety, match, reach • The numbers • GPA, SAT/ACT/AP scores • Recommedations • Time
Numbers • GPA requirements • Use collegeconfidential.com & others to get a profile of the average scores accepted at different schools • You have control over your scores • And you can always supplement weaker areas with quality essays, activity descriptions, and recommendations.
The SAT and the ACT • Similarities and differences - a matter of personality • Check college requirements • Study and practice • Identify areas of strength and weaknesses • Take it twice • Send your scores directly
Finding a College • bigfuture.collegeboard.org • Collegescorecard.ed.gov • Consider long-term programs • Factor in cost, location, and personality of schools (big/small, focus, reputation) • Possible formula: 5schools - 1 reach, 3 match, 1 safety • Deciding • Financial aid offered • Visit • Intended major & Undergraduate requirements
Application Process • Familiarize yourself with each school’s requirements early • ORGANIZE • Understand college websites • Activity log, recommendations, essays
Recommendations • Strongly rely on academic recommendations • Non-academic recommendations • Coaches, work supervisors, club/organization coordinators • 3-4 possible recommendation-writers • Let them know EARLY • Provide a current resume
Recommendations • Information to provide to people who you are asking to write you a letter of recommendation: • Your name • Due date (specific or estimate) • What is the letter for? (Which university are you applying for? What do you intend to study? What is the scholarship you’re applying for? Etc.) • 3+ specifics about you to include – highlights from your resume
Personal Statements and Essays • Understand the prompt • Be honest • Try to avoid cliché topics • Sentence variation • PURPOSE • Sensory imagery, narrative “showing not telling” • Get different perspectives and revise
Resources • http://www.hemingwayapp.com/ • College application websites • Have conversations with friends, family, teachers • Pre-writing, journaling, researching narrative writing strategies • Find examples
The Application Process • College application timeline • Organize due dates, your own personal application timeline, and college info • Spend enough time on each application • Tailor your application, essay, recommendations to the college’s requirements as much as possible
Financial Aid • FAFSA: fafsa.ed.gov • FAFSA forecaster • Grants, loans, scholarships • Send FAFSA info to schools you apply to • As much as you can, seek out other sources of aid such as private scholarships
Scholarships • Steilacoom Historical Education Foundation • fastweb.com • School-specific scholarships • Check clubs, organizations, employers and parents’ employers, scholarships specific to your situation • Mrs. Dagan