College Admissions Counseling Service
Expert Guidance to Ensure Wise College Choices
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What can I expect from the college admissions process?
The college admissions process has much to teach you, as you reflect on your needs, interests, strengths, and values. This exploration will enable you to identify institutions that best fit your short and long term goals. Often this period of heightened self awareness is referred to as a journey. Through guided questions and honest conversations, you will explore options regarding “dream,” “target,” and “safe” college choices.
2. How do colleges evaluate applicants?
College Admissions Personnel Review:
• Your school records, particularly: What subjects have you taken? How many years of each subject have you taken? Have you taken Honors courses, Advanced Placement courses or special summer courses that challenged you to the fullest? What is your average in your five major academic subjects? What is your rank (if applicable) in your graduating class?
How does your average compare to others in your class?
• Your standardized test scores, including SAT I, SAT II, ACT, and AP.
• Recommendations from your counselor.
• Recommendations from selected teachers.
• Interviews with you.
• Information you note on the college application form, including special talents, skills, interests, leadership abilities, major or area of interest, extracurricular activities, especially clubs and teams, honors or awards, community service, work experience, internships, summer activities, visit to campus, and, in many cases, communication or brief essay demonstrating your interest in the college, special concerns, including illness, handicap, family issues, and one or more personal essays.
3. What can I do to prepare for college admissions?
Work to the best of your ability. Colleges look at your cumulative average as of the completion of Junior year, and many schools ask to see the first semester of Senior year grades.
Take a rigorous academic course load. Challenge yourself by taking honors, enriched, or advanced placement courses.
Prepare for the SAT or ACT exams. Take sample tests and investigate online resources.
Participate in extracurricular activities, community service, and volunteer work. Strive to demonstrate leadership, initiative, resourcefulness, and special talent as you pursue your passions.
Maintain relationships with teachers, coaches, and employers who can write you letters of recommendation.
Compile a resume of all activities, summer programs, honors, and awards.
4. What are some web resources that can help with the college exploration process?
College Admissions Testing Resources on the Web:
• ACT, Inc. www.act.org
• College Board www.collegeboard.org
• Educational Testing Service www.ets.org
• Test of English as a Foreign Language www.toefl.org
College Search Information on the Web:
• College Board www.collegeboard.org
• College Confidential www.collegeconfidential.com
• College Reviews by Students www.unigo.com
• CollegeNET www.collegenet.com
• Common Application www.commonapp.org
• GoCollege www.Gocollege.com
• Kaplan, Inc. www.kaplan.com
• National Collegiate Athletic Association www.ncaa.org
• Peterson's Educational Center www.petersons.com
• Princeton Review www.princetonreview.com
• US News and World Report
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college
• Zinch - I Am More Than A Test Score www.zinch.com
5. What special college exploration tasks exist in the 11th grade?
11th Grade Checklist:
• Study college admissions requirements, particularly regarding the SAT I, SAT II and ACT
• Choose appropriate courses to meet college entrance requirements
• Plan extracurricular activities, community service involvements, internships, and part-time work according to your needs, interests, and skills
• Compile a résumé of activities, internships, honors, leadership positions, and jobs
• Use the Internet for instant, accurate data for college research
• Take the PSAT / NMSQT
• Research SAT Prep Courses
• Prepare for the SAT
• Register for SAT 1 and/or ACT
• Register for SAT IIs / subject tests (May or June)
• Attend college fairs
• Take SAT 1 or ACT
• Register for Advanced Placement exams
• Take Advanced Placement exams
• Write, e-mail, or download admissions and financial aid forms and other information. Then, create a file folder for each school
• Start researching scholarships using online resources, such as www.fastweb.com, www.students.gov, & www.usnews.com
• Begin college visits. Map an itinerary and set up admissions interviews, if required or desired
• Start to work on your personal essay
• Identify teachers for college recommendations
• Plan a productive summer
• Discuss all plans with your parents
6. What is the common application?
The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an admission application – online and in print – that students may submit to any of its 392 members. Once completed online or in print, copies of the Application for Undergraduate Admission can be sent to any number of participating colleges. The same is true of the School Report, Midyear Report, Final Report and Teacher Evaluation forms. This allows you to spend less time on the busywork of applying for admission, and more time on what's really important: college research, visits, essay writing, and senior year coursework.
Widely used, millions of Common Applications are printed and accepted by members each year. In fact, last year almost 1.4 million applications were submitted via the Common App Online process.
