COLLEGE RESOURCES
In
The News, How To . . ., College Programs, Special Offers, Testing Information
and Websites, College and Career Planning Guide, College Research Websites
Week of 10/22/07
(New
postings for the week are in RED)
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Web
Resources for Researching Colleges |
HINTS FOR
SENIORS
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FROM TEACHERS
Many
colleges ask you to supplement your application with letters of recommendation.
Choose one teacher to do all your recommendations unless more are necessary. It is your responsibility to determine what
letters, if any, are required. Colleges
may specify that recommendations come from:
Ø Teachers in academic
subjects who can speak to your academic strengths.
Ø Coaches and teachers who can
attest to your athletic or artistic talent.
Ø Counselors who can address
your personal strengths, accomplishments, and special circumstances which might
impact on an admissions decision; or others, such as club sponsors, religious
leaders or employers who can give evidence of your character and leadership
ability.
You should choose a person who knows you well enough
to write a letter of recommendation that will cite your strengths and
abilities. Allow the person sufficient
time to write a thoughtful letter. It is
helpful to share your resume in order to provide background information about
you. If the
letter is to be mailed directly to the college, provide
a stamped addressed envelope. It
is appropriate to send a thank you note to anyone writing a letter of
recommendation.
Teacher recommendation request forms are available
in the Guidance Office.
DEADLINES
**Counselor Data Packet**
**Teacher Letters of Recommendation **
**Counselors must
have your completed packet by these deadlines.
**Teachers must
have your request for recommendations by these deadlines.
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Application Deadline for College |
Deadline to Return Completed Packet to
Counselor Deadline to Request Recommendations from
Teachers |
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November 1, 2007 |
October 1, 2007 |
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November 15, 2007 |
October 15, 2007 |
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December 1, 2007 |
November 1, 2007 |
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December 15, 2007 |
November 15, 2007 |
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January 1 or 2, 2008 |
December 3, 2007 |
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January 15, 2008 |
December 14, 2007 |
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February 1, 2008 |
January 2, 2008 |
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February 15, 2008 |
January 15, 2008 |
COLLEGE PROGRAMS – ON AND OFF CAMPUS
2007-2008
Updated for week of 10/22/2007
Be sure to go online to the
colleges you are interested in for more information about on-campus visits.
BSA
Architecture and
Cornell
University Field Trip, 11/11-11/12; if you are a first time visitor to Cornell, please come to
the
Virginia
Military Institute Reception, 11/15, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Fairview Park Marriott; On Campus
Open House Schedule 11/2-3, 12/7-8, 2/15-16, 3/7-8, 4/18-19, RSVP www.ImagineVMI.com
Virginia
Tech Open House, 11/3, 11/4; register
at www.admiss.vt.edu/open_house/
TEST INFORMATION FOR MHS 2007-2008
New registration dates will be added as soon as they are published
Remember, if you
are registering on line, do so early so you can avoid being sent far away to
take the test.
ACT PLAN and PSAT October 17, 2007 at
The ACT is given at
several other FCPS high schools as well as at
Information and Registration: www.actstudent.org
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DEADLINE FOR REGULAR REGISTRATION |
DEADLINE FOR LATE REGISTRATION |
WHERE IS THE TEST GIVEN? |
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December 8 |
11/2 |
11/15 |
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February 9 |
1/4 |
1/18 |
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April 12 |
3/7 |
3/21 |
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June 14 |
5/9 |
5/23 |
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SAT
and SUBJECT TESTS Information and Registration: www.collegeboard.com
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TEST DATES
07-08 |
DEADLINE FOR REGULAR REGISTRATION |
DEADLINE FOR LATE REGISTRATION |
WHERE IS THE TEST GIVEN? |
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December 1 |
10/30 |
11/8 |
Other FCPS high schools |
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January 26 |
12/26 |
1/4 |
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March 1 (SAT Reasoning only) |
1/29 |
2/7 |
Other FCPS high schools |
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May 3 |
4/1 |
4/10 |
Other FCPS high schools |
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June 7 |
5/6 |
5/15 |
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CONCORDANCE TABLE Comparison table of
ACT and SAT test results.
http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/satACT_concordance.pdf
TOEFL Information and Registration: www.ets.org/toefl
The website allows
test takers to download the Bulletins
(including registration forms), register online, get the most up-to-date list
of test centers and test dates, find institution codes for sending scores,
access test preparation materials and services and find answers to frequently
asked questions.
TESTING INFORMATION
FOR JUNIORS Now
that the writing test has become a reality for both the ACT and SAT, it is
important to know that there are clear differences between the two. The ACT offers an optional Writing Test that is only taken if a
student intends to apply to a college requiring it. With the SAT, it is mandatory – always. What
should juniors be advised to do? Go to www.actstudent.org
and click on “Writing Test Option.”
