Port Jervis High School Planning Guide for Juniors

Transcription

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Port Jervis High School
Planning Guide for Juniors
10 Route 209
Port Jervis, NY 12771
Guidance Counselors
Mrs. Julie Balogh 11th-12th grade, A-L
Mrs. Kate Oldham 11th-12th grade, M-Z
Mrs. Laurie Kahmar 9th-10th grade, A-L
Mr. Dave Marr 9th-10th grade, M-Z
Ms. Julie Nimal: Individualized Education Services, students with IEPs
Guidance Secretaries
Ms. Tabi Wona & Mrs. Rose Moraza
Guidance Phone: 858-3102 option: 5
www.pjschools.org->high school ->guidance
The Port Jervis High School Guidance Department
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Mark your calendar with important dates and
deadlines for the year.
Fall of your Junior Year
 Register for your PSATs in September/October in the guidance office
 Research summer programs at colleges: Vassar College, Northeastern Univ, Brown University,
Boston College, Columbia, Penn State
 Get involved in the school: clubs, athletics, community
 Research colleges on www.collegeboard.org
 Make sure you form a working relationship with your Guidance Counselor
Please write in any due dates, deadlines, or appointments that are unique to you on the blank lines below.
 ____________________________________________
 ____________________________________________
February of your Junior Year
 Register to take the SATs/ACTs in May and/or June of this school year.
 See your counselor if you are in need of a fee-waiver for the SAT/ACT
 Purchase/borrow an SAT/ACT review book
 Practice for the SAT/ACT
 Look into the SAT IIs…do the schools that you are interested in require them?
 Research colleges using www.collegeboard.org
 Plan to visit colleges this spring
 Register to take your AP exams if applicable to you
 Research Summer College Programs
Please write in any due dates, deadlines, or appointments that are unique to your application process on the blank
lines below.
 ____________________________________________
 ____________________________________________
March and April of your Junior Year
 Visit College! Make appointments, get business cards, and send follow up thank you notes!
 Look for great summer opportunities- college programs, internships, volunteering, or a summer job
 Build your portfolio or prepare your audition if you plan to apply to specialty schools
lines below.
 ____________________________________________
 ____________________________________________
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May and June of your Junior Year
 Take the SAT and/or ACT
 Make an activity sheet (resume) of your accomplishments, activities, and work experiences
 Keep in touch with college admissions counselors
 Continue to visit college campuses
 Request letters of recommendation from your teachers/advisors (see page 8)
(pg 10)
lines below.
 ____________________________________________
 ____________________________________________
July and August before your Senior Year
 Attend Summer College Programs
 Try to narrow your list of colleges to five to eight schools now. Your counselor will be asking for your
list in September!
 Register with NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse if you plan to compete in Division I or Division II
college sports
 Be aware of college entrance exam test dates and deadlines!
Summer College Programs:
 Offer valuable opportunities to better yourself and your application file
 Many offer scholarships or are free
 Taking advantage of these opportunities show that you are willing to grow
Some programs to look into:
Brown University Summer Leadership Institute: http://www.brown.edu/ce/precollege/leadership/
Boston College Experience: www.bc.edu/schools/summer/highschoool.html
Columbia University College Experience in New York City, Barcelona, or the Middle East:
www.ce.columbia.edu/High-School-Programs-Homepage
Vassar College iD Tech Camp: learn about video game design, programming, apps
Eleanor Roosevelt Leadership Program at Val-Kill: http://www.ervk.org/
Summer at Dartmouth: http://www.dartmouth.edu/home/about/summer.html
You can certainly research countless opportunities on your own too… these are just a few that
we have come across and some of our students have taken advantage of.
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SATs and ACTs
Register to take the SAT or ACT in October or November of
senior year. Register on-line at www.collegeboard.org or
www.act.org.
Be sure you are aware if SAT II’s are required
Port Jervis H.S. will be hosting the SAT in November and May
Please see your Guidance Counselor if you are in need of a
fee-waiver for the SAT or college applications (you are
eligible if you are on free/reduced lunch)
Purchase or borrow (a recent) SAT review book. The review
book can be purchased at a local book store like Borders or
Barnes and Noble; or even used on-line at e-bay or Amazon.
