ERIC ED399491: College-Bound Digest.

34 Pages·1996·1 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
CG 027 341
ED 399 491
College-Bound Digest.
TITLE
Who's Who among American High School Students, Lake
INSTITUTION
Forest, IL.
ISBN-1-56244-146-9
REPORT NO
PUB DATE
96
32p.; For the 1995 edition, see ED 302 128.
NOTE
Educational Communications, Inc., 721 N. McKinley
AVAILABLE FROM
[phone] (single
Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045,
$5.25;
copy: $7.95; 2-10 copies: $6.50; 11-99 copies:
100 or more copies: $5 plus $1 postage and
handling).
Instructional Materials (For
Classroom Use
Guides
PUB TYPE
Learner)
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MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
College Admission; *College Bound Students; *College
DESCRIPTORS
Choice; College Freshmen; Higher Education; High
Schools; High School Seniors; High School Students;
Majors (Students); *School Counseling; School
Counselors; Student Financial Aid
ABSTRACT
The college admissions process and the college
selection process are complex and much debated procedures which
confront more than 50% of high school seniors in the United States.
The purpose of this digest is to help students explore options
available in choosing a suitable postsecondary education. For example
the advantages of large or small schools, and considerations for
public, private, or church-related schools are examined; the
importance of testing and test preparation is discussed; and the
opportunities for financial aid are explored. The importance high
school counselors in the entire process is emphasized. Chapters are:
(2) Getting the Most From Your High School
(1) Foreword to Students;
(3) The SAT: What, How, Who Cares? (4) How to Find
Counselor;
(5) Tough Questions to Ask Any Admissions Officer;
(6)
Financial Aid;
(7) Campus Lifestyle:
Selecting a College: One Size Does Not Fit All;
(8) Major
An Important Consideration in Choosing a College;
(9) How to Survive
Decisions: Choosing the Right College Major;
Freshman Year; and (10) Learning a New Role...For Parents. (JBJ)
***********************************************************************
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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This document has been reproduced as
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The last edition of College-Bound Digest
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with the number ED302128
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Educational Communications, Inc.
721 N. McKinley Road
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Lake Forest, IL 60045
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Printed in U.S.A.
ISBN #1-56244-146-9
Copyright@l996 ECI
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About the
Publisher
and youth organizations which provide valu-
Since 1967, Who's Who Among
able programs and services for our nation's
American High School Students® has
provided award recognition for high
youth
school students who have demonstrated excel-
Opinion polls of student
Teen Surveys
lence in academics, athletics or extracurricular
leaders circulated to educators, government
activities. More than 15,000 high schools and
officials and the press
most of our nation's major youth organizations
A booklet distrib-
College-Bound Digest
use the publication to recognize their student
uted free to high school guidance offices
leaders.
with valuable advice and information for
To assure public awareness of the achieve-
college-bound students
ments of listed students, Who's Who is distrib-
All Who's Who policies are reviewed by
uted free to all high schools who participate in
prominent educators who serve on the
the program and all colleges and libraries
Committee on Ethics, Standards and Practices.
interested in student leaders. Up to 15,000
The involvement of these educators in the
complimentary copies of the book are distrib-
administration of all programs guarantees stu-
uted each year. Further recognition for stu-
dents, parents and school administrators that
dents is also accomplished through a press
the Who's Who program is compatible with the
relations program in which 2,000 newspapers
goals and high standards of existing awards
nationwide publish articles listing their local
programs in our nation's schools. Who's Who
Who's Who award winners.
is a member of most major educational associ-
ations.
In addition to recognizing the achievements of
The reference and recognition values of the
students, Who's Who sponsors:
publication and program have been acknowl-
Approximately
Scholarship Awards
edged by several hundred colleges and univer-
$200,000 in awards each year through three
sities and the American Library Association.
separate programs
If your school does not participate in the
CRS The College Referral Service®
A
Who's Who program yet, counselors or admin-
reference service linking college-bound stu-
istrators are invited to write for nomination
dents with colleges and universities
materials and complete information to the
address on this booklet.
