2015 Workbook- Win College Admission Acceptances

Personal Statement- why me?I was born in Mexico, raised in Fairfield, CT. While that might not seem significant, to me and mylife it is very significant. For one, I awake each morning to the sun shining, just as it does inMexico, but for me, the morning sun shining on the grass and trees signifies my freedom to makechoices. And for that, I am extremely grateful. I live in the land of opportunity for which I takenothing for granted. I know I have to work hard and work smart to see my dreams come true. Theland from which I was born, people work hard just to survive and live another day. The goodpeople of Mexico often live in fear and fright, not having the dream or the promise of better daysahead. That’s not the case for me.Life here in America is far advanced from that experienced in Mexico. We have the privilege to beusers of new cutting-edge technology; we have the ability to buy new cars, new homes, new TV’s;we have the ability to acquire the best in education and advanced knowledge; we have a variety ofcareers to consider and quality job options to pursue; and, we can choose to work towardsachieving a better life for ourselves. Some of it comes at a price though. I am concerned about thenumber of unemployed and under-employed college graduates that increases every year. I believethere are an abundant of educated college graduates but not enough qualified college graduatesfor the emerging new jobs. I think that people’s interpersonal skills are generally on the decline. Iam concerned about technology being used in place of old-fashioned communicative skills, suchas texting rather than calling, or emailing rather than face-to-face interacting. However, I also seethis as an opportunity to recognize the new culture of my generation and believe a greatopportunity lies in new-age marketing, branding, and advertising.This decade will be known as the era for transformation of technology and communication. Notonly for here in the United States and abroad, but I think countries like Mexico will be next in linefor bringing current technology into their everyday lives. My goal is to position myself at theforefront of the new movement towards technology-based marketing and sales.My vision for success finds me as a pioneer to my peers in mastering new forms of branding, bothpersonal and professional branding; using modern technology to support communications and tobuild relationships rather than as a substitute. For this reason, I plan to study a combination ofbusiness marketing with computer technology and human relations. This will prepare me to lead aproductive and quality life in contributing to society here and perhaps abroad; making a differencein people’s lives through innovative, creative, informative, responsible, and intelligent marketingand branding. 50

Personal Statement- Biology is in everyone Freshman year, September 2011. Biology was on my schedule. I thought “Ok, it looks likeeveryone has to take it. So, let’s see how it goes.” Three months later, I began to realize that I liked this class a lot. I was a bit surprisedconsidering the majority of my friends seemed to dislike the class. A few biology projects and acouple of months later, I woke up one morning and it was like getting hit in the side of the head. Ithought, “Woah, there is biology going on in every living-being, every moment, of every day.” It wasa mind-boggling moment. I was completely amazed by it all. As the school year concluded, I knew I had found a topic that I truly loved, one that Ienjoying researching and constantly wanting to learn more about. I couldn’t get enough. Then Ithought, that in some way, a career involving biology just may be my calling in life. I got an A in theclass and then scored 780 on my SAT II- Biology, so that certainly encouraged me and helped mythinking along. I found myself wanting to explore deeper into biology and look for relatedopportunities. I spent my sophomore year trying to find a work assignment in the field. I neededsome practical experience to see if this would be right for me. Summer, 2013. I found it! I applied and was accepted for an internship at LIU Post in theBiology Department. My research assignment involved the role of PKA in HER2 positive breastcancer. During this time I gained a great interest in molecular biology. When I was finished, Iknew for sure I wanted to be a doctor. From there, I concluded that oncology was my true passionand desire for my future. I have since spent considerable time in Spain studying Spanish andprogressing towards my ambition of becoming fluent in Spanish. My vision for success finds me in a multicultural environment working and treating youngpeople who have cancer. My goals put me on the leading edge of discovery for new and improvedtreatments. I intend to be a difference maker in people’s lives. Therefore, I plan to study acombination of Bio-medical sciences and Spanish to prepare me for graduate school, medicalschool, then on to a career helping kids overcome this horrible illness, giving them the opportunityto live and enjoy the greatness of life. This is my passion, and this is my plan! 51

Personal Statement- what is this I have? As most first graders are in classrooms learning SSSS to be the sound a snake makes, I wasin the hospital acquiring a much different meaning to the letters. To me, Staphylococcal ScaldedSkin Syndrome meant missing the first few weeks of the new school year and wondering why myskin was burning and shedding like an amphibian. The rare infection should have been cleared upin a week with a quick and proper diagnosis followed by an effective treatment plan, but that wasnot the case. It took much longer as they had trouble identifying my problem and were unable totreat it correctly. I learned at an early age that healthcare was an imperfect science. Since then, science has become my passion. I am fascinated with figuring out how naturalreactions and processes work to create life. When handed a junior year science course sign upsheet, I made a bold choice to take Anatomy, a senior class. I knew I would be a year youngerthan the other students, but I simply could not wait to start learning about the human body’s parts,processes, and everything else that biologically makes up who we are as a species. The class wasa challenge for me as I spent countless hours studying and making sense of the physiologicalinformation. My effort in the class paid off when I received the Human Anatomy and PhysiologyAward at the end of the year. The current decade will go down in history as the transformation age of healthcare. With theadvancement of health science exploration, medical science is advancing in some capacity everyday. With the advancement of information technology, critical information is available for our use ina moment’s time. As I look ahead to the next ten years, I see a world that is much more global andmuch more at stake for new diseases. I see myself at the forefront of discovery andimplementation of new cures to battle illnesses and diseases facing our species. Looking towards college, I envision myself studying many areas of science, to include Biology,Chemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology to prepare myself for a career in healthcare. My plan is to bequalified to work in a range of services related to improving patient care while exploring for newdiscoveries. I see myself advocating for better awareness and knowledge of rare and infectiousdiseases, so that a child sitting in the hospital will not need to endure a long process of confusedtreatment like I did with SSSS. I will realize success upon becoming a leader in making Earth amore sustainable planet for all of us to live a happier, healthier, and more enjoyable life. 52

Personal Statement- Who Spends Their Summers This Way? Summer 2011, I found myself traveling abroad to the United Kingdom with People to People. Iwas a student ambassador, and my job was to form positive relationships with inhabitants offoreign countries. Summer 2012, I was in Italy on a softball tour motivating young women from theItalian teams to pursue their ambitions. Our intent was to merge our cultures together as we foundthe softball field to be our common ground. Summer 2013, I spent two weeks in Costa Ricarepresenting Cross-Cultural Solutions, where I worked at an under-funded primary school,teaching the kids English as well as beautifying the school grounds. April 2014, I went to Spain toexperience the Spanish culture from the inside-out, as I traveled throughout the country and spenttime in the villages. June 2014, I spent a week in Philadelphia on a mission trip with my youthgroup, serving meals at a homeless shelter, servicing elderly homes, and distributing clothes andtoys to disadvantaged children. With each project completed, another stereotype barrier wasbroken down. When others see summer vacation as a time to relax and forget about learning, I see it as atime to get ahead and broaden my horizons by extending my knowledge and awareness wellbeyond the shores of the United States. Each trip I’ve taken has opened my eyes to variousinteresting lifestyles, flaws and all. I love being able to connect with people - even if I cannotverbally communicate with them - and to give them a reason to smile. It amazes me that within oneworld there are copious different cultures, and that more or less they all live in harmony. Globalinteractions are increasing with each day that passes, specifically in the business world, and itintrigues me how this can be done among such a diverse world. I see myself as an ambassador amongst various cultures, an advocate for improved relationsand good feelings amongst people of diversities. I take on a role of blending in with people from allwalks of life, feeling good as I give of myself, and feeling great in having them find comfort andtrust in me. My college plan is to do more of the same as I study a combination of internationalbusiness and health sciences, with a desire to study abroad. This will prepare me for a career andlifetime of bringing people together in a helpful, supportive, and productive way, both home andabroad. My vision for success is found in building a foundation of faith amongst others who seem tohave little faith otherwise. I have a strong sense to provide a touch of joy and friendship to peoplewho may not have much joy and happiness in their life. I will always greet people with a friendlysmile and have a helping hand to touch someone’s life in a positive, spirited way. 53

Personal Statement- TitleThe VisionThe Interest and the PlanThe Passion 54

Define SAT/ ACT Goals, Preparation and Testing PlanThe last piece to the preparation phase in the college process is to have a plan in place fortaking SAT’s, SAT II’s, and ACT’s, along with a plan for advance preparation.On our preferred timeline for test taking, we recommend taking 5 tests as follows: - 1st SAT in January of the junior year - 1st ACT in March or April of junior year - 2nd SAT in May or June of junior year - 2nd ACT in September of senior year - 3rd SAT in October of senior yearSAT’s are comprised of three parts- Math, Critical Reading, and Writing. The tests are super-scored, meaning that the best score for each part from the multiple number of tests taken is sent tothe colleges. Changes in the SAT’s are occurring over the next couple of years. Perhaps the threemost significant changes are- 1) the writing portion of the test will no longer be required, though it will likely be offered 2) no longer will points be deducted for wrong answers 3) testing for extreme vocabulary will be modified to reflect a more normal usage of words The SAT registration and test date’s page can be found here- http://sat.collegeboard.org/registerACT’s is a multiple choice test comprising of five parts- English, Math, Reading/ Social Studies,Science Reasoning, and Writing, although the “writing” part is optional. ACT’s are not super-scored, but they will send the best overall score to the colleges. Students with documenteddisabilities can request an extension of time. The ACT registration and test date’s page can be found here- http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html 55