To view a college’s decision about the writing portion, click on “What
Colleges Have Decided About the Writing Test.” It is also important to know
that the only colleges which do not accept the ACT that MHS knows about is
Fairfax
County Public Schools offers SAT preparation and
other enrichment courses for secondary school students at several area schools
(including
How’s
Your Penmanship? If you’re
going to practice writing essays for the ACT or the SAT, do not practice on the
computer. You will be hand writing the
essays. If you practice on the computer,
you will not get an accurate idea of timing.
It will probably take you longer to hand write the essay than it would
if it were done on the computer as most people type faster than they can write.
Before Test Day:
Make
sure you have the correct writing implements – pencils, pens, eraser.
Have
your ID and admission ticket.
Bring
snacks with you if necessary.
Be
well-rested and ready to go.
Make
sure your test center is open during the inclement weather season. Tune in to
Plan
ahead to arrive to test center on time.
On Test Day:
Give
yourself plenty of time to get to the test center.
Be
sure you’re going to the correct test center.
Pace
yourself.
WEBSITES FOR
COLLEGE TESTING
ACT www.act.student.org Registration and
information about the ACT; an online course for $19.95 at www.actstudent.org/onlineprep/index.html
College Board www.collegeboard.com Registration and information about the PSAT,
SAT and Advanced Placement exams; SAT preparation for $69.95
Fairfax County Public
Schools SAT Test Prep
- http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/OACE/prek12/prek12-secondary.html
FairTest http://www.fairtest.org/univers.htm
Number2.com www.number2.com is a site that offers a
comprehensive, free course.
COLLEGE AND CAREER
PLANNING GUIDE Resources
for All Grade Levels
www.fcps.edu/McLeanHS
www.fcps.edu/ss/CareerConnections
www.careercruising.com User Name:
Freshman Year:
- Talk with your
parents, teachers and friends about your likes and dislikes and your
personal characteristics
- Go to the
resources listed above learn about yourself and occupations as well as
colleges and majors
- Discuss
careers and course planning when you meet with your counselor in the fall
- Review
requirements for certain careers/colleges/career & technical schools
or the military
- Visit the
- Become
involved in school and community organizations
- Discuss job
information with people who are currently in a field which is of interest
to you
- Talk with
college students who are currently taking courses in a field which is of
interest to you
- Consider
career goals or interests in selecting classes in the spring
- Start a listing (resume) of all
activities, honors and awards, grades 9-end of high school. Use your home
computer to start a resume in a Word document. Nothing is too
insignificant.
Sophomore Year:
- Review
previous plans. Continue activities
begun in your freshman year or find ones to do over the next three years
- Explore career
and education options using resources mentioned above and visit the
- Ask your counselor
to review school records and test data
- Take the PSAT
and/or certain SAT Subject Tests if appropriate
- Go to the
website listed above learn about yourself and occupations as well as
colleges and majors
- Consider
career goals/interests in selecting classes in the spring
- Add to your resume
Junior Year:
- If you are
interested, acquire part-time volunteer or job experience related to
career plans or area of interest
- Take the PSAT
in the fall and college entrance exams (ACT, SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject,
TOEFL) in the spring
- Identify
appropriate college majors as they relate to possible career goals
- Consider
career goals/interests as you select classes in the spring
- Attend college
information programs in the
- Go to the
websites listed above to
explore your career path and search for majors
- Visit the
- Add to your resume
- Start
researching scholarship opportunities at www.fcps.edu/ss/CareerConnections
and the
Senior Year:
- Complete your
resume using the format in the MHS College Handbook or another of your
choice
- Meet with your
counselor to complete college application process
- Attend college
information programs in the
- Take necessary
entrance exams: ACT, SAT Reasoning,
SAT Subject, TOEFL
- Identify
career/college choices; use websites noted above
- Complete forms
for computerized needs analysis for financial aid and scholarships
- KEEP GRADES UP – admission
is contingent upon successful completion of your senior year
- Apply for
employment, college (2 or 4 yr.), career/technical school; join the military, start a business,
take a year off
WEB
SITES FOR COLLEGE RESEARCH
2007 Colleges, College Scholarships, and Financial Aid page www.college-scholarships.com
- designed to offer college bound
students, parents, and counselors easy access to information on:
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Free college scholarship and financial aid searches. |
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SAT and ACT test preparation tips, and more. |
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Colleges
and universities throughout the |
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Career
schools, vocational schools, technical schools, career colleges, vocational colleges, and
technical colleges |
A2ZColleges.Com http://a2zcolleges.com Search for colleges
by majors, states, find college addresses and phone numbers.
