Junior and Senior College Guidance Timeline 2014

Transcription

1 Contents Preface Mission BAS College Guidance Office Roles and Responsibilities Junior and Senior College Guidance Timeline ABCs of College Degrees Standardized Test Information (PSAT, SAT, ACT, TOEFL) SAT to ACT Conversion Chart SAT and ACT Test Dates Junior College Planning Calendar Senior College Planning Calendar What Do Admissions Offices Consider Writing Essays Writing Your Resume Recommendation Letters Recommender Questionnaire College Admissions Options College Admissions Keywords College Visit Information Types of Financial Aid Myths about Paying for College Avoiding Scholarship Scams Calendar for Applying for Financial Aid Financial Aid Information Helpful Websites for College Planning Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 1

2 Dear Students & Parents, Whether your post-secondary plans include college, work, or the military, the information enclosed will be beneficial to you. Your college guidance counselors are available to assist you through this process, answer questions, and direct you to resources. This document provides specific information and procedures for use during these very important school years. Important dates, tips for completing a resume or going through an interview, applying to college, and scholarship information are included. We look forward to working with you and hope that you have a very successful year! Sincerely, College Guidance Office Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 2

3 The Vision Graduates of Brooklyn Amity School are global thinkers who contribute to the community as socially responsible and educated members of society. The Mission Brooklyn Amity School as K-12 private school provides a college preparatory educational program through well-balanced curriculum emphasizing science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) integrated with athletics in a safe environment that cultivates respect for self and others. Core Values Brooklyn Amity School has identified the following core values, which are reinforced through its Character Education curriculum, expected school wide learning results (ESLR), and all school activities. Value: Scholarship Value: Critical Thinking Success and Self Discipline Citizenship and Personal Qualities Value: Social Responsibility Value: Effective Communication Respect and Responsible Choices Conflict Resolution and Human Relations Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 3

4 COLLEGE GUIDANCE OFFICE Activities Career - College admissions and requirements, financial aid, scholarship, and testing information as well as job and career outlooks. Academic - Academic support through conferences, graduation requirements, coursework advisement, credit recovery advisement and other educational opportunities. Procedures (How do I?) See a counselor? You are welcome to visit College Guidance Office any hour during the day. If your counselor is not available, you can complete a request form and drop to office box. Your counselor will call you when s/he is available and it will be within one day. Get a transcript (your official school record) sent to a college or other program? Complete a transcript request form and drop to office box. Register for the SAT or ACT? Go online to or If you do not have a computer, they are available in the computer lab. Get an announced scholarship? Stop by the counseling department for information regarding scholarship opportunities. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 4

5 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Role of the College Counselor is to offer ongoing counseling on course selection and summer enrichment opportunities; to provide professional insight about the strengths of individual colleges and universities and how the admissions process works at various institutions; to work with the student to develop and refine the college list, providing a balanced list of colleges that represent a good match for the individual student; to discuss different application strategies with the student regarding early action, early decision or regular decision applications; to teach Junior and Senior College Seminars throughout the year which review the multiple aspects of the college search and application process including important deadlines, essay writing and college interview tips, and more; to send the college packet including: the school report, counselor letter of recommendation, transcript, school profile, and two teacher recommendations to each senior s list of colleges; to provide information about financial aid and scholarship opportunities; to offer guidance to students in making a final college choice decision. The Role of the Student is to attend Junior and Senior College Seminars throughout the year and to meet individually with the college counselor at several stages throughout this process; to take responsibility for the general researching and gathering of information on colleges, visiting and touring institutions during school breaks, and coming up with a final college list in the fall of senior year; to complete a full round of standardized testing to include SAT I or ACT, and SAT II subject tests if appropriate; to send official SAT score reports from College Board and ACT to each college (BAS does not send test scores to college); to choose two teachers in the spring of junior year to write the required Teacher Letter of Recommendation for college applications. Students are responsible for following-up with the two teachers in the fall of senior year; to meet with college representatives when they visit BAS in the fall of senior year. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 5

