College Essay & Application Kick-off for Juniors

Part 1: How to Write an Outstanding Personal Statement
Tuesday, May 28th - 2024

4-5pm PT (7-8pm ET)

In Part 1, we'll cover:

    The Purpose of the Personal Statement (i.e. What Colleges Are Looking For)

    Two Fun Ways to Find Your Personal Statement Topic

    How (and Why) to Show Your Core Values

    Two Successful Personal Statement Examples

   Topics to Potentially Avoid

    Q&A (We'll Answer Pretty Much Any Question You Have)

Part 2: How to Create an Outstanding College Application
Tuesday, June 4th - 2024

4-5pm PT (7-8pm ET)

In Part 2, we'll cover:

    What Colleges Are Looking For in 2024

   The Other Essential Parts of Your College Application

    Writing Great Supplemental Essays

    Tips for Creating a Great Activities List

    How to Make Use of the Additional Info Section

   Analysis of a Successful College Application

    Q&A (Bring those questions!)

Register for Free

Cal-Tech Fly-In Program for Rising Junior & Senior Females

Women in STEM WiSTEM is a free event for rising high school juniors and seniors focusing on the experiences of students whose gender identity has been historically underrepresented in STEM, particularly those who identify as female, non-binary, or gender expansive. 

Application Deadline:  Sunday, June 16, 2024

Program Date: August 8 -  August 9

Optional Athletics Program on August 7

View Additional Details Here

Caltech Up CloseCUC is an all-expense paid visit designed for U.S. and U.S. territory high school seniors of exceptional promise and will focus on the experiences of students from historically underserved backgrounds in STEM. These backgrounds may include but are not limited to sex, gender, first-generation to college, low-income, DACA/undocumented, and rural students.

Application Opening: Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Program Date: October 12 - October 15

View Additional Details Here

Interested students may apply to both of our programs. Application and acceptance into WiSTEM would not disqualify any student from being selected to attend Caltech Up Close. If you have questions please do not hesitate to reach out to us at ugadmissions@caltech.edu.

Rising Senior? Don't Panic! A Step-by-Step Guide to Navigating the College Application Process

By: North Shore College Consulting

As a rising senior in high school, the college application process may seem overwhelming, especially if you still need to start preparation. While it's natural to feel a bit behind, there's still plenty of time to catch up and successfully navigate this important journey. This blog can get you started on the steps you need to take to ensure a smooth and successful college application experience. So, take a deep breath, and let's dive in!

1. Assess Your Goals and Aspirations: Before jumping into the college application process, take some time to reflect on your personal goals, aspirations, and interests. What are you passionate about? What subjects do you excel in? Consider your long-term career goals and the type of college environment that will best support your ambitions. This self-reflection will help you identify suitable colleges and create a foundation for the rest of your application process.

2. Research Potential Colleges: Now that you have a clear idea of your interests and goals, it's time to research potential colleges that align with your aspirations. Explore various institutions based on factors like location, campus culture, academic programs, extracurricular activities, and financial aid opportunities. Utilize college search engines, attend virtual college fairs, and gather information from college websites, guidebooks, and alumni networks. Narrow your list to a reasonable number of schools you feel genuinely excited about.

3. Understand Application Requirements and Deadlines: Once you have your college list, thoroughly review each institution's application requirements and deadlines. Common application components include high school transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal essays, extracurricular activity lists, and standardized test scores (SAT/ACT) in some cases. Be aware of whether colleges have Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision deadlines, and understand each option's rules, advantages, and disadvantages.

4.   Develop a Strategic Action Plan: With a clear understanding of your target colleges and their requirements, it's time to create a strategic action plan. Break down the application process into manageable tasks and set deadlines for each. Create a calendar or use online tools to help you stay organized. Your plan may include preparing for standardized tests if you have not tested yet, requesting letters of recommendation, drafting and revising essays, and ensuring all necessary documents are submitted on time.

5. Prepare for Standardized Tests: If you still need to take the SAT or ACT, don't worry. Start by researching the test dates and registration deadlines. The 2023-2024 registration schedules for both tests are open now. Sign up for the appropriate exams depending on your timeline and test preferences. To prepare effectively, utilize resources such as practice tests, review books, or online courses. Aim to complete your testing as soon as possible, allowing time to review the scores before submitting.

6.   Continue to Engage in Meaningful Extracurricular Activities: Colleges appreciate students who have demonstrated a commitment to their interests outside the classroom. Engage in meaningful extracurricular activities that align with your passions and showcase your leadership, teamwork, and dedication. Quality experiences can often outweigh quantity when it comes to extracurricular involvement.