7. How can I best visit a college?
Always schedule a visit to a college in advance by contacting the admissions office either online or by phone. Then, as soon as you arrive on campus check in with the admissions office. During your visit make sure you have time to go to an information session, take a campus tour, talk to students, and collect materials related to school life. Calendars of weekly events, college newspapers, or brochures on special programs can be most informative. During your visit your task is to learn as much as possible about the academic courses and faculty, the students, social life and campus activities, and the off campus community.
8. What services do you offer?
Cooper College Quest enables parents and their children to:
• Identify student strengths, values, and interests
• Initiate a customized college search
• Choose “dream,” “target,” and “safe” schools
• Apply survival strategies and time management skills to the college application process
• Prepare winning applications, especially
- communicating strengths and interests and
- writing creative and unique personal essays
9. Why should I hire a college consultant?
Several reasons exist to hire a college consultant, including:
• professional, objective analysis of student’s strengths and areas that need improvement
• informed college recommendations, including “safe,” “target,” and “dream” schools
• flexible appointments that can be scheduled according to individual needs
• expert help on completing college applications
10. How do I choose a qualified college consultant?
Choose a college consultant as you would select a doctor, lawyer, accountant, or tutor. Ask around, get referrals from other parents, check references, and ask questions such as: What related job experience have you had? How do you stay current in your field? What is your specialty? What are your fees? Be very cautious regarding any promises that are made.
11th Grade Checklist:
• Study college admissions requirements, particularly regarding the SAT I, SAT II and ACT
• Choose appropriate courses to meet college entrance requirements
• Plan extracurricular activities, community service involvements, internships, and part-time work according to your needs, interests, and skills
• Compile a résumé of activities, internships, honors, leadership positions, and jobs
• Use the Internet for instant, accurate data for college research
• Take the PSAT / NMSQT
• Research SAT Prep Courses
• Prepare for the SAT
• Register for SAT 1 and/or ACT
• Register for SAT IIs / subject tests (May or June)
• Attend college fairs
• Take SAT 1 or ACT
• Register for Advanced Placement exams
• Take Advanced Placement exams
• Write, e-mail, or download admissions and financial aid forms and other information. Then, create a file folder for each school
• Start researching scholarships using online resources, such as www.fastweb.com, www.students.gov, & www.usnews.com
• Begin college visits. Map an itinerary and set up admissions interviews, if required or desired
• Start to work on your personal essay
• Identify teachers for college recommendations
• Plan a productive summer
• Discuss all plans with your parents
6. What is the common application?
The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an admission application – online and in print – that students may submit to any of its 392 members. Once completed online or in print, copies of the Application for Undergraduate Admission can be sent to any number of participating colleges. The same is true of the School Report, Midyear Report, Final Report and Teacher Evaluation forms. This allows you to spend less time on the busywork of applying for admission, and more time on what's really important: college research, visits, essay writing, and senior year coursework.
Widely used, millions of Common Applications are printed and accepted by members each year. In fact, last year almost 1.4 million applications were submitted via the Common App Online process.
7. How can I best visit a college?
Always schedule a visit to a college in advance by contacting the admissions office either online or by phone. Then, as soon as you arrive on campus check in with the admissions office. During your visit make sure you have time to go to an information session, take a campus tour, talk to students, and collect materials related to school life. Calendars of weekly events, college newspapers, or brochures on special programs can be most informative. During your visit your task is to learn as much as possible about the academic courses and faculty, the students, social life and campus activities, and the off campus community.
8. What services do you offer?
Cooper College Quest enables parents and their children to:
• Identify student strengths, values, and interests
• Initiate a customized college search
• Choose “dream,” “target,” and “safe” schools
• Apply survival strategies and time management skills to the college application process
• Prepare winning applications, especially
- communicating strengths and interests and
- writing creative and unique personal essays
9. Why should I hire a college consultant?
Several reasons exist to hire a college consultant, including:
• professional, objective analysis of student’s strengths and areas that need improvement
• informed college recommendations, including “safe,” “target,” and “dream” schools
• flexible appointments that can be scheduled according to individual needs
• expert help on completing college applications
10. How do I choose a qualified college consultant?
Choose a college consultant as you would select a doctor, lawyer, accountant, or tutor. Ask around, get referrals from other parents, check references, and ask questions such as: What related job experience have you had? How do you stay current in your field? What is your specialty? What are your fees? Be very cautious regarding any promises that are made.
