Advising

All About College

Choosing the Right College/What to Look For (back to top)

See this list to compare offerings between different colleges: College Comparison Chart

Try to fill this chart out before you visit the different campuses. Rate which items are most important to you. Compare what you find on the website with the actual campus when you visit.

If you get confused, try asking yourself:

Why do I want to go to college?
What do I want to get out of college?
How will colleges help me work toward my goals?
Which college will best/least help me work toward my goals?
What are the advantages/disadvantages of going now rather than later?
Does it matter how many students are enrolled with me?
Do I want to be with students who have diverse ideas, viewpoints and backgrounds?
In which type of campus setting am I most/least comfortable?

Helpful Steps in Applying to College (back to top)

Meet with your school counselor regarding the following:

Narrowing your list down of which colleges to apply to
Financial Aid
Early Decisions/Early Action and reviewing deadlines and procedures
Letter of Recommendation Packet: There may be a section of your application for your counselor to complete in order to verify GPA, test scores and college prep courses. Some schools also look for letters of recommendation in relation to a student's character. Allow six weeks for letters to be written and forms to be filled out. If you are applying online, see if there is an electronic version of the counselor form that can be completed instead.

Know the requirements of colleges, including tests and deadlines to be met. All of this information is available online through each college website.
Meet with representatives of colleges of interest as they visit CSEC. Weekly calendars and monthly calendars are located in the Student Services Department (where Academic Advisors are located) as well as posted on the website.
Visit Colleges
Request official transcripts from the CSEC Registrar, Robin Zook. This may be done by visiting this page: http://csec914.org/ds/rr/transcript-request
Keep track of your application deadlines
Complete applications to colleges. Depending on where you apply, you may need to write an essay and include it with your application.
You and your parents/guardians will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be found here. The results of filing these forms may help you decide which college you will attend. You may begin to fill out the FAFSA after January 1st in your senior year.
You are responsible for making sure your completed college admission application is submitted. Be sure to include or check on the following:

Completed application form with all required signatures
Activities and Awards resume
Check or money order for the application fee
Essay
Official transcript and test scores (can be sent separately)
Letters of recommendation (if required)

Make sure you keep a copy of everything, just in case!

Campus Visit and Interview (back to top)

The campus visit and interview will complete your knowledge of the college or university. It can aid you in making your final decision. In addition, it will help round out the college's picture of you as an individual.

Visiting a Campus

It is best to visit when classes are in session. You will be able to see what campus life is like, and possibly sit in on a class or two. However, if visiting multiple college campuses puts your academic work in jeopardy, think about visiting during the summer.

Call the admission office well in advance of your visit to schedule a tour, an interview, and arrangements to stay overnight on campus when possible. Remember that at certain times of the year interviews are in great demand.

Spend as much time as possible talking to students on campus and asking them questions
Ask students how they like the school, the food, the living facilities, etc.
Pick up a copy of the student newspaper to see what current issues and activities are happening on campus
Make notes - write down your impressions
Take pictures - most of the time you won't remember very much about the campus after seeing it only one time, pictures can help you remember

The Interview

Schools that admit 90% of its applicants often don't require an interview, but colleges that admit only 30% of its applicants may require one and consider it very important, especially for borderline decisions. If the interview is an "evaluative" interview, it will help round out the picture of you as an applicant.

All of the major steps in the college search process should involve the students and the parents, if possible. When arriving at a college's admissions reception area, however, the student should take the lead by announcing that he or she is there to see the admissions officer. Parents should not expect to sit in on the interview. Meeting the interviewer at the admissions office is fine, but parents should plan to leave and explore the campus while their son or daughter is in the interview. If parents have questions about the school, it is appropriate to ask them after the student has finished his or her interview. Most admissions officers will try to make time to talk with parents as well.

Writing the Essay (back to top)

With an understanding of what colleges are looking for in your essay and a bit of planning, it could be the highlight of your application, perhaps even the factor that tips the scale in your favor.

An essay takes a topic and examines it in personal terms. Think of the essay as a perfect forum to display your individuality, creativity, and above all, your ability to communicate.

Colleges want to know more about you than they can learn from transcripts or recommendations.There are no right or wrong answers to a college essay question. Also, how you say something is just as important as what you say. Schools want you to tell them how you are different from other applicants, but they also look for good written expression as well.

Try taking chances. If you are funny, it's ok to use a humorous style. Take some risks and let your personality show. However, be sure to answer the question and write professionally. Always make sure that you express who you are and what makes you unique. Admissions officials say students do best when they write about something they really know, not about something they feel they should know.

The Dos

Try to encapsulate the main idea in in one sentence before writing
Write clearly - if it sounds vague, change it
Use words with which you feel comfortable
Express, not impress
Edit and rewrite until your essay says what you mean
Check all spelling and grammar
Make sure the correct name of the college to which you are applying is on the essay
Be specific
Let the first draft sit a while without reading it, then come back to it
Focus on one meaningful episode in your life
Have another person double check it before submitting

The Don'ts

Use slang
Try to be "cute"
Use common essay topics (building a house in Mexico or how the death of one person changed your life)
Use words you cannot define
Begin your essay with "My name is..."
Digress from the original topic
Continue your essay beyond the specified number of words
Answer a topic not asked
Be too general, give complete history of your life

Financial Aid/Scholarships (back to top)

Financial aid is monetary help for meeting college costs: both direct educational costs (tuition, fees, books) and personal living expenses (food, housing, and transportation). Financial aid is often available at two-year, four-year, vocational and trade schools.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the document that determines the student and family contribution to college costs, Pell Grants and other financial assistance. The form is available online or after January 1 each year. This form should be completed by March 1 in order to give the student the best chance to receive grant money. FAFSA website is: www.fafsa.ed.gov

Types of Financial Aid

Scholarships and waivers - awarded to students with good grades, athletic ability or musical talent. These do not have to be repaid.
Grants - based on financial need. These do not have to be repaid.
Loans - available to students (or parents) with financial need. These must be repaid after a student leaves school.
College work study - available to students with financial need. This federal employment program helps students reduce the cost of their education.
Campus employment - available to students with or without financial need.

Scholarships

Scholarships are a form of financial aid that is awarded to students for outstanding academics, community service, extra-curricular activities or other skills. Scholarship applications must be filled out and sent to the awarding organization. Scholarships do not have to be repaid.

Scholarships may be offered from a number of organizations, such as your school, parent's work, church, local stores and other organizations. Fill in the application completely following the directions exactly. Have someone proofread your application for spelling and accuracy. Double check the deadline as most applications are rejected if they arrive late.

The scholarship form may ask for a letter of recommendation so plan ahead by gathering personal information in a resume to give to the writer. Think of possible writers for these recommendations; people who know you well and can write positively about you.

Keep a copy of each application along with the essay. You may be able to alter the essay and use it for other applications. Notify your counseling office when you receive scholarhip offers.

Colorado Springs Early Colleges