Senior College Application Info October 2013

1. Senior College Application Info October 2013

2. FULFILLING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 4 Years of English 3 Years of Social Studies 3 Years of Math 3 Years of Science 2 Years of World Language 7 Units of Education-To-Careers or Electives in Career Path 2 Years of fine Art 2 Years of P.E. or ROTC (includes Health) 26 CREDITS Non-Credit Requirements 40 SLH, Consumer Education, Drivers Education, Constitution Exam, PSAE Exam

3. College Application Timeline September 2013: Research schools, retake ACT one last time, attend college tours, visits and fairs, meet with your counselor October 2013: Apply to College! Perfect personal statement, Seek recommendations, get transcripts, MAIL PRIORITY SCHOOL November 2013: Research scholarships; complete applications Priority Deadlines: UIUC and UIC--November 1 and DePaul--November 15 December 2013: Receive early college acceptances; complete applications

4. College Application Timeline (continued) January 1st 2014: Apply for FAFSA and scholarships. City College application available February 2014: Curie FAFSA deadline is February 18, continue scholarships March 2014: Begin receiving financial aid packages April 2014: Submit tax verifications and update FAFSA May 1st 2014: Decide on a school to attend! MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOUR GRADES UP AND STAY ON-TRACK FOR GRADUATION.

5. COLLEGE RESEARCH AND COLLEGE MATCH • Apply to between 4 and 8 schools (safety, match and reach schools) • Consider majors available, size, location, cost, admissions requirements, opportunities on campus • Set up visits GOOD WEBSITES FOR COLLEGE/CAREER RESEARCH https://secure.whatsnextillinois.org/ http://www.collegegreenlight.com/ http://student.collegeboard.org/

6. MAKING YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATION STRONG • Demographic Information • Standardized Test Scores • Transcript • Teacher Recommendations • Personal Statement, Short Answers and Essays • Extra-Curricular Activities, Community Service, Work Experience and/or Family Obligations

7. COMMON MISTAKES ON COLLEGE APPLICATIONS • Inappropriate Email Address • Naming the Wrong School • Forgetting a Section • Waiting to the Last Minute to Have Teachers Write You Recommendations • Not Double Checking Deadlines • Disobeying Word Limits • Not Answering Questions • Assuming Biographical Information is Not Important • Not Spell Checking or Proofreading • Leaving Out Important Information About Yourself • Treating Your Application Like Your Facebook Page or Like a Text Message

8. Common Application • Although lots of schools use the Common Application (most very highly selective schools use it), many schools do NOT use the Common Application. Refer to https://www.commonapp.org/Login#!PublicPages/AllMembers for a list of schools that accept the common application. • Some Schools in Illinois that Use the Common Application:Augustana, DePaul University, Illinois College, Illinois Institute of Technology, Illinois Wesleyan University, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Chicago • Some schools allow student to complete the school’s application OR the Common Application, but if you are applying to UIC, you MUST complete the Common Application.

9. Common Application Essay Prompt The Common Application Essay Candidates choose ONE topic and respond. (250-word minimum, 650-word maximum) • Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. • Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn? • Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? • Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you? • Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. In addition to the standard essay, many schools using the common application will ask for additional essays.

10. Continuing Your Education Pays

11. Requesting Official Transcripts • Go to Curiehs.org • Click on Counseling • Click on transcript request • Complete form and pick up in College and Career Center 3-5 days after date of request ONLY REQUEST TRANSCRIPTS IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO FINISHING AND APPLICATION AND ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO COMPLETE IT. THE FRIST 3 ARE FREE; THE COST IS $3 PER TRANSCRIPT AFTER THE THIRD. APPLICATION FEE WAIVERS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE COLLEGE CENTER FOR STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH.

12. Senior Checklist

13. Counselor Contact Information Please let us know if you need help, and keep us in the loop. Let us know when you have finished a college or scholarship application so that we can update our records. Just send us a quick email. Thanks!

14. Time to Get Stuff Accomplished! Use this time to research schools, work on your applications or write your Personal Statement. For guidance with this, Go to the Curie website, click on Counseling and click on the College Workshop 1. Most of you used this PowerPoint on Friday during homeroom. Within the PowerPoint, you will find research tips and links, application links and personal statement information. SENIOR PROFILE: If you didn’t submit this on Friday during homeroom, please do so now! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FHeLLLSbP6XZjjKohMC0fG7s9AoYup9Is9festI_gTc/viewform What I Accomplished Today: If you didn’t submit this on Friday at the end of homeroom, please do so now. https://docs.google.com/a/cps.edu/forms/d/1-dNTJnet1MCJBV0ahq3TgJNd8UsCiHL8eJt_gWziI28/viewform