It is encouraged and highly recommended to take a multiple number of tests and there is no harmin doing so. Nor do I believe that one test is easier than the other. From a college standpoint, eachcollege has their own sense of value for SAT’s and ACT’s, and generally speaking, neither test isfavored over the other.You can choose to report both SAT and ACT scores to the college, or you can compare them on arelative scale and choose to submit the one for which you scored best. Some scores are testoptional, meaning that you don’t have to report scores to them at all.Preparation for SAT’s and ACT’s can begin early in high school. Certainly, subject matter fromclasses taken in 9th and 10th grade are on the tests, so learning the subject material will have adirect correlation to how you score. I recommend beginning the use of preparation books & guidesas early as in 10th grade. This will benefit the student in two ways, one being the result of a highertest score, and two being the benefit you will see in the classroom with higher grades for thosecourses.SAT II’s, also known as SAT Subject Tests, are hour long tests offered on specific areas ofeducation. There are 20 SAT Subject Tests in five general subject areas: English, History,Languages, Mathematics and Science. The SAT II should be taken immediately upon completingits applicable course. That means you can take the SAT II Biology at the completion of the 9thgrade Biology class. This is when you would likely score the best. Scores over 700 (out of 800)shows command of the subject material and reflect well in admission offices. The webpage for SAT II can be found here- http://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat-subject-tests 56

2. There’s A Time for PlayingPlan ahead for College TripsThe typical approach is to randomly visit colleges, without a firm plan or proper organization.Without that, most students are ill-prepared and inadequately focused to get the biggest benefitfrom making the trip. The logical approach requires advance planning, communication, andpreparation. Let’s discuss the plan. First of all, set aside some dates for college trips, perhapsone day trips, 3-4 day trips or maybe week-long trips. Decide which direction you want to headtowards and map out the list of colleges you would like to visit. Then chart them on a course tomaximize your opportunity to visit campuses and meet the key decision-makers. Here is anexample of charting for a college trip:3 days, 8 colleges, 680 milesWednesday- depart home by 7:00am, 205 miles to UMASS Lowell UMASS Lowell, 1 University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854 arrive by 10:30, self-tour, depart by 1:00, 25 miles to Bentley College Bentley College, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA 02452 arrive by 1:30, self-tour, depart by 4:00, 10 miles to Northeastern Northeastern Univ, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 arrive by 4:30, self-tour, depart by 6:30, 25 miles to Stonehill College and overnightThursday- Stonehill College, 320 Washington Street, Easton, MA 02357 arrive by 8:00am, self-tour, depart by 10:30, 50 miles to Bryant Univ Bryant Univ, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917 arrive by 11:30am, self-tour, depart by 2:00, 135 miles to Fairfield Univ Fairfield Univ, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824 arrive by 4:30, self-tour, depart by 6:30, 70 miles to Sacred Heart Univ and overnightFriday- Sacred Heart Univ, 5151 Park Ave., Fairfield, CT 06825 arrive by 8:00, self-tour, depart by 10:45, 35 miles to Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Univ, 275 Mt Carmel Ave, Hamden, CT 06518 arrive by 11:30, self-tour, depart by 2:00, 185 miles home, arrive by 6:00pm 57

Here is a sample of an extensive trip with tours planned:8 days, 13 colleges, 2270 miles Friday- Aug 1, depart home by 7:00am, 320 miles to Penn State Penn State, 201 Shields Building, State College, PA 16802 Leave home by 7:00, arrive by 12:30, information session at 1:00, tour at 2:00, depart by 5:00, 165 miles to Muhlenberg for overnightSaturday- Aug 2 Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18104 arrive by 8:30am, tour at 10:00, depart by 1:00, 65 miles to F&M Franklin & Marshall, 637 College Avenue, Wohlsen House, Lancaster, PA 17603 arrive by 2:00, self-tour, walk around, depart by 3:30, 70 miles to Villanova Villanova Univ, 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Austin Hall, Villanova, PA 19085 arrive by 5:00, self-tour, walk around, depart by 6:30, 100 miles to Towson for overnightSunday- Aug 3 Towson Univ, 7800 York Road, Towson, MD 21252 arrive by 9:00am, self-tour, walk around, depart by 10:45, 5 miles to Loyola Loyola Maryland, 4501 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21210 arrive by 11:00, self-tour, walk around, leave by 1:00am, drive 375 miles in VA for overnightMonday- Aug 4, 200 miles to Furman, leave by 8:00am Furman Univ, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC, 29613 arrive by 12:00, tour at 1:30, depart by 5:00, 220 miles to Elon for overnightTuesday- Aug 5 Elon Univ, 2700 Campus Box, Elon, NC, 27244 arrive by 8:15am, tour at 9:00, depart by 1:00, 40 miles to UNC Univ of North Carolina, Jackson Hall, 153A Country Club Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 arrive by 2:00, tour at 2:30, stay overnightWednesday- Aug 6, 205 miles to William & Mary, leave by 8:00am College William & Mary, 116 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA, 23185 arrive by 12:00, tour at 2:30, depart by 6:00, 60 miles to Richmond for overnightThursday- Aug 7 Univ of Richmond, 28 Westhampton Way, Brunet Hall Richmond, VA, 23173 arrive by 8:30am, tour at 9:45, depart by 2:00, 120 miles to UMD overnightFriday- Aug 8 Univ of Maryland, 1101 Main Admin Building, Mitchell Building, College Park, MD, 20742 arrive by 8:30, tour at 10:00, depart by 12:30, 90 miles to Univ DelawareUniv of Delaware, 210 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19716 arrive by 2:30, self-tour, walk around, depart by 5:00, 235 miles to home, arrive by 9:30pm 58

With advance planning, you can visit several colleges in a few days of time. Your on-time efficiencyis enhanced while being very productive on the campus visits. With a map for direction andlocation, you can stay on track throughout. With times set for arrival and departure, you can be on-time as you work your way from one college to the next. You will enjoy a great family bondingexperience while visiting colleges.The question will come up- do we do the college tours? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Collegetours are good for gaining information and being led around. When you register for a college tour,the student name will be entered into the college system as a prospective student. This is great fortheir tracking of your interest. College tours are not always efficient nor are they always availablefor your timeline of visiting the campus. You always have two options, one being to sign up for thetour and only participate in part of it, likely the information session at the beginning. You don’t haveto follow the group around to the end, they don’t take attendance. The other option being a self-guided tour.It’s best to get comfortable doing self-guided tours. You always begin at the admission office, signin as long as the office is open, ask to speak with an admission counselor, and after you meet withthe counselor for 15 minutes, ask them to point you in a good direction, and begin the walk. Self-guided tours are efficient and can always meet with a flexible schedule. So, schedule college trips,make plans to visit campuses, and get ready to meet the people who make up the college.Contact the admission office in advanceOnce you have your college trip planned, the next step is to inform the admission office of yourintention to visit the campus and the expected timing for such. You do this initially by sending theman email and following it up with a phone call. The purpose is to introduce your interest in theircollege to them. Furthermore, our plan is for them to become familiar with your name, email, andvoice. In this regard, more emails and more calls are better for gaining recognition.The introductory email for admissions reads like this- 59

Admission OfficeTo: send to two email addresses, one to the general admissions email, and one to the counselor assigned to your area (primarily private schools)Subject: name the college and follow it with the word “admissions” Hi, my name is “_____________”, I am a “Sophomore/ Junior/ or Senior” at “_____________” High School in “town, state”. My GPA is ____. I have an interest in pursuing studies in ________. I have a serious interest in your college and would like to plan a visit soon to see the campus and meet with you. Attached is my Student-profile for your review. Thank you, Full name, grad. Year High School, town and stateNote- you will likely get a response from most of the colleges, acknowledging their receipt of your email and likely inviting you to register for a campus tour. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Write it out here- 60

The next step is plan a call to the admission office. It’s a lot easier than you think. Just follow thisguideline and the script below to make the call.Calling college admission counselorsBuilding relationships with college decision-makers ahead of submitting an application results in ahigher likelihood for acceptance. This requires a combination of phone calls, emails, and visits.The real connection begins with a call.Making this call is quite simple, taking only a few minutes, but it carries a lot of weight if done socorrectly. Note, private colleges will likely have a specific counselor assigned to handle applicationsfrom your area. Try to identify who that person is in advance of your call. We will begin the call withthat person in mind. Also note that someone is likely to answer your call as long as you make thecall during office hours, so be prepared to speak. It works just fine to speak with an alternativecounselor if your designated counselor is not available.The intention of the call is to introduce yourself, showing interest in their college along with allowingthem to get to know you and your name. Perhaps they will ask you for your contact information toget into their system. Then progress the call by asking a few good questions. Let them know of yourplans to visit the college and your intentions to meet them. They will likely suggest that you registerfor a campus tour. Doing so will depend on your schedule as we’ve discussed.The following is a sample introductory phone call, what you say is in red-Sample introductory phone call“Hi, my name is ______________. I’m a sophomore/ junior living in ___________________, attending _____________________ high school.”“I have an interest in attending your college and would like to make plans for a visit. Is there a counselor assigned to my area that I can speak with?”A yes or no reply doesn’t matter, only that they connect you with a counselor matters. Andwhen they do, follow this sequence of questions with the counselor. 61

“Hi _____, my name is ______________. I’m a sophomore/ junior living in ______________, attending ___________________ high school. I have an interest in attending your college and would like to make plans for a visit. Can I plan to meet with you during my visit?”At this time, plan to engage in a personal discussion for 5-10 minutes. Ask a few simplequestions. The questions serve to begin a friendly discussion and they allow the responder to behelpful, which they like. Begin with- “What SAT score and GPA do you look for in your applicants?” “What does it take to receive a scholarship?” ”I see that your school accepts the common application (provided it does), is there any advantage to submitting the college application rather than the common app?” “I plan to submit an early application, sometime in October. Is there an advantage in doing that?” “Is there anyone I can plan to interview or speak with during my visit? “Is there an area representative around here that I can meet?” “Can I send you my student-profile by email so you can have all of my current information?”List a few of your own questions here which are specific to your interests- 1. 2. 3.* Be prepared to answer their one important question- “What do you plan to study?” Write here your response (minimum 50 words, straight from your Vision statement)- 62

