College Search and
Application Process
Coleen Yazurlo
Assistant Director of Admission
Hood College
College Search and Application Process
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Creating the “Good Fit” List
Making the Most out of your Campus Visit
Application Process
How to Stand Out in an Applicant Pool
– Interview
– Letters of Recommendations
– Essay
• The Common Application
Creating the “Good Fit” List
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Determine what is important to you
– Size
– Distance from home
– Majors and opportunities for students who are undecided
– What you want to accomplish in college
Categorizing Schools
– Even-Odd Schools
– Target Schools
– Reach Schools
What to consider when categorizing
– Averages – Use Naviance!
– Test-Optional admission policies – www.fairtest.org
– How applications are reviewed
Campus Visit
Types of Visits:
Successful Visit Tips:
Register for the event
Do research ahead of time
Be on time
– Interviews
Keep your attire in mind
• Class Visits
Meet your counselor
• Overnight Visits
Talk to current students
• Admitted Student Events
and professors
• Eat the food!
• Open House
• Daily Visits
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Application Process
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Application Filing Dates
– Early Decision
– Early Action
– Regular Decision
– Rolling Admission
What Needs to be Submitted
– Varies among schools
• Transcript
• Test Scores
• Essay
• Letter of Recommendation
• Supplemental Materials/Information
Monitor Application Status
How to Stand Out in an Applicant Pool
• Freshman through Junior Year: What’s done is done
• Be realistic with yourself
• What you can control
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Streamlining the application process
Essay
Interview
Relationship building
Interviews
• Used to get to know applicants as a person, rather than
just an application
• Evaluative versus information
– Alumni Interviews
• Tips!
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Proper attire
Timeliness
Ask Questions
Follow Up
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 a class in which the student earned
an A
• Can be the deciding factor in an offer of admission
The Essay
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Other than the interview, it is used as a way to get to know applicants
Used to answer the following questions:
– Who is the student? What is important to them?
– Do they have the writing skills necessary to be successful in college?
Review Strategies
– Is the subject too personal?
– Will the reviewer be honest about the writing?
– Avoid over-revision
Must Haves!
– Reveal the student’s character
– Proper grammar, punctuation, and varying sentence style
– An answer to the question!
The Common Application
The Common Application
The Common Application
The Common Application
The Common Application
The Common Application
The Common Application
The Common Application
Common Application Tips
• 2014-2015 Application will be available August 1
• The Common Application software is run by the same company that
does the software for Naviance
• The essay that you submit as part of the Common Application will go
to all schools
– The writing supplement will go to each specific school
• Use the green checkmarks as your guide: your application is not
submitted until all sections of the Common Application have been
submitted
• Include your social security number
• Proofread your entire application!
Making the Decision – What’s Next?
• Early Decision Process
• May 1: National Candidate Reply Day
– Submit enrollment 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!
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Start early!
Use your counselor as a resource
Be honest with yourself
Build relationships
Important Dates
– March 1: Maryland State Financial Aid Deadline
– May 1: National Candidate Reply Day