The American
Association of Community Colleges http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/AboutCommunityColleges/CommunityCollegeFinder1/Community_College_Finder.htm
- locate community colleges around the
country.
Art Schools http://artsschools.com – locate Art schools,
art degrees, art history schools and art history degrees.
The British Council
http://www.britishcouncil.org/usa Do you want to
study in the
California Colleges
http://www.californiacolleges.edu
–
allows students to obtain information about higher education opportunities in
Career Connections www.fcps.edu/ss/CareerConnections
- Fairfax
County Public Schools provides a variety of resources for students and their
families to assist with career and post high school planning. Some of these are web based software programs
that require school-specific logins and school IDs. Others are free web sites.
Career Cruising www.careercruising.com - research colleges and careers. Spanish
version available on the site. Come
to
Career
and Technical Education Programs in
The
Center for Student
The College Board www.collegeboard.com – search for
colleges, register for SATs, plan for college, find a college, apply to
college, pay for college
The College Board
Information about AP credit and placement policies www.collegeboard.com/ap/cfreditpolicy
College
Confidential http://www.collegeconfidential.com/
-
search for colleges, take part in discussion forums, ask questions of deans, find
out about college life, financial aid and planning.
The College Finder http://www.college-finder.info/ - search for colleges matching your career.
Colleges for
Students with Learning Disabilities http://www.college-scholarships.com/learning_disabilities.htm
The
colleges listed have specific programs for students with learning disabilities.
College Match www.collegedata.com– choose, prepare,
apply and pay for college with advice and tools from CollegeData. Get college admission help and search for
colleges and scholarships. Search for colleges by Making Your Match; calculate
your admissions chances; find money for college.
CollegeNET http://www.collegenet.com/ - search for colleges, review, compare and
sort.
College Prowler www.collegeprowler.com – individual guides
for colleges and universities which take what current students say about their
schools, free college counseling, scholarships.
Colleges That
Change Lives
www.ctcl.com – recognizes 40
special colleges and universities where enrollment ranges from 300 to 3000
students
College and
University Home Pages
http://www.mit.edu:8001/people/cdemello/univ.html
Alphabetical
listing of colleges and universities.
College View http://www.collegeview.com/ - search for colleges
including Christian and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, learn
about financial aid, careers, majors.
The Common Application
www.commonapp.org – The Common
Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member
institutions by providing an admission application – online and in print – that
students may submit to any of their nearly 300 members.
Conservatories and
Music Careers http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/787
A
series of essays discussing the relationship of conservatory music education
and careers in music. Presented by the Peabody Conservatory.
Culinary Schools http://www.allculinaryschools.com Your guide to
education and careers in the culinary arts.
Double Degree in
Music http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/692 Information about double majoring in
music and something else by the admissions dean at Peabody Conservatory.
The Eco League http://www.ecoleague.org/is the only college consortium in the
The Education
Conservancy http://www.educationconservancy.org
The Education Conservancy was established in March,
2004. The Education Conservancy (EC) is a non-profit organization committed to
improving college admission processes for students, colleges and high schools.
Check out “We Admit . . . Guidance from Those Who Do.” The link is on the bottom right of the home
page.
FairTest www.fairtest.org (click on University
Testing) –
International
Students The Overseas Association for College
Admissions Counseling
http://www.oacac.com maintains a list of American colleges and universities with
Financial Aid for international undergraduates.
Click on Links and scroll to Immigration, Visa and Financial Aid Issues
to find the 2005-2007 list.
Knowledge for
College
– www.CollegeAnswer.com –
site for students which features a free scholarship search, e-newsletters which
highlight monthly events, planning and paying for college advice from students
like you, enter to win a monthly $1000 scholarship.
My College Guide http://www.mycollegeguide.org/ - read
about colleges, do a search, ask questions of the “admissions guru.”
MyMajors.com http://www.mymajors.com Have you decided that you
want to go to college, but don't know what you want to major in? If you aren't
sure, MyMajors.com can provide useful advice on college and university majors
that a high school senior or first year college student with your interests and
achievements might do well in. (Editor’s Note: Colleges
suggested are limited to those institutions which have contracted with MyMajor.com
and does not represent all college
options.)
Next Step Magazine http://www.nextstepmagazine.com/nsmpages/home.aspx
-
includes interactive tools to help students through the college-planning
process, scholarships, college match.
Peace Corps Feeder Colleges This page lists the colleges which send the most students, both
undergraduate and graduate to the Peace Corps.
