1. Senior College Night 2007

2. General IHA Guidelines Application Process and Tips How to submit an application IHA Style Letters of Recommendation Decision Types SAT information Financial Aid/Scholarship Info Athletic Information

3. ~IHA Guidelines~

4. ~General Rules of Thumb~ The student should do the application! The student should write the essay! The student should be aware of the different requirements for each college Take advantage of the college reps that visit IHA (admissions reps LOVE to meet applicants face to face) Put your social security number on everything Follow directions Pay very close attention to the college deadlines and Pay close attention to OUR DEADLINES!!!!!

5. GUIDANCE DEADLINES!!!!!! Application materials should be handed in to guidance at the very least 14 school days (days that school is in session for students) from the date the application needs to be postmarked!!!!!!! Any application that is due in the month of January must be handed in to the guidance department no later than December 1 st If you do not hand in the materials by the assigned deadline we can not guarantee that everything will get to the college by the deadline, which can result in the college not considering your application. The same rules apply if you need a transcript sent for a scholarship, you must give us 14 school days, and there is a non-college transcript request form that you must submit with it.

6. ~DEADLINE CHART~ 2007-2008 If the deadline is…TRY to have it in by…It MUST be in by… November 1stSeptember 28thOctober 5th November 15thOctober 10thOctober 22nd December 1 st -15thNovember 1st12/1= November 7 th 12/15=November 19th January DeadlinesNovember 19thNovember 30th February 1stJanuary 4thJanuary 11th February 15thJanuary 18thJanuary 23rd March 1stJanuary 31stFebruary 1st

7. ~Deadline Types~

8. ~College Deadlines~ Early Decision: This is BINDING! So if you get in you are GOING. This is also the most difficult admissions wise, they take the very top of the applicant pool. Some schools will place you back into the regular decision pool, but some will reject you outright. You can only apply to ONE school under Early Decision

9. ~College Deadlines~ Early Action At different schools early action can mean different things. You should investigate on your own, what it means at each school. In general it is similar to Early Decision, but it is not binding; so you have till May 1 to decided. In general you may apply to more than one school under Early Action

10. ~College Deadlines~ Rolling: There is no true deadline for schools that have a rolling deadline, however since they are reviewing the applications and making the decisions on them almost ongoing, the earlier you send in your application the better. Some schools who use a rolling admissions process FILL-UP rather early and students that would have gotten in in November do not get in in January. Rolling is nice because you can find out sometimes as early as 6 weeks after you apply.

11. ~College Deadlines~ Regular Decision -> This is the most common. You apply according to the colleges deadline and you typically will hear if you got in or not by mid March or April.

12. Regular App? Common App? Online App? Downloaded App?

13. It is really up to you which one you use… Regular Application: This is the application that the school may send you or hand out to you if you visit. You must handwrite or type this application. This application can only be submitted via the mail. Online Application: Many schools tell you when you request an application that you can get it online. This is often easier because you can type it online, and save it as you go. It can give you the option of printing it out when you are done, to mail in or you may send it online. Just be sure to remember to print out anything that goes to guidance or your teacher. Downloaded Application: Schools may tell you that they do not send applications to you, but you must go and download it for yourself and print it. This means you will need to treat this very much like a regular application, because you will be handwriting or typing it. Be sure that your printer prints clearly so your application looks neat.

14. ~THE COMMON APP~ Some schools send you the common app when you request one. There are also schools that have the common app on their website for you to use. If you are using the common app…It would be nicer for you to type it online and then print it out as many times as you need it, rather than photo copy it and handwrite it. DO NOT PRINT THE FORM FOR YOUR COUNSELOR Ask your teacher(s) who are writing your recommendations, if they would prefer to use the form or simply write a letter for you.