Practice for the SAT/ACT. You can also review for both the
SAT and ACT on-line at www.collegeboard.org or at
www.act.org
If you are planning to apply to certain colleges, they may
require you to take the SAT II – subject tests… look into that
now… you can find most college websites and contact
information on www.collegeboard.org
See page 11 for more SAT and ACT information
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September/October of Senior Year
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Become familiar with Commonapp.org
Visit Colleges
Prepare portfolios/auditions for any specialty schools
Make an Activity Sheet/Resume
Keep in touch with college admissions counselors
Keep your grades up!
Find out which college offers which majors
Narrow your college list to 5-8 schools: target schools, reach schools, and safety schools
If you haven’t picked out 5-8 colleges to consider, do a college search with your guidance counselor
or on ww.collegeboard.org
Stay aware of college entrance exam test dates and deadlines:
o ACT- www.act.org for dates and locations
o SAT exams- www.collegeboard.org for dates and locations
Start filling out your college applications, especially if you plan to apply through an early decision or
early action program
Pay attention for contact from your guidance counselor. She/he will be making an appointment to go
over important information.
Finalize your high school activity sheet
Request letters of recommendation from at least 2 teachers
Follow up those requests with thank you (and reminder) notes
Activity sheet due October 25 to your guidance counselor
Pick up UNOFFICIAL copy of your transcript from the guidance secretaries
Letters of recommendation are due by October 30 (make sure your teachers know this!)
If you are applying with paper applications, hand in entire application with college address and
deadline to your guidance counselor
If you are applying online, tell your counselor once your application is submitted
Give your counselor all mid-year and final Transcript Request Forms that may be part of the
application packet
Listen to morning announcements for visits from college representatives
Get started on your college application essay Register for SAT II exams if your college requires them
November of Senior Year
 Important scholarship information will be given directly to you from our guidance office- please read
carefully and watch deadlines!
 Be aware of college entrance exam test dates and deadlines (SAT, ACT)
 Maintain strong grades
 Be sure to send your SAT and ACT scores directly through these testing agencies to the schools you
are applying to (not sure if this is required? Call each school and find out!)
 Have an honest discussion with your parents about the cost of college
 Make plans to attend the Port Jervis High School Financial Aid Night- held in December during
evening hours.
 Do you need to attend a college interview? Find out! See your counselor for more information
 Attend college fairs—plan which colleges you would like to meet with.
 Let your guidance counselor know if you are in need of an application fee-waiver
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December of Senior Year
 Scholarship packets are due back to the Guidance Secretaries by December 1st!!
 Stay organized during this hectic month! Speak with your parents or counselor to clear up any
questions or concerns that might come up
 Attend Port Jervis High School Financial Aid Night
 Be sure you turned in to your counselor all of your college applications that are due while we are on
Winter Recess (many applications are due by January 1, so they must be turned in two weeks before
we go on break!)
 Stay aware of college entrance test dates and deadlines
January of Senior Year
 Parents- complete your and your child’s taxes as early as possible to help complete the FAFSA
 Financial Aid forms: in order for your child to be eligible for most college scholarships and any other
financial aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be submitted
 Submit FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1st
 Pay attention to financial aid deadlines set forth by the schools to which you are applying
 Do your colleges require the CSS Profile? If so, complete this online at www.collegeboard.org
 Males need to be sure that they have completed the Selective Service form once you turn 18 (you will
not be eligible for financial aid if the form has not been submitted) www.sss.gov
February/March of Senior Year
 If you still haven’t applied to college, it may not be too late!
 Make appointment with your guidance counselor ASAP
 Do a college search on your own at www.collegeboard.org
 Four weeks after mailing FAFSA, look for your Student Aid Report (SAR). Review and submit all
additions and/or corrections
 Keep asking about scholarships! Visit guidance often!
 After receiving your acceptance letters, re-visit the colleges. Check with the school’s admissions
office if you can arrange for an overnight visit in one of the dorms.
 As you receive acceptance letters, inquire with each schools financial aid office if there are any
scholarships offered from the school.
 Parents- use offered scholarships as a bargaining tool with other schools!
 Study for the May AP exams
April/May of Senior Year
 Most admissions decisions and financial aid award letters arrive this month
 If you haven’t heard, call and inquire about the status of your application
 If you were waitlisted contact the director of admissions to reiterate your interest in the school.
Talk with your guidance counselor as well.
 If you were not admitted to any schools, talk to your counselor immediately. Together, you will
find a college with a deadline that has not passed.
 Pay attention to reply deadlines and respond in a timely fashion
 Review your financial aid packages
 Send enrollment form and a deposit check to the college of your choice
 Do not slack off on your schoolwork!
