This document provides guidance for students applying to colleges, including requirements for transcript requests, application deadlines, tips for filling out applications accurately and completely, maintaining communication with colleges, and being patient during the application process. It warns against fabricating information and discusses the differences between early decision and early action applications. Myths about admissions are debunked, such as that extracurricular activities or financial aid applications don't matter. The importance of interviews, avoiding senioritis, and carefully deciding between admission offers is emphasized.

1. COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

2. What Guidance Dept Needs...
• Transcript release signature, $12 (full sheet, yellow)
• For every college... at least 2 WEEKS BEFORE DEADLINE
✴ Transcript request form (half yellow sheet)
✴ Confirmation of application email/printout (complete the
application first!)
✴ $ or fee waiver
✴ Counselor/ College-Prep Form (if needed)
✴ Essay
✴ Activity list (if not included online)
✴ Letters of Recommendation (if not emailed)
✴ This also applies for a Scholarship Application

3. Application Anxiety
• KEEP COPIES OR PRINT OUT of all components that you’re responsible
• Establish a line of COMMUNICATION with each college or university to which they
apply. Be sure to ask for the name of your guide on during a campus tour or get the card of
the admissions officer you met with.
• ASK QUESTIONS to admissions representatives (at open houses, campus tours, college
nights, and so on) about their institution's process: what the timeline for application
processing is? how long they should wait before calling to ask about applications? and so
forth.
• Prepare to BE PATIENT! Know that processing applications takes time; you may not get
any news for several weeks.

4. Filling Out the Application
๏File online! It’s the preferred method, reduces application fee and hastens
response. (Need a credit card)
๏Immediately print out the confirmation email or page upon completion!
(No matter what- PRINT THIS OUT- you will need to submit a copy to the
guidance office when requesting transcripts and I need a copy for class credit)
๏Be accurate, complete and honest in all information submitted
๏Note and meet all deadlines
๏Note and conform to all specific instructions and requirements
๏Keep a record of the dates and results of all filed applications

5. ETHICS... what not to do!
* Fabricate or exaggerate
* Have someone else write/rewrite your essays
* Fail to disclose disciplinary infractions if asked directly
(schools usually give applicants a chance to explain)
* Tell more than one college that it's your first choice
* Mislead college about intended major to help you get in

6. The Common Application
The Common Application is a single application for undergraduate college admission, used
by a consortium of selective colleges and universities. There are currently close to 400
member colleges and universities, both public and private, that agree to give full
consideration to applications submitted on this one common form. Not sure if your target
school is one of them?
You can find the member list on the Common Application website:
www.commonapp.org
Do colleges prefer that I use their own application?
No. All Common Application member colleges and universities also belong to the National
Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), which requires that members
not discriminate against applicants based on the particular form an applicant uses. Several
colleges even use the Common Application as their own form.
Quick Search... Xavier, Miami U, Dayton, Hanover, Wittenberg, Transylvania, Butler,
Centre, Otterbein...

7. Application Myths
MYTH: Admissions committees seek to recruit well-rounded students.
FACT: This is not necessarily true. Admissions committees can differentiate between those who are
trying to load up their activities sheet and those who have a sincere interest in their extracurriculars.
Don't join clubs you think colleges want on your resume, participate in what you're really interested.
MYTH: The essay doesn't count for much.
FACT: Many colleges view the essay as a "tipper" that can affirm or negate an admissions decision. The
essay is regarded as a critical aspect of admissions credentials, so you should spend considerable time
developing the idea, writing, and proofing. Through the essay, an admissions board is able to see the
student's understanding of intellectual or social issues, as well as her creativity and maturity.
MYTH: If, by second semester of junior year, your GPA isn't so hot, it's too late to
bring it up.
FACT: Most colleges look for a trend in high school academic performance, and they place a high
importance on improvements in a student's grades in the second semester of junior year. So if your
transcript to date is not stellar, it's may not be too late to bring up your GPA.
MYTH: Applying for financial aid diminishes my chances of admission.
FACT: Although some schools still operate under this credo, more common now is a need-aware, or
need-conscious policy; few colleges now have the money to fund all of the students who qualify for
need-based aid. But by not applying for aid, you may be cutting off any possible chances for admission.