7.   Seek Guidance and Support: Throughout this process, don't hesitate to seek guidance and support from your high school counselor and trusted mentors. They can provide valuable insights, review your essays, offer recommendations, and answer any questions. Additionally, consider contacting college admissions representatives to better understand their institution and seek guidance specific to your circumstances.

While starting the college application process as a rising senior may feel overwhelming, it's important to remember that it's never too late to take action. By following these steps and maintaining a positive mindset, you can navigate the process successfully and present your best self to colleges. Stay organized, seek support, and be proactive in meeting deadlines. Remember, the college application process is not just about the destination; it's also an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. Embrace the journey and trust in your abilities. Good luck!

The Additional Information Section in the Common Application: A Key to Providing Context

By: North Shore College Consulting

When and How to Use It Effectively

When it comes to college applications, every detail matters. The Common Application provides a platform for students to showcase their achievements, experiences, and aspirations, giving colleges a holistic view of who they are. However, sometimes there are circumstances or nuances that can't be fully captured within the standard sections of the application. That's where the "Additional Information" section comes into play. In this blog post, we'll explore the ins and outs of this often-overlooked section and guide you on when and how to use it effectively.

Understanding the Additional Information Section

Located towards the end of the Common Application, the Additional Information section provides students with an opportunity to provide context and explanations for aspects of their application that may not be immediately clear elsewhere. With a generous word limit of 650 words, this section can be a powerful tool for addressing gaps or unusual circumstances that might raise questions for admissions officers.

It's essential to understand, however, that the Additional Information section is not meant to serve as a second personal statement. While colleges are interested in learning about your experiences, accomplishments, and challenges, this section should not be used to reiterate or duplicate information already provided elsewhere in your application.

When to Use the Additional Information Section

The Additional Information section should be reserved for circumstances that warrant further explanation or elaboration. Students should carefully evaluate their application for any areas that might benefit from additional context. Some situations where the use of this section could be appropriate include:

1. Explaining Gaps: If you've experienced gaps in your education due to personal or family issues, this is the place to explain them. Perhaps you had to take a break from school due to illness, family responsibilities, or other challenges. This section allows you to provide context without leaving admissions officers wondering about the missing pieces. You can also use it to address any discrepancies or unusual circumstances in your academic record.

2. Special Circumstances: If there are factors beyond your control that have affected your academic performance or extracurricular involvement, this section is ideal for explaining them. For instance, if you had to relocate frequently due to a parent's job, it might have impacted your ability to participate in certain activities. 

3. Personal Challenges: Some personal challenges are deeply impactful but might not be suitable for the main essay. If you've overcome adversity, such as dealing with a serious illness, overcoming a learning disability, escaping an abusive situation, or taking on significant caregiving responsibilities, you can briefly touch on these experiences in this section. Use this section to elaborate on how you demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity.

4. Personal Identity: If aspects of your personal identity, such as sexual or gender identity, played a role in your educational experience, you can explain how they influenced your path. For example, if you used different pronouns than those mentioned in recommendation letters due to not being out as trans or nonbinary to your teachers, this section can provide insight.

5. Provide Additional Context: Many students participate in extracurricular activities or honors that may not be widely recognized but hold personal significance. The Additional Information essay is a good place to describe a significant volunteer experience or community involvement that influenced personal growth and cannot be adequately described in the 150 character limit of the Common App’s Activity section. . 

What Not to Include in the Additional Information Section

While the Additional Information section provides an opportunity for students to provide context, there are certain topics that should be avoided. 

1. COVID-19: The Common Application includes a dedicated section for COVID-19 related information. Avoid discussing the pandemic here unless it's directly tied to a unique circumstance that can't be addressed elsewhere.

2. Irrelevant Details: Don't use this space to reiterate your achievements or list additional activities. Admissions officers already have that information in other sections. Avoid irrelevant details, like listing your favorite books, foods or hobbies, as these can detract from the overall impact of your application.

Self-Evaluation: Do You Need to Use the Additional Information Section?

While the Additional Information section can offer valuable insight into your life, it's essential to use it wisely. Admissions officers read through countless applications, and they appreciate conciseness and relevance. So, before deciding to use the Additional Information section, take a step back and evaluate your application as a whole. Is there any crucial context missing? Consider whether there is any key context or information that could help admissions officers gain a deeper understanding of your achievements, challenges, or personal circumstances. If you determine that there are relevant aspects that require further explanation, utilizing the Additional Information section can be a valuable opportunity. Conversely, if your application is comprehensive and leaves little room for confusion, it's perfectly acceptable, and often advisable, to skip this section.