 Take AP exams in early May. Be sure your scores are sent to the college of your choice .
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June/July/August after Senior Year
 Finalize your summer plans- internships, jobs, or volunteer opportunities
 Send thank you notes to any scholarship program as well as anyone who has helped you along the
way
 Ask the guidance secretaries to send your final transcript to the college that you will be attending
 Thank your families/guardians for all their love, help, guidance, and support!
 ENJOY GRADUATION, YOU DESERVE IT!
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Visiting Colleges
Make appointments, get business
cards, and send follow up thank you
notes. If you visit a private college,
ask them if they will waive your
application fee since you are there on
a visit. (Most college applications
have a processing fee associated with
them; anywhere between $25-$75
per college application.)
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Request letters of recommendation from your teachers/advisors
Plan to visit colleges this spring of
your junior year while they’re in
session. Be sure to schedule an
appointment before you go. Many
colleges keep track of how many
times you visit or contact the college
(it shows a measure of your interest).
beginning as early as March or April of your Junior year. We
suggest that students get at least two letters from teachers that
they have had recently who know them well and 1 letter from an
activity advisor or employer. Follow up these requests with a nice
thank you note (this note can serve as a “Reminder note” also).
Step 1: Ask a teacher in person if they would be willing to write a
Research Colleges
letter of recommendation for you. If “yes”, move on to step 2.
Use www.collegeboard.org to
research colleges. Note: you are
considered a “prospective” or
“future” college student—these links
of the college websites are for you!
Step 2: Write a reminder/thank you note to the people who have
agreed to write a letter for you:
“Dear ___, Thank you very much for agreeing to write a letter of
recommendation on my behalf…etc. Attached, please find a copy of
my Activity Sheet (resume) and transcript for your reference. My
ACTIVITY SHEET/RESUME
intended major is … Could you please highlight ________
Make an activity sheet (resume) of your
(something that that person knows about you first hand). Please
accomplishments, activities, and work
turn in your letter to my Guidance Counselor, ___ by October 24th.
experiences (see attached sample).
You may also receive an e-mail requesting that you upload my letter
Activity sheets are used as part of your
directly to a website. (IE: Common app)
application packet that will be sent to
your colleges, they are also used to help
Would you also please provide me with a letter that I could use for
evaluate you for scholarship
scholarships? Sincerely, _____”
opportunities, and teachers need them to
write your letters of recommendation.
Note: Your Guidance Counselor also writes a letter for your application
file. It is required for most four year schools. The Guidance Counselor
letter sets the context in which your application will be reviewed. It is
important that you have a strong working relationship with your Guidance
Counselor so that she can write the most effective letter on your behalf.
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Class of 2014 graduation requirements
 Regents Diploma – 22 credits
5 Regents Exams with a grade of 65 or above
 Advanced Regents Diploma – 22 credits
8 Regents Exams with a grade of 65 or above & Foreign Language III Exam*
 Principal’s Prestigious Award – 27 credits
Grade Point Average of 85.0 or above
Community Service Hours
Terminology you should know:
 Associates Degree - 2 years
 Bachelor’s Degree – 4 years
 Master’s Degree – usually 6 years
 Major – your concentration (ie: Business)
 Minor – a second concentration
 Undergraduate – a college student who has not yet earned their
Bachelor’s degree
 Prospective student – someone looking to go to a college (you)
 Deadline – the last possible date that something is due
*The three year foreign language sequence and exam may be replaced with a sequence in another area – see your counselor.
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Jonathan W. Doe
SAMPLE ACTIVITY SHEET
If a student takes care of a younger sibling every
day after school because their parent(s) are working
and or a job takes up most of their off–school hours:
Grades 9-12 only
Community Service
123 Port Jervis Road
Port Jervis, New York 12771
(845) 555-5555
[email protected]
Use a legible, yet
eye- catching font.
Please note the
use of an
“appropriate”
e-mail address
– set up a new
one if you need
to. J
-> Commitments
3/2010- present: Child care for younger sibling every day after school until 7:00 PM
5/2010 – present: Employment at Burger King 6 hrs/day on weekends
03/2010 - present: Health care aid office worker; Bon Secours Hospital – 2 hours/week
02/2010 - present: Altar server; St. Mary’s Church – 1 hour/week
05/2010 - 09/2011: Animal care taker; Port Jervis Humane Society – 3 hours/week
09/2010 - 06/2011: Elementary student tutor; ASK Elementary School – 2 hours/week
05/2010: Walk for Multiple Sclerosis – 4 hours total
Please note that
06/2010: Port Jervis City Litter Clean Up – 5 hours total
“hours per week” is
05/2011: Blood Drive Assistant Coordinator – 14 hours total
necessary and helpful
in reviewing a
resume.