6 to make sure that you understand the admission, financial aid, and scholarship policies of the colleges and universities to which you plan to apply. This includes being aware of deadlines, restrictions, and other criteria; to prepare applications, essays and activity sheets prior to deadlines, and then mail this information, plus the application fee, to each college; to notify colleges in writing about withdrawing your regular decision application in the event of having been accepted under the binding contract of early decision; to make sure you have financial aid forms (FAFSA & CSS Profile) in order and processed to each college by their stated deadlines (please note deadlines vary); to confirm your intention to enroll and submit a deposit to only one college or university by the national notification date, May 1; to maintain a calm attitude throughout this process and enjoy your senior year because in the end, you will enroll in an institution where you will thrive both academically and socially. The Role of the Parents is to recognize that the student is essentially at the center of this process and it is important to be open-minded and supportive; to facilitate the college visits by planning travel during spring break and over the summer and fall; to complete the Parent Questionnaire which is a confidential document that helps the college counselor become better acquainted with your child as they prepare the letter of recommendation; to avoid taking over the application process and essay writing; students may need help managing the process but let them own it; to communicate directly with the college counselor if there are any questions or issues that arise; remember that this is a very stressful process and can be a difficult one if you try to control it. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 6

7 JUNIOR AND SENIOR COLLEGE GUIDANCE TIMELINE JUNIOR YEAR November Parent/Student College Information BAS Common App Registration December Student Questionnaires are due January Junior College Seminars begin Student/Counselor meetings SAT I/II exams available February March Parent Questionnaires are due ACT exams available College visits start SAT I/II exams available April Students ask two teachers to write their Recommendations Parent/Student/Counselor meetings (Webinar for International Parents) ACT exams available May AP exams SAT I/II exams available Student/Counselor meeting before summer break Seniors & Juniors open buffet Summer Plan & Schedule submission to Guidance Office June July August SAT I/II exams available; ACT exam available Continue to research and visit colleges Writing Personal Essay Building Resume Visit colleges and interview (if offered) Visit colleges and interview (if offered) Meet with your College Counselor (optional) Personal Essay due before school begins Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 7

8 SENIOR YEAR September Senior College Seminars begin Student Counselor meetings Attend college representative BAS (If Offered) October Early College List is due; Counselor & Teacher Recommendation materials are due Prepare ED/EA applications SAT I/II exams available; ACT exam available Senior Parent College Webinar November ED/EA applications are due Final College List is due SAT I/II exams available December EDII/EA/Regular applications are due by winter break SAT I/II exams available; ACT exam available February Free Application for Federal Student Aid and BAS Profile are due to colleges Mid-year School Reports sent to Colleges March Admission letters are mailed to students April May Accepted Student Open House and Overnight Programs are hosted at many colleges Mandatory enrollment deposit is due at the college of your choice! Congratulations! Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 8

9 LEARN THE ABCS OF COLLEGE DEGREES Here s a quick guide to the types of degrees offered at community colleges and four-year colleges and universities. Community Colleges offer: 1. Diplomas/Certificates demonstrate that you have a set of skills for a particular occupation. The length of time required to earn diplomas and certificates varies from 6 months to less than two years, depending on the occupation. Certificates and diplomas are available in subjects like auto mechanics, welding, cosmetology, and practical nursing. 2. Associate s Degrees two-year degrees that provide preparation for a career or for transfer to a four-year college or university. Typical careers that require an associate s degree are dental assistant, teacher assistant, medical technologist, etc. Students can also earn an associate s degree and then transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor s degree. This is known as the 2+2 plan. Four-year Colleges and Universities offer: 1. Bachelor s Degrees four-year degrees that include general education courses and courses in a declared major. This degree is also called an undergraduate degree. Examples of careers that require bachelor s degrees are teaching and engineering. 2. Master s Degree an advanced degree earned in a specialized field after completion of a bachelor s degree. Most master s degrees require two or three years of full-time study and include writing a thesis or taking comprehensive exams. School counselors, physical therapists, and psychologists are examples of people with master s degrees. 3. Professional Degree becoming licensed in a recognized profession requires a professional degree. Professional degrees are awarded in a number of fields, including dentistry, ministry, law, medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. The length of study varies for each profession. 4. Doctoral Degree also known as a Doctorate is the highest degree you can earn. A doctoral degree indicates expertise in a specialized field. You must spend 3 to 5 years after completing a master s degree doing extensive research and a dissertation. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 9

