Match + Fit Factors Factors
In your own words, what does college fit and college match mean?
College fit is the degree to which a college meets a student’s academic, social, financial, and other needs and interests (including location, academic programs, class sizes, graduation and employment rate and support services).
Match, most broadly, refers to the degree that a student meets a college’s needs or prerequisites ( institutional selectivity/ entrance requirements and students’ academic ability).
What are the three types of applications you can use to apply to college?
CUNY Application
SUNY Application
Common Application
What are the parts of a college application?
Application Fee
Entrance Exams
College Essays
Supplemental Essays (Optional)
Letters of Recommendation
High School Transcript
Resume or Portfolio (Optional)
Interviews (Case by case)
What is the purpose of sending your high school transcript and when should you send it?
The record of the classes you’ve taken and your grades is one of the most important parts of your application.
Your high school should send your transcript, along with a school profile, directly to the colleges you are applying to.
At the end of your senior year, your high school will send a final transcript to the college you’ve decided to attend.
What are some important college application steps to take during the fall semester of your senior year?
Narrow your list of colleges to between five and 10.
Make a list of all important deadlines for your applications.
Prepare early decision/early action or rolling admission applications as soon as possible.
Ask a counselor to help you request a fee waiver if you can’t afford application or test fees.
Take the SAT/ACT one more time and be sure to have your SAT scores sent to the colleges you’re applying to.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® if applicable.
Ask a counselor or teacher for recommendations
Write first drafts and ask teachers and others to read them if you’re submitting essays.
Complete at least one college application by Thanksgiving.
Ask counselors to send your transcripts to colleges.
When searching for your best college fit based on financial aid, you should consider these two factors.
Career Center (Resume Writing, Interview Prep, Networking with Alumni)
Career Prospects
What are the three ways to rank college choices?
Safety
Target
Reach
What are the two standardized exams? What is their purpose?
Some colleges require or recommend that you send scores from tests such as the SAT or ACT.
The purpose of the ACT/SAT is to measure a high school student's readiness for college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants.
What is the purpose of an audition or portfolio?
If you’re applying to music, art or theater programs, the colleges may want to see samples of your work. This means you may need to audition or send portfolios or videos showing your artistic ability as part of your application.
What are some important college application steps to take during the winter semester of your senior year?
Take SAT Subject Tests for courses ending in the fall
Receive response on early applications
Submit enrollment deposit for early decision school, if desired
Submit regular decision applications
Ensure official SAT and ACT score reports are sent to regular decision schools
Go into the regular decision interview confident
Fill out and submit the FAFSA and Fill out and submit the CSS PROFILE or other school-based aid forms
When searching for your best college fit based on financial aid, you should consider these two factors.
Cost of College
Financial Aid Package
Roughly, about how many schools should you have on your college list?
About 10.
What is the purpose of a college essay? What is the purpose of supplemental essays?
Your essays are a chance for you to give admission officers a better idea of your character and strengths. Remember to proofread your essays carefully before you send them in.
Supplemental essays are additional pieces of writing required by many universities and they can be just as revealing and important as your personal statement.
What is the purpose of a college interview?
If you’re applying to music, art or theater programs, the colleges may want to see samples of your work. This means you may need to audition or send portfolios or videos showing your artistic ability as part of your application.
What are some important college application steps to take during the spring semester of your senior year?
Update your FAFSA and CSS PROFILE applications
Send tax transcript for verification, if requested
Receive decision on regular applications
Compare financial aid packages from multiple schools
Consider work-study
Consider loans
Consider a financial aid appeal
Submit your enrollment deposit
Take AP Exams
When searching for your best college fit based on academics, you should consider these four factors.
College Major/Minor
Learning Style
Academic Support Services
GPA/Caliber of HS Classes
By when should you narrow down your college list?
It is advised to have a list of 10 schools before the start of your senior year, that can be subject to change, however, be solidified by beginning of October.
If you wish to apply early decision or early action, it would be advisable to have a solidified list of colleges before your senior year begins (end of August).
What is on the ACT? How long is the exam?
There are four ACT sections: English, Reading, Math, & Science.
The ACT also includes an optional 40-minute Writing Test.
The ACT is 2 hours and 55 minutes long. If you choose to take the ACT with Essay, the test will be 3 hours and 35 minutes long.
What is on the SAT? How long is the exam?
There are two SAT sections: Math & Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
The SAT also includes an optional Essay section. SAT Essay scores are reported separately from overall test scores.
The SAT clocks in at 3 hours (3 hours and 15 minutes with breaks). And if you choose to sign up for the optional essay, the SAT takes 3 hours and 50 minutes to complete (or 4 hours, 5 minutes with breaks).
What are some important college application steps to take during the summer semester of your senior year?
Complete ongoing enrollment paperwork for your college
Conduct work-study job search
When searching for your best college fit based on campus culture, you should consider these six factors.
Campus Size
Location
“Special Vibe”
Dorms
Food
Recreational Facilities
What resources could you use to inform your narrowing down of your college list?
Naviance
College Board Big Future
College Websites
Speaking to others
What are college application fees? How much are college application fees? How can you waive paying a college application fee?
An added cost associated with submitting an application for consideration towards admission for college/university.
College application fees vary, but generally it costs from $35 to $50 to apply to each college. Fees are nonrefundable.
Many colleges offer fee waivers (that is, they don’t require the fee) to students who can’t afford to pay. If you need application fee waivers, speak with your college counselor or principal.
What are recommendation letters? Who to should you ask for recommendation letters? How should you ask for recommendation letters?
These letters describe your skills, accomplishments and personality. Letters of recommendation work for you when they present you in the best possible light, showcasing your skills and abilities.
Many colleges require letters of recommendation from teachers or other adults who know you well.
Ask your references well in advance of the deadlines to write you a recommendation. You may want to give them a short written summary of your achievements to help them write about you.
What should be on your master calendar for your college applications?
Tests you’ll take and their fees, dates, and registration deadlines
College application due dates
Required financial aid application forms and their deadlines (aid applications may be due before college applications)
Other materials you’ll need (recommendations, transcripts, etc.)
Your high school’s application processing deadlines