Petersons Guides www.petersons.com – includes
information on getting started in the admissions process, finding a college,
preparing for tests, paying for college
Student Farms in Higher Education
http://www.newfarm.org/features/0104/studentfarms/directory.shtml
Universities and
Colleges in
Virginia Domicile http://www.schev.edu/Students/VAdomicile.asp
How
to qualify for in-state tuition in
Work Colleges http://www.workcolleges.org/wcc.htm
On
each campus, there has been a historical recognition of the value of work and
an institutional commitment to promote an understanding of that value among
students through establishment of a work program. These work programs help
students to understand work as a tool for experiential education, as a means of
serving the community, and as a place for integrating academic learning, practical
knowledge, and life lived in the larger community. The colleges blend courses
in liberal learning and applied studies with their own particular vision of the
undergraduate curriculum.
See website: http://www.workcolleges.org/colleges.htm (listing of Work College Consortium schools where students are required to work to help run the school).
THE EDUCATION
CONSERVANCY
WE
ADMIT…GUIDANCE FROM THOSE WHO DO
Applying to college does not have to be overwhelming!
The following principles and guidelines can help
make the college admission process more manageable,
more productive, and more educationally appropriate. This guidance is offered
by the Education Conservancy, a group of admission professionals committed to
calming the commercial frenzy by affirming educational values in college
admission.
Principles
These guiding principles are relevant for parents,
students, counselors and admission deans:
• Education is a process, not a product. Students are
learners, not customers.
• The benefits and predictors of good education are
knowable yet virtually impossible to measure.
• Rankings oversimplify and mislead.
• A student’s intellectual skills and attitude about
learning are more important than what college a
student attends.
• Educational values are best served by admission
practices that are consistent with these values.
• College admission should be part of an educational
process directed toward student autonomy and
intellectual maturity.
• Colleges can be assessed, but not ranked. Students
can be evaluated, but not measured.
• Students’ thoughts, ideas and passions are worthy to
be engaged and handled with utmost care.
Student Guidelines
An admission decision, test score, or GPA is not a
measure of your self-worth. And, most students are
admitted to colleges they want to attend. Knowing
this, we encourage you to:
• Be confident! Take responsibility for your college
admission process. The more you do for yourself,
the better the results will be.
• Be deliberate! Applying to college involves
thoughtful research to determine distinctions among
colleges, as well as careful self-examination to
identify your interests, learning style and other criteria.
Plan to make well-considered applications to the most
suitable colleges. This is often referred to as
“making good matches.”
• Be realistic and trust your instincts! Choosing a
college is an important process, but not a life or death
decision. Since there are limits to what you can know
about colleges and about yourself, you should
allow yourself to do educated guesswork.
• Be open-minded! Resist the notion that there is one
perfect college. Great education happens in
many places.
• Use a variety of resources for gathering
information. Seek advice from those people who know you,
care about you, and are willing to help.
• Be honest; be yourself! Do not try to game the
system.
• Resist taking any standardized test numerous times
(twice is usually sufficient).
• Limit your applications to a well-researched and
reasonable number. No more than six should be
sufficient, except in special cases.
• Know that what you do in college is a better
predictor of future success and happiness than where
you go to college.
Parent Guidelines
An admission decision, test score, or GPA is not a
measure of a student’s worth. And, parents should always be mindful of the
behavior they are modeling for their children. Knowing this, we encourage you
to:
• Recognize that gaining admission to college is
merely one step in a process of education that will
include your student attending a college where she or
he can maximize talents and growth. Emphasize
the education.
• Resist doing for your students what they are capable
of doing for themselves.
• Allow your child to take responsibility for his or
her own part of the college application process. Be
involved in the process, but do not try to control it.
• Resist relying on rankings and college selectivity
to determine the most suitable colleges for your child.
• Realize that researching, selecting, and applying to
colleges does not have to be an expensive process.
• Resist attempts to turn the process into a status
competition. Develop a healthy, educationally based,
and family-appropriate approach to college admissions.
• Consider that gaming the system may not only
diminish your child’s self-confidence, it may also
jeopardize desired admission outcomes.
• Listen to, encourage and believe in your child. Do
not use the term “we” as in “we are applying to….”
• Discuss the idea of education as an ongoing process,
and how selecting a college might be different
from buying a product.
• Love them enough to let them demonstrate the
independence you have instilled in them.
• Keep this process in perspective. Remember that
student skills, self-confidence, curiosity, and desire to
learn are some of the most important ingredients in
quality education and successful college admissions.
Do not sacrifice these by overemphasizing getting into
the “best” college.