Note- follow each call made with a simple “thank you” email, like this- Hi ______, it was nice speaking with you. I look forward to working with you towards earning my admission acceptance. If there is anything else I can do, then please let me know. Thank you, Name H.S. and grad year phone # ------------------------------------------All that’s left now is to go visit the colleges and meet the people. Until you do so, the college isjust a name. Once you make the visit, the college comes to life for which you will find thingsabout the college that you like or dislike. You will also experience people and situations thateither make you feel good or somewhat otherwise. You will likely form an opinion about thecollege during the visit, either deciding to keep it in the mix or remove it from furtherconsideration. So let’s go visit colleges. 63

Visiting CollegesThe purpose for visiting colleges is to see what you like in a college and how the people makeyou feel. The more colleges you visit, the better you will come to know what you like in acollege. The more times you visit a particular college, the better you will know how you wouldfeel attending the college. The better you are prepared and ready to engage in thoughtfuldiscussion, the more interested you will find the college people. The more interested theybecome in you, the more they will share about the college. The more they share, the more youbenefit from the visit. This is the logical approach, it’s that simple, yet that elusive. The typicalapproach is to randomly show up on college campuses ill-prepared to meet people and engagein meaningful conversation.Here becomes your opportunity to influence your admissions outcome beyond hitting the submitbutton. The admissions counselor is the frontline person responsible to the university for screeningprospective students, for pursuing the qualifiers and turning away the non-qualifiers. They are alsothe point person for the applicant, for marketing the college and being of as much help as they canto the applicant. They are a key-decision maker in the process for granting admission acceptanceand for determining the merit scholarship award. Therefore, it is of significant importance to get toknow the person who will be assigned to your application long before you submit their application.And while this might sound obvious, decisions important to you at the college are made by people,not by computers. A personal relationship makes it a lot easier to get the checkmark fromadmissions, and with it, their maximum scholarship award.Meeting with an admissions counselor ahead of submitting your application allows you todiscuss your qualifications and interests with the person who will decide on your application. Itallows you to explain your situation in person and inform them better of your intentions andqualifications. It allows the key decision-maker to know you much better than an electronicapplication permits. Colleges value people, not applications. Simply put, it makes a personaldecision out of it, and that’s creating your own advantage.Note- the junior year of high school is the go-to year for visiting colleges and meeting people.Note- a well prepared student arrives ready to express their vision, passion, and desire for college. 64

There are six components to planning, preparing, and experiencing quality campus visits. 1. Planning ahead 60 – 90 days, set aside time for college trips 2. Map out the trip, set appointments 3. Prepare for the visit, do your homework 4. Prepare for the meeting 5. Campus tour 6. Follow-up and follow-through Planning ahead Look ahead 2 – 3 months in your calendar. Pick out a few times in which you can get away and spend a day, two, three, maybe even a week to plan some college trips. Typically, people don’t look ahead and do this, leaving them without adequate time for visiting colleges. And when the time passes by, an opportunity for evaluating potential colleges is missed. Sure, it’s best to see a college in full swing which means a weekday visit during their two primary semesters, fall and spring. But, your schedule may not always accommodate weekdays, so don’t worry about that. It’s both important and valuable to visit colleges, even on weekends, and even when the school is not in session. Map out the trip Once you set some dates aside, look at the map and plan to head in a particular direction. Don’t let this be a random thing, rather identify the specific colleges that you want to visit based on your qualifying list. It is important for you to be efficient and productive while on college trips. For one day trips, plan to visit two or three colleges. For one overnight, plan to visit four or five colleges. For a week-long trip, you can plan to visit over ten colleges. And what a jump you get on your competition upon doing do. 65

Prepare for the Visit This means simply to do your homework on the college prior to leaving for the visit. Know everything you can about the college by scanning the college website. Be aware of the various degree programs, college costs, and admission requirements. Plan to spend an hour researching the college on their website. Be sure to have the Student-profile sheet updated with current information and photos. Here is a checklist for you to use. College Visit Checklist College- __________________ College address ______________________________________________ Admission counselor _____________________________ Student-profile updated with copies made- ___ Most recent high school transcripts secured ___ Email sent to admission office ___, to whom- ________________________________ Reply email received from admission office ___, from whom- _________________________ Call made to admission office ___, to whom- ________________________________ Scheduled time of arrival ____ Campus tour planned ___NOTES: 66

Prepare for Meeting with Admissions Meeting Always try to meet with an admission counselor on every campus visit. As long as the admission office is open, you will be able to do this. Contrary, if it’s closed, you won’t. Get to the school early. Go straight to the admission office first and introduce yourself at the front desk. Provided you contacted them in advance of your visit, they will be expecting you. Plan to meet for 15 – 20 minutes. Understand the dynamics of the situation- yes, you are spending valuable time visiting and evaluating the college, but you are on their time clock. Be respectful and appreciative of their time. And don’t expect them to overspend time with you, it’s not productive either way. Admission counselors are looking to engage you in an active dialogue. They want to get an early idea of your ability to converse with people outside of your immediate circle of family and friends. They want to get to know you, your interests and your priorities. They will evaluate quickly your organization, preparation and presentation skills. They will ask you a few times if you have questions. So, come with a few questions, and choose them wisely. Ask the admission counselor matters regarding acceptance standards, what they look for in applicants beyond grades, what it takes to earn a scholarship.Campus Tour Upon the conclusion of your meeting with the admission counselor, plan to tour the campus. Be sure to visit the Financial Aid office to meet an advisor who can share with you the projected costs of college along with potential scholarships, grants, and financial aid that might be available to you. Also visit the areas of the campus for which you might spend considerable time, such as, the student union, the cafeteria, the library, the sports complex. And certainly, feel free to stop a couple of students along the way to ask them a couple of questions- - How do you like being here? - Would you make the same decision again? 67

Follow-up and follow-through If you’re going to spend the time and money visiting colleges and meeting people, then be sure to follow-up with simple “thank you” notes and follow-through with their requests. Thank you notes should be sent or emailed the night of the meeting, not a week later when they will have forgotten you. Yes, they can and will forget you easily without follow-up. Sample student’s email- Hi ______, Thank you very much for allowing us to visit with you today. I enjoyed my visit. I appreciate your time and input. I remain interested in the college and will likely pursue an admission acceptance. Please let me know what the next steps are and if there is anything else you need from me. I look forward to staying in touch with you. Thank you, Sign your name, (be sure to attach your profile) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not every visit has to be planned in advance. Stop-in-and-visit If you are in the vicinity of a prospective college, maybe on the way to another college or perhaps on vacation, stop in to see the college if you have an hour. Be sure to stop by the admissions office if they are open and ask to meet a counselor. They will likely be happy to spend a few minutes with you, but don’t expect more than that. While this type of visit is not as extensive, it is important to blend these visits in with your scheduled campus visits to see more colleges. The key is still to leave with a general impression of the college, its students and the campus environment. Also, plan to visit the finance office if they are open since you don’t need an appointment there. And of course, walk the campus, tour the facilities, and see the college in action. So while you may not have appointments set in advance, a “stop-in-and-visit” is a good way to see more. 68

Here are two quick and easy ways to visit more colleges- 1. Casual visit- get up on a weekend morning or holiday and take an impromptu drive to a college. Walk around the campus and enjoy the casual time together. There is no pre- planning necessary as the purpose is to gain a sense for the college feel and looks. Feel comfortable in talking with a random student, administrator, or faculty member. 2. Game- plan to attend a college game. Enjoy the excitement of college sports and a side of college aside from classes. These kind of college visits will help the student connect with the world of college and may serve to motivate them to work harder in getting there.Parent’s Role The parent’s role is to initiate and facilitate, initiate college visits and facilitate meetings with the key decision-makers. It is the parent’s job to allocate and schedule time for college trips, to take advantage of time off to visit college campuses. 69

Understanding the College PerspectiveTo win the college game, it’s important to understand the college perspective and how they playthe game. That’s the logical approach. After all, they set the rules and they can change them atany one time without notice. They don’t have to share the rules nor justify them to any of us. Theyoperate under a business model and organizational structure. They have a marketing team, salesteam, finance team, board of trustees, team of executives, team of administrators, and a team offaculty, all of whom are paid to carry out the stated mission of the college; which just may bedifferent than what you think the mission of the college is or should be. Like it or not, College is abig business machine working its magic to support its business model. You can’t win the collegegame approaching it from the high school perspective or the parent perspective. Rather, you haveto approach college from their perspective and play by their rules to win the game. It’s their game.Think for a minute about what the college wants from you, then read on.College is a business in the business of selling educational services. You are in the market topurchase educational services. You are the buyer, the customer. But you have to apply forcustomer status. You wait anxiously in hope of acceptance. If and when you get it, you’re toldwhat it will cost and how you can pay for it. Then a big invoice comes in the mail and you’reexpected to pay it in order for your student to matriculate…and never will you receive a thankyou note for your payment.Once they have you, your costs will increase each year without notice or explanation. You’rejust expected to pay the bill, no questions asked. Whether you take the money out of savings, aretirement account, or borrow it, the college doesn’t care. After a year or two of classes, yourstudent-child will meet with their campus career counselor, who stands by ready to serve youand your child’s best interests, right? Not so fast. They will evaluate the student’s progress anddiscuss plans for career opportunities. But at the slightest hint of uncertainty regarding thecurrent path of studies, they will be quick to change course by suggesting a change of major.This puts you on the path towards buying more services and an extended stay in college. Thecollege business engine hits high gear as the national average time it takes to get a four-yearundergraduate degree now exceeds 5 ½ years.Parental alert: If you don’t make it a firm plan to graduate in 4 years, then the college will be glad to add a year or two onto the term for you. 70