Memberships
09/2011 - present: National Honor Society
04/2012 – present: Boy Scouts of America
09/2010 – 06/2011: Student Government, Senior Class President
09/2010 – 06/2011: Student Government, Junior Class Vice President
Athletics
Bullet items in order
from most recent
down to most dated.
2010, 2011, 2012: Varsity Basketball
2010, 2011, 2012: Varsity Baseball
Extracurricular Activities
2010 – 2011: French Club – 1 hour/week
2010 – 2011: Students Against Drunk Driving – 2 hours/month
2010 -2011: Art club – 2 hours/week
Employment
07/2010 – present: table server; 20 Front Restaurant – 10 hrs/week
2010 – present: child care provider – approx. 5 hrs/week
Space the categories so
that you fill up the page. If
you don’t have enough
content to fill the page,
increase your margins,
play with the layout, or
adjust your font size
(within reason).
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The Differences between the SAT and the ACT
SAT:
ACT:
Scholastic Aptitude Test
American College Test
 Measures academic aptitude in
verbal, numerical reasoning, and
writing skills.
 Cost: $ 49
 Scores are adjusted for guessing.
Most incorrect responses carry a
penalty of one-third or one-quarter of
a point.
 Measures academic achievement in
English, Mathematics, Reading, and
Science Reasoning (writing section
optional).
 Cost:
$34 (without writing)
$49.50 (with writing) - suggested
 Scores are based on number of
correct answers. No penalty for
guessing.
Senior Check List
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Register for SAT / ACT
Activity Sheet (Resume) and revisions
Request letters of recommendation
Thank you notes / reminders
Narrow your college search to 7 or 8 schools
Make appointments and VISIT colleges – get them to know you
Essay – have your guidance counselor review it before you send it
Free/Reduced lunch form – let your counselor know if you qualify
Students of the Arts – portfolios/auditions
Athletes – NCAA.org
November – scholarships
KNOW YOUR DEADLINES FOR EVERYTHING and share them with your
Guidance Counselor
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Top Questions to Ask a College Representative
A firm handshake and eye contact shows respect and interest. Dress appropriately for meeting
with representatives. Speak clearly and confidently. Ask them for their business card and/or
contact information and follow up with a thank you note; thanking them for taking the time to
speak with you.
1. What grade point Average (GPA) do I need to be considered a good candidate for acceptance to your school?
2.
What SAT scores do I need to be considered a good candidate for acceptance to your school?
3.
Do you hold interviews as part of the admissions process?
4.
Do I need to take the SAT II Subject area test/ which ones do I need?
5.
What are your most popular majors?
6. What is the total cost per year?
7. How many students receive financial aid through the school and what is the average award?
8. Are applicants automatically matched to scholarships based on their application file?
9. What kind of services does your school provide?(tutoring, mentoring, etc.)
10. Are there any programs for minority students?
11. What is the typical Freshman class size?
12. How many applications did you receive last year?
12. Will I be assigned an advisor right away?
13. How many applications did you receive last year?
14. What kinds of internship (or study abroad) experiences would be possible if I majored in…?
15. How many students from last year's senior class went on to graduate or professional schools?
16. What are some of the challenges and even weaknesses of This College?
Remember that the college representatives that you will meet at colleges, college fairs, or high
schools are usually the ones who make the decision on your application file as to
whether or not you are accepted to their school.
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www.commonapp.org
WHAT IS THE COMMON APPLICATION?
The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an admission
application – online and in print – that students may submit to any of our 456 members.
WATCH THIS AT www.commonapp.org (under “common questions): The Common App Online Demo for Students (Flash Movie)
WHY USE IT?
Once completed online or in print, copies of the Application for Undergraduate Admission can be sent to any number of participating
colleges. The same is true of the School Report, Optional Report, Midyear Report, Final Report and Teacher Evaluation forms. This
allows you to spend less time on the busywork of applying for admission, and more time on what's really important: college research,
visits, essay writing, and senior year coursework.
IS IT WIDELY USED?
Absolutely! Millions of Common Applications are printed and accepted by our members each year. In addition, last year almost 2.5
million applications were submitted via the Common App Online.
