Student Data Information Packet Letters of Recommendation for Private Colleges/Universities and Scholarships

Transcription

1 Student Data Information Packet Letters of Recommendation for Private Colleges/Universities and Scholarships Student Data Packets will be accepted in the Career Center beginning Monday, June 2, 2014 and no later than Thursday, September 25, The Student Data Packet provides information to the Counselor who will write your Letters of Recommendation: You do need a Counselor Letter of Recommendation and a Mid-Year Report for most private colleges/universities including those using the Common Application. It is your responsibility to find out if the college(s) to which you are applying require a Counselor Letter of Recommendation and a Mid-Year Report. You do not need to fill out a Student Data Packet if you are only applying to UC, Cal State, or other colleges or universities that do not require a counselor letter of recommendation. Some Scholarship Applications require a Counselor Letter of Recommendation. If so, the Student Data Packet must be completed. Important Note: The Student Data Packet has been designed to assist you in looking thoughtfully at yourself and at the colleges/universities to which you will apply. You need to begin the process of completing this packet early enough to give yourself adequate time to fill out all forms carefully and completely. In writing Letters of Recommendation it is the goal of the counseling staff to present you in the best possible light to the appropriate institutions. Please keep in mind three distinct categories of colleges: REACH school: School that is a stretch for you to be admitted, but on occasion, the school has accepted students with your GPA and ACT/SAT scores and the school has the areas of study in which you are interested. REALISTIC schools: Schools that are solid matches for you because typically they will enroll students with your average GPA, ACT/SAT scores and the schools have the areas of study in which you are interested. SAFETY schools: Schools to which you ll most likely be admitted. They may not be at the top of your list, but are good fall back schools if other options don t work out and the schools have the areas of study in which you are interested.

2 Instructions for Student Data Packet Complete Student Data Packet online forms. You may type your responses on each page of the form. In some cases you will use a drop-down option. Turn in the completed Student Data Packet to the Career Center beginning Monday, June 2, 2014 and no later than Thursday, September 25, Please staple the pages together in the following order: Signed Agreement page (waiving your right to access) College Selection page College Entrance Exams page Activity/Special Interests page Personal Reflection page Letter of Recommendation ( In your own words ) and/or one of your college essays Parent Reflection page Compelling Reasons write-up (only if requesting beyond statistical average) 1. Signed Agreement Page: Type in Name and Student ID#. Complete agreement with hand-written signature of student and parent/guardian. Signatures indicate you will: Waive your right to access the Records/Recommendations sent by school staff. Waiving your right demonstrates to colleges your confidence in your school records and character. Not waive your right to access the Records/Recommendations sent by school staff. Not waiving your right may impact how colleges view your recommendation. 2. College Selection Page Report calculated UC/CSU GPA and highest composite ACT and highest combined SAT scores (from a single sitting). Report Private and Public colleges to which you are applying. Place a check in the column for Campus Visit if you have visited the campus and taken a campus tour. In the column for Rank preference rank your college choices in order from first to last.

3 3. College Entrance Exams page Fill in dates, scores and titles of any college entrance/ap exam taken. 4. Activity/Special Interests Page List activities, hobbies and special interests. We are trying to get a glimpse into your interests and passion beyond the academic classroom. Include extra-curricular activities, clubs, sports, community service, faith-based activities, volunteer work, internships, employment (work experience) during your high school years. The column for number of years involved may include years prior to high school, but it must be an activity in which you were also involved during high school. 5. Personal Reflection Page Answer all questions on this page. 6. Letter of Recommendation One of your college essays or In Your Own Words Please read and follow directions on the page carefully. 7. Parent Reflection Page Encourage your parent/guardian to complete this page. 8. Compelling Reasons Page Only if applying to schools where your GPA/College Entrance Exam testing profile does not match the range of admitted students published by the college/university. Please read and follow directions on the page carefully. Print a Student Data Packet to turn in to the Career Center and make a copy for your own records. You may also want to make additional copies for teachers or others writing letters of recommendation for you. A counselor will automatically be assigned to write your letters of recommendation. The counselor will call you in prior to your first due date for a personal interview. You may request a specific counselor write for you but this cannot be guaranteed due to the high volume of letters requested each year.

