When parents, students, teachers, school counselors and the colleges work together, everybody wins. A school guidance counselor works closely with students to help them make realistic career plans, plan a program of study in high school and assist with college admissions. Counselors welcome parent involvement. While parents can, and should, meet with the counselor, much information is distributed through hand outs, mailings, parent evenings and most recently, the high school web site.

Think about yourself first:

• Who are you? Take a careful look at yourself– your interests, abilities, attitudes, likes and dislikes.
• Examine your own: Learning style Discussion-oriented classes or more lecture style? College program options Liberal arts, sciences, engineering, or technical study, business or a professional program? What degree are you seeking: associate, bachelors, graduate, professional? Extracurricular and social activities Where do you want to live, work and play for the next four years? Academic and social balance? Academic support needs Libraries, computer/science labs, other assistance in your areas of interest? Enthusiasm for knowledge Level of academic challenge desired? Independence Comfort factors, college location and atmosphere– urban, rural, size, etc.? Readiness for college Individual preparedness.

THE COLLEGE SEARCH AND VISITING COLLEGES

This process has to begin with you. It comes from the inside out, based upon the interests and requirements you have established. It can start early on, but you should be narrowing your choices during the 11th grade. The object is to get to a manageable number of applications by the start of the 12th grade.

• Make use of computer searches available through your guidance office and Internet resources. Most colleges have a web site that you can access.
• Make good use of college fairs and school-sponsored trips.
• Request information provided by colleges using their postage-paid cards or directly through their web sites.
• Upward Bound, Talent Search and Maine Educational Opportunity Centers (MEOC) offer free ongoing services to eligible students.
• Research colleges that interest you before you visit. Request videos and other publications to help narrow the list of colleges you want to visit.
• Take a college tour when you visit. Contact the admissions office to find out about discounted motel rates and other cost-saving options, or spend a night on campus and eat in the dining halls.
• Check with the college to find out if an interview is required and schedule an interview when you visit, or request names of local alumni(ae) who can interview you in your area.
• Speak with students and professors in the major you are considering.
• Carpool with other students visiting the same colleges or combine college visits with a family vacation.

Write down your thoughts of the college while they are still fresh in your mind. Students who have done this, particularly if they visit several months before making their final college decision, have found their notes valuable when it comes time to choose a college. Whatever you decide about a particular college, send the admissions officer a note of thanks for the time and interest in you. If you are particularly interested in the college, it won’t hurt to say so; colleges like to admit students who want to be there.

• Apply only to schools that you would attend if accepted.
• Narrow your list of colleges. Make sure it includes colleges that are competitive, colleges that are moderately safe bets and those that are sure-things in terms of admission.
• The number of applications is up to you: one may be enough; two to five applications is sufficient for most; five to ten applications may be needed if you are seeking admission to selective colleges, or if financial aid is a significant concern. Anything more than ten is probably a sign of paranoia, bad planning or both. Go back to the beginning of this section on page 13 and start over.
• Consider using electronic applications or The Common Application, which is available in guidance offices and on the web at www.commonapp.org.
• Several hundred colleges now use The Common Application and many of them do not have an application of their own.
• If you are using The Common Application, tailor your comments, essays, etc. to each particular college (that’s the beauty of computers). Colleges may also expect you to file their own supplement to The Common Application.
• Individual applications should present the same “picture” of you. Don’t include anything you cannot back up.
• Make sure your essay truly reflects who you are, not who you think the college wants. Write it yourself; do not let someone else (including your parents) write it for you!
• If important information is not requested, or you run out of space, include additional pages (mark them clearly with your name and SSN or birthday.)
• Show interest and enthusiasm on all applications.
• Read the application before filling it out and follow directions carefully.
• Your application should be neat and readable. Many schools allow you to do it online, but if not, typing is preferred. If you write, write legibly.
• Develop a rough draft before you complete sections.
• Check grammar, spelling and punctuation! (Yes, this really counts.)
• Re-read your application and have a second person proof-read it before submission. Remember, your application is your way of marketing yourself to the college.
• Coordinate your application with the guidance office so they can send all the required forms, recommendations and information together.
• Keep copies of everything!

