Tips on How to Conquer the Admission Process

1. Margaret Dechant Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi September 24, 2010 Tips on How to Conquer the Admission Process

2. I. Important ApplyTexas Application Updates • ApplyTexas Application – Available on-line for 2011-2012 as of August 1st. • This is the last year that the Freshmen ApplyTexas application will be available in hard copy. • The Transfer, Transient, Former Student and Code Book hard copies have been discontinued. They are available as a PDF document at www.collegeforalltexans.com.

3. Military questions should be completed by students who are veterans, current military or military dependents. Note: There is a statewide initiative for all universities and community colleges to be “Military Friendly” institutions of higher education and provide comprehensive services to veterans and their dependents.

4. Race and ethnicity codes - Students are encouraged to complete this section for statistical purposes. This is important information as we endeavor to “close the gaps” in higher education as per the statewide “Closing the Gaps by 2015” initiative.

5. II. Steps in the Application Process • Complete the Application for Admissions (i.e. ApplyTexas application or the application specific to the community college or private institution of higher education) • Encourage your students to complete the entire application and not leave any questions unanswered. Unanswered questions could delay the transmission of the application to their selected institution and possibly delay their admission decision. • Assist your students in determining what the exact application requirements are for their chosen institution. Every institution has their own application completion requirements.

6. Scholarship and Housing Applications are available and are included as part of many of the institution’s ApplyTexas applications. Remind your students to contact their institution of choice by going on-line to their website or by telephone to determine their method of application for scholarships and on-campus housing. The ApplyTexas application will reference or direct the student concerning scholarships and housing for any particular institution.

7. Priority Application Dates and Deadlines - These dates are listed on the ApplyTexas website for each of the Texas public institutions of higher education and the community college and private institutions who accept the ApplyTexas application - Encourage students to check each website for all institutions they are interested in attending for priority application dates and deadlines. Every institution has different priority application dates and deadlines.

8. 2. Application Fees - required at many institutions and the fee varies for each institution. There are a few institutions who do not require an application fee. • Many institutions will not process the application for admissions without receipt of the appropriate fee. This causes a major delay in the processing of their application as the institution has to contact the student concerning the fee. If the notification concerning the fee occurs by hard copy letter, the delay could be as much as 2 – 3 weeks. • Fee waivers are available at each institution. There are College Board and ACT waivers. The student should contact the institution they are seeking admission to to determine what fee waivers are available to them.

9. 3. High School Transcripts - Must be official! • Official high school transcripts should be sent electronically to the student’s selected institutions through the Texas Records Exchange (TREx) system as mandated by the 79th Legislature (2006, House Bill 1).

10. Not all high schools have the technology in place to send the high school transcripts electronically. In these cases, an official hard copy transcript must be mailed to the institution of higher education by the granting institution. • What we MUST see on the official high school transcript: - Class rank: If your high school does not rank, it will delay the admission process at most institutions of higher education. The Office of Admissions at the institution of higher education, depending on their internal process, may contact the high school for the information or wait for the high school to provide documentation that they do not rank their students. This documentation is presented in the form of a High School Profile. This could cause another 2-3 week delay. - Grade Point Average (GPA)

11. - Graduation Plan – MUST be indicated on the high school transcript. This is important as all public institutions of higher education are mandated by TEC 51.801 - 51.809 and the subsequent changes made to several of these sections by HB 3826 to assess a student’s college readiness according to the pre-college high school curriculum completed. Note: The Financial Assistance Offices cannot award a student a Texas Grant unless they have official documentation that the student completed the Recommended or Higher Graduation Plan.

12. SAT or ACT Test Score -Test scores must be sent directly from the testing institution to the institution of higher education. - Every institution of higher education has a different score requirement. See that institutions catalog for this information. • Official College or University Transcripts - Must be submitted from all institutions attended. -The official college or university transcript must be sent directly from the granting institution to the institution of higher education. In some cases, an institution of higher education may accept an official transcript delivered by the student in a sealed envelop.

13. III. Uniformed Admission Policy TEC 51.801 - 51.809 and the subsequent changes made to several of these sections by HB 3826 require that college ready be assessed according to the pre-college curriculum completed by the student. All incoming first-time freshmen must meet the following requirements: - Must successfully complete the Recommended or Distinguished High School Program or complete a curriculum equivalent in content and rigor that was available to the student, OR - Meet the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks, OR - Earn at least an SAT assessment score of 1500 out of 2400 or the equivalent • Note: The high school is the certifying authority.

14. IV. Texas Success Initiative (TSI) The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is not an admission requirement, and by law may not be used as an admission requirement, however, all students who wish to attend a Texas public institution of higher education must take a college readiness test or meet one of the exemptions below before enrolling in classes. Under TSI, all undergraduate students entering a Texas public institution of higher education must be assessed for readiness to enroll in freshman level academic coursework. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved the following testing instruments to be used to determine readiness to enroll in college level courses: • ACCUPLACER • ASSET • COMPASS • Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA)

15. TSI Exemptions: • Received a TAKS scale score of at least a 2200 on the math section/and or 2200 on the English Language Arts with a writing subsection score of at least a 3. • ACT composite score of a 23 or higher with a 19 on both the English and Math sections. • SAT combined verbal and math score of 1070, with a minimum 500 on both the verbal and math scores. • Enrolled in a certificate program of 42 or more semester credit hours at a community college or technical college. • For other exemptions, go to www.collegeforalltexans.com

16. V. How to Keep Your Admission Representative Coming Back For detailed questions regarding admission processes or requirements, you are encouraged to contact a college or university official. Most institutions of higher education have college representatives they send to your high school. These are key contacts who can put you in touch with other university or college officials.

17. Make your point of contact someone who is easy to access by phone or e-mail. • If your high school only allows lunch visits, place the table and the representative in a visible area. • Actively advertise the upcoming visit by placing the posters sent by the representative in highly visible areas.

18. Make announcements that the representative is on your campus. • Encourage your students to visit with the representatives and ask questions. • Be open to processing transcripts upon the students request for the representative to collect during the visit. • Create a parent/guardian listserv and announce that the representative is coming for a visit. This will encourage parents to remind their students to visit with the representative.

19. VI. Final Tips • Encourage your students to apply EARLY for admission, scholarships, financial aid and housing. Do not MISS the deadlines!! • Encourage your students to meet with the college representatives that visit your high schools. These people can help your students with the admission and other processes.

20. Encourage your students to take challenging courses, dual credit courses and complete the recommended or higher graduation plan. • Encourage your students to take the SAT and/or ACT more than once and to begin taking these tests their junior year in high school. • Encourage your students to “brag” about themselves and include all their leadership, extra-curricular activities, community service work, jobs, awards, honors and extenuating circumstances on the ApplyTexas application. Many institutions like to receive resumes. This information is important in the review processes at all institutions. • Letters of recommendation may be required by some institutions. It’s never too early to ask for a letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, employer or community service representative. • Essays are required by many institutions. The students should proof read all writing samples before submitting.

21. My Contact Information Margaret Dechant Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi margaret.dechant@tamucc.edu 361-825-5951

22. Questions and Discussion Thank you!