1. Application Information Must DoWhat’s Most Important In Naviance ▫‘Colleges I’m Applying To’ ▫Add schools ▫Include Early, Rolling, Priority Application Types ▫Request Transcripts ▫Select Teachers/Counselor ▫Keep track of your due dates and application status Send Test Scores to each college 1.High School Transcripts ▫GPA & Rigor 2.Test Scores – 2x/3x times 3.Essays 4.Resume 5.Teacher Rec 6.Counselor Rec Rating System – Academics Essays/Extracurriculars Fit

2. College Essay This is what you have the most control over! At highly competitive schools the essay, not GPA determines acceptance ▫all applicants have strong GPA/test scores – see Rating System If you’re on the bubble a strong essay can determine admission Review and categorize essay topics ▫Most schools have supplemental essays ▫REVISE mulitple times

3. Key Questions ▫What message do you want to convey? ▫What is the question/prompt really asking?  Unique perspective/views  Ways you cope and deal with stress  How will you contribute to the college ▫The ‘So What’ Factor  What do you want the reader to learn about you?  How will this help you get admitted? ▫How will this distinguish you from other applicants?

4. Common Application Topics 1.Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. 2.Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you. 3.Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. 4.Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence. 5.A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. 6.Topic of your choice.

5. The “Why” Statement Essential at highly selective schools Often poorly written or sounds like other schools ▫Notre Dame, Villanova, Wake Forrest ▫Any highly selective university Show your level of interest Allows you to explain how much you know about a school/program

6. Topic Mistakes There is no bad topic, just poorly expressed essays… Creative Writing/Humor ▫Doesn’t tell me why I should admit you The Service Trip ▫I did service, now I’m really glad to go home Kairos ▫Here’s a list of things I did on Kairos – oversharing The Summer Vacation ▫Here’s a list of places I’ve been/seen The Sports Essay ▫I was looking down the field and saw my destiny… Loss of a loved one – ▫How does this let me know more about you?