10 STANDARDIZED TEST INFORMATION It s important to check the admissions requirements section in each of your college catalogs or websites of the schools to which you are applying to help you determine which standardized test(s) you should take. The SAT, the Scholastic Aptitude Test, measures critical reading, writing, and mathematics ability and is a test that predicts college performance. The ACT, the American College Test, measures educational development in English, math, reading, science, and writing; and is a test that predicts freshman year college performance. The TOEFL, the Test of English as a Foreign Language, is an admissions test administered through the computer that focuses on listening, structure, reading, and writing. It is for students whose native language is not English. This includes ESL students and non-english speaking students who have been living in the United States for less than five years. For test dates and to register for TOEFL, go to The PSAT, the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, measures critical reading, writing, and mathematics ability. It is often referred to as the Practice SAT. Juniors planning to take the SAT should initially take the PSAT. The PSAT is intended to help college bound students evaluate skill levels in three critical academic areas; prepare for the SAT; compare their readiness for college-level work with that of their peers; and enter scholarship competitions. Most colleges and universities will accept either test (SAT or ACT) for admission, but check to be sure. Some highly competitive colleges require SAT Subject Tests. The SAT Subject Tests measure performances in specific subjects, usually math or foreign language, and are often used by the colleges for placement purposes. Registering and taking the first SAT or ACT is often one of the first major steps in the college application process. Students and parents are reminded that it is important to save all paperwork related to testing and college applications in a secure file folder, box, or special location. Information and items such as passwords, registration tickets, and confirmation details may be needed at a future time. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 10

11 Be sure to have your scores sent to the colleges and scholarship agencies to which you are planning to apply. This information is part of the registration package and is an important section to be completed appropriately. It is free to send your scores to four colleges of your choice at the time you register; however, if you wait to do this later, it will cost you $9.50 for each set of scores. Take time to familiarize yourself with the instructions and sample questions sent by the testing service. You may want to take one of the SAT prep courses that are offered. SAT and ACT Practice Booklets and Practice Tests are available in the BAS Guidance Office. These booklets show students how to get ready for the SAT/ACT, types of questions and content they will see on the test, sample questions, a practice test, and a scoring guide. There are also many websites that offer ACT and SAT test preparation. USE THEM!!!! Students on the college/university pathway should plan to take the SAT/ACT during exam time of their junior year, preferably after passing Algebra II. Students should plan to take the SAT/ACT at least twice during their junior year and, if necessary, at the beginning of their senior year. Students who receive free or reduced lunch are eligible for two ACT/SAT fee waivers. Students should contact guidance office to see if they are qualified for fee waiver. Some scholarships/grants request financial fee waiver certification. Students are only allowed to get TWO fee waivers. Please do not obtain a fee waiver and then decide not to use it. It cannot be replaced. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 11

12 More about the SAT: The SAT measures what you know and how well you apply that knowledge. It tests the same things taught every day in high school classrooms reading, writing, and math. More than 2.4 million students take the SAT each year. Almost all colleges and universities use the SAT to make admissions decisions. A combination of grades and SAT scores is the best predictor of a student s future success in college. There are three sections: critical reading, mathematics, and writing. The test is 3 hours and 45 minutes, including three breaks. The score range is per section, overall. Students should strive for their own personal best to be competitive for college admissions. See College/University Profile in this guide. The question types are: - Critical Reading Sentence Completion, Reading Passages - Mathematics Algebra, Geometry, Statistics & Probability - Writing Essay, Identifying Errors, Improving Grammar & Usage More about the ACT: The ACT is universally accepted for college admission. Almost all colleges and universities use the ACT to make admissions decisions. The ACT is not an IQ test. It tests what is taught in the high school curriculum. There are five sections: English, reading, mathematics, science, and writing. The test is 3 hours and 25 minutes. The score range is 1-36, with the national average at 21. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 12

13 SAT TO ACT CONVERSION CHART SAT Verbal + Math Score ACT Composite Score Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 13

14 SAT AND ACT TEST DATES SAT Test Date Regular Registration Closes Late Registration Closes January 25, 2014 December 27 January 10 March 8, 2014 February 7 February 21 May 3, 2014 April 4 April 18 June 7, 2014 May 9 May 23 October 11, 2014 TBD TBD November 8, 2014 TBD TBD December 6, 2014 TBD TBD January 24, 2015 TBD TBD ACT Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required) February 8, 2014* January 10, 2014 January 11 24, 2014 April 12, 2014 March 7, 2014 March 8-21, 2014 June 14, 2014 May 9, 2014 May 10 23, 2014 September 13, 2014 TBD TBD October 25, 2014 TBD TBD December 13, 2014 TBD TBD Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 14