Now if that alert doesn’t get your attention, nothing else will. One of college’s top priorities is tofill their classroom seats, their dorms, their cafeteria, their bookstore, and build their alumnigroup; all revenue streams of the college. Each enrolled student can be looked at as acustomer, a tuition-paying client, a source of cash flow, a user of the college services, a buyer oftheir products, a future contributor, and maybe all of the above. Each college works very hard tofill their full allotment of matriculated students. They plan their numbers knowing they will havedrop-outs each semester. They have an Admissions Transfer department designed to fill thoseseats vacated by drop-outs. It’s a pure numbers game designed to maximize their revenuestreams, cash flow, and endowment fund. This is the game you are about to begin playing whenconsidering college.There are two gatekeepers for all of this, the admission office and the financial aid office. We willfocus on the admission office here. They are the upfront sales & marketing team for the college.They are responsible for filling the seats with qualified students. They will use scholarship awardsas their primary tool to incentivize a student-family to enroll once they have granted an acceptance.They are closely tied to the conversion rate of accepted students to enrolled students.Filling the seatsThe admission office will project the number of applicants based on recent historical data andtrends. They will project the conversion rate (percentage of accepted students who enroll)based on recent historical data and trends. They will use the conversion rate to determine howmany acceptances they need to offer in order to achieve their desired number of incomingfreshmen. The percentage of acceptances to the number of applicants determines their level ofselectivity, with a lower percentage of accepted students reflecting a tougher standard.Colleges like to see a high conversion rate, it means students and families want the school. Thisallows for a lower acceptance rate reflecting a high level of selectivity for accepting students.This reflects well on the college and in their college rankings. This means the college can gettheir desired number of students without having to offer scholarships as an incentive. The point to recognize is that a direct correlation exists between having a higher conversion rate, a lower acceptance rate, and lower scholarship offers. 71

The elite colleges typically meet merit awards at less than 2%, whereas very few studentsreceive a scholarship at all, and when they do, the average award approximates $1,000. Theseare schools who generally have an acceptance rate less than 15% and conversion rates over40%. For schools that have acceptance rates over 50% and conversion rates under 30%, meritscholarship awards are being met at over 35% with average scholarship awards approximating$20,000 (the amount depends on the cost of tuition). State University scholarship awards areconsiderably smaller due to their much lower tuition cost. Here is a chart I put together to illustrate the correlation in these variables from the top schools on down regarding: acceptance standards, acceptance rates (fluctuates according to the number of applicants), conversion rates, and percentage of merit awards met. Acceptance standard number of acceptance conversion merit award Colleges St GPA / SAT / ACT applicants rate rate metHarvard College MA 3.90 / 2200 / 32 35,000 6% 82% 0%Stanford Univ CA 3.85 / 2200 / 33 39,000 6% 78% 1%UPENN PA 3.90 / 2150 / 32 31,000 12% 61% 1%UNCWake Forest Univ NC 3.70 / 2000 / 30 31,000 27% 54% 7%Coll of William & MaryElon Univ NC 3.70 / 2000 / 30 11,000 35% 32% 16%Miami Univ VA 3.70 / 1950 / 30 14,000 33% 32% 17%Tulane Univ NC 3.55 / 1875 / 27 10,000 54% 29% 36%Bryant UnivSiena College OH 3.50 / 1800 / 27 23,000 67% 29% 39% LA 3.65 / 2000 / 30 30,000 26% 21% 51% RI 3.35 / 1650 / 25 6,000 77% 20% 71% NY 3.30 / 1650 / 25 10,000 58% 15% 85%The reason this is important to you is to know that each college has their own unique equationfor which drives college admission acceptances and scholarships. Knowing this data is knowingthe college perspective. Note, the data for each college is published information and available toall. From the perspective of the admission office, applying this data to everyday strategy and goalsetting of the admission counselor is called Enrollment Management. 72

Enrollment Management- the process an admission office undertakes to meet their enrollment goals; the philosophy of the admission office in determining the criteria for which prospective students are valued and rated; the equation used in determining the standards for acceptance; the strategy applied to attract the desired diversification of students. Enrollment management is a process, a philosophy, an equation, and a strategy. It is all of these combined to make-up the unique methodology of each college for admissions and to be applied by each counselor within the department. It is their job to carry it out and in doing so, fill their seats. It is our job to understand it and in doing so, create our own advantages. Let’s begin by seeing what college’s value in their applicants.Filling the seats with qualified studentsThe goal of each admission office is to fill the available freshmen slots with qualified students.Qualified is a subjective term. Each school values some components of a student record moreor less than other schools. Below, you will see a chart that exists in every office for admissions.Down the left side, you will see the items of possible interest to a college regarding a studentrecord. Along the top, you will see how they value those items. It’s pretty straight forward,although every college is different in what they value.Let’s take a look at the chart to see how a particular college values each component. Thisinformation is reported by the colleges and is made available for all to see. Knowing what acollege values will help inform the student on what items to emphasize in discussions with theadmission office. That will help in creating value in you to the college. 73

This particular chart is one that represents an elite University. The matrix will look different for every college.Factors in considering student applications for college Factor Very Important Important Considered Not ConsideredRigor of Secondary School Record X XAcademic GPA X X XStandardized Tests X X XClass Rank X X XRecommendations X XEssay XInterview X XLevel of Applicant's Interest XExtracurricular Activities XVolunteer Work XParticular Talent/AbilityCharacter/Personal QualitiesFirst Generation to Attend CollegeState ResidencyGeographic ResidenceRelation with AlumnusReligious Affiliation/ CommitmentEthnicityWork ExperienceThere are a few generalizations that I can make when evaluating a large sample of colleges. 1. Most all colleges value as very important the combination of academic GPA with course rigor 2. Most all colleges value as important the combination of essay and personal qualities 3. State universities largely focus on academic GPA, rigor, and essay, and to a much lesser degree will they consider level of interest and personal qualities.Whichever the case may be, it’s to your benefit to know what your college of interest values intheir applicants and work with them accordingly. 74

Meeting the College Admission Counselor Why should they give you an admission acceptance? Why should they award you with a merit scholarship? What makes you different from the thousands of other applicants?Herein lies the reason and purpose for visiting colleges and meeting the admission counselor ofwhom may have responsibility for your application. They know the numbers. They know peopleare applying to more colleges now than in the past. Most people apply as a “Stealth Applicant”,defined as an applicant who is unknown to the admission office. Stealth applicants are of nomore value than what can be reflected on an electronic application. If the college strictly valuesacademic GPA and rigor, then fine, that is discernable on the application and there are no needfor visits, such is the case for many large state universities. But if the college values personalqualities, true spirit and passion, creative vision and knowledge, then the only way you candemonstrate that and become a desired applicant is by meeting the people in person. The valuein becoming a desired applicant is found in higher acceptance rates and increased scholarships.Meeting with an admission counselor will be one of the easiest meetings that you ever have.They are always pleasant and welcoming, greeting you with a handshake, a smile, and a warmgreeting. They will plan to spend 10 – 15 minutes with you if you have interesting things to sayor have relevant questions to ask. The counselors are there to help you. They are also there toevaluate you as a prospective student. They will quickly assess your organization, preparation,and focus. If you have your Student-profile sheet with a copy of your most recent high schooltranscript, they will know you are organized and prepared. If you are able to express your vision,passion, and desire for college, they will know you are focused. If you have relevant questionsto ask for which their answers are not found on the college website, then they will know you didyour homework. All told, this is your opportunity to demonstrate qualifications and interests,preparation and focus. Absent of these items, all you are is just another student stopping by theschool. Don’t expect them to give you too much consideration if this is the case, although theywill remain friendly.As you meet with college officials, you will randomly get asked questions intending to hear whytheir college is important to you. That’s called- “Why our college questions.” The secret is tocarefully express why the college is important to you, specifically why it meets your educational 75

needs and possible career interests. This is the time you call upon your vision and personalstatement, this being the real secret to winning admissions. Whereas the vast majority ofstudents respond with generic answers, with no boost to admissions and financial appeal, youcan choose specific responses that point out your research in the college and strongest desireto be a student there. Let them know why it is important to you for personal reasons other thanthe weather, the location, the family legacy, the local pro sports team, or the name appeal.Rather, consider discussing internship opportunities, job placement rates, degree programs,post graduate possibilities, summer programs, and your interest in the college as a completecollege experience.Specifically, be ready to discuss the college’s interdisciplinary degree programs (described indetail in the next section- Studying Forward) with the admissions office. Discuss how theysupport your interests for college study and provide qualifications for the future jobopportunities.When your application comes up for review, they will find your name in the system and see thatyou have shown serious interest and sincere intentions for college. For this, they will have aheightened sense that you are right for the college, the college is right for you, and you are likelyto enroll should you receive an acceptance with a suitable scholarship.This is all about enrollment management and understanding the college perspective. 76