Financial support for educational
Grants
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Note to
Counselors
This monograph about the college selection process is intended
to serve you and your students as a resource to compliment
your total guidance efforts. Please feel free to "copy" articles or
reproduce them to meet your needs. Should you desire additional
copies for your department, please use the order form below.
College-Bound Digest
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5
Table of
Contents
Foreword to Students
1
Getting the Most From Your High School Counselor
2
The SAT What, How, Who Cares?
4
How to Find Financial Aid
6
Tough Questions to Ask Any Admissions Officer
9
Selecting a College: One Size Does Not Fit All
12
Campus Lifestyle: An Important Consideration in
Choosing a College
16
Major Decisions: Choosing the Right College Major
19
How to Survive Freshman Year
21
Learning a New Role ...For Parents
22
We wish to acknowledge the special contribution of Robert G. McLendon, Vice President
and Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, Brevard College, Brevard, North Carolina who
was instrumental in selecting appropriate topics and authors for this publication.
6
iv
Foreword to
Students
The college admissions process and the college selection process
are complex and much debated procedures which confront more
than 50% of our nation's graduating high school students.
Selecting the right college can be frightening, confusing and overwhelm-
ing, sometimes all at the same time. It can also be exciting, informative,
challenging and rewarding, generally dependent on how much effort the
student expends on the process.
There are numerous fine directories which describe in as much detail
as you would ever want the complete facts on each and every one of the
more than 3,000 colleges and universities in the United States. Most high
school guidance offices and local libraries have these directories for
reference.
The purpose of the College-Bound Digest is to help students explore
the choices and options available
the advantages of big schools, small
schools, public, private, church related; the importance of testing and test
preparation; the opportunities for financial aid. We have attempted to
provide students with information which will help in the evaluation of the
options and opportunities available to most college-bound individuals.
We must emphasize the importance of high school counselors in the
entire process. When candor and commitment to the process are
displayed by the students, the counselors can generally be effective and
helpful in guiding the student to the right choices.
Good luck, relax and enjoy the process.
WHO'S WHO AMONG AMERICAN
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Paul C. Krouse
Publisher
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Getting the
Most From Your
High School
Counselor
BY JAMES WARFIELD
College Entrance Exams
your high school counselor's job is to
help you. Your job is to get to know
For many students, the college selection
your counselor so that he/she can
process begins with the PSAT, taken in the fall
help you in an effective manner. Helping your
of the junior year. Your counselor should
counselor help you requires open and frank
advise you which of the college entrance tests
discussions regarding your goals and personal
to take, SAT I, SAT II, ACT and AP and when
plans.
to take them. The type and location of college
Your High School
you apply to will determine which tests to
Counselor Should:
take. The quality of the college, the quality of
your own academic program, and whether or
know your abilities
not you plan to apply Early Decision, will
know your goals
'
determine when you should take such tests.
recommend academic course selec-
Many juniors don't know to which sc ocThsTh
tions
they'd like to apply, so advance planni
recommend which college entrance
necessary in order to maintain open options.
test to take
Questions You Need
recommend colleges that meet your
to Know
criteria
Finding the right college will require you Go
help you focus your ideas and goals
know yourself, your likes and dislikes. In what
assist you in applying for scholarships
kind of environment do you see yourself
and financial aid
being most comfortable? Can you picture
most importantly, make you think
yourself at a small college or a mid-size or
Recommendations should be based upon your
large university setting? Do you want a college
academic abilities and goals. This is a critical
to be in a rural community, a suburb or to be
issue because the appropriateness of this
in an urban environment? Do you want to be
advice is determined by the consistency
in a different geographic part of the country,
between your aspirations and aptitudes.
or is being close to home important to you?