IS IT TREATED FAIRLY?
YES! Our college and university members have worked together over the past 35 years to develop the application. All members fully
support its use, and all give equal consideration to the Common Application and the college's own form. Many of our members use
the Common Application as their only undergraduate admission application.
CAN ALL COLLEGES PARTICIPATE?
Membership is limited to colleges and universities that evaluate students using a holistic selection process. A holistic process includes
subjective as well as objective criteria, including at least one recommendation form, at least one untimed essay, and broader campus
diversity considerations. The vast majority of colleges and universities in the US use only objective criteria – grades and test scores –
and therefore are not eligible to join. If a college or university is not listed on this website, they are not members of the consortium.
Sending the Common Application to non-members is prohibited.
WHAT IS THE COMMON APP ONLINE SCHOOL FORMS SYSTEM?
As part of the application process, schools require a variety of information to be provided by teachers and guidance counselors who
have interacted with you in the high school environment. Until last year, those forms were only available as PDF files that could be
printed, copied, and mailed to the appropriate colleges. Now each teacher and counselor will have the option to complete the forms
online via the Common App Online School Forms system if they desire. There is no cost to you or high schools, and using the online
system is completely optional for your teachers and counselor.
When you create an account on the Common App Online, you must first indicate what high school you attend. Once this information
has been saved, you can access a 'School Forms' section of the Common App where teachers and counselors can be identified. By
adding a teacher or counselor to the list of school officials, an email is triggered to the teacher or counselor with information about
how to log into the Online School Forms system or how to opt for the "offline" or paper process. You are then able to track the
progress of your various teachers and counselors via a screen within the Common App Online.
The Common App Online School Forms System Demo (Flash Movie)
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Common Application - All Members
There are now 488 Common Application members in 46 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in France, Germany, Italy,
United Kingdom, and Switzerland. They represent an enormously diverse variety of institutions: small and large, public and private,
coed and single-sex, highly selective and relatively open enrollment. However, they all share a commitment to the mission of
promoting access through holistic admission.
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Adelphi University
Agnes Scott College
Alaska Pacific University
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albion College
Albright College
Alfred University
Allegheny College
Alma College
American University
Amherst College
Anna Maria College
Arcadia University
Assumption College
Augsburg College
Augustana College (IL)
Augustana College (SD)
Austin College
Babson College
Baldwin Wallace University
Bard College
Barnard College
Bates College
Belmont University
Beloit College
Bennington College
Bentley University
Berry College
Binghamton University - State Univ. of New York
Birmingham-Southern College
Blackburn College
Boston College
Boston University
Bowdoin College
Bradley University
Brandeis University
Brown University
Bryant University
Bryn Mawr College
Bucknell University
Burlington College
Butler University
Caldwell College
California Lutheran University
Caltech (California Institute of Technology)
Calvin College
Canisius College
Carleton College
Carnegie Mellon University
Carroll College (Montana)
Carroll University
Case Western Reserve University
Castleton State College
Cazenovia College
Cedar Crest College
Centenary College
Centenary College of Louisiana
Centre College
Champlain College
Chapman University
Chatham University
245.
Northland College
246.
Northwestern University
247.
Notre Dame de Namur University
248.
Oberlin College
249.
Occidental College
250.
Oglethorpe University
251.
Ohio State University
252.
Ohio Wesleyan University
253.
Oklahoma City University
254.
Otterbein University
255.
Pace University
256.
Pacific Lutheran University
257.
Pacific University
258.
Pepperdine University
259.
Philadelphia University
260.
Pitzer College
261.
Plymouth State University
262.
Polytechnic Institute of New York University
263.
Pomona College
264.
Presbyterian College
265.
Prescott College
266.
Princeton University
267.
Providence College
268.
Purchase College (SUNY)
269.
Quinnipiac University
270.
Ramapo College of New Jersey
271.
Randolph College
272.
Randolph-Macon College
273.
Reed College
274.
Regis College (Massachusetts)
275.
Regis University (Colorado)
276.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
277.
Rhode Island College
278.
Rhode Island School of Design
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Rhodes College
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Rice University
281.
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
282.
Richmond The American International University in
London
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Rider University
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Ringling College of Art and Design
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Ripon College
286.