STUDYING FORWARD Do you intend to “study-forward” or “study-backward”? That is the million dollar question…no, it’s four million.Studying-forward is studying for jobs of the 2020’s. Studying–backward refers to studying for jobsfrom the 1990’s, like most college students are still doing. Studying-backward will likely result inunderperforming career earnings. Whereas, studying-forward will project your income favorably.Studying for the 2020’s calls on college students to study multiple disciplines, such as combininga science with engineering; law with business; information systems with healthcare; computerscience with new media and technology; applied mathematics with engineering; environmentalscience with law; education with social media, business with social sciences, and so forth. At thecollege level, this is referred to as- Interdisciplinary Degree MajorsColleges are now offering interdisciplinary degree programs allowing students to focus on apreferred major while exploring other interests and acquiring complimentary knowledge and skills;meaning that the lines dividing departments and curriculum are intersecting and transparent.Faculty, students, and the studies overlap, supporting and supplementing each other. Why is thishappening? Because in today’s world, too many traditionally-minded college graduates are sittingon the employment sideline, not prepared to tackle the job requirements of today for the incomelevel they need. Consequently, they are left to resort to other jobs typically paying less thandesired wages.Colleges are responding to that by developing new study programs. Computer science graduateswill have a chance to study web technology, digital marketing, and cyber-security. Engineerstudents will study law, applied mathematics, and environmental science. Architecture studentswill study the new tools for information technology, as will medical students. Pharmacy studentswill study biochemistry while bio-medical students may study pharmacy. Biology and Chemistrymajors can do well by including health sciences and nanotechnology into their program.Accounting majors can benefit by adding law, economics, forensics, and government studies intothe mix. Marketing majors can supplement their program with social media, digital marketing andinternational studies. Management majors can add studies in supply-chain management,psychology, data science, analytics, and information systems to be more valuable. 77

Interdisciplinary can also mean multidisciplinary; studying multiple disciplines in order to preparefor the emerging jobs and career opportunities that lie ahead.Traditionally, college degrees have focused on single subject matters. Business degrees focusedon finance, accounting, marketing, or management. Science degrees focused on biology,chemistry, physics, or nursing. Engineering degrees focused on environmental, chemical,mechanical, electrical, and others. Math degrees focused on teaching. However, the workingenvironment that college graduates face today and will face in the future (2020’s) is one in whichtheir jobs increasingly bridge more than one area of specialization. This represents the emergingjobs that come with good pay right out of college and stable careers with income growth potential(the multiplier effect). Let’s call this the new interdisciplinary world of work, the one we believewill provide quality job opportunities now and in the future.As colleges plan and roll-out their curriculums, we are finding several new studies evolving at theuniversity level, most of which take into account the interdisciplinary approach. These include-biomedical engineering, biometrics, information assurance, forensic sciences, computerprogramming, gaming design, healthcare science, data science and information systems,environmental science, nanotechnology, homeland security, computer technology, businessanalytics, supply-chain management, and applied mathematics. These majors are preparingcollege students for jobs of the 2020’s, and we passionately refer to that as studying-forward.The multiplier effect in actionAn interesting component to all of this is that the jobs are not occupied by 45 year olds that havebeen there for twenty years planning to be there another twenty. Rather, they represent new jobgrowth opportunity for college graduates with the right education and schooling that fits the newneeds. Accordingly, the starting pay is typically much higher, up to $40,000 per year higher withsubstantial room to climb. Otherwise, many of the old job classifications come with more competitionfor fewer openings, which means lower starting pay and less opportunity for income growth.Therefore, it can be estimated in some cases where lifetime earnings for those studying-forwardcould accumulate in $4,000,000 additional lifetime earnings. This represents the significance tounderstanding the concept of studying-forward with an interdisciplinary program approach. STUDYING FORWARD- studying for the jobs of the 2020’s rather than the jobs of the 1990’s. 78

College Admission InterviewsWhile the rest of the country avoids interviews, you can be different. A quality interview is yourticket for winning admissions acceptances. Prepare for and plan on having quality admissioninterviews with each college you intend to apply. Granted, not all colleges hold admissionsinterviews, particularly state schools, but every point of contact with an admissions counselortakes the form of an interview, and a two-way interview at that. It’s just that some are moreofficial than others. But you can be certain of one thing, every single encounter with a collegeofficial is your opportunity to make a good impression as they’re trying to do the same with you.This is not the easiest of things for students to follow through on but it could be one of the mostimportant. It’s not easy because most students don’t want to interview and often have little tosay during an interview. And that doesn’t work. Also, planning an interview will normally requirean extra trip to the college, and for this, families often get too busy to see it through. It takesadvance planning preparation and careful execution. It’s a big effort to get it right. Anddepending on you, it can work for you in a great way or it can work against you as well. Youhave total control over the outcome. So for many, it’s just much easier to hit the submit buttonand take your chances. But from a college perspective, we know this, it can definitely be thedifference maker for your acceptance. Here’s how.Let’s think of it from the desk of the admission counselor reviewing applications. Here they sit,with a large stack of applications on their desk (long list of files on their computer) to review andrender a decision. They see a lot of the same thing, one application after another, just thenames change. Most students' qualifications seem similar on the application. But then, yourapplication comes up for review. Now, will yours appear the same as hundreds of others, or willthere be special interest considered?The secret to getting special consideration is by having a great interview. Upon reviewing yourapplication, they see your face and hear your voice as they remember you. The secret to beingremembered favorably is to clearly express why their college is important to you, and please,leave out pro sports teams and weather considerations. Rather, focus on available majors,interdisciplinary degree programs, internship opportunities, graduation rates, job placement, andperhaps graduate school admissions. You can overcome marginal GPA and SAT scores bylanding a great interview towards winning your college acceptance. 79

August, September, October, and November are great months for high school seniors to visit colleges and interview with admissions counselors. Typically, you can register for an interview through the college website, in the Admissions area of the website. And when the time comes for an interview, be ready to answer- “Why is our college right for you?”Use this space to write your answer- 80

The College Application Essay The college essay is a big deal, but it doesn't have to be hard to writeIn many instances, the admission counselor will see your application, check on your academicrecord to get a quick idea for qualifications, then jump to your application essay. Boom, in amatter of 5 minutes, they will decide to continue on with your application or send a letter denyingacceptance. That’s how important the college essay is, it cannot be overstated. This can be thedifference-maker in the application outcome.This represents a golden opportunity to demonstrate your ability to write with flow and direction,with clarity and insight, with meaning and purpose, and correlate a situation or circumstance topresent day meaning. It’s your opportunity to write in the “active voice” rather than the “passivevoice”. It’s your opportunity to write in a vivid and reflective style, gaining immediate interest of thereader and keeping it through to the end. It’s your opportunity to form a conclusion, wrapping it upand tying it all together.Your job is to pick one of the five prompts provided on the common application, and answer it in500 – 600 words, where less is more, wordiness is discouraged, and the use of big words andcomplex terms are highly disliked by the readers.Here are the five prompts from the 2014 Common Application: Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn? Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you? Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. 81

Follow these simple guidelines to writing a quality college essay. We have several samples that follow.Essay styleThe college essay should be written in the narrative, telling a story and making a point. It shouldreach deep into your memory and provide the reader insight into you, the writer. It needs to beengaging and interesting. Begin with a title in mind, then concentrate on style, flow, and direction.Our preferred style of essay is called \"Show and Tell\" and it consists of three sections.The first section is the \"Show\", beginning with the details of the story, the memory of whathappened, when it occurred, and how it turned out. The story should refer to a defining momentthat changed the course of your life, a personal challenge faced, a specific lesson learned, or acore quality developed. It should reflect a personal story that shaped your belief system allowingthe reader to get a glimpse inside your life. It should conclude with making a point in the finalsentence.The middle section is the \"Tell\", the purpose of which is to express meaning, informing the readerwhat it all means to you and how it fits in your life. It should reflect in how it has become a part ofwho you are today, how it contributes to your everyday belief and decision process. Provideexamples of how it's working for you.The final section is the \"Application\", explaining the future benefit you will draw from the \"Showand Tell\". I like this section to always begin with- \"When I look to my college days ahead, I willbe...\". This may refer to being better prepared, better aware, better suited, or better ready forcollege. The final sentence should tie it all together and give the title clear meaning.Tips to consider 1) Have a creative title that will draw interest 2) Stay on point and do not stray or deviate from the topic 3) Be vivid and precise, steering clear of confusing terms 4) Get the reader’s immediate interest with a dynamic first sentence 5) Create a flow from start to finish, move towards the conclusion 6) Admission counselors much prefer shorter over longer, they have a lot to read otherwise 82

The essay should reveal the quality of you. Use it to reflect something about you that cannot befound otherwise in your application. Do not use the essay to try to impress the reader by listingaccomplishments or using big words. View the essay as your chance to separate yourself fromothers, making it memorable by engaging the reader with your story.Write in the Active versus Passive VoiceActive voice is more direct than passive voice because of the simple, easily understood, subject(is active) - verb format (an action verb) where the subject does the action as denoted by the verb.Active voice tends to be shorter, more perceptible while creating a better touch or feeling.Passive voice shifts the attention away from the subject, placing it on the object, where thesubject is no longer active. This can easily lead to confusion and wordiness.For example, in the active voice “Jeff wrote a great book”, the subject is Jeff, the object is thebook; the focus is on the subject doing the action. Jeff (subject) did the writing (action verb).In the passive voice “A great book was written by Jeff”, the subject Jeff is acted upon and the focushas shifted to the book. The subject is no longer active, therefore, this is called passive voice.Vivid DescriptionWriting with vivid language is a way to describe an action or a scene, allowing the reader toenvision what you are talking about, painting a clearer picture for the reader to enjoy. Vividdescription is writing which makes you feel as if you are standing there, right there where theauthor has just described something. Vivid description appeals to the senses — eyes, nose,ears, skin, and makes you feel a part of the scene.John Steinbeck, a great American author from the middle 1900’s, beginning in the 1930’s witha book still read in schools today- “Of Mice and Men”, was an expert user of vivid language. Allyou have to do is read the first couple pages in “Of Mice and Men” to see for yourself, and youwill instantly become a better writer for it.When it comes to college essays, you can count on this- good writing follows a flow; good writing isfocused and written for a purpose; good writing is grammatically correct and easily readable; andgood writing uses vivid description making it more enjoyable. You create your own advantage byhaving an essay that is interesting to read, making it more likely to get read by the collegecounselor. 83

