Navigating College Applications

Navigating College Applications

A Step-by-Step Guide to your College Search

Step 1: Identify What Matters to You

• Academics, majors and programs*

• Cost, financial aid, and affordability

• Public or private?

• Campus community and social life

• Location and distance from home

• Athletics and other extracurriculars Size Selectivity

• Career services and other support

Poll

Do you have access to Naviance?

• Yes

• No

• I'm not sure

Programs

• HEOP/EOP

• AOP

• Accelerated Degree Programs

• Certificate Programs

Step 2: Start Your Search

• Naviance

• College Board

• College Express

• Princeton Review

• Google

• School Websites and Social Media

• TIP- STAY ORGANIZED! Use an excel, use a binder or a folder to keep all your brochures!

• Safety School

• where your academic credentials exceed the school's range for the average first-year student.

• Match School

• where the school is likely to admit you because your grades and test scores are similar to those of typical first-year students.

• Reach School

• where you have a chance of getting into the school, but your test scores and gpa are lower than the average first-year student.

Open Ended

What do you think could be different with college applications this year?

Are there going to be any college tours??

• Open Houses (Mostly Virtual)

• Personal Walking Tours

• Virtual Tours

Step 3: Start the Applications

• Common App

• College Essays

• Additional Questions/Essays

• Interviews

Early Decision v. Early Action

• Early Decision

• You can apply to only one early decision college. If the college accepts you and offers you enough financial aid, you must go to that college.

• Early Action

• You can apply to more than one early action college. If you're accepted, you can say yes right away or wait until spring to decide. You can also decline the offer.

Multiple Choice

How many schools should you apply to?

• 2-3

• 3-4

• 5-6

• 7-8

• It doesn't matter. As many as you'd like.

College Essay Prompts 2020 (Pt 1)

• 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, please share your story.

• 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

• 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

• 4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma — anything of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

• 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

• 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

• 7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Step 4: Financial Aid and Final Decisions

Multiple Choice

When should you start thinking about financial aid?

• Now

• After I apply to colleges

• After I receive my acceptance letters

• After I receive my financial aid package

What types of financial aid are there?

• FAFSA (Student Grants and Loans)

• TAP (NYS Schools)

• Scholarships and Grants

• Work Study

Student Loans

• Subsidized Student Loans

• Interest is paid by the Education Department while you're enrolled at least half time in college

• Unsubsidized Student Loans

•  Interest begins accruing as soon as the loan is disbursed, including while students are enrolled in school

Fill in the Blanks

If your student loan starts building interest once you sign it, you have signed up for a(n)

Multiple Select

What are the two main types of scholarships?

• Merit Based

• Community Service Based

• Need Based

• Military Based

Step 5: Post-Application Considerations

• Summer Melt

• College Welcome Materials

• Medical Records and Physicals

• Meeting your Roommate(s)

• Adjusting to life on campus