1. The College Application Process

2. It’s Time Packet
Students must complete an “It’s Time” packet and schedule an appointment with their counselor.
Background Information for counselor
Counselor uses to review college selections with students
Counselor uses to write recommendation
It’s time packet can be found on the Whitman website or through Naviance
The counselors visit senior English classes the third week of school and hand out the “It’s Time Packet”
The “It’s Time Packet” can also be downloaded from the school’s website.
This package provides information similar to that in this presentation.
It also contains areas of information for you and your student to fill out. This information will help your counselor as he/she goes over college preferences with your student.
It also helps the counselor when he/she is writing your student’s recommendation.

4. Develop Final List of Colleges
Reach Colleges
Target Colleges
Likely Colleges – at least 2
Enter list in Family Connection under “colleges I’m thinking about”
Your student’s counselor will want to meet with your student to review the “It’s Time Packet” and to review his/her final list of colleges.
Each student should have 1 or 2 reach colleges, several target schools and at least 2 likely colleges.
Your student can use Family Connection to manage a list of “colleges he/she is thinking about”

5. Step 1- Complete the Application
Complete the application on the college website
Complete the Common Application ( AND/OR
Complete the Coalition Application ( org/students.html)
Some schools use their own applications. These applications can be found on the school’s website and usually require your student to create a login and password for that school and his/her application.
Other schools use the Common Application, which simplifies the process and only requires your student to fill in basic information once.

6. Step 2 – Application Guidelines
Deadlines
Essay requirements
Test requirements
Transcript requirement
Recommendation requirements
List of Extracurricular activities
Your student should make note of each school’s requirements.
When is the application deadline. Does the school have an early action or early decision option that your student is interested in?
What are the test requirements for each school. Do they accept a SAT or ACT test? Do they require subject tests and if so how many?
How many recommendations is the school looking for? Has your student talked to his/her teacher(s) about writing recommendations?

7. Step 3 - Essays Write Rewrite Proofread carefully
Writing Center is a wonderful resource
Colleges use the essays to learn more about your student. This is his/her chance to brag about him/herself.
Do not treat your supplemental questions as if they were “throw aways”
Elaborate
The essay should be clearly written in your student’s own voice.

8. Step 4 – Test Scores Send out test scores to colleges SAT or ACT
SAT Subject Tests, if required
Submitting test scores is done through the testing company. Whitman does not send test scores to colleges.
Some colleges super score only noting the highest score in each category. Others prefer to see all of a student’s scores.
Some colleges expect ALL SAT test scores.
SAT subject tests – only smaller or most competitive colleges require them. Most colleges need 2 SAT subject tests.

9. Step 5 - Transcripts Request transcripts be sent to colleges
Through the Whitman Transcript office, three to four weeks before your application deadline.
As your student is finishing up his/her applications, he should submit a transcript request to the transcript office no later than 3 weeks prior to the application deadline.
Whitman has a specific process for requesting transcripts that will be covered later in the presentation.
Your first transcript request is free. Each additional request is $5. Check or cash accepted.

10. Step 6 - Recommendations
Counselor
Teacher(s)
You must let Transcript Secretary know which teachers are writing your recommendations.
Supplemental recommenders
Your student’s counselor will write a recommendation. The counselor’s recommendation is sent with the transcript.
Your student should also ask 1 or 2 teachers to write him/her a recommendation. These recommendations are usually sent independent of the transcript by the individual teachers.
Read the application requirements carefully because some schools request letters from particular teachers (i.e., 11th grade English teacher, math teacher, etc.)
Students must enter teacher names in Family Connection under “Colleges I’m Applying To”
We allow 2 teacher recommendations in Family Connection

11. Step 7 - Extracurriculars
Create a resume
GPA
Honors
Activities
Service hours
Work or experience
Test scores (optional)
Your student should create a resume that highlights his/her extracurricular activities.
The resume can include basic information about the student like courses, GPA and test scores.
The resume should also list in detail honors, after school activities, work, and service hour activities.

13. Step 8 – Interviews (Optional)
Talk to reps who visit Whitman
Schedule an interview with a local alumnus
Make an appointment at the school
Depending on the school, interviews can make a big difference
A good impression in an interview can be the tipping point in acceptance
At a minimum, talk to the reps who visit Whitman
Some school interview are optional and others are required– some skype, some will ask you to come in.

14. Step 9 – Supplementary Materials (Optional)
Musical Tape
Art Portfolio or Slides
Athletic Resume and films
If your student is interested in pursuing music, an art or a sport at the college level he/she will need supplementary material that highlights his/her talent.
Be mindful of what you send, how you present yourself and the message you are trying to get across.

15. Step 10 - Athletes Google the NCAA Eligibility Center
and select “College Bound
Student-Athletes”
You must file with NCAA to play Division 1 or 2 athletics
(Whitman Registrar must
send a transcript)
Athletes need to file with NCAA for eligibility to play.
Let the registrar know so she can send a transcript to NCAA.
You will need to request a transcript from the transcript secretary

16. Step 11-Records and Fees Pay application fee online
Keep copies of paper applications before mailing them
It is always a good idea to keep copies of the documents your student has submitted for his/her own records.
Most applications require a non-refundable fee for submission. These can be done on-line via credit card.

17. NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice
Students should be the sole authors of their applications and essays.
High Schools must report any significant changes in academic status or qualifications to the colleges.
Pay a deposit at only one school.
The National Association for College Admissions Counseling sets forth the following Principles of Good Practice:
Students should be the sole authors of their applications and essays.
Schools report any significant changes in academic status or qualifications to the colleges.
Pay a deposit at only one school.
Whitman asks that every student follow these guidelines.

18. Early Decision
Students should comply with the Early Decision/Restrictive Early Action policies set by the colleges.
Students should comply with the Early Decision/Action rules set down by the colleges.
Early decisions acceptances are binding and students are expected to accept these offers if admitted.

19. Other Advice Financial Aid Visit Campuses
Keep you perspective and a sense of humor
Don’t get caught up in anxiety
There are many scholarships available to students. Ms. Hutchens publishes lists of them for students.
There is nothing like seeing a school first hand. We strongly suggest your student visit the campus of the school he/she will be attending before accepting an offer.
Remember that applying to school today is not what it was like 25 to 30 years ago.
It is a stressful time for everyone, a sense of humor can go a long way.