Enjoy reading these eight sample essays, all written by students just like you with a little help from me. A Match Made July 9th, 1999: Dad arrives in Aruba on vacation; mom comes to work the same as every otherday. Dad meets mom by the pool, then meets me; me being a two year old, mom being a hotelemployee, dad being on vacation. A year later, my mom and dad get married. Mom and I pack ourbags and off to Connecticut we go. Aruba to Connecticut in 12 months, now that’s a change of scenery,and a whole new life ahead. It sounds easy, but my parents tell me otherwise, that moving to the UnitedStates was quite a challenge, one that I am forever grateful my mom and dad took on and got done. You see, I was born in Vera Cruz, Mexico to a mom who was a hotel servant and a father ofwhom I don’t know. I am very proud of my Mexican heritage and family roots. I return often to visitwith my close family relations. On my mom’s side, I will be the first family member to go to college. Itake this as a serious responsibility in becoming a role model for my younger cousins who remain inMexico. I will show them the value of education and the opportunity that can result. I often sit and wonder how life would be much different if not for my mom’s random meeting ofmy dad, and their romance that followed. Likely, I’d still be somewhere in the islands or back inMexico with mom and without the great opportunity for a quality life that I have right now. Here I’m raised in Fairfield, CT. I live in a nice home, attend a good public high school, playfootball, and look ahead to my college life and the vast world of opportunity. Mom and dad havemade successful careers in hospitality along the way introducing me to small business and the keysto success. They are completely customer-oriented, quality-driven, and satisfaction guaranteed. Iclearly see the benefits of treating people well, both from a business and personal standpoint. Myparents have great businesses, and I have quality friends, none of which I take for granted for amoment. I see every day as a new opportunity to meet people, improve my knowledge andawareness, and keep a focus on my goals and dreams. As I look to my college days ahead, I will approach my college choice seriously to reflect what itmeans to me to have this great opportunity. Where perhaps many others take it for granted, not me.I am well aware that I could be a hotel servant otherwise. I plan to use my college education tobroaden my perspective and grow as a person. I hope to pursue study abroad programs to Mexicoor within the Caribbean. After college, it is my dream and plan to visit my home town often, sharingmy experience, knowledge, and good fortunes amongst my family, perhaps advising them on how tomake a better life for themselves. I am well-suited for the challenge that lays ahead. My college experience is very important to me. Itrepresents the means for launching a productive, enjoyable, and satisfying career as a youngprofessional. Accordingly, the next match made will be my college choice…from Aruba, to Connecticut,and on to College, and along the way, never forgetting who I am, how and where it all began! 84

Next Stop September 6, 2011: I watched the doors slowly close behind me as I scrambled to find a seaton the train. I paused for a moment, wondering if I could pull the alarm bell and get the conductor tostop the train and let me out. Here I was, thirteen years old, on my way to my first day of class atLauralton Hall, 24 miles from home. Most kids my age were taking the bus to school, excited andhaving fun with their friends, while I was taking the train. My parents told me the train would be agreat experience for me, it would be exciting and fun for me too. What I was experiencing wasanything but fun and exciting. They said it was time to grow up. I thought it was time to go to highschool. I knew adults commuted to work, but I didn’t know kids commuted to school, but here I wassitting on the train waiting for my stop. Next stop: Fairfield “Fairfield, please watch the gap when exiting the train. Next is Bridgeport,”the conductor stated over the speaker system in the train. A flood of men and women in suitsstepped aboard the train. I moved my backpack so a women talking on her cell phone could sit nextto me. I tuned her out as I looked out the window and imagined the next four years of my life. Next stop: Bridgeport “Bridgeport, please watch your step when exiting,” the conductor’s voiceboomed through the speakers once again. I glanced out the window and saw things I had neverseen or at least noticed, ramshackle buildings covered in graffiti and garbage lining the streets. Timeflew by as I looked out the window at my new surroundings. I anxiously waited as we traveled closerand closer to my destination. Next stop: Milford “This is Milford, watch the gap please,” the conductor declared as I jumpedout of my seat, grabbed my backpack, and ran off the train. I stepped out of the doors and onto theplatform and this began my journey to my new school, my second home, for the next four years—Lauralton Hall. Three years later, in looking back to those early days, I realize how far I’ve come and in manyways. First of all, I’m proud that I have taken this train six hundred times going to school and sixhundred times returning home without missing it once. Every morning, I wake up on a tight schedulewith a sense of urgency to get to the platform on time because the train truly waits for no one. I’velearned to make good use of my time while on the train, studying for tests, doing next week’shomework, and preparing for the day ahead. I have had to adopt this level of discipline andresponsibility on my own. To make it work day in and day out, I’ve had to own it. I have spent three years commuting to my own job—school. Sure, I could have quit, and decidedto attend my local high school with my neighborhood friends, but no, in the face of the challenge, Ihave persevered and continued. Every time I step on the train I am reminded of that first day and mythought of pulling the alarm bell, but I have adapted and am much the better for it. Only two hundredmore roundtrips to go. 85

When I look to my college days ahead, I am a well-seasoned traveler, prepared and determinedto see it through. I am ready to embrace the challenges, adapt to the new environment, andcontribute to the college community. I‘m excited for the opportunity to expand my own perspectiveswhile in college and I hope to contribute the same to my new group of students and educators. I lookforward to my next commute of walking to class on a college campus. Next stop: college. 86

A Call to Service As summer 2013 was approaching, mom called me into her office. “Dana,” she said with a serious tone, “What would you rather do this summer: go on a family vacation, or plan your own trip?” The words had barely finished escaping her lips before I responded ecstatically saying, “My own trip!” A few months later, I boarded a flight alone to Costa Rica heading there on a two-week Spanish- Immersion service trip. During my time in Costa Rica, I met dozens of disadvantaged, impoverished children, withwhom I had the good fortune to interact with on some level of engagement and communication.Before I really knew what was happening and the meaning of it all, I found great satisfaction andgenuine happiness in helping them through their day by creating some joy in their life, some addedsmiles to their day. The generated delight came from giving them piggy-back rides, to butcheringsentences in Spanish causing them to laugh hysterically, to sitting quietly and sharing some storieswith them. Although it was fun, it soon took a meaningful path for me. Upon my return home, I thought a lot more about my trip and came to realize that perhaps Ihave a higher calling in life. I am meant to aid those in need in delivering kindness and compassion,doing so with a friendly smile, a warm greeting, and genuine caring. Since then, I have participatedin several service-related projects for disadvantaged groups, from the homeless in Philadelphia, tothe unemployed in Spain, to the hungry people right here in my home town of Cheshire. I feel that Ihave a unique ability to make a person smile, when they are lacking a reason to otherwise. And Ilove it! When I look ahead to college and in anticipation of my experience, I plan to continue exploringnew ways to provide service to needy people in this country and around the world. I would like toutilize my college studies to expand my knowledge and ability for working in an internationalbusiness or human relations environment. This is my passion. This is my call to service. 87

Turning Goodbye’s into Hello’s After moving halfway across the world from South Africa to the United States, my family and Iwere finally adjusting to a new life. We had a home, I had finally established myself in a friend group,and things were stable for once. Yet right when I had settled down, it was time to pick up and moveagain. Devastated, I said goodbye to the new friends I had finally grown close to, and realized I wouldhave to start all over again. It felt like a never-ending cycle. Despite the closeness of Westport andWilton, the move felt like another trip across the world. I longed to stop being the “new kid.” I longedto have a friend group like every other child my age. The thought of not fitting in overwhelmed me. My first day of school approached faster than I had hoped, and I clung onto my father’s armas I walked down the hallways of the unfamiliar school. Children rushed around with friends by theirside, and I immediately felt isolated. Everyone already knew each other, and had experienced half aschool year with each other. Panic took over me. When my father and I reached my classroom Irealized it was time to part ways with him, and enter this room full of strangers, completely alone.Bursting into tears, I held onto him, begging not to go in. Not only was I distraught about having totake on a whole new school, but also I was overcome with anger. It seemed unfair that I had to dothis. I had not chosen to move, and it was entirely out of my control. There are moments in life that stay with a person forever, and the day outside my classroomis one of them. With tears swelled up in my eyes, my father began to walk away, knowing that he hadto force me in there. Suddenly, a young girl from my classroom came outside and hugged me. Mycrying ceased, and she took me into the classroom to join the others. From that day on she was mybest friend. Although that hug seemed like a simple action to her, no one will understand what itmeant to me. Had she not befriended me that day, my memories of that day could be far different. Ihave learned to value friendship, and have sensitivity to those that lack friendship in their lives.Having been on the side of the new kid numerous times, I am aware of the uncertainty, the fear, andthe sadness it brings. Goodbyes are never easy, but after experiencing it many times now, I knowthat there are always hellos. Although moving felt like the end of the world it ultimately worked out forthe best. As I plan for college, I realize that some of the greatest fears my fellow students have, I don’thave. They fear saying “goodbye” to the friendly confines of their home, school, and community. Iwelcome in all the new “hello’s” that lie ahead during my college journey. It’s a wonderful, exciting,and empowering feeling to know I can head out into the unknown world with confidence in my abilityto blend in with other’s doing the same thing. For college success, it is vital to get outside the comfortzone of familiarity and to embrace the challenges of meeting others and building new friendships. Indoing so, I am able to leverage my abilities into a better school experience and improved options as Imove towards my young adult life thereafter. I will once again turn goodbyes into hellos. This timearound, however, I plan to be the one helping others do the same. Hello to college, here I come! 88

