Soon-To-Be Senior To Do List Before School Starts

July 22, 2010

Hope you’re having a great summer! To stay on top of the admissions process, here are some things for you to do.

SENIORS

COLLEGE LIST

• Continue updating your college list and researching colleges. Before schools starts, the list should be final.

• Begin making plans for college interviews during late summer and fall. Identify dates; call for appointments; research travel arrangements.

APPLICATION FILING SYSTEM

• Now is the time to buy a file box, put together your admissions application filing system, and gather/purchase all the materials you need to complete the applications. My list for what your system should contain is attached.

COMMON APPLICATION

• The new Common Application becomes available on August 1; however, some of the college Supplements may come up later. You can access the Common App at https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx

ACTIVITIES RESUME

If you haven’t already:

• Complete your activities resume; email it to me for suggestions and edits. A resume is a critical part of the admissions process. At the very least, it will be invaluable to you as you choose activities on the application grids.

• Most importantly, a resume will help you define who you are, something that colleges really want to know.

• It will also help you to come up with topics to answer the application essays.

ESSAY WRITING

• For any student, but especially those who are in a fall sport, the summer is the best time to write your short, long and “anything else you want us to know” Common Application essays.

STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL BACKGROUNDS

• Art and performing art students should look into the 2010 Performing & Visual Arts Fairs to be held during the fall. You can see when and where the fairs will be held at:

http://www.nacacnet.org/EventsTraining/CollegeFairs/pva/Pages/pvaschedule.aspx

• Students with learning disabilities should make sure that their testing is up-to-date (no more than three years before your applications are filed). If it isn’t up-to-date, then this summer is the best time to get it taken care of. Also, ask the test psychologist to write a letter summarizing the test results and send it to each college.

CHECKLISTS, GRIDS AND FORMS

For your convenience, the following useful Checklists, Grids, Forms and such available in the Checklists section of this website.

1. ACTIVITIES RESUME

+ Model Activities Resume

http://admissionpossible.com/checklists/modelactesume.pdf

+ Sample Activities Resume

http://admissionpossible.com/checklists/sampleactresume.pdf

2. APPLICATIONS CHECKLISTS

+ Master Admissions Checklist

http://admissionpossible.com/checklists/masteradmichecklist.pdf

+ Individual Application Checklist

http://admissionpossible.com/checklists/indappchecklist.pdf