8. Application Myths
MYTH: It doesn't matter when I send in my applications, just as long as it's
before the deadline.
FACT: Generally, there's no disadvantage to sending your application right at the deadline, but
there are pluses if you get your application in early:
•
If any component of your application is missing, you'll have time to get it in before it's too late.
•
The files that are complete and ready to be read early in the process may be reviewed more
carefully when the staff is not at the edge of exhaustion.
•
Some institutions prefer all applicants to have an interview with a staff member or a local alum.
The earlier your application is received, the sooner the college can contact you about an
interview.
• you avoid the stress of squeezing everything into the last minute.
MYTH: It's not a good idea to ask alums from your high school what they
think of a particular college.
FACT: Enrolled students and alumni are the best source for a candid, unvarnished opinion of
what the school is like and how it could serve your needs and goals. Seek out former students of
your high school who went there or friends of your parents who graduated from there. Don't be
shy about asking them the tough questions!

9. Early Decision v. Early Action
EARLY DECISION...
• MOST BINDING! EARLY ACTION...
• November date for application • no firm application date, just you
• Receive an admission decision well in submitting earlier than needed
advance of the usual notification date • Receive an admission decision early in the
(usually by Dec or Jan) admission cycle (usually in January or
• Agree to attend the college if accepted and February)
offered a financial aid package that is • Do not have to commit to an EA college
considered adequate by the family • May apply to other colleges under regular
• May only apply to one college for early admission plans
decision • Must give the college a decision no later
• May apply to other colleges under regular than the May 1 national response date
admission
• Must withdraw all other applications
when accepted by ED
• Usually must give a nonrefundable
deposit well in advance of May 1

10. Interviews
The college interview offers you an opportunity for an exchange of information
with an admissions officer. For the student, an interview offers a chance to
highlight individual strengths and interests and to gather additional information
about the college. For the admissions officer, it is a way to get to know the
student and add to the personal and academic information that comprises an
application file.
Preparing for an interview
Before the interview, you should review the literature about the college and,
on a notepad, jot down questions you'd like to ask. (You should definitely ask
some; questions about access to facilities, activities, off-campus programs,
housing—whatever is important to you—are encouraged). The notepad will
also come in handy if you want to take some notes during the interview.
Bring along a copy of your school transcript and a brief resume describing
your activities. This will come in handy if you are given an information sheet
to fill out prior to your meeting.

11. Fighting Senioritis
REMEMBER THAT COLLEGES SEE BOTH A MIDYEAR GRADE REPORT AND FINAL
TRANSCRIPT!!! Every year, colleges rescind offers of admission, put students on academic
probation, or alter aid packages as a result of "senioritis." Colleges reserve the right to deny
admission to an accepted applicant should the student's grades drop. And because the colleges
do not receive final grades until June or July, students may not learn of a revoked admission
until July or August, after they've given up spots at other colleges and have few options left.
According to a 2007 New York Times article*:
• The U. of Colorado at Boulder rescinded admission in 2006 for 45 of its accepted students, 10 of
whom had already attended orientation, selected classes, or met roommates.
• The U. of Michigan sent out three different letters to its incoming freshmen with poor final
grades: 62 issuing gentle warnings, 180 requesting an explanation, and 9 revoking admission.
• Twenty-three would-be freshmen found themselves without a college when the U. of
Washington revoked their acceptances during the summer because of poor final grades.
Tips for keeping seniors on track
• Maintain a challenging course load.
• Enjoy their senior experience—responsibly.
• Get a job, find an activity, intern somewhere... keep yourself busy and out of trouble
• Keep a calendar of their activities and deadlines
• Not obsess over the admissions process

12. Deciding Where To Go
Colleges Will Help You Choose Colleges that have offered you admission aren't going to wait
passively until you have decided. They will inundate you with invitations to teas, receptions, campus
"admission days," and other events designed with one purpose in mind - to convince you to accept
their offer of admission.
Making the Best Choice for You The strategies that worked for you during the first part of
your school selection process can be helpful again now. Refer to the list of factors you were
considering when you decided where you would apply for admission. See how well the colleges that
have offered you admission meet those requirements.
The best way to make the final decision is to visit (or revisit) the campuses that
are still in the running. You may be invited to attend special on-campus events held in honor of
newly admitted students. Keep in mind that these events are carefully orchestrated to make the most
positive impression possible on you and your parents. But if you look beneath the hype, these events
can give you valuable insight into exactly what the campus culture and opportunities are like.
Reaching Down Deep Whatever criteria you use to distinguish offers, the decision ultimately
comes down to you. Take it seriously and weigh your offers carefully. A lot of money-not to mention
four or more years of your life—is involved here. A final thought...you're probably sick and tired of
everyone telling you that college is an investment. Well, it's true. But think of it this way: As an
investment, you should expect it to provide returns for you. The bigger the returns (in
academics, career prospects, lifestyle, etc), the better the chances are that it's the right school for you.