This is Part 4: What Else Colleges Look For of a five part powerpoint presentation, Get Me To College: A College Readiness primer. Dr. Rebecca Joseph, a college admissions and access expert, designed this presentation and invites you to use it as long as you cite her.

1. Part 4: What Else Colleges
Look For: Essays,
Applications,
Recommendations, and more.
Dr. Rebecca Joseph
getmetocollege@gmail.com
rjoseph@calstatela.edu

2. TO LEARN MORE
 Email
 rjoseph@calstatela.edu
 getmetocollege@gmail.com
 Phone
 323-646-5759
 Facebook
 Getmetocollege Freeadvice
 Twitter
 @getmetocollege
 Website
 getmetocollege.org (focus on first generation
and under-represented students)

3.  Grades
 Academic Rigor
 Standardized Test Scores
 Strong applications
 Great essays
 Counselor Reports
 Extracurricular Activities
 Teacher Letters of
Recommendation
 Other Unique Features
WHAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR IN MATCH
STUDENTS

4.  There are many forms of applications.
 Most are now online.
 Public colleges have their own applications.
 Fortunately, most private colleges use the
Common Application.
 Sigh, not MIT OR GEORGETOWN or most
state universities.
 Fortunately, all have overlapping features.
 Develop a plan for organizing application
requirements
 Make sure you fill in every component and
leave nothing to the imagination.
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

5. TYPES OF APPLICATIONS
 Rolling-apply anytime in fall and get
response within weeks.
 Early Decision-select one private college to
apply to in November and receive response
in mid December…BINDING. Families who
will depend on financial aid need to know
that ED comes out before financial aid.
 Early Action-also November-December
schedule but not binding.
 Regular-Typically January 1 or 15th
. April
notification. May 1 decisions. You can only
accept one school.
 UC and CSU applications due November 30
(October 30 for some CSU impacted majors)

6. OTHER KEY FACTORS:
5. APPLICATION ESSAYS
 Application essays are often the top
non-academic component colleges
use in admissions.
 Essays must have a sizzle, a
message, a unique story.
 Essays can tip student in.
 I have a unique iPhone/iPad/Google
Application requirements. Visit my
site http://www.allcollegeessays.org

7. DIFFERENT ROUTES TO
UC…
 Eligibility in the Statewide Context
Students who meet minimum requirements
for coursework, grade point average and test
scores are admitted by this path.
 Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC)
Students who rank in the top 4 percent at
participating California high schools may be
admitted through ELC. Must meet GPA and
testing requirements.
 Eligibility by Examination Alone
Students may qualify for admission by
achieving high scores on the ACT
Assessment plus Writing or SAT Reasoning
Test, and on two SAT Subject Tests.
 http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/educat
ors/counselors/adminfo/freshman/advising/a
dmission_reqs.html

8. COUNSELORS-Key Allies
 Counselors letters are required component of
most private college and some public college
applications.
 The more your counselor knows your child the
better a letter the counselor can write.
 Counselors often even call schools on your behalf.
 Yet counselors have large caseloads…so students
and families must be proactive but not pushy.
 Listen to your counselor. They know the context
of your school and its relationship to colleges the
best.
 Court your counselor.
 If counselor uses a “brag sheet,” fill it out with as
many examples and details as possible—both
students and parents.
 If the counselors use Naviance, sign up and
explore. The resources and information available
are wonderful.
 Develop a joint college list with reach, challenge,
50-50, and likely. An unbalanced list is
dangerous.

9. DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?

10. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
 Colleges want varied student
populations. They want students
who enhance their campuses and
take advantage of resources.
 They look for students who
participate actively in school and
community activities.
 They want students who show in
their activity choices and
participation
 Consistency
 Development
 Leadership
 Initiative.

11. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY
TIMELINE
 Freshman-Sophomore Year; Participate
in activities in and out of school that
interest and motivate student.
 Junior Year- Continue with current
activities. Do not stop. Students can start
an activity, but must plan to continue it
through senior year.
 Junior and Senior Year: Take on
leadership responsibilities in current
activities.
 Summer-Use each summer well---
 Get a job
 Get an internship
 Volunteer
 Take enrichment courses
 Juniors-take college courses
 Continue with camp, sports, and other
activities

12. TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS
 Most private colleges and many
public colleges want one to two
letters of recommendations from
teachers.
 They want core academic letters—
English, SS, Math, Science, and
Foreign Language.
 They prefer junior and senior year
teachers or teachers that students
have had more than once
 They want teachers who know
student well.
 Extra letters are fine, especially for
scholarships and if you get deferred
or waitlisted.

13. TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS:
JUNIOR-SENIOR YEAR GRADE
TIMELINE
 Sophomore Year-Start saving core
graded assigned.
 Junior Year-If core teachers are
planning to leave school…get contact
info.
 Senior Year Fall-Ask one to two
teachers. Ask EARLY.
 Senior Year Fall-Give teachers
packets with appropriate forms and
envelopes and brag sheets. Remind
them of all the wonderful things you
did in class-written, oral, and more.

14. OTHER SPECIALTY
AREAS
 Sports
 NCAA regulations
 NCAA Clearinghouse
 Varsity, clubs, summer programs
 Arts
 Auditions
 Art Supplements
 NACAC Visual and Performing
Arts Fairs
 http://www.nacacnet.org/EventsTraining/CollegeFairs/p
va/Pages/default.aspx
 Particular areas of expertise
 Develop a strong, strong resume
and/or portfolio

15. TO LEARN MORE
 Email
 rjoseph@calstatela.edu
 getmetocollege@gmail.com
 Phone
 323-646-5759
 Facebook
 Getmetocollege Freeadvice
 Twitter
 @getmetocollege
 Website
 getmetocollege.org (focus on first generation
and under-represented students)