Verifying the accuracy of your self-perceptions
What are some of your academic areas of
is important in order to avoid sudden surprises
interest? What kind of extracurricular offering
caused by false hopes or unrealistic expecta-
do you want to participate in? As you answer
tions or under-estimating your abilities and
these questions, the attributes of your ideal
aiming too low. Your counselor exists to help
college will become more clear. Through dis-
you become everything you are capable of
cussion with your counselor you'll be able to
within a realistic framework.
assess your needs, and more clearly focus
8
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School Reference. Some require
additional recommendations from
specific teachers. Establish applica-
tion procedures with your counselor
so that he/she, the teacher, and
school have adequate time to do
their part in order to meet your
deadline dates. If you are required to
write an essay or personal statement, discuss
your perceptions of yourself and of the
this with your counselor and English teacher.
schools you will be researching.
These discussions serve several purposes:
College Selection
help you generate ideas and narrow topics
Your counselor should help generate a list of
that you wish to write about; provide you with
colleges that meet your requirements by draw-
suggestions that will enhance your applica-
ing upon his/her own wealth of knowledge or
II
tions; and provide the counselor with insights
utilizing the many reference materials avail-
that will compliment your application.
able.
It is your responsibility to file your applica-
Campus visits are the most effective means
tions on time, see that your test scores are
to determine if the college is right for you.
sent to the admissions office, and file the
When to visit is a matter of individual taste or
financial aid applications. Your counselor
Keep in mind that as you visit more
need.
will help you determine which scores to
schools your observational skills will become
send, which financial aid form is
more sophisticated and your reflections of
required and how to fulfill these
each will be altered. It may be more prudent
requirements.
to visit only those schools to which you have
Finding, selecting and applying to the col-
been accepted, after you have received all your
leges that are right for you is a long and stud-
admissions decisions.
ied process. It involves a lot of letter-writing,
As you narrow your choice of colleges, your
telephoning, research, weighing alternatives,
counselor should review with you the possibil-
and just plain old thinking. It's a decision-
ities of acceptance or rejection at each. At least
making process that requires questioning,
one of your choices should be a safety choice,
information gathering, evaluation of the infor-
one in which you are almost guaranteed of
mation and more questioning. This cycle is
being admitted.
often repeated in order to make effective deci-
Applications
sions. The better the decision-making process
the more likely your college experience will be
After the list of colleges to which you are
successful.
going to apply has been determined, it is your
responsibility to obtain the application and
James Waifield is Director of Pupil Personnel at
meet deadline dates. Many colleges require a
Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest, Illinois.
counselor's recommendation or a Secondary
3
9
ALWAWAVTANFA
The SAT:
What, How,
Who Cares?
It's time to take the SAT. Your best
or junior year by taking the PSAT/NMSQT.
strategy is to learn as much as you can
You can take the SAT multiple times. Score
about the test:
reports tell you how you compared to other
state and national test takers. In addition, the
SAT I: Reasoning Test. This first part of the SAT
reports give you customized answers to ques-
is composed of both a verbal and a math sec-
tions about your particular score that will help
tion.
you analyze your performance and prepare for
half of the questions assess your
Verbal
more testing.
ability to read and think critically. Through
The Student Answer Service will provide a
analogies, defining vocabulary words in the
computer-produced report telling you how
context of a passage and sentence completion
you answered the questions on the SAT by
questions, your reasoning abilities will be
type (e.g., sentence completion, analogy) and
assessed.
difficulty. You can assess your strengths and
math problems are presented, some
Math
weaknesses, plan and take additional course
of which require you to produce your own
work, then retake the tests and score higher.
answers instead of all multiple choice ques-
Your guidance counselor, public library and
tions (calculators are encouraged).
local bookstore are sources for practice tests and
SAT II: Subject Tests. This second part is
test preparation materials. You can also write to:
optional; you take one or more tests if request-
College Board Promotional Services Office, 45
ed by the colleges to which you are applying.
Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10023.
These are one-hour tests in subjects such as
If you feel the need for a structured
writing, literature, history, science, foreign
preparation program for the SAT investigate
languages, etc.
school-sponsored and commercial preparation
programs by comparing:
Can you prepare for the
number of sessions over a period of time
SAT? YES!
(more is better)
Whether you prepare on your own, with
class size (10-15 students is ideal)
friends or through a formal SAT review course,
opportunity to make up missed classes
the key is PRACTICE!
experience of previous enrollees
Practice taking the test in your sophomore