Transcript What You Need to Know to Apply to College

What You Need to Know
to Apply to College
A QUICK GUIDE
Mr. Giordano
The SAT
You should take at least two SAT tests.
 You can take as many as you like.
 Don’t wait too long, it is best if you take
the test by November.
 If you are applying to very competitive
schools, check to see if you need to take
SAT subject tests.
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The SAT
If you have to take subject tests, you will most
likely take 2-3. It is best to take one math or
science, one history, and one language. Some
schools may specify requirements.
 To register for both the SAT and subject tests
visit www.collegeboard.com
 To qualify for a fee waiver bring me a 2010 1040
or verification of public assistance or social
security.
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The SAT
If you take the test in October, those scores will be
included on your high school transcript in time for your
college application.
 If you take a test after October, you should add the
schools that you are applying to as score recipients
during the SAT registration. These scores will most likely
not reach your transcript in time for the college
application.
 You can keep sending scores to colleges even after you
have completed the application.
 If you have not done so already for the October test,
everyone should add CUNY UAPC (code:2950) as a score
recipient. To do so, log into your collegeboard account
and click on “send scores.”
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SAT II
If you are applying to a competitive
College you might need to take 2-3 SAT
subject tests.
 To register visit www.collegeboard.com
 Most schools recommend a math and/or a
science and a history or language.
 Visit the schools web site or call the
admissions office to verify this information
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Appointments
I will begin scheduling appointments
shortly.
 I have waited because I want you to be
prepared for the appointment.
 Once you have your initial one-on-one you
will have to wait until I finish meeting with
everyone else.
 BE PREPARED and don’t waste your time.
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What you should bring to your
appointment
Most recent 1040 (2010 tax return)
 Social security number
 Credit card or fee waiver.
 Social security Income verification (if
applicable).
 Unemployment documentation (if
applicable).
 LIST OF TEN PROBABLE COLLEGES!
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The Application as a Process
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Just because you submit an application does not mean
that you can no longer send information to a college.
The application is only the first step in the process.
Once you apply to a school a file is opened. The file
remains open until they receive all of your
documentation. Upon receipt of all required
documentation, the school can render a decision.
Even after a school renders a decision, you can appeal
with updated info. (SAT scores, mid-year grades, etc..)
This process will go on well into January and sometimes
into March. That gives you plenty of time to complete
the application process.
The SUNY Schools
For students with low household incomes who want to
apply for SUNY schools (EOP), you must use the
application found at www.suny.edu.
 During the application you must select that you wish to
apply for EOP.
 If you would like a fee waiver for the SUNY schools you
must fill out a SUNY fee waiver form. This form can be
downloaded online or obtained from my web site. I
need a copy of your parent’s 1040 to sign the fee waiver.
 If you are not applying for EOP, you can use the
commonapp to apply to most SUNYs excluding the
technical schools and community colleges.
 The deadline for most SUNY schools is rolling which
means that the earlier you apply the better.
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The CUNY Schools
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To apply to CUNY you must open a portal account at www.cuny.edu.
Once you open a portal account you will be able to begin the
application.
For $65 you will be able to apply to 6 schools. The schools must be
listed in order, starting with your first choice.
Make sure you select some safety schools.
There will be few, if any, fee waivers for this application.
If you want to complete this application during your meeting with
me, you will need a credit card or $65 money order made out to
CUNY UAPC.
The priority deadline for the CUNY application is February 1st, 2012.
All applications received after that date will be reviewed on a space
available basis. The deadline for the CUNY honors college is
December 1st.
CUNY VISIT TO TAPCo
CUNY will be at TAPCo on Monday,
September 19th at 2:00pm in the Black
Box.
 If you are in College Now you will not be
able to attend. Pick up a CUNY booklet
from me.
 If you are not in College Now you need to
be at this meeting. The representative
will explain the CUNY process and provide
you with valuable information.
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The Commonapp
Most private and public schools will now accept the
commonapp. To access the commonapp visit
www.commonapp.org.
 Once you open up a commonapp account you will be
able to add the schools that you want to apply to. Each
school that you add requires a fee.
 You will also be required to fill out a supplement for each
school. Once you have completed the application and
supplement , you can submit it.
 Under the forms section of the application you will have
to add my name and email address in order for me to
send your transcript. My names is James Giordano and
my email address is [email protected].
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The Commonapp fee waivers
If you received a fee waiver for the SAT, then
you will automatically be eligible for a fee waiver
for up to 5 commonapp schools.
 To apply for a fee waiver you must both select
the collegeboard fee waiver option on the
application and send the school a collegeboard
fee waiver form which can be obtained from me.
 You can also select the NACAC fee waiver option
(easier choice). If you select this option, I will
have to verify that you meet the requirements.
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NACAC FEE Waiver
Students are eligible to use the form if:
 Student has received or is eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing
fee waiver.
 Student is enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or
Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL).
 Student's annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility
Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
 Student is enrolled in a federal, state or local program that aids
student from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as
Upward Bound).
 Student's family receives public assistance
 Student lives in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home or
is homeless.
 Student is a ward of the state or an orphan.
