| Application Strategy
|
| Students generally apply
to six or eight colleges or universities. This number varies from
person to person. What is critical in developing a college list, however,
is that the final list include schools in each of the following categories:
reach, realistic and safety. |
| Reach |
A student’s top choice college.
A reach refers to colleges that generally accept students with higher
GPAs and College Board scores than those of the applicant. It is fine
in this group to include one or two “long shots.” |
| Realistic |
This category refers to colleges
that generally accept half or more of the students with GPAs and College
Board scores that are similar to those of the applicant. Realistic
colleges are those at which the probability of admission is even to
slightly better than even. |
| Safety |
This category refer to colleges that
almost always accept students with GPAs and College Board scores that
are comparable to those of the candidate. Safety colleges are those
which the highly likely to certain. |
| Most students consider
applying to two or more reaches, two or more realistic, and two or
more safeties. When students are deciding upon safety colleges, they
should make sure that they would be happy to attend these colleges.
Students need to give careful consideration to these decisions. |
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| Application Procedures |
Once you have selected
the schools in which you are interested, the first step is to request
the applications and catalogs from those schools.
Many applications for Massachusetts public four-year colleges and
two-year colleges are available in the Career Center. For all other
colleges you will have to write to the individual schools, call for
their applications, or request them electronically.
It is extremely important that you read and follow directions contained
in the information you receive from schools. You will receive instructions
on how to fill out application forms and will be told exactly what
additional materials you will need to submit in support of your application.
If you need help, see your counselor.
You have the responsibility for knowing specific details applicable
to each school to which you are applying. Make sure you check deadlines,
admission requirements, tests to be taken, etc.
Fill out the applications as legibly as possible. Type, use your computer
or use a black or blue ink pen.
Give yourself time to complete the application procedure by starting
as early as possible in the school year. Be aware that many schools
require you to write an essay. This takes time!
You have the responsibility for knowing specific details applicable
to each school to which you are applying. Make sure you check deadlines,
admission requirements, tests to be taken, etc.
Fill out the applications as legibly as possible. Type, use your computer
or use a black or blue ink pen.
Give yourself time to complete the application procedure by starting
as early as possible in the school year. Be aware that many schools
require you to write an essay. This takes time! |
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| The Application
Package: Putting It Together |
| There are two parts to
the application package: the student portion and the high school portion.
The student should fill out his/her portion of the application and
mail it to the college. The school’s portion of the application,
or transcript package, is mailed from the Registrar’s Office.
The transcript package can include: |
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|
1 |
A transcript of high school courses
with grades, level designations, weighted and unweighed grade point
averages. |
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|
2 |
Lexington High School Profile which
includes descriptive and other statistical information about the community,
school and class. |
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3 |
A counselor statement. |
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|
4 |
Secondary School Report and Teacher
Evaluation Forms for the college’s application. |
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| Application Options
|
| In applying to college
many students fill out the application which the college itself publishes.
Following are a number of other ways to submit a college application.
Colleges accept these services equal to their own applications. |
| |
| Common Application |
| The Common Application
greatly simplifies the college application process for students by
allowing them to use one form to apply to many schools. The Common
Application is accepted by over 150 colleges. A student fills out
the application once and sends photocopies to each of his/her colleges.
The Common Application is also available in the Career Center. It
is also available online at <www.commonapp.org>. |
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| Electronic Applications |
| Many colleges and universities
are using and accepting electronic applications. In the electronic
application process, students can complete their application by producing
a hard copy which is sent to the college or by sending the application
on-line directly to the college. Students may obtain electronic applications
from the colleges that use them. |
| College
Application Checklist |
| Return
to Guidance Home Page |
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