College Planning & Counseling | A "TO DO" List

Just a brief overview as to what you should be doing at this stage of the college admissions game (batteries sold separately). Once you are underway and ready for additional guidance, contact us at COLLEGE CONNECTION for a FREE telephone consultation and/or to schedule a Zoom planning & counseling session. 516-345-8766. info@collegeconnect.info

1. If you plan to take a future SAT or ACT. Register Early. Then Practice. Practice. PRACTICE! Keep in mind that most colleges have gone "Test-Optional" for 2021-22. For a complete list of "Test-Optional colleges, check out www.FairTest.org.

NOTE: The SAT Writing Section has been eliminated, and Subject Tests (SATII) are no more. REJOICE!

2. Naviance - (a) Write down your Naviance (and every) login in a composition notebook. (b) Build that Resume (in the About Me section under My Stuff) using the pull-down tab under the red circle with white cross. Every activity, in school and out; every award, honor, citation, and pat on the back; basically, anything you have done during waking hours from the 9th grade on. (c) Add prospective colleges to Colleges I'm Thinking About under the Colleges tab as you begin to build your college list

3. And Speaking of that Resume - Email us at info@collegeconnect.info for a Sample high school Resume. Feel free to adapt and use (as an attachment to applications/supplements) as your own. Resume may be prepared in Word or Google Docs.

4. College Search - Search for and refine your college preferences at collegedata.com. Create an account. Plug in as much info as possible about your interests (academic and otherwise), college characteristics (size, location, housing, etc.), and a list of colleges that would be a good fit, based on the criteria you enter, will be presented. [You may also click on the What Are My Chances tab to get a sense (not etched in stone) of whether you are on target for any particular school based on prior years' admissions.] Also check out CollegeRaptor.com and The Big Future, for guidance in honing in on your college choices as well as available majors.

5. Common App - While the Common App for 2021-22 does not go "live" until August 1, you can (and should) begin to work on it at this time. [Your info and data will rollover into the next edition of the Common App.] (a) Create an account and start to work on the Common App. (b) Add colleges you are interested in via the College Search tool. (c) View My Colleges for each college for deadlines and admissions criteria (after August 1). (d) Complete all sections under the Common App tab (Profile, Family, Education, etc.). (e) Check out Supplemental Questions for individual colleges as added to Common App under the My Colleges tab. Do NOT work on the college-specific supplements until after August 1, when the Common App for 2021-22 goes "live."
NOTE: For Common App and all online college applications, it is suggested that you do not use your school email address. This is because once you graduate, the school email address will be gone. Use your existing personal email account, or create a new Gmail account just for college stuff.

6. Colleges NOT on Common App (if any) - Visit college websites (typically under Admissions or Prospective Students) to access proprietary applications and/or to ascertain where applications may be found. Create accounts when the 2021-22 applications become available (typically AFTER August 1). Begin to work on general application profiles once the 2021-22 application is available.

7. Demonstrate interest. (a) Request information from colleges you are or may be interested in via the college websites, and like/follow colleges on social media. (b) Sign up and attend information sessions for colleges that visit (virtually and otherwise) your high school. This year, in all likelihood, such info sessions will be via ZOOM. [Calendar of college visits, as well as sign up, are typically found on Naviance.]

8. Scholarships - Register, complete Student and Parent Profiles, and begin to search for scholarships on fastweb.com. Watch for and read emails, and apply, apply, APPLY! There are literally hundreds of scholarship opportunities out there. Take advantage of FREE money! Also check out Niche. Chegg. Scholarships.com. ScholarshipOwl. Unigo. Set aside and dedicate time each week to search for scholarships, and, did I mention, apply, apply, APPLY!!

!9. Take A Virtual Tour - Yes, you can visit colleges you may be interested in without ever having to get out of your pajamas! In fact, during the Pandemic, your only option may well be virtual visits. Check out these websites: youniversityTV.com, campustours.com, ecampustours.com. For a current listing of available college tours, click HERE.!

10. College Essay - Begin to think seriously about your Common App essay. Jot down ideas and bullet points. WRITE. Check out the Common App Essay prompts for 2021-22.!

11. Keep Guidance In The Loop. Keep in touch with your Guidance Counselor/College Counselor regularly, even if only virtually or via email, to discuss college plans, high school requirements, scholarship opportunities, etc. Remember, your school counselor will be writing that all-important Guidance Report, so familiarity is a good thing!!

12. Read our Top Ten List. [Okay, so I'm not Letterman... Not that you'll know who he is! :-)] !

This "To Do" list is by no means exhaustive or finite. We will expand and expound as we ramp up toward and journey through the college application and admissions process. Buckle up! [That said, do not let any of the above overwhelm you. We will get there, together, one step at a time.]!

As always, we are here to answer your questions, address your concerns, and eat your leftover Mallomars. Call, text, email, tweet, or smoke signal (smoke signal rates may apply. :-).

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Now Scheduling College Planning & Counseling Sessions via ZOOM. Call Today - 516-345-8766 - Or Complete Our Online Contact Form.

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