Fee Waivers
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Remember, the fee waiver process for college
applications is much more difficult than for the SAT. I will
need to verify that you meet the requirements for college
application fee waivers. You can qualify for fee waivers
based on the following:
– For the COMMONAPP, you can use VERIFICATION of free or
reduced lunch. Even if you receive free lunch, if you are not on
the Free or Reduced Lunch List, you can not use this method.
– For SUNY, you must meet income requirements as verified by
your parent(s) 2010 tax return. For example, in a household of
three, your household income can not exceed $35,570. SUNY will
verify this information. If you use a fee waiver and do not qualify,
they will revoke your application and make you pay. For a
complete list of income requirements download the SUNY fee
Waiver from my web site www.admissionsandaid.com.
– Verification of public assistance. You automatically qualify for fee
waivers if you receive public assistance.
Fee waiver income guidelines
Other applications
Some schools do not accept the
commonapp.
 For those schools, visit the school’s
website for the online application. It is
usually found under the undergraduate
admissions section of the web site.
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Transcripts
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All SUNY and commonapp schools can receive transcripts
electronically from me. As long as you put my email
address and the name of your high school on the
commonapp I will be able to send a transcript
electronically.
For CUNY schools, if you are currently attending a NYC
DOE high school (YOU ARE), you should have entered
your nine-digit OSIS number in Section 2 of the
Admission Application. This will enable CUNY to retrieve
your transcript electronically*. If you did not enter your
OSIS number, please contact the Help Desk for Students
at [email protected] or call 212-997-CUNY (2869).
For all other schools you must complete a transcript
request form and submit it to me.
Recommendations
If you are required to submit a counselor
recommendation letter, then you must either email me
your resume and a short bio or submit these documents
by completing my online questionnaire at
www.admissionsandaid.com
 Your bio should be informal and should include any
personal facts that I can put into your recommendation.
Let me decide if it is relevant.
 Remember, for the commonapp schools, you must add
my name and email address. Make sure you spell my
name right!
 For teacher recommendations, you must ask the teacher
well in advance of the deadline. I have a form in my
office and on my web site which might make it easier to
request the recommendation.
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Scholarships
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There are many different scholarships.
Some scholarships require an application, while
others do not.
Some schools automatically consider you for a
scholarship, others do not.
Scholarships are very competitive.
If you do not qualify, do not waste your time.
Check my web site and facebook page for
updates.
Scholarship Example
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Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship September 30th, 2011
Xerox is committed to the academic success of all minority students. That’s why they
offer a Technical Minority Scholarship that awards between $1,000 and $10,000 to
qualified minorities enrolled in a technical degree program at the bachelor level or
above. To apply for the Technical Minority Scholarship Program, download the
application form, sample resume and cover letter from the following links:
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Application Form
Sample Cover Letter
Sample Resume
When you’ve completed the form, mail it with your resume and cover letter to:
Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship Program
150 State Street, 4th Floor
Rochester, NY 14614
Visit http://www.xeroxstudentcareers.com/why-xerox/scholarship.aspx for more
information
College Essays
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I have edited most of the personal statements that you
provided to your English teacher last year.
CUNY General Admission does not require essays.
If you would like me to edit your essay, email it to
[email protected]. Be sure to include your
name.
Essays should be PERSONAL. They should set you apart
from other applicants. It is your one opportunity to
share with an admissions person personal events in your
life. Examples are: unusual family situations, family
illness, neighborhood crime/poverty, languages spoken
in house, first generation to college, accomplishments,
etc.
My web site
I continually update my web site and
facebook page with information.
 My web site is
www.admissionsandaid.com.
 There is information about scholarships,
open houses, college fairs, and college
applications.
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Financial Aid
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Financial Aid (FAFSA) will be dealt with in December.
For now, don’t even think about the FAFSA.
Focus on completion of your applications.
Some schools require additional financial information
such as the CSS financial aid profile. The deadline for
this varies, but it can be as early as November.
To find out if your school requires the CSS profile or to
complete the application visit
https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp and
click on list of colleges 2011-2012.
You might also have to complete a non-custodial parent
profile.
NCAA Clearinghouse
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If you are going to play division I or II
athletics in college you need to complete
the NCAA application found at
https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/co
mmon/.
College Fairs
SUNY College Fair, 09/21/2011 at 3:00 pm in
The Javits Center. To register visit
https://www.suny.edu/student/event_listing/
 Big Apple College Fair, Jacob Javits Center
(Manhattan) Entrance on 11th Avenue at 39th
Street, Hall 1A, Saturday, October 22, 2011,
1:00-5:00 PM.
 Bronx Educational Opportunity Center
College Fair. Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
from 10:00am – 2:00pm. 1666 Bathgate Ave.,
Bronx, NY 10457.
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Admissions Deadlines
CUNY General Admission: February 1st.
 CUNY Macaulay Honors College: Dec. 1st.
 Most SUNY Schools: Rolling
 SUNY Binghamton: January 15th.
 Columbia: January 1st.
 NYU: January 1st.
 Most Competitive schools: Jan. 1st – 15th.
 Fordham University: January 15th.
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Other Deadlines
For a full list of deadlines, fees, and
requirements visit
https://www.commonapp.org/commonapp
/MemberRequirements.aspx.
 CSS Profile: Varies per school can be as
early as November 15th
 FAFSA Deadline: Varies per school can be
as early as January 15th.
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Questions?