Roanoke College
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Rochester Institute of Technology
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Roger Williams University
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Rollins College
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Rosemont College
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Rowan University
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Russell Sage College
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Sacred Heart University
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Sage College of Albany
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Saint Anselm College
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Saint Francis University
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Saint Joseph's College of Maine
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Saint Joseph's University
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Saint Leo University
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Saint Louis University
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Saint Martin's University
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Saint Mary's College (Indiana)
303.
Saint Mary's College of California
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Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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62. Christian Brothers University
63. Christopher Newport University
64. Claremont McKenna College
65. Clark University
66. Clarkson University
67. Coe College
68. Colby College
69. Colby-Sawyer College
70. Colgate University
71. College of Mount Saint Vincent
72. College of Notre Dame of Maryland
73. College of St. Benedict/St. John's University
74. College of St. Joseph
75. College of the Atlantic
76. College of the Holy Cross
77. College of Wooster
78. Colorado College
79. Colorado State University
80. Columbia College Chicago
81. Columbia University
82. Concordia College - New York
83. Concordia University - Portland, OR
84. Concordia University Irvine
85. Connecticut College
86. Converse College
87. Cornell College (Iowa)
88. Cornell University
89. Creighton University
90. Curry College
91. Daemen College
92. Dartmouth College
93. Davidson College
94. Denison University
95. DePaul University
96. DePauw University
97. DeSales University
98. Dickinson College
99. Dillard University
100.
Dominican University of California
101.
Dowling College
102.
Drake University
103.
Drew University
104.
Drexel University
105.
Drury University
106.
Duke University
107.
Earlham College
108.
Eastern Connecticut State University
109.
Eckerd College
110.
Elizabethtown College
111.
Elmira College
112.
Elms College
113.
Emerson College
114.
Emmanuel College (Massachusetts)
115.
Emory & Henry College
116.
Emory University
117.
Eugene Lang College of New School University
118.
Fairfield University
119.
Fisk University
120.
Flagler College
121.
Florida Institute of Technology
122.
Florida Southern College
123.
Fontbonne University
124.
Fordham University
125.
Franklin and Marshall College
126.
Franklin College Switzerland
127.
Franklin Pierce University
128.
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
129.
Furman University
130.
Gannon University
131.
Geneseo, State Univ. of New York
305.
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363.
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367.
368.
369.
370.
371.
372.
373.
374.
Saint Michael's College
Saint Peter's College
Saint Vincent College
Salem College (North Carolina)
Salisbury University
Salve Regina University
Samford University
Santa Clara University
Sarah Lawrence College
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Scripps College
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hill University
Sewanee The University of the South
Siena College
Sierra Nevada College
Simmons College
Simpson College
Skidmore College
Smith College
Soka University of America
Southern Methodist University
Southern New Hampshire University
Southwestern University
Spelman College
Spring Hill College
St. Bonaventure University
St. Catherine University
St. Edward's University
St. John Fisher College
St. John's College - Annapolis
St. John's College - Santa Fe
St. Joseph's College - Brooklyn Campus
St. Joseph's College - Long Island Campus
St. Lawrence University
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Norbert College
St. Olaf College
St. Thomas Aquinas College
St. Thomas University
Stanford University
Stephens College
Stetson University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevenson University
Stonehill College
Stony Brook University
Suffolk University
SUNY Buffalo State College
SUNY College at Old Westbury
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY Cortland
SUNY Fredonia
SUNY Institute of Technology
SUNY New Paltz
SUNY Oneonta
SUNY Oswego
SUNY Plattsburgh
SUNY Potsdam
Susquehanna University
Swarthmore College
Sweet Briar College
Syracuse University
TCU (Texas Christian University)
Tennessee Wesleyan College
The American University of Paris
The American University of Rome
The Catholic University of America
16
132.
133.
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135.
136.
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196.
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George Washington University
Gettysburg College
Gonzaga University
Goshen College
Goucher College
Green Mountain College
Grinnell College
Guilford College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Hamilton College
Hamline University (MN)
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampshire College
Hanover College
Hartwick College
Harvard College
Harvey Mudd College
Haverford College
Hendrix College
Hillsdale College
Hiram College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hofstra University
Hollins University
Hood College
Hope College
Howard University
Hult International Business School
Husson University
Illinois College
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Wesleyan University
Immaculata University
Iona College
Ithaca College
Jacobs University Bremen
John Cabot University, Rome Italy
John Carroll University
Johns Hopkins University
Johnson State College
Juniata College
Kalamazoo College
Keele University
Keene State College
Kenyon College
Keuka College
Keystone College
King's College
Knox College
La Salle University
Lafayette College
Lake Forest College
Lasell College
Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence University
Le Moyne College
Lehigh University
Lesley College
Lewis & Clark College
Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
Linfield College
Lipscomb University
List College, The Jewish Theological Seminary
Long Island University Brooklyn Campus
LIU Post
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University Maryland
Loyola University New Orleans
Luther College
Lycoming College
375.