It's Okay to Skip It

Lastly, it's important to emphasize that it is perfectly acceptable not to use the Additional Information section if you do not have any pressing issues or gaps to address. Remember, this section is truly optional, and if your application is comprehensive and provides a clear picture of who you are as an applicant, there may be no need for additional explanations.

Closing Thoughts

In the realm of college applications, transparency and authenticity reign supreme. The Additional Information section is your chance to provide a comprehensive view of your journey, shedding light on the aspects that might not be immediately evident. Use it thoughtfully and strategically to enhance your application's narrative and ensure that admissions officers leave with a full understanding of your unique story. Remember, it's okay not to use this section if you have no pressing issues to address; quality is always better than quantity.

Tips for Writing Your College Essay

 From College Data

Getting started on your college essay can be one of the hardest parts of applying to college. Our advice? Take it one step at a time.

Most counselors and students who have applied to college recommend getting started on your college essays early -- the summer prior to senior year, if possible. If you find yourself putting it off, or if you’re experiencing essay anxiety, take a deep breath and try this 6-step plan.

Step 1. Review the essay prompt(s)

Take 15 or 20 minutes to simply look at the essay prompts. The Common Application and Coalition Application release their prompts during the spring prior to senior year.

• Common App essay prompts
• Coalition App essay prompts

If you’re applying to colleges that require an essay but don’t accept the Common App or Coalition App, check the website of the colleges to which you are applying to see if their application and essay is available. Most colleges post their applications in August.

Don’t worry about choosing a topic yet. At this point, just think about what you want colleges to know about you, beyond your grades and test scores. As the Colorado College Admissions Department advises: “Take the time to think carefully about what you want us to know about you.”  

Step 2. Start brainstorming

On another day, look at the prompts again. Do any of them invoke personal experiences that demonstrate a unique aspect of your personality? Your academic passions? Your ability to learn and grow from your experiences? Or another quality you want colleges to remember? Write down everything that comes to mind.

Step 3. Test drive a few topics 

Some of the students profiled in CollegeData’s Road to College Student Stories have told us that when they connected with an essay topic they were truly passionate about, their essay practically wrote itself. How do you find that topic?

Spend at least a few afternoons or evenings writing about the experiences you brainstormed in Step 2. Write freely and don’t edit yourself at first -- just get your words and ideas on paper.

When you’re finished free writing, ask yourself:

• Which topics were easy -- or even fun -- to write about?
• Where did you have the most to say?
• Which piece of writing seems to reveal the “real you” and your genuine voice?

Remember that your essay does not have to be about a harrowing hardship, tragic loss, or a jaw-dropping adventure. As the Wellesley Admissions Department advises: "An essay about some small, even insignificant-seeming thing can be more powerful than an essay about how you’ve saved the world or overcome tragedy.”

Step 4. Write a (terrible) first draft or two

Once you have selected your topic, you can start structuring your first draft. But don’t expect your first, or even third or fourth draft, to be perfect. Give yourself time to write multiple versions, and plan to walk away from your essay for at least a couple of days so you can come back to it with a fresh perspective.  

Keep in mind that you may be able to use parts of the early drafts of your essay -- writing that didn't make it into the final version  -- for supplemental essays or other parts of your application.

Warning: Be careful about being overly influenced by online essay examples.

While reading essays submitted by other students can be helpful, reading too many might put the voices of other students in your head. Your essay should be uniquely yours. As the Princeton Admissions Department advises: “This is your opportunity to display your best writing as well as your ability to convey ideas in your own voice.”

Step 5. Get feedback from a teacher, counselor, or other people you trust  

Some questions to ask the readers of your essay:

• Does the essay ring true to them?
• Does the language sound like you?
• Did they find any parts of it unclear or difficult to understand?

Step 6. Write as many drafts as you need to 

Revise and get feedback until you feel confident that your essay says what you want it to say. Then have a teacher, counselor or another person you trust proofread your essay to ensure there are no grammatical or punctuation errors and that it is clear and easy to read.

The Importance of Professors and Advisors

Amy Baldwin, Ed.D.

The student-professor relationship is one of the most important to cultivate. Academic advisors are also key players in a student’s successful adjustment to college and can guide them all the way through to an on-time graduation.

You can encourage your student to create open lines of communication with their professors and make the most of every advising appointment. Here are tips and talking points!

Coach Your Student to Communicate With Professors

1. Establish a relationship early.

Professors will be happy to get to know your student before a problem arises. Any time during the semester (with the exception of the day before the final!) is a good time to reach out, but the sooner the better.

Your student should take cues from the syllabus about the best way to communicate. Is the professor available to meet in person or is email or an online meeting better? It should go without saying — if the professor prefers email, then use email and check it often.

