Once you have met with the college counselors and decided on your final list of schools to which you will apply, including at least one foundation school, you can complete the following steps:

Gather all applications and materials

• On Family Connection choose the colleges you are applying to, sign the FERPA and choose your teachers who are writing letters of recommendation for you.

• Determine which schools are on the common application noting all application deadlines. Look up deadlines from colleges not on common app.

• Colleges will often provide a “checklist” on their admissions websites. Consider using an Application Organization Chart to list and compare application deadlines, fees, whether recommendations are required, and how many are required, scholarship deadlines, and essay topics.

• Keep a file with all the materials you might need for applying online: your resume, an unofficial transcript, and maybe a paper copy of the application that you’ve practiced filling out. Don’t forget to have a credit card handy when you actually sit down to apply.

Order transcripts

1. Order your transcripts from the Registrar, Mrs. Scholl, who is also the secretary in the Counseling Center. Each transcript for each school costs $5, which covers the cost of postage and the mid-year report transcript that many colleges and universities require (see below). Please be ready to pay for your transcripts when you order them.

2. Test scores are not automatically included on the back of your transcript. If you choose to release the scores, you will need to turn in the “Test Score Release Form,” which Mrs. Scholl can print out for you. We cannot include some test scores and not others.

Letters of Recommendation

Many public universities require only the application, the application fee, and your high school transcript. If you’re applying to private colleges and universities as well, or flagship state schools in other states (University of Washington, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Oregon, etc.), it’s a good idea to send a recommendation as well as a personal statement.

When you request letters of recommendation, remember that all faculty members require at least one-month advance notice for letters. Ms. Koles and Ms. Cabal also require at least a month’s notice, once the senior survey form has been completed. Complete the senior survey form from the Judge web site or Family Connection and e-mail or turn in hard copy to college counselor. Also print out teacher request form, fill it out and give to your teachers who will be writing your letters of recommendation. (see Judge Letter of recommendation request for for teachers)

1. If your application is not on the common app and does not have an online submission for letters of recommendation, please give each counselor/teacher the form downloaded from their site for each college, along with a stamped, addressed envelope for each. You can use our Judge Recommendation Request Form to note all the deadlines in one place. If your college or university does not include a form in their application, note that on the Recommendation Request Form along with the name of the school and the deadline, and include a stamped addressed envelope.

2. Waiving your right to see the letter: Consider signing the section on each form and/or on your application that waives your right to review your letter of recommendation. Your signature will assure the admission staff reader of your confidence in your recommenders. It will also assure them that your letters of recommendation are candid portrayals of your abilities. See Ms. Koles or Ms. Cabal if you have further questions about this.

3. Remember that it takes a great amount of time and energy for teachers/counselors to write good letters of recommendation. The following are some suggestions to make the process as simple as possible for you and your teachers (they are also included on the Recommendation Request Form in the Counseling Center as a reminder):

• It is helpful if you request all letters at once, and note all schools and deadlines.

• Please do not ask a different teacher to write for each school. Each teacher will write one letter to send to each of the schools to which you will apply.

• Give as much advance notice as possible; more time will give recommenders the opportunity to write the most thorough and accurate letter possible.

• It’s a good idea to write a thank you note to teachers for writing on your behalf. That may be the only thanks they get for doing it.

Mid-Year Reports

Some universities may want to see your first semester (senior year) grades. The common application will automatically request the forms electronically from us, but those colleges not on the common app may have mid-year forms that the student must print out, give to us and we will submit them either electronically or by mail. Each one should go to Mrs. Scholl in the Counseling Center (don’t forget to fill out the student section on all forms). Your semester grades will be sent with the forms as soon as they are available. If there is no form with the application for a college but the school does ask for a midyear transcript in its checklist, you should request that transcript from Mrs. Scholl. The $5 you paid for the first transcript we sent covers the processing of the midyear transcript.

Test Scores

You must have your SAT Reasoning/Subject and/or ACT scores sent directly from the testing agency to the college or university. If you entered the code for your colleges of choice when you initially registered for the test, this has been taken care of automatically. If you did not know which schools you would be applying to at the time, or if those schools changed, you must contact the College Board to have your SAT scores sent www.collegeboard.com and ACT to have ACT scores sent www.act.org.

College Board now offers ScoreChoice, the option to hold scores from certain SAT tests and to only send the better scores. In response, because they have seen in the past that students wait until the last minute to send scores and then miss deadlines, many highly selective colleges are requiring that all scores be sent. Read closely the application requirements on each of your college's websites to find out their testing requirements.

The ACT Score Report is not cumulative for most colleges, but we see this changing. Some schools with "superscore" the subscores. Every college is different, so check with the individual colleges.

APPLICATION PLANNING GUIDE

Listed below are some tips to keep in mind when completing your applications. Remember that it is extremely important to leave a favorable impression with the admissions office by sending them a well-prepared application.

• Be aware of deadlines. In general, the more selective the college, the earlier the deadline. Make sure you meet the deadline.

• Spelling counts! Spelling errors leave a very bad impression. Proofread your application carefully.

• Be thorough and complete. Rather than leave a question blank, indicate “not applicable.” This will make it easier when you’re proofreading it to see that you have not missed filling out any sections.

• Honesty is a virtue. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not.

• Colleges want to see your effort, not someone else’s. Prepare the application yourself. Colleges may become suspicious with a “too perfect” application or essay.

• Be proud of your accomplishments and let colleges know about them. This is not the time to downplay aspects of your life. Present yourself and your activities openly and honestly. Don’t minimize or exaggerate.

• Supplementary material should be submitted only if it is relevant or adds to your application. Some colleges/universities will not accept it. Don’t get carried away.

• Let your uniqueness shine through.

• Your essay or personal statement is the main way to let the college see your individuality, maturity, and experiences. Focus the majority of your energies here and make the most of the opportunity.

• Double-check everything before you submit it.

• Check on Family Connection to see status!

• Should you receive notice from a college/university that part of your application is missing, DON’T PANIC! Wait about a week, then call the university back to double check. Often, materials have arrived but simply have not been filed at the time that notification cards are mailed/emailed. In the vast majority of cases, the phone call proves that the materials are indeed present. If they still are not there, check with the teacher or the college counselor to see what date they sent their letters; usually, they have copies of their letters and forms and can re-send them or fax them.

• You should receive a decision by April 15 for all regular decision deadlines.

For more helpful hints (“Dos and Don’ts”) see http://www.collegeview.com/articles/CV/counselors/polish-your-application.html