Application Process

By the summer before senior year, students should have already accomplished the following:

• Meet with college counselor to discuss college choices.
• Sent for college view books and applications.
• Attended the College Selection Night, learning about factors for choosing colleges.
• Attended classes during junior year, learning about researching colleges, interviews, essays, and applications.
• Researched some colleges by visiting, reading, attending information sessions and/or utilizing other resources.

Although many of you will be busy during the summer, you will need to do the following during the summer or early fall:

• Think about which teachers you would like to write your teacher recommendation(s). You can ask them in the fall, after school begins.
• Review your transcript and activity list (on the back) when it is sent home at the end of the summer.
• Think about possible essay topics—write a rough draft.
• Come in to Barrack any time to work on or review your application, review or discuss your essay with me, or have a practice interview.
• Start to finalize your list of colleges where you wish to apply. Request applications for any colleges where you might apply. (You can also start to download applications from the Web if you prefer.)
• Make up a chart of what is due and when for each college—many colleges provide a checklist.
• Register for the SAT, ACT and/or SAT II's if needed.

During early fall of senior year:

• Continue to meet with me about your college list. It is our dual responsibility that every student has a list of schools that includes "safe, level and reach" schools.
• Attend, with your parents, the "College Application Night", which will give you details on EVERYTHING you need to know about college application specifics, and the accompanying forms. This meeting will be held on September 10th at 7:30 p.m.
• Start applying to any rolling admissions schools. Continue to review applications, essays and procedures with me.
• Visit with the college representatives who will be coming to Barrack in the fall (you will receive a schedule of visits when you attend the meeting on Sept. 10).
• Your parents should create a checklist for financial aid deadlines and requirements. (We will have a Financial Aid Night in November for all parents.)

We will talk in greater detail about what to do next when we meet in September. Your greatest priority for the summer should be setting goals, researching and assessing colleges, and beginning to put together your list of schools. And remember, I'm here to help you. Have a wonderful summer!

October

Take the PSAT's. The PSAT is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) and is also good practice for the SAT.

December

Receive PSAT scores.

February-March

• Have individual conference with college counselor. Start thinking about what you would like in a college, and work with the college counselor to determine a tentative list of colleges. Also discuss timing for taking the ACT or SAT and SAT Subject Tests (or SAT II's).
• Start to request information from colleges; review college websites and resources in the college counseling office.
• Attend "College Selection Night" for students and parents—Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 7:00pm.
• Students will receive information on researching colleges, college interviews & visits, and essays during five class periods at Barrack.
• February: ACT offered
• March: SAT offered

April-June

• Continue individual conferences
• Visit colleges—it is best to plan visits during spring break
• April: ACT offered
• May and June: SAT and SAT subject tests offered (Hebrew is only offered in June; Latin in Dec. and June). ACT offered in June
• Continue to refine college application list

Summer

• Continue researching and visiting colleges
• The college counseling office is open during the summer—continue individual conferences throughout the summer as needed.
• Request applications from colleges (by mail or e-mail)
• Review transcript with extra-curricular activities listed on the back.
• Start writing a rough draft(s) for college essays

• College Board (College Searches and SAT Registration)
• Hillel Website
• Campus Tours
• Peterson's Guide
• Princeton Review
• NCAA
• Common Application
• Fastweb (Scholarship Information)
• FAFSA
• CSS Profile
• SAT/ACT Test Optional Schools

• How would you describe yourself as a student?
• In what extracurricular activities do you participate? Which one has meant the most to you?
• How have you spent your summer vacations? Why did you decide to spend them that way?
• How would your friends describe you?
• Do you have career goals? What do you picture yourself doing in ten years from now?
• Why do you want to go to X College?
• What could you add to X College?
• What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
• What do you do in your free time?
• What else would you like us to know about you?
• Describe a typical school day for you?
• Is there a question you wished I had asked you?

What's the purpose of a college essay?

• To tell the Admissions Committee something about yourself
• Your chance to become "real" to a committee
• To demonstrate your ability to write an articulate, well-constructed essay (content and style)

Sample Questions

On the 2009-2010 Common Application, you will find the following six questions. Remember, next year's questions could be different!

"...Please write an essay (250 word minimum) on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below..."

• Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
• Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
• Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
• Describe a character in fiction, an historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
• A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
• Topic of your choice."

Some "do's" and "don'ts"

Do's

• Be creative
• Be concise
• Write in an appropriate tone
• Be clear
• Be accurate—spelling, grammar and sentence structure
• Answer the question asked
• Edit, edit, edit!
• Allow one or two people to review your essay

Don'ts

• Don't dwell on your weaknesses
• Don't be boring! Your audience will be reading thousands of essays
• Don't allow others to take away your voice
• Don't lie
• Don't disregard the directions

Getting Started: The Topic

• What impression would I like to give to the reader?
• What will my essay tell the reader that he/she would not know from the rest of my application?
• What tone or style will I implement?
• Am I answering the question asked?

English teachers and the college counselors will be happy to brainstorm ideas and review essays with students.

1. Plan ahead! Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions of your life, so start the process early in junior year. Allow time for self-assessment, research of colleges, interviews and tours, applications and essays, standardized tests, AND maintaining your grades, activities and a social life!
2. Don't choose a college by "name recognition." Wearing a prestigious college name on your sweatshirt is not as important as choosing a school where you will be happy, challenged, and able to grow and flourish.
3. Choose an essay topic that is compelling to you. You will be writing and rewriting your essay, so be sure that you are passionate about the subject - and be sure that you answer the question.
4. Visit college campuses. Viewbooks are no substitute for the "real thing." Take a tour, talk with students and faculty, see the surrounding area, and spend an overnight in a dorm, if possible. Ask yourself, "Do I feel comfortable here? Could I spend four years here?"
5. Strictly adhere to deadlines. Application and financial aid deadlines are mandatory - a late form could cost you admission and financial aid. (Remember that financial aid and application deadlines are usually NOT the same).
6. College is more than a career path. Although you and your parents want you to be prepared for a career, college is also a time to grow, explore, and expand your horizons socially and academically. Most students change majors a few times in college, so be sure to consider the overall environment as well as career goals when choosing a school.
7. Don't be afraid to apply to some schools you might not be able to afford. At many universities, more than 50% of the students receive some form of financial assistance. In addition to more affordable schools, don't hesitate to apply to schools where you might receive aid.
8. Pay attention to details. Make a chart to keep track of the details, deadlines and dates sent for applications, teacher recommendations, SAT scores, interviews, etc. Don't forget to keep a copy of anything you send!
9. Take charge of the process; become empowered. Your parents have had their chance to go to college: now it's your turn! Take charge of the process. Communicate with your parents about financial constraints and other guidelines for your college search, work with your college counselor, then take the ball and run with it!
10. "Getting in" or "not getting in" is not a judgment of your self-worth. Some of the top schools in the nation accept only one fifth or less of the applicants. Many highly qualified, valuable and successful individuals do not get accepted at the schools of their choice. Also, no one college is "perfect", but many colleges may be excellent places for you.

Carol K. Jacobs, M.Ed.
Director of College Guidance Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy

1. Select your teacher(s). Follow the guidelines for each college choice. Some schools require a math/science and English/humanities recommendation; others allow you to choose.
   
   Talk to your college counselors and parents about your selections. It is best to ask teachers who have taught you in eleventh or twelfth grade.
2. Ask your teacher(s). Write, e-mail or speak to your teacher(s) to see if they are willing to write recommendations for you.
3. Give teachers the following material at least 2 weeks in advance of deadlines:
   - a cover letter (sample below)
   - all teacher recommendation forms, and
   - 9" x 4" envelopes addressed and stamped for each college.
   
   Sample cover letter:
   Dear Ms. Smith,
   Thank you so much for agreeing to write my recommendations for me.
   
   I am applying to Beautiful U. for Early Decision. I am also applying to U. of Studyism, which has rolling admission. If I do not get into Beautiful U., I will be applying to the following colleges for regular admission. The due dates are listed below:
   Beautiful U.—Nov. 1, Early Decision
   U. of Studyism—Rolling admission
   Best College—Jan. 1 (Common application) SoSo College—Jan. 15 (Common application)
   Worst University—Jan. 15
   
   Thank you very much for your time.
   
   Sincerely, Your student
4. Be sure to thank your teachers!
   
5. Tell your teachers of all admissions decisions as you receive them.