What Are The Rules of Etiquette When Meeting a College Admissions Representative?

Are you about to attend a college fair or meet the admissions representative at your school? Don’t forget the rules of good etiquette. Just like learning about table manners, proper introductions, and social graces, there are some things you can do to make your experience as successful as possible.

Begin by introducing yourself to the person behind the table. A firm handshake and a smile will go a long way. Ask them questions about their school’s admissions policies, academics, and activities if you are one-on-one with the representative. If there is a large group of people at the table, he or she may choose to give an overview of the institutions information to the group. You may hear the answer to your questions over a 15 minute period and save both you and the representative time and effort.

At a college fair, you may be asked to fill out an information card, so be sure to do it at that table. Using a neighboring college’s table could cause some hard feelings between representatives. It will take a few days for information to be sent to you, so please be patient. If you have preregistered for the college fair online, you will receive a bar code that can be used at the machine on the table to scan your personal information such as name, address, and contact information. I have also seen students pre-print labels with this same contact information making the card a snap to complete. This allows for more time to talk to the representative.

Make a good first impression. This is your chance to show the admissions representative you are interested in learning about their institution. Turn your cell phone off and wait until later to text your friends. Give these representatives your undivided attention. Read on for more rules of college fair etiquette.

Please Explain Score Choice

Score Choice allows the student to forward the scores they choose to the colleges or universities they are applying to. So what does a student need to know about this policy?

Here are some items to think about: SAT Reasoning and Subject test scores can be submitted by test date. If a student does not choose Score Choice, all scores will be sent to the college. Score Choice is optional. Students should follow the score-reporting requirements of the colleges they are applying to. Colleges will only receive the scores that the student sends to them. Individual sections of a specific test date cannot be selected—only the entire test of the particular SAT will be sent. It does not cost more to send one or multiple copies or all test scores to a college. Scores can be sent by paper, CD, or Electronic Score Reports. If the student requests a second report to a college, the report will only include the unique set of scores chosen by the student, which may or may not include previous test scores.

For more information, check with the College Board.

How Many Schools Should You Apply To?

Each individual is unique; therefore, the number of schools the student chooses to apply to will vary. Most students will pare down their foundation list of colleges to the final five to seven schools. There should be a long shot — a stretch school — a reach — a college where the student’s chances of gaining admission are less than 50/50 based upon his or her academic profile when compared to the students the admission office admitted in the previous year.

A reasonable reach — 50/50 or better – colleges are likely to admit within the student’s range of grade point average, standardized test scores, and course curriculum. Other factors that could enhance admission status could include activities, an interview, special talents, recommendations, essays, etc.

Likely schools — sure shots —these are colleges where a student is confident that he or she will be admitted. However, be sure it is a school where your academic and personal needs will be met should you enroll.

The best way to create this list is to research colleges by visiting the campus, taking tours, and speaking with admissions representatives. Review what is required to apply to the colleges including grade point average, high school course requirements, standardized test scores, Resume of activities, essays, and recommendations.

The Common App and Fee Waivers…Do You Qualify?

The Common App and Fee Waivers…Do You Qualify? Students often ask about fees waivers and the people at the Common App shared this link with an explanation as to how to know if you qualify.

Today, and for the last five years, students who meet any of the following criteria are eligible to qualify for an application fee waiver from The Common App’s more than 750 member colleges and universities:

* Enrolled in or eligible for Federal Free or Reduced Lunch Program

* Annual family income is within range set by USDA Food and Nutrition Service

* Received or eligible for a fee waiver for SAT or ACT standardized test

* Enrolled in federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families

* Live in federally subsidized public housing, in foster care, or is homeless

* Family receives public assistance

More than one million applicants, one third of whom are first-generation college students, submitted over 4.5 million applications through the Common App. Last year, nearly one million need-based fee waivers were granted. https://www.commonapp.org/whats-appening/news/common-app-members-awarded-more-55-million-need-based-college-application-fee

It’s College Application Time – Begin by Getting Organized!

Seniors – it’s that time of year. Summer has come and gone and you are about to embark the college application process. So where do you begin? First of all, start early! Give yourself plenty of time to produce a stellar final product. You want a winning application, not one that looks hurried and rushed. Remember, there are plenty of people who can help you with the process including your parents, your school counselors, mentors, and teachers.

Have the following pieces of information on hand before you start to fill out your application. It’s not a bad idea to save this information on a card or in a computer file. This information will be used over and over again in each application you complete. Click here to read list of items.

Happy Easter and Passover!

ENJOY YOUR DAY OF CELEBRATION!

The 2020-2021 Common Application Essay Prompts are Here

Yes…the Essay Prompts for the Common App 2020-2021 are available. Juniors in high school can get a head start now!

The Common Application has announced that the 2019-2020 essay prompts will remain the same as the 2018-2019 essay prompts. Based on extensive counselor feedback, the existing essay prompts provide great flexibility for applicants to tell their unique stories in their own voice. Retaining the essay prompts provides the added benefit of consistency for students, counselors, parents, and members during the admissions process.

Plus, with essay prompts remaining the same, students rolling over their existing Common App accounts have more time to plan and prepare their applications prior to the final year of high school.

Counselors looking to get a head start with application workshops this year can take advantage of Common App Ready, a suite of on-demand resources, training videos, and infosheets, details everything students, counselors, and families need to know about using the Common App. This resource includes details on application creation, detailed descriptions of each section, and submission requirements. The tool also includes Spanish language resources.

Read The Common App Essay Prompts Are Changing For more information on essay prompts, click here.

Start Your New Year Right! College Bound Now Available in eBook on Amazon!

It’s here! Over 1,200 active links now available in College Bound!

I wrote “College Bound: Proven Ways to Plan and Prepare for Getting Into the College of Your Dreams” as a guide to help parents and students prepare for what comes after graduation. “College Bound” is written so it will be like having a professional college counselor beside you every step of the way.

“College Bound” guides you through the college planning timeline, the search and application process, and campus visits, with additional tips and resources. It will show ways to approach counselors, teachers, or moderators to request an effective letter of recommendation, give tips on self-marketing through the essay, provide suggestions for a top-notch resume of extracurricular activities, and offer advice for taking standardized tests.

If you are a budding artist, a competitive athlete, or interested in a military career, or transitioning from being homeschooled to college, this book is for you.
If you have special needs or a disability, this book is for you.
If you are thinking about learning a trade or attending community college, this book is for you.
Interested in understanding the “nuts and bolts” of financial aid and where to find scholarships? This book is for you.
Looking for an extensive list of publications and internet resources that is beyond compare? “College Bound” is for you – giving you all these resources and more.
I hope you will find this must-read guide helpful and informative, and I wish you all the best as you plan a path to an exciting future.