THIS GUIDANCE IS OFFERED BY THE FOLLOWING VETERAN
ADMISSION
PROFESSIONALS:
805 SW Broadway,
Phillip
Ballinger,
Michael Beseda,
St. Mary’s
Jennifer Britz,
J. Antonio Cabasco,
Sean Callaway,
Pace University
John Carroll,
Sidonia Dalby,
Doris Davis,
Will Dix,
Bill Fitzsimmons,
Karl Furstenberg,
Marilee Jones,
MIT
Daniel Lundquist,
Brad MacGowan,
Bonnie Marcus,
Paul Marthers,
Robert Massa,
David McDonald,
Tom McWhertor,
Mark Moody,
The
Marty O’Connell,
Colleges That Change Lives
Ted O’Neill,
Bruce Poch,
Jon Reider,
Jeff Rickey,
Mike Sexton,
Lewis and
Bill Shain,
Jim Sumner,
Steven Syverson,
Harold Wingood,
Thirty College Admissions Myths
Beliefs that are not based on
real facts and ideas that are held uncritically become the stuff of myths. There are many that relate to the college
admissions process. We want to describe
the most frequent myths about, yes the mystifying experience of applying to
college and present the actual facts so that you can make a more educated set
of right decisions. Students frequently
apply to the wrong institutions because they take common misinformation as a
statement of truth. Here goes:
- You have to attend an elite college or university in order to
prepare for and get accepted to a major graduate school.
- An Ivy League or other elite degree guarantees contacts and
professional success for the rest of your life; or, without an elite
diploma you will not have a chance for a successful personal and
professional life.
- All colleges have pretty much the same ambiance, character and
values, so it doesn’t matter where you attend in terms of the education
you will receive.
- You hurt your chances for acceptance if you apply for financial
aid to a selective college.
- You have to attend a large university to get exposure to a
broad range of courses and famous professors; or, good teaching and
contact with faculty only takes place in small colleges.
- Colleges and universities really don’t change much over the
years, so your parents’ memory of Old Siwash as a good or bad school is
pretty accurate, and you should decide to apply accordingly.
- The popularity of a college with students in your school or
town is a sure sign of its academic strength and appropriateness for you.
- The recognition a university has because of its nationally
ranked athletic program mean it also has top academic programs.
- Family or friends with connections to a selective college will
ensure your acceptance.
- It is unnecessary and not worth all the trouble and expense
involved to visit college campuses before you decide where to apply.
- You have to apply on the early decision or action plan of a
selective college to have a good or any chance of being accepted; or,
applying early gives you a much better chance for acceptance.
- The more colleges you apply to, the better your chances for
admissions to a top college.
- You have to attend a large university to find a diverse student
body.
- You have to be a well-rounded individual to be accepted by a
selective college; or, you have to have attained world class standing or
recognition to be accepted.
- High test scores on the SAT or ACT are the most important
factor on admission decisions. Your
scores are average so you know a top college could never accept you; or,
very high test scores should guarantee your admission to an elite college.
- Admission committees automatically consider your best
individual test scores, i.e., your highest verbal on one test highest math
on another, or the committees average all of your scores and use the
average to make their decision.
- Interviews are required by all selective colleges and can make
or break your chances for acceptance.
- Admissions committees don’t read all those essays and
recommendations they require from applicants. I don’t need to put a lot of effort and
thought into my responses. They
just want to make me and the other applicants go through a lot of hassle.
- You have to know what you want to major in, in order to apply
to college and to better your chances for acceptance.
- You are the first one in your family to apply to college and
you have no connections to any school.
You are certain this puts you at a disadvantage.
- The colleges that cost the most are automatically the best.
- You are a strong student but you won’t qualify for any
scholarships because your family earns too much.
- Once the financial aid office makes an offer of aid to you, it
won’t change its mind about offering more help if you are to enroll.
- If no one from your high school has applied to or been accepted
to a particular selective college in recent years, then your chances for
admission are pretty low.
- Since you have become so bored in your small suburban or rural
high school, you need to attend the largest or urban-located university
you can find to make sure you have access to an exciting campus and social
life.
- If you have a learning disability or ADD, you should not tell
admissions committees about it, since this will automatically disqualify
you for acceptance.
- Teacher recommendations really don’t matter very much.
- It is always better to get an A grade in a regular high school
course than a B in an Advanced Placement or Honors class.
- It is the really creative of off-the-wall essays that make the
most favorable impression on the admissions officers. The more different your personal
statement, the more they will want to accept you.
- The elite, famous colleges are really for students from rich
families. Therefore, you will not
fit in socially and will not find other students like yourself.
Adapted from: MAKING IT INTO A