376.
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432.
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436.
437.
438.
439.
440.
441.
442.
443.
444.
The College at Brockport
The College of Idaho
The College of New Jersey
The College of New Rochelle
The College of Saint Rose
The College of William & Mary
The University of New Orleans
The University of Tennessee Knoxville
Thiel College
Thomas College
Towson University
Transylvania University
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity University (San Antonio)
Tufts University
UMBC - University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Union College (New York)
University at Albany, State Univ. of New York
University at Buffalo (SUNY)
University of Chicago
University of Connecticut
University of Dallas
University of Dayton
University of Delaware
University of Denver
University of Evansville
University of Findlay
University of Great Falls
University of Hartford
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Kentucky
University of La Verne
University of Maine
University of Maine at Farmington
University of Maine at Machias
University of Mary Washington
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of New England
University of New Hampshire
University of New Haven
University of North Carolina Asheville
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
University of Portland
University of Puget Sound
University of Redlands
University of Rhode Island
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
University of Saint Joseph
University of Scranton
University of Southern California
University of Southern Maine
University of St Andrews
University of Stirling
University of Tampa
University of the Pacific
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
University of Tulsa
University of Vermont
University of Virginia
17
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Lyndon State College
445.
Lynn University
446.
Macalester College
447.
Manchester University
448.
Manhattan College
449.
Manhattanville College
450.
Marietta College
451.
Marist College
452.
Maritime College
453.
Marlboro College
454.
Marquette University
455.
Marymount Manhattan College
456.
Marymount University
457.
Maryville University of St. Louis
458.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
459.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 460.
McDaniel College
461.
Menlo College
462.
Mercer University
463.
Mercyhurst University
464.
Meredith College
465.
Merrimack College
466.
Miami University (Ohio)
467.
Middlebury College
468.
Mills College
469.
Millsaps College
470.
Molloy College
471.
Moravian College
472.
Morehouse College
473.
Mount Holyoke College
474.
Mount Saint Mary College
475.
Mount St. Mary's College
476.
Muhlenberg College
477.
Naropa University
478.
Nazareth College
479.
New College of Florida
480.
New England College
481.
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)
482.
New York University
483.
Newbury College
484.
Niagara University
485.
Nichols College
486.
Northeastern University
487.
488.
Ursinus College
Utica College
Valparaiso University
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Villanova University
Virginia Intermont College
Wabash College
Wagner College
Wake Forest University
Warren Wilson College
Wartburg College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington and Lee University
Washington College (Maryland)
Washington University in St. Louis
Webster University
Wellesley College
Wells College
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wesleyan University
Western New England University
Westminster College (Missouri)
Westminster College (Pennsylvania)
Westminster College (Utah)
Westmont College
Wheaton College (Mass.)
Wheeling Jesuit University
Wheelock College
Whitman College
Whittier College
Whitworth University
Willamette University
William Jewell College
Williams College
Wilson College
Wittenberg University
Wofford College
Woodbury University
WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)
Xavier University
Xavier University of Louisiana
Yale NUS College
Yale University
18
Writing that college essay…
Your college essay, regardless of topic choice, should demonstrate your character
and your background. It helps to set a context in which your application will be
reviewed. Personal statements are just that: personal. College essays are not
usually used to test your vast vocabulary or your knowledge of literary works.
Readers of your essay should not need an encyclopedia or dictionary to decipher
what you are trying to say. Reveal something about yourself. If you’re telling
about a pivotal moment in your life, be sure to spend more time on how that
moment has changed you – how has your impact on your environment changed,
rather than explaining the defining moment. See your counselor before
submitting your essay.
Fast Food. That's what I think of when I try to draw an analogy with the process of reading application essays.