15 JUNIOR COLLEGE PLANNING CALENDAR Fall Start with you. Make a list of your abilities, social/cultural preferences, and personal qualities. List things you may want to study and do in college. Complete a career interest inventory. Learn about colleges. Look at their websites. Talk to friends, family, teachers, and recent grads of your school now in college. List college features that interest you. Investigate colleges that match your interests and your career selections. The time you spend planning now will benefit you in the long run. Narrow a list of colleges that interest you to no more than 15. Make a file for each or keep a box to manage your college search, testing, and application data. Check your college choices entrance requirements. Review your high school course plans and school activities with your College Guidance. Ensure you are on track for graduation and meet the college entrance requirements. Build your transcript. Keep your grades up high because your junior year will set you up or knock you down! Get schedules for college entrance and placement tests you ll need to take and their fees, dates, and registration deadlines. Take the PSAT on October. Sign up in the Guidance Office. Your test results may qualify you for a National Merit Scholarship. If you can t afford application or test fees, your school counselor can help you request a fee waiver. You must check with your College Guidance if you are eligible to qualify for the fee waiver. Register for the SAT or ACT and then practice for the SAT or ACT. Use the financial aid calculator at to estimate how much aid you might receive. Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 15

16 Spring Visit some local colleges large, small, public, and private. Get a feel for what works for you. Attend college fairs. Look for college open houses so you can visit and tour the campuses of your choice. A college visit is one important way to find the right college for you. Request view books and information about financial aid and academic programs that interest you from your list of colleges. Start looking for a summer job or internship in your field of interest. Attend junior study halls Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. Summer Find career related job, internship or participate in a camp or summer college program. Visit college campuses. Take campus tours and at colleges you re serious about, make appointments to have interviews with admissions counselors. Attend Pre-College courses. Develop a resume a record of accomplishments, activities, and work experiences since you started high school. Check application dates large universities may have early dates or rolling admissions. Be ready to apply ASAP in the fall or your senior year. Review the Scholarship Listing at the back of this guide to prepare to apply for the scholarships you qualify for. Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 16

17 SENIOR COLLEGE PLANNING CALENDAR September Review courses and graduation requirements with your counselor. Create a master list or calendar that includes: o tests you ll take and their fees, dates, and registration deadlines. o college application due dates. o volunteer/community service hours. o other materials you ll need (recommendations, transcripts, etc.). Save all paperwork related to testing and college applications in a secure file folder, box or special location. Narrow your list of colleges to no more than 15. Meet with your school counselor about them, and if you ve not yet done so, review the college applications and financial aid forms for the specific colleges of your interest and note which ones require essays as well as their application deadline dates and special testing requirements. Plan to visit as many of these college campuses as soon as possible. If you can t afford application or test fees, your school counselor can help you request a fee waiver. You can only obtain 2 SAT Fee Waivers and once you have used an SAT fee waiver, you qualify for only 4 College Application Fee Waivers. Write scholarship and college application essays early. Edit, proofread, and rewrite. Save them to a flash drive and to another source for back-up. Get a highlighter and start reviewing the Scholarship Listing at the back of this guide. Highlight scholarships you qualify for and apply for each of them prior to their deadline. Apply for the scholarships that are due in September and October. Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. October Try to finalize your college choices. Ask for school counselor or teacher recommendations, if you need them. Give each teacher or school counselor a completed Recommender Questionnaire located in this guide and a copy of your resume. For each recommendation, provide a stamped, addressed envelope, and any college forms required. Apply for the scholarships that are due in November. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 17

18 November Take the ASVAB. Any senior who has not yet decided the type of job may be interested in taking the ASVAB. Submit your college applications online. If you have a definite first choice, consider applying early decision. Apply for the scholarships that are due in December. December As you finish and submit your applications and essays, be sure to keep copies. If your college wants to see second semester grades, be sure you give the form to your counselor. Explore ways you can pay for college. With your family, learn about financial aid. Use the financial aid calculator at to estimate how much aid you might receive. Become familiar with the FAFSA website ( Being prepared for this process is invaluable! Remind your parents that you will need to begin collecting up-to-date tax information for financial aid applications very early in year. Check with college financial aid offices for school-specific scholarship information, costs, and additional financial aid forms required. Apply for the scholarships that are due in January. January Complete and submit the FAFSA between January 1 and February 25 online at Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. Apply for the scholarships that are due in February. February No senioritis, please! Accepting colleges do look at second semester senior grades. Apply for the scholarships that are due in March. March Keep active in school. If you are wait-listed, the college will want to know what you have accomplished between the time you applied and learned of its decision. Apply for the scholarships that are due in April. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 18