15. BUT which one is BEST? It is really up to you…but here are a few general rules of thumb… If they waive the application fee if you apply online… that means they want you to apply online. When you call to request on application and they tell you to go to www.commonapp.org … they want you to use the common appwww.commonapp.org If they send you the common app when you ask for an application, use that. (online) If they HAND you the common app you can use that. If you ask them to send you an application and they tell you to download it, then do that. Use your judgment…compare the two applications and use the application that will provide the admissions office with the most information about you. Whatever application that you do, make sure it is NEAT, CLEAR, and most of all COMPLETE

16. INTERNET APPLICATIONS If you send your application via the internet there are a few things that you must pay attention to, in order to make sure everything gets to the school: 1) You still need to hand “stuff” into guidance 2) You have to remember to print out anything that needs to be filled out by your guidance counselor or teacher writing a recommendation 3) If there is a college specific school report, you need to print it out. 4) You may want to ( ergo you should), hand in your resume in with the “stuff” that you give to guidance so the college gets a hard copy of all your accomplishments and activities 5) If there is not a spot for you to attach an essay with your application, then you may hand that in with your “stuff” so the college gets it. 6) If there is nothing for your guidance counselor to fill out and no school or mid year report, then you still need to hand in, a envelope (9x12), mid year envelope, and a pumpkin sheet; so your transcript will be sent.

17. The Fun Part… Filling Out The Application!!!!

18. WHAT YOU SEND TO THE COLLEGE

19. Harvard U 50.00 HARVARD Name:_______ Address: _____ High School:_______ Fee Waived Jane Doe Honors: Activities: Sports: Jobs: One time at band camp… Part B THANKS! #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 1)The Actual Application 2)The application fee or fee waiver card 3)The student resume 4)The application essay 5)Any supplemental forms (if needed) 6)The return receipt post card (if provided)

20. Jane Doe 234 Oak Road Ramsey, NJ 07446 Office of Admissions Harvard University Harvard Square Cambridge, MA 6745-0023 Jane Doe What the envelope should look like; for your materials

21. WHAT YOU GIVE TO YOUR TEACHERS FOR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

22. Marist College Office of Admissions 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Immaculate Heart Academy 500 Van Emburgh Ave Township of Washington, NJ 07676 Mary Kate McDermott 12/1/07 Request for Teacher Recommendation College 1: ______ due by: ____ College 2: ______ due by: ____ College 3: ______ due by: ____ College 4: ______ due by: ____ College 5: ______ due by: ____ 1)White Request for Recommendation form (filled out!) 2)Legal Sized Envelopes addressed to the each college with 1 stamps. Students name should go in bottom left corner in pencil with the deadline date. Return Address– IHA! 3)Attach 1 Cover Form for as many envelopes as you have prepared. *If you do not know all of your colleges yet, submit what you have and you may give more envelopes when you are ready 4)Some applications, such as the Common App, include Teacher Report Forms. ASK each teacher if he/she would like to use this form or if he/she prefers to just write the letter

23. The REALLY FUN Part… What You Give to Guidance

24. #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Transcript Req Form Office of Admissions Harvard University Harvard Square Cambridge, MA 234-0023 Jane Doe School Report Mid Year Report Same as #2 Counselor Rec Form 1)Pumpkin Color Transcript form (filled out!) 2)9 x12 Envelope addressed to the college with 3 stamps, Students name should go in bottom left corner 3)School Report Section (if necessary) 4)Mid Year Report (If there is one) 5)Legal Size Envelope addressed to college-for mid year grades *** After Exams In Late January *** 6)Counselor Recommendation Form (If there is one) What You Give to Guidance #7

25. College Specific School Report Form Guidance Transcript Request Form HOW YOU HAND IN YOUR “STUFF” TO GUIDANCE

27. Financial Aid and Scholarships Athletic Stuff

28. ~Financial Aid~ Be mindful of deadlines Financial Aid Night is on : November 7 th We can not help you fill out the FASFA or CSS profile. Call the college financial aid office

29. ~Scholarships~ Check our website for scholarship information. Go to your local public high school to investigate on scholarships that are available for those students who reside in district and other local scholarships Many places of employment offer scholarships, so have Mom or Dad check with Human Resources Some colleges offer scholarships based on major Be sure to do your own investigating, there are scholarships for very random things out there. The same deadlines apply for scholarships-must use non college transcript request form!!!!

30. ~Athletic Information~ Nothing is 100% till you get an acceptance letter in the mail Admissions accepts you…athletics wants you. There is a VERY big difference Play a sport in college, is like having a job. So think about it. Make sure you are registered with the Clearing House

31. GOOD LUCK!!! and Goodnight!