Types of Applications
When you submit a binding application to a college (typically in November), committing to attending if admitted, and typically are notified of a decision before January 1st.
What is Early Decision (ED)?
-Indicates the school is your top choice!
-Restricted to applying to only one school ED.
-Can give a strategic advantage.
-Unable to compare financial aid offers because you must attend if accepted.
The online form US citizens or permanent residents must fill out in order to receive financial aid from the government.
What is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
-The FAFSA can be filled out at www.fafsa.gov.
-This form is FREE!
A number listed on your transcript that represents the average final grade you got in all of your classes.
What is a Grade Point Average (GPA)?
-The GPA on your AHA transcript only includes classes taught at AHA.
-AP and designated college-level classes receive a higher weight. An A in Calculus A is a 4.0, while an A in AP Calculus AB is a 5.0.
An institution of higher education supported by taxpayer money.
What is a public school?
-While they accept out-of-state students, public schools are created to serve the residents of that state.
-In-state residents often have higher acceptance rates and lower tuition costs.
Visiting a school and applying is all I need to do to make myself known to an admissions office.
False - Many colleges track different types of demonstrated interest including:
-College fairs
-HS visits
-Email communication with reps
-Interviews
-School-specific essays
This application is accepted by over 750 colleges in the US and around the world.
What is the Common Application?
This form is required by many private schools, which provides additional financial information to help determine financial aid packages.
What is the CSS Profile?
-This form can be found on The College Board.
-This is the only instance in which you should pay money to receive financial aid.
Beyond your grades, colleges look at these academic factors when reviewing your transcript.
What are upward trends and rigor of curriculum?
-Upward Trends: Colleges like to see that your grades have improved throughout high school (or remained consistent if strong from the beginning).
-Rigor: Colleges like to see that you are challenging yourself with honors (AB), AP, and college-level classes.
An academic program that includes the sciences, social sciences, languages, arts, and mathematics, as distinguished from professional or vocational programs that focus on training for specific careers such as engineering, business, and nursing.
What is liberal arts?
-Many professional or vocational programs still have some liberal arts requirements, just often not as many.
Most of the country's top-tier schools are very expensive and unaffordable to the average person.
False
-Most top tier schools meet full need (some for international students)
-They want the best and most diverse incoming classes.
-Many private schools can be cheaper than out-of-state public schools because they have more money to give.
A non-binding application option where you apply in October, November, or December, and find out your admissions decision in December or January.
What is Early Action (EA)?
-You can apply to as many EA schools as you want.
-This is non-binding. You do not have to attend this school if accepted.
Money that you have to pay back after you graduate.
What is a loan?
-The government limits the amount of federal loans that you are allowed to take out.
-Parents may take out PLUS loans to cover the remaining costs of college.
Tests required by many colleges to help them compare you to the broader applicant pool and indicate college success.
What are the SAT and ACT?
-Many schools are test-optional!
-Some selective colleges also require the SAT Subject Tests.
-International students often also have to take the TOEFL to prove English proficiency.
A type of institution where students are required to take a broad range of subjects in addition to their major, and where the main focus of a professor is teaching and forming relationships with their students.
What is a liberal arts college?
Colleges want well-rounded students.
False - Colleges want well-rounded student bodies.
-Don't just check of boxes because you think colleges want to see everything.
-Focus on the activities that interest you most and leave a mark!
-Show colleges who you will contribute to their campus.
This application is accepted by over 140 colleges around the United States that meet a high standard of quality and affordability.
What is the Coalition Application?
-Most colleges on the Coalition Application are also on the Common Application (which is easier to use).
-Popular Coalition Application exclusive colleges are University of Maryland, University of Florida, and University of Washington.
Money that you earn based off of your grades, test scores, or special talent.
What is a merit scholarship?
Documents submitted to the college to support your application and let the admissions officers know what type of student you are in the classroom by highlighting your participation, work ethic, individual and group work, intellect, quality of work, etc.
What are teacher letters of recommendation?
This institution is a place where professors focus much of their time on making advancements in their field and sometimes offer opportunities for undergraduate students (but more often graduate/doctoral students) to help them.
What is a research university?
College admissions officers are looking up applicants online and on social media.
True
In a Kaplan survey last year, it was revealed that 26% of admissions officers have gone to an applicant's Facebook or other social networking page, while 27% have Googled them.
A somewhat strategic non-binding admissions option for highly selective schools such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Princeton.
-You can only apply to one school REA or SCEA.
-You cannot apply to any school through ED.
-You cannot apply to any private school through EA.
-You can apply to public schools through EA.
-This is non-binding!
Found on your Student Aid Report (SAR) after you complete the FAFSA, this indicates how much the government determined you can afford each year to pay for college.
What is Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?
-This is based off of your household income including your custodial parent, their spouse, and yourself.
-If you have a sibling in college at the same time, you are not expected to pay this amount for each student.
Quite possibly one of the most important parts of an application, this gives admissions officers deeper insight into who you are as a person, while setting you apart from other applicants with similar grades and activities.
What is the personal statement/main essay?
An educational program or school where work experience (which is paid and set up as sequential, ongoing experiences) is integrated into the academic curriculum.
What is cooperative (co-op) education?
Earning a B in a hard class is better than earning an A in an easy class.
True
-Colleges want to see you are challenging yourself.
-College is harder than high school - harder classes show you are prepared.
-Do not worry about your GPA...harder classes are weighted.