19 April Compare acceptance letters and financial aid packages. Submit your enrollment deposit to hold your spot at the college you choose. Send your deposit to one college only. You should receive acceptance letters and financial aid offers by mid-april. If you ve not done so yet, visit your final college before accepting. As soon as you decide, notify your school counselor of your choice. Notify all other colleges in which you have applied for admission of your decision not to attend their institution. If you have questions about housing offers, call the college. Apply for the scholarships that are due in May. Let your school counselor know of any scholarships you have been awarded. May Colleges cannot require a deposit or commitment to attend before May 1. By that postmarked date, you must inform every college of your acceptance or rejection of the offer of admission and/or financial aid. Wait-listed by a college? If you will enroll if accepted, tell the admissions director your intent and ask how to strengthen your application. Need financial aid? Ask whether funds will be available if you re accepted. Work with a counselor to resolve any admissions or financial aid problems. Apply for the scholarships that are due in June or July. June Complete BAS Senior Survey and indicate on this survey which college (1) your final transcript should be sent to. One final transcript will be sent to the college you list on the Senior Survey. You should notify your counselor if your post graduation plans change. Source: College Counseling Sourcebook. The College Board. Permission granted to copy this for educational purposes. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 19

20 WHAT DO ADMISSIONS OFFICES CONSIDER WHEN REVIEWING A COLLEGE APPLICATION? Primary Factors: Quality/Rigor of Academic Courses - Difficulty of course work (did you take the most challenging course load you could have at your school?) Academic Performance - Grades (GPA both weighted & unweighted) Class rank Test Scores (SAT and/or ACT scores) Secondary Factors: Extracurricular Activities/Community Service Essay(s) not required by all schools Letter of Recommendation Demonstrated Interest Interview - not required by all schools MAKING CHOICES ABOUT COLLEGE Step One: Know yourself and your reasons for wanting to attend college Identify your strengths and weaknesses and analyze your interests and values Analyze your reasons for attending college o To achieve a personal goal o To increase your earning power o To prepare for a career and expand learning o For extracurricular activities and social life o Because of the influence of family and friends Step Two: Consider college characteristics Majors and educational programs Type of school and degrees offered Admission policy Location and size Costs and availability of financial aid College affiliation and accreditation Campus activities Academic reputation Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 20

21 Step Three: List, compare, and visit colleges Compile information from several sources o College catalogs, bulletins, and videos o College representatives and college fairs o Counselors and teachers o Parents, students and alumni Directories and online information Prepare a college comparison checklist Weigh advantages and disadvantages Contact the admissions office for a visit to the campus Step Four: Apply for admission and observe deadlines Narrow your choices to a list of ten colleges (in the following fashion) o Three colleges- safe - you are overqualified and will definitely be admitted o Four colleges- match you meet the qualifications for admission o Three colleges reach you would really like to attend this college, but you may have a lower GPA, SAT score or class rank than is required Review college admission test requirements (SAT, ACT, TOEFL) Know application fees and deadlines Submit application materials o Complete applications for admission o Application fee o Recommendations o Admissions test results APPLY: To College & For Financial Aid 1. To College - Apply to college(s), track your college applications, submit transcripts, and get recruited! 2. For Financial Aid - Learn about Grants, Scholarships, Loans, and other options that help you pay for college. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 21

22 PAY: 1. Savings Plan helps you take the first step in saving for college 2. Grants & Scholarships - Look for grants and scholarships. New York has more than $800 million a year available for students and there's federal and college or university "gift aid" too. 3. Part Time Work - Consider part-time work. The right balance of study and work can help you meet expenses and gain experience. 4. Loans - Loans are a good resource to help with college costs; however, they must be paid back with interest. Compare loan types, interest rates, and fees carefully and borrow only what you really need. 5. Installment Payment Plans - Dividing your college expenses over a period of time can make it easier to pay out of current income. See if your college or university offers an installment payment plan. 6. Repayment - Make an online payment, check your account information, get help with repayment questions and debt management, and find the forms you need. WRITING ESSAYS FOR COLLEGE AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS A great application essay will present a vivid, personal, and compelling view of you to the admissions staff or scholarship selection committee. It will round out the rest of your application and help you stand out from other applicants. The essay is one of the only parts of your application over which you have complete control, so take the time to do a good job on it. Check out these tips before you begin: Keep your focus narrow and personal Your essay must prove a single point or thesis. The reader should be able to find your main idea and follow it from beginning to end. Ask someone to read just your introduction to see what he or she thinks your essay is about. Essays that attempt to be too comprehensive end up sounding watered down. Remember, it s not about telling the committee members what you ve done they can pick that up from your list of activities but about showing them who you are. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 22

