Navigating the College Search
Process
COLEEN YAZURLO
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADMISSION
HOOD COLLEGE
Navigating the College Search Process
 Creating the “Good Fit” List
 Application Process
 How to Stand Out in an Applicant Pool
 Campus Visits
 Interview
 Essay
 Letters of Recommendation
 Financial Aid Overview
 Making the Decision – What’s Next?
Creating the “Good Fit” List
 Determine What is Important to You
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Size
Distance from home
Majors and opportunities for students whom are undecided
What you want to accomplish in college
 Categorizing Schools
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Even-Odd Schools
Target Schools
Reach Schools
 What to Consider when Categorizing
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Averages
Test-Optional admission policies – www.fairtest.org
How applications are reviewed
Application Process
 Application Filing Dates
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Early Decision
Early Action
Regular Decision
Rolling Admissions
 What Needs to be Submitted
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Varies among schools
Transcript
 Test Scores
 Essay
 Letters of Recommendation
 Supplement Materials
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 Monitor application status
How to Stand Out in an Applicant Pool
 Freshman through Junior Year: What’s done is done
 What you can control…
 Streamlining the application process
 Essay
 Interview
 Relationship Building
Campus Visits
 Types of Visits
 Open Houses
 Daily Visits
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Interviews
Class Visits
Overnight Visits
Admitted Students Events
 Successful Visit Tips
 Register for the event
 Do research ahead of time
 Be on time
 Keep your attire in mind
 Meet your counselor
 Talk to current students and
professors
 Eat the food!
Interviews
 Used to get to know applicants as a person, rather
than just an application
 Evaluative versus informational
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Alumni Interviews
 Tips!
 Proper attire
 Timeliness
 Ask Questions
 Follow Up
The Essay
 Other than an interview, it is used as a way to get to know
applicants
 Used to answer some of the following questions:
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Who is the student? What is important to them?
Do they have the writing skills necessary to be successful?
 Review Strategies:
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Is the subject too personal?
Will the reviewer be honest about the writing?
Avoid over-revision
 Must Have’s:
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Reveal the student’s characters
Proper grammar, punctuation, and varying sentence structure
An answer to the question!
Letters of Recommendation
 Should come from an academic teacher or guidance
counselor
 Teacher should have had the student in sophomore
or junior year
 Does not have to be from a teacher whose class you
earned an A in
 Can be the deciding factor in an offer of admission
The Basics of Financial Aid
 Types of Financial Aid
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Scholarships
Merit Scholarships
 Athletic Scholarships
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Grants
Loans
Subsidized – does not accrue interest while student is in school
 Unsubsidized – accrues interest while student is in school
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 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
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CSS Financial Aid Profile
 Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
 Maryland state financial aid opportunities
Making the Decision – What’s Next?
 Early Decision Process
 May 1 - National Candidate Reply Day
 Submit deposit at the school in which you are attending
 Inform other schools that you will not be attending
 Follow up with Financial Aid
 Sign up for Orientation
 Keep an eye on your school e-mail account
Tips to Remember!
 Start early!
 Use your Guidance Counselor as a resource
 Be honest with yourself
 Build relationships
 Important Dates
 March 1: Maryland Financial Aid Deadline
 May 1: National Candidate Reply Day