The bad. Ninety percent of the applications I read contain what I call McEssays - usually five-paragraph essays that
consist primarily of abstractions and unsupported generalization. They are technically correct in that they are organized
and have the correct sentence structure and spelling, but they are boring. Sort of like a Big Mac. I have nothing against
Big Macs, but the one I eat in Charlottesville is not going to be fundamentally different from the one I eat in Paris,
Peoria or Palm Springs. I am not going to rave about the quality of a particular Big Mac. The same can be said about
the generic essay. If an essay starts out: "I have been a member of the band and it has taught me leadership,
perseverance and hard work," I can almost recite the rest of the essay without reading it. Each of the three middle
paragraphs gives a bit of support to an abstraction, and the final paragraph restates what has already been said. A
McEssay is not wrong, but it is not going to be a positive factor in the admission decision. It will not allow a student to
stand out.
A student who uses vague abstractions poured into a preset form will end up being interpreted as a vague series of
abstractions. A student who uses cliché becomes, in effect, a cliché. If we are what we eat, we are also what we write.
Not only does a preset form lead to a generic essay, so does a generic approach to what is perceived as the right topic.
Far too many students begin the search of what to write about by asking: What does my college want to hear? The
thinking goes something like this: If I can figure out what they are looking for, and if I can make myself look like that,
then I'll improve my chances.
Several years ago we asked students to describe an invention or creation from the past that was important to them. Our
No.1 response - at least a thousand people - was the Declaration of Independence. This might make some people think
that our college bound students are wonderfully patriotic, but given that my institution was found by Thomas Jefferson,
I have a better answer. My guess is that a significant portion of the people who chose the Declaration did so because
they thought we would want to hear about how much they admired Thomas Jefferson. While this may be a noble
sentiment or, in some cases, a cynical maneuver, it ultimately meant that we had a thousand essays that sounded pretty
much alike and therefore did not affect the admission decision. We are not looking for students who all think the same
way, believe the same thing, or write the same essay.
19
Too often, however students who want to avoid sounding generic with respect to form or content choose exactly the
wrong remedy; they think that bigger topics - or bigger words - are better. But it is almost impossible, in 500 words, to
write well about vast topics such as the death of a loved one. I am not advocating longer essays (just remember how
many applications admissions officers need to read); I am advocating essays with a sharp focus that allows for detail.
Detail is what differentiates one essay from another, one applicant from another.
Instead of detail, however, students try to impress us with big words. In trying to make a topic sound intellectual,
students resort to the thesaurus and, as a result, end up sounding pretentious or at least insecure about using the voice
they would use to describe an event to a friend. The student assumes that these "impressive" words intensify the
experience for a reader rather than diminish it. Before students send off their essay, they should always read it aloud to
someone who knows them well; let that person decide if an individual voice comes through.
The good. A good essay is not considered “good” because of the topic, but because of the voice. A good writer can
make any topic interesting, and a weak writer can make even the most dramatic topic a bore.
Students need only to recall the difference between two simple concepts - showing and telling. A good essay always
shows; a weak essay always tells.
By showing, a writer appeals to all of the senses, not just the visual. To show means to provide a feast for the eyes, ears
and, depending on the essay, the mouth, nose or skin. But rather than telling a reader what show is, it is much easier to
show what showing is.
A writer who “shows” respects the intelligence of the reader; a writer who “tells” focuses on the ideas, or the perceived
ideas, behind the details. He or she is more concerned about demonstrating the ability to be abstract than the ability to
be precise. In a short, personal essay, precision is power.
The risky. Any student who has already learned the basics of showing should think about taking a risk on the college
essay. What kind of risk? Think about starting an essay with: "I sat in the back of the police car." Or, "He told me if I
didn’t move, he wouldn’t hurt me… " These first sentences use what journalists call a hook. The sentence reaches out
from the page and grabs our attention. It creates a bit of controversy and an expectation that the writer might be willing
to take academic risks in the classroom. A good hook does not mean that a good essay will follow, but it does mean
that a reader will look forward to seeing what will unfold.
A risky essay can border on the offensive. In some cases, it is possible that a few readers might write off an applicant
based upon questionable taste. That is the danger of taking a risk. People wonder if they will be penalized if they do
take a risk in an application. They want to know, in other words, if there is any risk in taking a risk. Yes, there is. I can
say, however, that my experience in the admissions field has led me to conclude the great majority of admissions
officers are an open-minded lot and that to err on the side of the baroque might not be as bad as to stay in the comfort
of the boring.
The best essays are crafted not from a formula for success but by a voice that is practiced. Those who are willing to
take a risk, to focus on that part of the world that matters to them and to show the passion and the practice it takes to
write about it well, will help their chances of admission through their essay.
www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html

Port Jervis High School Planning Guide for Juniors

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