23 Prove it Develop your main idea with vivid, specific facts, events, quotations, examples, and reasons. There s a big difference between simply stating a point of view and letting an idea unfold in the details: Vague: I like to be surrounded by people with a variety of backgrounds and interests. Better: During that night, I sang the theme song from Casablanca with a baseball coach who thinks he s Bogie, discussed Marxism with a little old lady, and heard more than I ever wanted to know about some woman s gallbladder operation. Be specific Avoid clichéd, generic, and predictable writing. Instead use vivid, specific details. Generic: I want to help people. I have gotten so much out of life through the love and guidance of my family, I feel that many individuals have not been as fortunate; therefore, I would like to expand the lives of others. Better: My mom and dad stood on plenty of sidelines until their shoes filled with water or their fingers started to freeze or somebody s golden retriever signed its name on their coats in mud. I think that kind of commitment is what I d like to bring to working with fourth graders. Don t tell your readers what you think they want to hear Most admissions officers read plenty of essays about the charms of their university, the evils of terrorism, and the personal commitment involved in being a doctor. Bring something new to the table, not just what you think they want to hear. Don t write a résumé Don t include information that is found elsewhere in the application. Your essay will end up sounding like an autobiography, travelogue, or laundry list. Yawn. Overloaded: During my junior year, I played first singles on the tennis team, served on the student council, maintained a B+ average, traveled to France, and worked at a cheese factory. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 23

24 Don t use 50 words when 5 will do eliminate the unnecessary words Wordy: Over the years, it has been pointed out to me by my parents, friends, and teachers and I have even noticed this about myself, as well that I am not the neatest person in the world. Better: I m a slob. Don t forget to proofread Typos and spelling or grammatical errors can be interpreted as carelessness or just bad writing. Don t rely on your computer s spell-checker. It can miss spelling errors like the ones below. After I graduate form high school, I plan to work for a nonprofit organization during the summer. From that day on, Daniel was my best fried. Source: College Counseling Sourcebook, 4th Edition. The College Board. Permission granted to copy this for educational purposes. WRITING YOUR RESUME The development of your student resume is an important step in planning for your future. You will use your student resume for many pursuits, including, but not limited to; after-school and summer employment, volunteer work, job shadowing and internships, college applications, and scholarship applications. Principals, teachers, and school counselors may use your resume (during your senior year) to write recommendations and to help you with the scholarship process. Each senior must have a resume and a copy should be given to your college guidance counselor. Senior English teachers may help 12 th grade students prepare a resume. Please do not ask counselors, teachers, principals, or community representatives to write a recommendation letter for you without providing them with your resume. Your resume should be in a format that best highlights your experience, education, and interests. Try to keep it brief (2 pages maximum; 1 page is preferred). Make sure the font is large enough to be easily read. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 24

25 The following examples are offered to help get you started. One possible resume format will include the following sections: Heading: Skills: Education: Name, Address, Telephone, Technical/Computer Skills, People Skills, Language Skills, Work Skills Specialized classes or training, expected graduation date Experience: Volunteer and paid work, special projects you have completed Activities: School and community activities in which you have participated (Include dates, offices, and awards) Interests: Cover anything not in Activities References: At least two non-family persons who can say great things about you, your character, and your work RECOMMENDATION LETTERS Whether it s for a job application, a college application, or a scholarship, you may be required to have a recommendation letter completed on your behalf. Asking for Letters of Recommendation: Many colleges and universities require letters of recommendation along with your application for admission. These letters are an important way for admissions officials to gain insight into your personal strengths, weaknesses, and accomplishments. When asking for a letter of recommendation, consider the following tips: o Ask for letters at least 3 weeks before the application deadline, and remind letterwriters 1 week prior to the deadline. o Be courteous and polite when requesting letters of recommendation. Remember that you are asking the person to do something extra on top of their usual workload. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 25