• Many colleges do not require, recommend or even offer interviews. You should still visit the campus, take a tour and/or attend an information session.
• Some selective colleges strongly recommend interviews – others do not. Check with the college to find out about their interview policy. The interview may take place on campus or locally with an alumnus(a).
• Schedule an interview well in advance of your visit (3-4 weeks.) They usually last 30-40 minutes.
• Show enthusiasm! Be able to explain your interest in a particular college and why you are a good match.
• Dress appropriately – avoid hats, t-shirts, jeans or shorts and no gum!
• Be knowledgeable. Review the college’s web site or other publications before you get to campus so you know what the college offers and what it views as its strengths.
• Ask questions and talk. The best interviews are conversations. Ask about things that interest you; majors, campus life, etc.
• If you are unsure of your major and/or career path, don’t worry; you are just like most other students.
• Be prepared to discuss your interests, academics, extracurricular activities, etc. Consider your strengths, weaknesses, skills, accomplishments, etc. before the interview and be ready to talk about them. It is often handy to bring an unofficial transcript to the interview.
• At the end of the interview, if you have not touched upon a subject that you want to talk about, bring it up. This is your time to tell who you are and portray yourself in the best possible light.
• Relax. While you want to make a good impression on them, they are also concerned about making a good impression on you.
• Arrive on campus early enough to find parking and the admissions office without having to rush.
• Send the interviewer a thank you note after the interview.

• Transcript Challenging courses taken plus performance to match (first year students typically have taken 4 years each of english, math, social studies, foreign language and 3-4 years of lab sciences.)
• School profile Grading system, courses offered (# of APs, honors), average or range of test scores of seniors; helps colleges understand how an applicant has performed in relation to others in the class.
• Rank Students who submitted ranks were mostly in the top 25% of their high school class
• Essay Content and form; there is a lot of writing at most selective colleges, so the schools need to see strength in that area. They really do read your essay(s)!
• Teacher Recommendations Choose teachers carefully. Colleges are looking for a sense that the teacher has a strong awareness of you as a learner. It is less helpful when teachers just list your activities; this information can be obtained from your application.
• Optional Arts & Athletic Supplements You may submit tapes, videos and/or a portfolio for faculty and coaches to review. If you have press coverage of your activities, you may want to include some of your press clippings with your application. If you have written an essay that brought praise, consider submitting it along with the required essay. Keep items limited and include just enough for the admissions committee to understand what you are bringing to their campus.
• Interview Recommended, may not be required. Alumni(ae) interviewers usually carry equal weight with the admissions staff, so take these contacts seriously.

Many parents see the workload of school counselors and they fear the guidance staff will not have time to help their child. Parents should meet with their son’s or daughter’s counselor before spending any money on outside help. While many paid services are helpful, parents may be paying for what is already covered by their local guidance office. The National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) suggests that you look to see (1) if the school counselors have enough time to work with college-bound students, (2) if they have attended workshops on admission and financial aid, such as those offered by the College Board, and (3) if they provide access to the resources you need? If yes, you may want to save your money. If not, then an independent counselor may be appropriate. Services are available in most areas of Maine and over the Internet. Counselors have worked with college-bound students over the telephone, the Internet and in person. Check references and fees carefully.

During the college selection process, all families need to consider financial ability, the student’s academic ability and the college’s admission criteria. A student with a learning disability may also want to consider whether or not a college offers appropriate support services. All colleges are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but the degree of compliance can vary from college to college. Some colleges are focused on special programs for their students, some are not. Some colleges offer individual diagnosis, assessment and testing. Colleges may also have a learning center with a learning disabilities specialist present. Consider visiting the college’s learning center to see for yourself what is available.

Parents sometimes wonder if they should discuss their child’s learning disability with the college: will it hurt my child’s chances of being admitted? In most cases, students should indicate the nature of the learning disability services they have received in high school and the nature of the accommodations that will be necessary in college, if any. If you attend that college it will come up anyway, so it is best for all concerned, especially the student, if the family and the college are both up front on this issue. If the

If you are moving from a two-year to a four-year program under an Articulation Agreement (see page 11), transfer is simple; most of the work has already been done for you. Talk with the appropriate counselor at your present college. If you want to transfer because your college choice has not worked out, it gets more complicated. Filing a transfer application is much like filing any other college admissions application– it starts with you. Review Find Yourself Before Finding a College on page 13. In addition:

• Review transfer options with advisors at your present college. Be prepared to submit a financial aid transcript as well (detailing whether or not you have previously applied for and/or received any financial aid.)
• Check with the college(s) you are considering as soon as possible. Space available, admissions timetable, entrance requirements, transfer of credit, residency requirements, financial aid options and other things may be different and more restrictive from those that apply to first year applicants.
• Transfer at the beginning of the academic year is usually preferable to entrance at mid-year.
• You will probably have to file a transfer application that will require a history of your performance at all colleges attended, and it may require similar information from your secondary school.
• Have an official copy of your academic transcript(s) sent to your new college.
• Meet with the transfer counselor at your new college, if possible.
• Make sure that you clarify whether credits will be accepted and how they will count in your new program of study before making an enrollment decision. Ask about other credits for work experience, AP and other courses, etc.
• Transfer conditions and calendars vary widely from college to college. You may have to make your decision very quickly.
• If financial aid is important, talk with those in the Financial Aid office. The amount of aid and when you will hear may depend upon what resources the college has already committed to enrolled students and first year applicants.