Preparing for college
By Joanna Chu and Quynh Dinh
HAWKEYE Staff
Seniors, eight more months and we are out of here! In the midst of all the ‘hard work’ that we are going to put in this year, it is important to also think about the future. For those who are planning to attend college next fall, this spring is going to be filled with tears and laughter as admission letters are received.
However, before we can get to that point, there is the application process. Although some seniors can handle this pressure, tackling a senior project, job, and college applications can be a major challenge for others. Here are some things to consider before sitting down and applying for college. Pick a college
Choosing the right school is vital for a successful college career. By now, you should have narrowed down your college list to about five schools and requested additional information about them. After all, there is no limit to how many schools you can apply to, so why not take the advantage.
Research is extremely important when it comes to choosing the right school. Things to look at are majors, class sizes, tuition rates, clubs and activities, etc. Colleges are visiting MTHS at this time of the year. Go to the career center for additional information. Another resource for finding colleges are national college fairs. They are a great opportunity to meet with experts from various national and international colleges.
Visit the campuses, talk to your counselor, and go to college fairs. Remember, this should have been done two months ago, so if you have not decided, get on it! Senior Interview
Probably the most important thing you can do before applying to any college is have a senior interview with your counselor. They have been pushing you to get in there, so why not get it over with? The purpose of this interview is to make sure you are on the right track to graduate. Who knows, you might find out that you are either missing part of a credit or a class that can be waived. This is a good opportunity to find that out.
Financial Aid Do not use the excuse “I can’t pay for it” to eliminate the college that you want to go to. If there is a will, there is a way. One of these ways is financial aid. Even though some seniors think that they are not qualified for financial aid, it doesn’t hurt to try. The most popular financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the official application form for all federal financial aid programs. Before grabbing that No. 2 pencil, stop, and take a moment. The first step that many students do not take is considering their status for tax return. Sit down with your parents and discuss it.
When reviewing your application, FAFSA will look for evidence that you are in need. For example, if your parents have a high income, you might not want to claim to be “dependent” because this will mean your parents are capable of providing for you. Vice versa, if you claim to be “independent” it may look like you do not need that much help. Why? When you have your own bank account, they consider that, and realize that you are not in need. Whatever status you claim, make sure that it is to your advantage.
After the tax return is covered, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete the FAFSA application on or after Jan. 1. Go to www.pin.ed.gov and sign up for your PIN in order to access FAFSA. Do not send your FAFSA file before this date, or it will be returned back to you. Remember to take the shortcut and apply online. It will save a lot of time. Also, keep in mind that Financial Aid Night is on Jan. 9 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Theater. An expert who will show you how to complete the FAFSA as well as answer any questions you may have. Parents are encouraged to come, so drag them along!
Find scholarships FAFSA should not be the only safety net in your pocket of ideas. It is always best to explore your options. Research for federal and state financial aid programs and examine each college’s own scholarship programs.
There are numerous types of scholarships that are available for students, particularly seniors. Take your time and investigate into the private scholarships that are available. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, military, as well as National Merit Scholarships offer an enormous range of scholarships each year for students. Keep a record of all the key dates and requirements, specifically, deadlines. Some deadlines are earlier than the others. A scholarship is even available in our own school. It is called the MTHS Scholarship and the application can be picked up at the Career Center. This scholarship requires a senior resume of your academic achievements, community service hours, extracurricular activities, as well as your future goals. After filling out the application, turn it into your counselor. Each year, the MTHS administration nominates a Terrace student for this scholarship, so be sure to fill this application. Who knows, it can be you!
FastWeb is one of the most popular site for current scholarships that are available to students. It provides an incredible variety of scholarships, which millions of high school students use for financial aid as well as helpful tips and guides. However, before you start filling out scholarships, be sure to gather a list of your background and achievements. Include all of the activities, clubs, and organizations that you have been in since freshman year. Community service, such as volunteer or church also count in the list of your activities.
It is also wise to know your accumulative grade point average or class rank for personal reference and scholarships. Special achievements, as well as the scores of any standardized tests should also be included in this personal information file. Also, remember that just because you turned in your applications do not mean that you should stop searching for scholarships. Once you have submitted your applications, continue applying for scholarships, but keep in mind to evaluate all financial offers carefully.
The Application Filling out a paper application and sending it in by mail is not the only option when it comes to applying for college. Nowadays, there is the internet and organizations that can make this process a lot easier.
Some colleges now accept online application for an equal or even smaller fee than what a mailed application would cost. The benefit of applying online is that there won’t be room to worry about writing the address correctly or whether or not it will get there on time. When researching colleges, take some time to find out if they accept online application. Another great tool to use is the Common Application. There are some colleges out there that do not require a specific form for their application, and most of the time, one form would be fine. www.commonapp.org provide students with the opportunity to fill out one application, make copies of it, and then send it out to their desired colleges. This is a nonprofit organization, so do not be afraid to try it out. Most applications will ask for teacher recommendations, class rank, and Grade Point Average (GPA). Again, remember to sign up for that senior interview. Personal statement
There is a common misconception that a person’s acceptance into college depends on his or her GPA and SAT/ACT scores. However, is still possible to make it to that dream school, even if your test scores are not pleasing to the eye. Most colleges look at the personal statement highly than the rest of the segments in the college application. This does not mean that GPA and test scores are not important, but the personal statement is the area where the admissions officers will not only learn who you are, but your writing style as well. They look for originality and creativity.
Some students try to sound like a college professor and choose to write an essay in a language that most high school students do not comprehend. Sure, it is wise to hit the thesaurus and throw off fancy words, but just try sitting down in front of your computer for once and write. Do not pretend to be someone you are not.
This is the only part of the entire college application where you can show the admissions officers what you deeply care about. Do not write a novel, but give them a glimpse of your life. Stick to the word limit if there is one and simply answer the question. The last thing you want to do is confuse the admissions officers, so stick to the point. What they really want it to be is personal and simple. Use your own voice and simply tell your “story.” If something came up during sophomore year that may have been a crucial part of your high school life, tell them about it. Perhaps, your parents got a divorce or some other personal experience occurred. Whatever it is, pour it all in this section of the application process, so they can see the “real” you.
After completing that essay, it is tempting to hit that “send” button, but try to resist the temptation, and wait. Proofread your essay by checking for any grammatical errors and simple punctuation mistakes. Sometimes, you catch easy mistakes by reading it aloud. It is a good idea to show the essay to your English teacher and have him or her proofread it as well.
Post-Application The college applications are done; your essay and transcript are sent and your hard work is over your head. You deserve to relax, but a deadly disease is coming around. Senioritis. Seniors, this is your last year in high school and as much as you want it to be memorable and relaxing, make sure you are not falling behind. Do not slack off on your homework and do attend all of your classes. Your status as a senior does not give you any right to not do the rest of the work that the other students are doing.
As a matter of fact, a senior means you should be a role model for the underclassmen. Set a goal in this year to be successful from the beginning to the end of the year. Don’t stop halfway. Doing well in your senior year means you will be successful in college. You want to start off your freshman year in college with confidence in your work, not confusion or insecurity.
Over the summer, the University of Washington (UW) turned down 23 offers of admissions to students who were accepted in the spring. Why? Their grades dropped dramatically their last couple months of school. Most seniors follow this brilliant plan: they register for challenging courses, then decide in the middle of the year that they can’t handle the “pressure” and simply drop classes.