When your student meets with the professor for the first time, they should have a list of questions ready. Here are a few that can help your student learn more about the professor’s expectations:

• “I want to learn as much as I can in your class. What can I do to succeed?”
• “I usually [fill in usual study practices]. What will work best for this class?”
• “I want to be sure I start off with solid work in your class. Can I come see you before an assignment is due to make sure I’m on the right track?”

2. Seek immediate feedback after graded work.

If your student gets a low grade, even if they think they know why, it’s good to check in with the professor as soon as possible. Here’s how to open a conversation:

• “I reviewed my work. Can we go over what I did wrong so I understand what to do differently next time?”
• “I’m bummed I messed up that assignment. Would you help me see where I made mistakes?”
• “Can we talk about how this low grade will affect my progress in the course? I want to be sure to make the improvements I need to raise my grade.”

Because students share this fear with me, it’s worth telling you: Yes, professors really want to talk with students who’ve failed an assignment. No, they don’t think their students aren’t smart enough to pass their class.

Professors want their students to learn and to earn good grades. Your student shouldn’t be ashamed to speak to a professor about a class they’re failing. Reaching out demonstrates a willingness to improve.

Make the Most of an Advising Appointment

Academic advisors help students register for courses and keep track of credits and degree requirements. But that’s not all an advisor can do. Advisors can help your student connect with resources if they are having academic, personal, or financial challenges. Your student should view their advisor as a guide, coach, and support system.

Here are three steps to follow.

1. Plan the visit with the advisor.

Students should prepare ahead of time for every appointment. The advisor needs to know what your student needs as soon as they get there.

• Create a list of questions or a goal to share. For example, “I’m here to talk about what classes to take next semester and what would happen if I change my major.”
• Look up policies, forms or other information that will improve the conversation. Your student may want to read course descriptions or download a copy of their degree plan.
• Be ready to take notes. Will your student handwrite notes, type, or record the session? They’ll need notes about what was discussed and what steps to take next.

2. Role play the conversation.

I know from professional experience and also from my own son, who’s a college student, that many students don’t know what to say in the moment even with a list of questions in their hand. That’s why it’s important to practice the conversation ahead of time.

You don’t have to know the ins and outs of college advising — you just need to help your student learn how to ask questions and follow up with additional questions. Here’s a sample script:

Advisor Role: What can I do for you today?

Student: I need help registering for classes and I want to talk about changing my major.

Advisor Role: First, what classes are you thinking about taking? Then, tell me what’s motivating you to change your major.

Help your student identify what preparation they still need to do before their appointment and clarify what they want from the meeting.

3. Follow up if needed.

A single advising appointment probably won’t answer all your student’s questions. A follow-up (even multiple ones) may be needed.

Encourage your student to check in regularly with their advisor even if there isn’t a pressing issue. Other reasons to meet with an advisor include:

• Your student’s progress in a course or courses is in jeopardy and they need to know what will happen if they fail a class.
• They can’t get into a class that’s required for their degree plan.
• They may not graduate on time.
• They want advice on a different major, a minor, or a career pathway.

Advisors can’t solve all of your student’s problems, but they can do a lot more than help with course registration. In fact, if your student cultivates a solid relationship with their advisor, they will have a coach, guide, and cheerleader all rolled into one.

Why Set Up a Practice Account for the Common Application?

Quick Facts from Common Application Regarding Creating a Practice Account

A practice account will allow you to access the first-year student application experience. It’s an account type for people who want to peruse the application, but not apply to college.  Everything will be the same as a regular student account, except you cannot submit college applications.

A practice account is intended for parents, or other adults interested in a student’s application experience. During account creation, you can select “parent or other adult” to create a practice account.

Practice accounts are not intended for students or for parents to create an account on behalf of their student. Even if you’re not sure if you want to apply to college or not yet, you’re welcome to create a real first-year student account whenever you’d like!

1. By creating a practice account, you’ll be able to follow the full student experience up to
submission. Practice accounts help you understand exactly what your students see without
making colleges think that you’re a real applicant.

2.  Creating a practice account will show you the same information as a student account. The process,
look and feel, and information is the same. The only difference is that a practice account
cannot be submitted to a college or university.

3. Although you cannot submit an application in a practice account, you will, however, be able to
view a preview PDF of your application, as well as a detailed video tutorial illustrating the
submission process.

4. If a student is creating a practice account, he or she can change the practice account to an applicant account. To change your account type, simply email our Solutions Center at:
appsupport@commonapp.net. In your message, please specify your full name, date of birth,
and that you want to change your practice account to an applicant account.

 

Creating a Common Application for a Practice Account Tutorial