26 o o Ask the person if he or she is able to write a strong letter for you; a weak letter will hurt your chances of admission. If someone doesn t know you well enough to advocate for your admission, you should find someone else who can write a strong letter on your behalf. Provide all necessary information, dates, forms, addresses, envelopes, and postage to complete and submit the letter of recommendation. And, make sure you follow the directions on how to send them in and when. Q & A guidelines/tips to get the best recommendation possible: Question: How do you decide who can give you the best recommendation letter? Answer: Think about who knows you best and would write a strong recommendation letter in support of you. A teacher usually will give you the best recommendation letter. Which teacher? Think about which class you had to work the hardest in and that way the teacher can give examples of specific times you worked hard. The recommender should be able to tell a story about you... not just list what activities you have been active in. Admissions offices want to know how you enriched a class/school. They want to know what IMPACT you had in/on an activity. (E.g. The recommendation letter should not just list an extracurricular activity you have been a part of, but say how you impacted the school through that activity.) Question: What is an appropriate amount of time to give the recommender? Answer: Determine the deadline for when the recommendations are due. Allow the recommender at least 3 weeks in advance of the due date to get it completed. Be sure to check back with the recommender to ensure it was completed. Then send them a thank you note. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 26

27 Question: What information should you give and how should you ask? Answer: When you ask, you should do so in person not by , phone, or note/letter. You should also provide the recommender with the following information: 1. Answers to the questions on the Recommender Questionnaire (located on the next page of this guide) 2. A copy of your resume 3. Information on how they should return the recommendation to you all materials necessary for mailing: a stamped, pre-addressed envelope (most envelopes require 3 stamps) if you want it mailed 4. A recommendation form (if applicable) 5. The date the recommendation letter/form is due TIP: It is a good idea to send a thank you note to the person completing the recommendation letter for you about a week or so after you initially ask for the recommendation. TIP: DO NOT put anything on the Internet that you do not want college admissions officers to see (e.g. MySpace, Facebook, etc.). TIP: Make sure your address is professional! TIP: You may want to ask the recommender to keep the letter of recommendation they write for you on file as you may need a number of letters throughout your senior year. By giving your recommender this information, they will be able to save this letter and hopefully, access it again as you need it. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 27

28 Recommender Questionnaire What are the first three words that come to mind to describe you? What are your personal strengths? Give examples that illustrate these strengths. Responses can include traits from academics, activities, athletics, hobbies, your personality, work experiences, etc. What points or qualities do you want stressed in a letter of recommendation about you? The accomplishments you are proud of are... (shows personal initiative or commitment) You have shown leadership skills by... The out-of-school activity that has been most rewarding to you is... because... Right now, what are the top priorities in your life? At present, do you have a particular philosophy of life? Are there any extenuating circumstances that should be included in your recommendation? What sacrifices or adjustments, if any, have you had to make/or will have to make in order to reach your goals? Are you the first from your immediate family to go to college? What additional information should the recommender know to write your letter of recommendation? How can the recommender capture the real you on paper? Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 28

29 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OPTIONS EARLY ACTION is an admissions procedure to notify student of early admissions to the college. Students are not obligated to accept the college s offer of admission and may file applications at other universities. Note: early action candidates can be denied or deferred and financial aid awards are made in April. EARLY DECISION is a plan under which candidates may submit credentials early to one college, usually by early October of the senior year. Applicants are notified of their admissions status by December. As part of an early decision plan, students are required to sign a statement agreeing to accept the college s offer of admission and to not apply to any other college. If you apply under EARLY DECISION and you are accepted, then you will be enrolled as a freshman at that college/university and required to pay the tuition. REGULAR ADMISSION is the plan under which candidates submit credentials during November to February, depending on school deadlines. Check the deadlines for each individual school. ROLLING ADMISSION is the plan under which candidates may apply until a final deadline, usually in late Spring. Students will receive a reply of acceptance or denial within four to six weeks. ONSITE ADMISSION is an admissions option in which colleges visit students at the high school and make an admission determination during a scheduled appointment with the student. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 29

30 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS KEYWORDS OFFER OF CONDITIONAL ADMITTANCE is acceptance to a college provided candidates maintain academic performance throughout the year. A college can withdraw its offer if grades fall significantly or if a student is involved in an activity that results in disciplinary action by the school or law enforcement. DENIAL is a final decision by the college to not offer admission. Students who are denied can apply again after completing at least a semester of college coursework. DEFERMENT is a delay of admissions decision until a later time. Many competitive schools will defer fall applications to the spring in order to receive additional grades and other information. WAITLISTING occurs after the regular admissions process is complete. There is no guarantee a college will refer to the waitlist. Students on a waitlist for one college should plan to attend another college and then reconsider if offered admission at a later time. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 30