4 SIGNED AGREEMENT RE: waiving access to Records/Recommendation Letters Please TYPE your Student ID#, your LAST name, FIRST name and any other NAME you use. Print this page, read the statement below, and if you agree to the terms, sign the statement (along with your parent/guardian s signature). AHS Student ID#, Student LAST Name FIRST Name (Other Name) The signatures below are the authorization for Arcadia High School to send official high school transcripts, released ACT, SAT Reasoning and/or SAT Subject test scores and letters of evaluation or recommendation to colleges, financial aid offices, athletic departments, scholarship agencies or other offices involved in the college admissions process. We acknowledge that recommendations written by Arcadia High School counselors and teachers in support of applications are written with the understanding that they are confidential communications, to be read only by the admissions officers and/or financial aid offices, athletic departments and scholarship agencies at the colleges and universities designated by the student and that we will not request access to them. All requests for Letters of Recommendation to Colleges/Universities must be submitted in the Career Center by October 23, Early Decision/Early Action requests must be submitted by October 1, In special circumstances when Letters of Recommendation are needed prior to October 1, 2014, all requests must be submitted in the Career Center by August 21, 2014 (along with the Student Data Packet). We, the undersigned, understand and agree to these conditions. Parent/Guardian Signature Date Student Signature Date

5 College Selection Page* Stu ID # CSU/UC GPA: composite highest ACT (from a single sitting) score: combined highest SAT ( from a single sitting) score: In the section below, list the colleges to which you are applying Private Colleges/ Univ Public Colleges/ Univ Name of College/University avg. GPA min. GPA avg. SAT avg. ACT Name of College/University avg. GPA min. GPA avg. SAT avg. ACT Campus Visit* Campus Visit* *On-line sources for this DATA can be found at or or other similar websites Rank Preference Rank Preference

6 Stu ID # College Entrance Exams (report your best scores) ACT Score Date Taken Score Date Taken Date Planned English Math Reading Science Composite Combined Eng/Writing SAT Score Date Taken Score Date Taken Date Planned Critical Reading Writing Math Subject Tests (if taken) Score Date Taken Score Date Taken Date Planned AP Tests (if taken) Score Date Taken Score Date Taken Date Planned

7 Activity/Special Interests Page 1 In the section below, list the Activities in which you were involved during high school: Activity # of Years involved List any Leadership Positions held List any Honors/Awards List any additional recognition, awards or honors: List below any coursework and/or study programs you have enrolled in outside of Arcadia High School. This would include Community College and specialized programs such as a class at an Art Center, etc. Do not include high school courses outside of AHS and do not include summer school classes. The purpose is to help us understand in which ways you have further studied and/or explored any areas of particular interest. Name of School Program/Class Date Began Date Completed Grade/Mark

8 Personal Reflection Page The questions on this page are intended to help us understand you personally and how you think and feel about yourself in relation to the colleges to which you will apply. 1. Are you the first person in your family to attend college? yes no 2. Did either of your parents attend college? yes no 3. What major are you planning to pursue in college? Why? 4. What are the first three words that come to mind to describe yourself? Why? 5. What accomplishments do you feel good about or most proud of? 6. What was a setback/obstacle you faced? How did you overcome it? What did you learn from it? 7. Describe someone or something that has inspired you and why.

9 One of your College Essays OR Letter of recommendation ( In your own words ) Directions: Please include a copy of one of your Private College, Common Application or UC essays. We understand this may still be a work in progress. Remember: We are looking for some insight into who you are as a person not just as a student. We want to get a sense of your personality and YOU! OR Write your own letter of recommendation. Double space your letter and use a 12-point font. Do not exceed two pages. We are looking to hear your own voice and get a sense of who you are beyond your transcript and test scores. Let your personality shine through. Suggestions: Tell us a story about yourself that will let us get to know you better. What would people be surprised to know about you? What is important to you? Why? Remember: You are writing a letter to convince admissions officers to admit you. Do not simply list grades, activities, honors or community service as they will already have that information.

10 Parent Reflection Page,, Student LAST name FIRST name (other name) Student ID# 1. What do you consider your child s outstanding accomplishments during the past 3 years? 2. In which areas has your child shown the most growth during the past 3 years? 3. What do you consider your child s outstanding traits? 4. Are there unusual circumstances that may have affected your child s development? 5. Why do you think your child is ready for college, both academically and personally?

11 Compelling Reasons Include this information only if applying to schools where your GPA/College Entrance Exam testing profile does not match the range of admitted students published by the college/university. Please keep in mind the counselors write letters to best represent you. At the same time we represent ourselves and Arcadia High School. Our letters must be genuine and credible. In that spirit, if your statistics are lower than the school s published admissions data, we can write a letter for you only if you submit with your request for a letter, the compelling reason why that college/university should consider you. The compelling reason will help the counselor formulate the best recommendation to advocate for you. Examples of a compelling reason include: unusual home situations, excessive responsibilities at home, significant after school employment, physical or emotional considerations etc. *Online sources for this DATA can be found at Colleges.edu, or other similar websites.