Climbing the Mountain The date was March 26th, 2013; coach posted the list and as I read down it, I couldn’t find myname on the roster. I had been cut from the school baseball team. Although in completeastonishment and dismay, I continued through the day trying to hide my disappointment. Uponarriving home, I had to face the reality of the situation. Despite training hard during the off-season, Ihadn’t created the advantage I needed to make the team. I soon realized that it takes an enormousamount of work, determination, and preparation to make dreams come true. I learned that you don’t always get what you think you deserve, rather you get what you earn. Isaw that life's successes are not designed to be easy and no one guarantees fairness. It’s up to us toseize the opportunity, embrace the challenge, adapt to the situation, and create our own advantage.As Randy Paush, said in The Last Lecture, \"Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove howbadly we want things.\" They help us determine how hard we are willing to work to reach a particulargoal. Then I saw the connection and discovered that the adage \"when one door closes anotheropens\". Case in point: Electronics have fascinated me since I was a child. Freshman year, my friendasked me to help create a computer gaming forum. At first, we made one from an online template.We soon realized that we needed to know coding to advance the project. Through hard work, self-study, and great determination, I learned how to create different types of websites. During my junioryear I joined a group that was developing another forum, and applied HTML and CSS languages tocreate structure and improve the site's design. By learning and adding PHP and JavaScript, theforum's functionality was substantially enhanced. It soon became my obsession and internalcompetition to keep our forum moving ahead, up the mountain. The satisfaction of working on thisproject delivered a sense of accomplishment, as I see continuous improvement to the site. Thereward in making something that can be of benefit or enjoyment to others is an awesome feeling. Iam motivated to climb higher, learn more, and develop the site further. Computer coding is now a fixture in my life. When I look ahead to college, my plan is to study acombination of computer science, technology, and business to broaden my knowledge andperspective in the world of software and application design. I see what it takes to succeed in thisfiercely competitive business. I have to work harder, prepare more, and perform better than others ona daily basis. It’s a big mountain to climb, but that makes me push myself even harder and leave theeasier trails to others. I am forging ahead and establishing a career opportunity in doing so. And bythe way, I’ve made the high school baseball team ever since. 89

Creating the Complete Balance It was a blistery, cold morning, January 5th 2013. When I awoke to get ready for the LeadershipConference I was attending that day, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was one of only a few studentschosen to attend from the local high schools. The event began promptly with three speakerspresenting, each of whom was victimized horribly in premeditated acts of violence. The incredible thingwas the ability they showed to rise above their situation, forgive their attackers and move aheaddelivering inspiration to others. By the end of the day, the speakers challenged us students to delivertheir message of forgiveness and empathy to our student body. The message was clear for me. Iwanted to become an advocate, a leader, and a positive influence in other people’s lives. I quicklyrealized the best opportunity for me to achieve this was to become president of the leadership class asa way to apply the skills I had gained to inspire others. Three hundred fifty students applied; fifty were accepted; the announcement came; I was theone chosen to lead the class as president. It was intimidating at first, but then I realized I have theright character for the job. For starters, I knew I had respect for others. I can take on responsibility andbe disciplined in my approach. I knew it would take determination and perseverance. As President of my Leadership Class, I find myself developing these character traits in myeveryday life. In addition to leading and guiding the school through many activities, events, andfundraisers in the community and high school, my goal is to make a difference. I am determined to bea positive role model by bringing out the best in people and helping them find their own leadershipqualities within. I realize I can achieve anything I set out to do. I made it my mission to contribute to myschool in this special way. In return, I am gaining new friendships and building existing ones. I have found the perfect balance to my life that incorporates my personal interests in academics,athletics, family and social life along with making contributions to my community. I realize I enjoyrunning fundraising events and volunteering because it comes from my heart and I can directly affectthose less fortunate, something I find very rewarding. I truly cherish and believe in my family andfriends, respect my elders, and enjoy making people feel good about themselves. On top of all, I havea fun loving quality in me and plan on enjoying life with expectations of hard work along the way. In looking ahead to college, I feel I have the fundamental skills to achieve success, to make acontribution, and to become a leader. I am eager to continue and expand my horizons. I’m confident inmy ability to handle new challenges college will bring. I have prepared for college and will embrace theexperience knowing I have the right values and traits to have a successful college career. I lookforward to creating the complete balance in my college life as I have done in high school. 90

The Next Big Mountain: It was my mom’s 50th birthday and the entire family decided to headup to New Hampshire to climb Mt. Avalon. This included my mom and dad, my 80 year old grandma,and my uncle. I was 11 years old at the time and really would have preferred to stay home. We werenot the most adventurous as a family but everyone agreed that it would be a good experience. Dad’sdependable nature gave us all assurance that he planned out a good trip for us to enjoy. The ride there seemed endless, although only a few hours. After all, I was the only kid in the carand the conversation did not include me. I was left to looking out the window in a thoughtful daze. Weseemed to pass the same hills and trees over and over. Today, I recognize the beauty of it all, but notthen, they were just trees and hills. As an only child, I often thought about how much more fun it wouldbe to have a sibling. During the ride, I found myself dreaming of the fun times we would have togetherif I were to have brothers or sisters. We finally arrived and checked in to a comfortable lodge where we planned to stay for the nextfew days. Packed inside a room again with mom and dad, grandma, uncle, and no friends in site, I justwanted to get outdoors. So it was with a sense of relief and anticipation when early the next day wepacked up lunch, snacks and extra clothing and headed off to the mountain. The climb was exhilarating and the time was flying by. Although the trail at times was very steep,it seemed like we were skyrocketing up the mountain. My grandma, a determined 80 year old, raced upthe hill with an unbroken focus only matched by high school students taking the SAT’s. She wasaccompanied by the most unselfish person I’ve ever met; my uncle who would put my grandma on hisback if it meant getting her to the top. About halfway through the climb, the inevitable wall of exhaustionhit, but thanks to my mother’s positive attitude, the entire family was encouraged to keep going. When I made it to the summit, I looked around and saw my family with me, and at that moment, Irealized I had the perfect family, siblings or not. We climbed the mountain and made it to the top alltogether. My family was the best it could be. We are the Chadington’s and this is who we are. Since then, I have come to realize that I am defined by what I do and the decisions I make; whoI am and my personal traits; where I came from and my cultural upbringing; and who I associate with,my family, friends, and classmates. I am considered to be dependable like my dad, never being late toa practice or to dinner! I am considered to be determined like my grandma, willing to outwork anyoneto reach my goals. I am considered to be unselfish like my uncle, taking opportunities that arise to helpout the school and the community. And I remain a positive figure in life, just like my mom, trying to begrateful for every moment that I have and being a good influence on others to be the same. These are my most powerful traits and they all combined to help me get to the top of Mt.Avalon. Now, as I look ahead to the next big mountain to climb, that being college, I have theconfidence to know that I can tackle life’s greatest challenges. I can depend on my work ethic,determination, unselfish behaviors, and positive attitude to be a successful student and athlete in mycollege life that lies just ahead. 91

You Can Count On Me It was a beautiful night, middle of summer, the stars shining, the ball field lights lit, fans all around,with a buzz in the stands; tie game, bottom of the 7th, winning run on 3rd base, two outs, and thepitch on its way. At the crack of the bat, I knew the hitter made good contact sending the ball soaring inmy direction. Swiftly, I picked up on the flight of the ball, sprinted back to the wall, and in the nick of time,I reached up, grabbed the ball, and secured it tight in my mitt much to the delight of my teammates. Although I have done that hundreds of times in practice, the game situation is much different. Inpractice, I get dozens of balls. In that game, with two hours gone by, it was the only ball hit my way. Yousee, in baseball, an outfielder can wait the entire game for a single ball to come their way. But when itcomes, the outfielder must be ready to make the play. A miss-step here, or a moment's hesitation there,the play is not made and the game is lost. That's the way it goes. I know baseball is not for everybody. Itrequires endless amounts of preparation, patience, will and desire to sacrifice your own statistics for thebenefit of the team. It takes hours of practice to be able to make that play when the game is on the line. Butfor me, when I’m on a baseball field, I feel perfectly content and without worry; hit me the ball, I'll catch itevery time! Not because I'm the best player, actually far from it, but I am considered the best preparedplayer. I know what has to be done in order to achieve success. As a player I know where I have to bementally and physically in order to give it my best effort on every pitch, whether it's hit to me or not. I cometo the field prepared for the game and ready to play, embracing the unknown challenge that lies ahead. Through baseball, I have learned the benefits of preparation, organization, and focus. I cannow apply this in all aspects of my everyday life. I realize that a clear focus comes from being prepared andwell organized. I combine my keen sense of observation to be able to make good decisions, swiftly and withconfidence. I rely on my work ethic to execute the proper play, be it on the ball field, in the classroom, orwhen out with my friends. Just like that moment when the game was on the line and the ball was hit myway, there was no room for doubt nor room for error. I relied on my training to \"make the play\" in thespotlight of the moment. In baseball, a successful outcome is achieved when you string together a whole lotof plays, each made in their rightful moment. A player gets only a few chances each game to affect theoutcome and needs to be relied upon to make the play for a team to win. I love to be that player. When I contemplate my college future, I realize the window of opportunity for success is also small.I know many friends and neighbors that have gone off to college and not achieved to their full potential,missing their opportunities. I hear stories of sleeping in late, missing classes, and not getting the homeworkdone. Those people don't understand the opportunity college affords. But I do. I am going to approachcollege with the same level of organization and preparation, focus and determination, observation andwork-ethic that I bring to the baseball field every day. Accordingly, I am comfortable and confident that Iwill meet the challenges of college. My friends, my teammates, and my family count on me every day tomake the \"right play\", and they can without worry or hesitation, for they know that I'm ready for the game. 92