31 COLLEGE VISIT INFORMATION Perhaps the most influential factor in college selection is the campus visit. A visit allows you to get a feel for the campus and to see how you might feel living there for the next four years. It is tremendously important to visit the campus and see the students, meet professors, see the residence halls, etc. The best time to visit schools is when classes are in session. If you can t visit during this time, keep in mind that a campus is not the same in the summer or on breaks as they are when students are around. Don t let weather or other such factors impact how your visit goes remember that it will more than likely rain when you re a student, so that is just a fact of life! To plan a campus visit, you should call the Admissions Office well in advance for an appointment. NOTE: BAS encourages seniors to conduct visits on non-school days, such as summers, weekends, and teacher workdays. In the event that visits must occur on school days, principals can allow for up to two (2) senior days for such visits provided that the student adheres to the following procedure: 1. Request a college day form from your school counselor two weeks in advance. 2. Take the form to all of your teachers to be initialed and return it to your school counselor. 3. Students must bring back evidence (a BAS form or a signed statement by college admissions personnel on official stationary) promptly upon return from the visit. The signed statement must include the date of the visit. If officially approved, these days will not count against attendance. However, you are still required to make-up all missed assignments and/or tests. NO in-town college visits will be excused. The campus tour is a very important part of every campus visit. Be sure to ask questions about the academic rigor, social environment, extracurricular activities, class sizes, housing situation, etc. A quick note about dress: be neat and comfortable, yet don t create an issue with your appearance. Admissions officers do not expect you to wear a dress or a coat and tie especially if it is 90 degrees outside! One hopes that the interviewer will remember your interview for reasons other than your dress. Wear comfortable shoes because you will probably be doing a lot of walking. Be sure to take rain gear as well. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 31

32 SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR VISIT: 1. Sit in on some classes that interest you. You must get permission for this. 2. Pick up a copy of the school newspaper. 3. Read the course catalog and check out the list of faculty, their degrees, and the courses they teach. Investigate your chosen academic program by meeting with professors. 4. If you are interested in playing a sport, request a meeting with a coach. The same goes for any activity of interest. 5. Find out about the quality of the Career Services Office/Placement Services. 6. Talk with students. 7. Verify admission requirements and discuss your chances for successful admission. 8. Ask about scholarships and financial aid. QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CAMPUS TOUR GUIDE: 1. Who teaches your classes? Professors or Teaching Assistants? 2. How adequate is the library? Are you able to get the books you need when you need them? 3. What technology is required and how do I access technology support services? 4. How accessible are professors? 5. What is the biggest issue on campus? 6. Are certain courses harder to get into? If so, which ones in particular? 7. What is the greatest shortcoming of this college? What do students complain about? 8. Why did you choose this particular college? Do you still feel the same way about it? 9. What kinds of students are most happy here? Least happy? Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 32

33 FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION The Federal government mandated the creation and use of one form (FAFSA) to apply for federal financial aid. However, individual states and colleges may also require the completion of supplemental forms. Every college will specify which forms they require. Every BAS Senior & parent should be aware that the FAFSA should be submitted at the earliest possible date after January 1. You won t receive if you don t apply! Two forms are described below: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): All students applying for any federal financial aid must file this form. The FAFSA is the only application students must complete to be considered for all federal financial aid including: Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, Work-Study, and other federal financial aid programs. Students will not be charged a fee when filing this form, and the data can be sent to 10 colleges. If you wish to have the data sent to additional institutions, the instructions are on the Student Aid Report (SAR). Aid applicants should expect to receive the SAR within 2 to 6 weeks following application. Many scholarships require submission of the FAFSA. You can access this form online at Paper copies can be downloaded from this site, as well. To complete the FAFSA online, you will need to acquire a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at this site: Online FAFSA forms are processed 7-14 days faster than paper forms. Institutional Form/CSS Profile In addition to the FAFSA many colleges request additional information with their own institutional form. Admission and financial aid materials will include specific institutional requirements. A commonly used form is the CSS Profile, which you can access at: The CSS Profile is a supplemental financial aid resource, often used by private colleges. The profile is also a required documentation for some scholarship programs. Fee waivers are available for the submission of this application. Brooklyn Amity School 3867 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Page 33