The Common ApplicationThe Common Application is now the most used form for submitting applications. It is widelyaccepted at most private colleges while not yet accepted at most state universities. For thecolleges where it is accepted, the Common App takes the place of the college application.Thereby making it much easier on the student to submit multiple applications.Typically, families and students wait until they feel ready to submit applications before going onthe Common Application website and filling it out. They then tend to rush through the on-lineapplication, making a few mistakes along the way or omitting important information. We don’t dothat. Rather, we recommend filling out the Common Application in its entirety in August, prior tothe beginning of senior year, it’s the logical approach. You can add in your list of collegesafterwards as you decide which colleges for which you want to submit an application. The link isnormally live on August 1st. Here is the link to create your account and log-in: https://www.commonapp.org/LoginOnce logged in, you will see four tabs- Dashboard, My Colleges, Common App, and College Search Dashboard- is the place to list colleges and will serve to show the status for completion of the application, along with supplemental questions that may be required of the college. My Colleges- is the place where important information and requirements are found for each college regarding the application, due dates, fees; includes contact data for the college; and is where you will submit the application to the specific colleges you choose, sign and send. Common App- this is the main section where all the student information is entered, including detailed personal information for each family member, specific high school classes, the application essay, and for those who have a Personal Statement, there is a place to add that as well. College Search- is the place where you type in the colleges for which you want to have added to the application, they will then transfer and populate into the Dashboard. 93

Within the Common App tab, the specific categories of information is listed on the left as shown below. My suggestion is you start at the beginning, in the first section- Profile, and you’re your way through it to completion before you begin the next section. If any part of the required information is left blank, you will not be able to submit the application. Close attention to detail is necessary. This is not a time to rush through it. Common Application Profile- this is the section information on the student is added Family- this is the section information on the parents and siblings is added Education- this is the section information regarding your high school and courses is added Testing- this is the section intentions for taking SAT’s, ACT’s, SAT II’s is recorded Activities- this is the section information regarding personal activities is added, you can record up to ten activities Writing- this is the section where the application Essay and Personal Statement is added Before you begin the application, be sure you have a complete transcript of your high school classes with you, along with the contact information (name, email, phone #) of your guidance counselor. Remember, not all colleges accept the Common App. If you enter the college name in the College Search tab and no results are found, then it means that college does not accept the Common App and you will have to fill out their college specific application from their website.The 3 most common mistakes made in the common application 1. Under the tab \"Common Application/ Writing\", there is a section called \"Additional Information\", found right after Personal Essay and Disciplinary History. Most students leave this blank, which is a big mistake. This is your opportunity to express something interesting or unique about yourself that the admissions office can't find elsewhere in the application. It is a great place to enter your Personal Statement. 94

2. Once you enter your list of colleges into the Dashboard, it will show which colleges require supplemental questions, found under the column called \"Writing Supplement\". Many students don't take these questions seriously, which is a big mistake. College counselors can tell right away if you gave these questions substantial thought and time to prepare a good response. This can be the deciding factor in your admissions decision! 3. Under the tab \"Common Application\", there is a section called \"Activities\" that allows you to list up to ten outside-of-the-classroom activities. This is your opportunity to share with the admissions office things that you do. Many students only fill in 3-4 activities, which is a mistake. It's important to think hard to identify activities that you have participated in throughout your high school career and share them with the admissions office.You create your own advantage for winning admission acceptances by having a complete and thorough application, seems logical. You have full control over this. Wait until later to fill it out and you will likely rush through it, get frustrated by parts of it, and miss out on key items of information. Fill out the application in August when you have time and patience, and you will be much happier with the results, I guarantee it! 95

3. Winning Time Submitting Applications Now it’s time to win the game. While most rising high school seniors are enjoying their summer before senior year and not preparing for the college application process, our students are getting ahead in the process with proper planning and understanding of the timeline. Here is how we do it. Student-positioning: When a college receives a student’s application, the student is compared to all other applicants and “positioned”, aka ranked, according to their criteria for acceptance, typically relating to GPA, SAT or ACT scores. Where you are ranked relative to the range of scores for other applicants will largely determine the likelihood for acceptance and the dollar amount of your scholarship award. If receiving a scholarship is important to you, then so too is having a student- positioning strategy. Other factors influencing or shifting your position in admissions includes: - Rigor of classes - High school class rank - Interview - Essay - Personal Statement - Outside recommendations Have a plan and a strategy: For the benefit of creating quality options and a range of scholarship offers, the plan is to submit 8 – 12 early applications, around mid-October. The strategy is to target schools based on matching the student academic record to the admission standard for each college acceptance, blending in a mix of reach schools and safety schools. The goal is to wake up on New Year’s Day with 4 – 6 acceptances secured, thereby having quality options to further evaluate for college opportunity before making the final choice. We get a range of scholarship awards based on the positioning of the student at each college for which an application was submitted. We like to be evaluating scholarship awards while others are still contemplating applications. And for this, the whole family will feel much relieved. As mentioned, the plan is to have the first round of applications submitted around mid-October of the senior year, no later than the 31st. This will be ahead of all “Early Action” deadlines, and even if the college does not offer “Early Action”, this still gets the applications in for early consideration and notification. 96

Make sure all components to the application are ready to go by October 1st, to include: College Essay- this can be done easily during the summer months with a few hours of conscious thought along with a few hours of writing, review, edits, and modifications. Common Application- this can be mostly completed by September 1st and will serve to avoid the hectic start to senior year in doing so. Personal Statement- this can be done long before the summer months and will serve to save you a lot of time in submitting the supplemental questions of the application. Recommendation Letters- these can be requested by the end of junior year to get a jump on it and give the teachers time to get them done over the summer, before the fall rush. For most high schools, the letters are attached to your profile in Naviance and forwarded automatically to colleges for which you submit applications. * Additionally, we suggestion that you get three recommendation letters from people outside the high school, such as a family friend or neighbor who knows you well. Admission counselors value these letters as worthy additions to the application. Interviews- plan for college admission interviews during the summer. Most private colleges provide for interviews, whereas, most state schools do not. Request to meet with an Area Representative as this can serve to be of significant value. Identify the List of Colleges- decide which colleges you want to submit applications. Consider student-positioning in finalizing the list. Remember the plan and strategy for creating quality options. Once decided, add the colleges into the Common Application for those who accept it. Identify Supplemental Questions- several colleges have supplemental questions required for submitting an application. These questions take time and thought for responding; identify these questions in advance and prepare your responses. 97

Submit Applications- get together as a family and begin submitting applications. If you have everything done, then it only takes 10 minutes per college application on-line. You will have to pay the application fee at this time unless you received a specific waiver of the fee. Send SAT/ ACT scores- once you have submitted the applications for your colleges, it is necessary to send them your test scores. You will be able to send SAT’s from this link- http://sat.collegeboard.org/home, click on the blue button on the right- Send Scores-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Deciding upon how to apply for college can be trickyThere are three primary choices of applications to consider for submitting- - Early Action - Early Decision - Regular AdmissionHere are basic guidelines for choosing which type of application is right for you. Let's see if wecan simplify the application decision here-EA- Early ActionMost private colleges and some state universities offer Early Action applications, typicallyrequired for submitting by November 1st or shortly thereafter. You can submit them to as manyschools as you would like. They are non-binding. They are considered for acceptance ahead ofthe Regular Admission applicants, and most often result in an acceptance decision by the NewYear or early in January.Early Action applications typically infer a greater level of interest by the applicant, along with anorganized, prepared, and focused approach of the student.Early Action applicants typically receive preferred consideration for acceptances andscholarships, and even more so for those applicants of whom are known well by the college.When offered by the college, Early Action is by far my preferred choice for the application,particularly when a scholarship is important. 98

ED- Early Decision Many colleges offer Early Decision applications, typically required for submitting by mid- November. You can only submit one ED application. Colleges require an agreement to be signed by both the applicant and their school counselor. An acceptance decision comes sooner and is considered binding. Early Decision applicants typically infer a far greater level of interest due to its binding status. The agreement may prohibit you from submitting EA applications to other schools. The agreement may require you to withdraw all outstanding applications upon acceptance. Submitting ED may compromise your merit scholarship award, but will unlikely affect financial aid awards. With the binding nature of ED, it is unlikely that an ED application will work well for families in need of financial awards. Most colleges offering ED applications also require the CSS Profile to be submitted along with the application. This could infer that affordability to pay might enter into the equation and affect the decision for acceptance, but that’s pure conjecture. Most colleges will allow you to opt out of the agreement if a suitable financial award package is not offered and the college remains unaffordable. However, you may have compromised acceptances elsewhere by the time this determination is made. RA- Regular Admission All colleges offer Regular Admission applications, typically required for submitting by February 1. Some colleges will batch process these applications and announce their decision on a set date. Some of the colleges offer Rolling Admissions, which is similar in nature but they process applications as they are submitted complete. To the college admissions counselor, Regular Admission applicants are inferred to have less interest. Most often these applicants remain unknown to the college. Acceptance rates and merit awards could be compromised by this approach. The conversion rate of acceptance to enrollment is typically less than for Early Action applicants.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 99