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College Planning Information
First tip: Use Family Connections! This is a great tool for researching colleges and for keeping track the colleges in which you are interested. Use the link above to take you to the Family Connections log in.
Second tip: College Preparation begins freshman year. There are things that can be done throughout high school to prepare. For example, attend College Night and Financial Aid programs early! See the following link for a college preparation timeline: College Preparation Checklist.
College Entrance Exams
Materials for college entrance exams can be found in the CRC. This includes registration packets as well as study material.
ACT - www.actstudent.org
SAT – www.collegeboard.com
TOEFL – www.ets.org/toefl
The Maine West CEEB Code is 141597.
Practice for the ACT:
www.whatsnextillinois.org - This is a great site created by the State of Illinois. It has Test Preparation under its College Planning section. You can also use this site for career research and exploration. Create an account and come back often.
www.number2.com
Some colleges are TEST OPTIONAL. This means that they do not require an ACT or SAT for admissions. They will focus on the other aspects of your application (transcript, essay, activities, letters of recommendation, interview, etc.). To see a list of Test Optional schools, see this website: www.fairtest.org/university/optional
The College Application and Tips
Each college to which you apply has different requirements. Come up with a system to keep track of the various components and deadlines. Below is one checklist that can help you stay organized: College Application Checklist
Be sure to watch your deadlines! Plan to complete your applications in September, October, and November.
Writing the College Essay - The college essay can take time. See the following tips for help in preparing your essay. Be sure to write a few revisions and have a teacher look over your work. This is something that can be worked on over the summer between junior and senior year!
Tips for Writing the College Essay
More Help for Writing the College Essay
How to Interview – Some colleges recommend or require an interview. This might take place at an admissions office at a school, or you may set up a meeting with an alum from that college who lives in the Chicago area. See the links below for preparing for your interview.
Preparing for the College Interview
The Common Application - https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx
The Common Application can be completed and submitted to multiple schools. There are over 300 private universities which accept the Common Application. If you plan to apply to multiple private schools, you should consider using the Common Application. Many schools also require other supplemental forms, so be sure to check all materials that must be submitted to each school to which you apply.
To see a list of schools who use the common application: https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Members.aspx
Letters of Recommendation
Some schools require that you submit letters of recommendation. Others “recommend” that you do so. If there are other special circumstances, students should ask their counselors if letters of recommendation would be advised. If letters are required or suggested, you should submit the number that are specified. There are two types of letters. One is a counselor letter. The other is from a teacher.
· If you are applying to multiple colleges, the same teacher recommendation can be used for each application. You do not ask different teachers for additional recommendations. Your teacher will be happy to change the name of the school and send multiple versions.
· Read the following link to learn more about Letters of Recommendation.
Important things to know about requesting a letter of recommendation:
Teacher Recommendations –
· You must give teachers a MINIMUM of 10 work days (2 weeks) notice. They would appreciate more notice.
· You will need to give the teacher three items:
1. You must submit a form with specific information about yourself at the time of your request. Select this link to download the teacher form: Teacher Recommendation for College Admission
2. Obtain a special YELLOW envelope from the SPS office (B102). You must address and stamp ($.44) the envelope and give it to the teacher. The envelope should be addressed to the admissions office and include the full college address.
3. Give your teacher any form that the college requires which was part of the application.
Counselor Letter of Recommendation –
· You must give your counselor a MINIMUM of 10 work days (2 weeks) notice. They would appreciate more notice.
· Complete the Counselor or Scholarship Recommendation for College Form. Submit this at the time of your request for a letter of recommendation.
· Submit any form that the college requires. Be sure you have filled out all sections for the student (name, address, etc.).
Selective Admissions – Thinking about a selective school? Here is an article with information that could help frame the process: Thoughts on Admission to Selective Colleges & Universities
Campus Visits – Campus visits are the best way to learn about colleges! You find out first-hand about the school and your reaction to the environment. It is best to visit a variety of schools so that you can determine your preferences when it comes to size (large, midsize, and small), location (urban, rural, and suburban), distance from home, and other factors. Visit as many schools as you can. There are dozens within a couple hours of Des Plaines. Below are some tips when visiting colleges:
Tips for Campus Visits
More Questions to Ask College Representatives
We also have over a hundred college representatives come to the CRC at Maine West. This is a great way to find out about schools, as well. See the link to the “Visitors to the CRC” page for more information.
To get a sneak peak at a school, visit http://www.ecampustours.com.
College Night – Each year, District 207 hosts a College Night. Plan to attend every year. As you learn more about your college interests, you can target more specific schools senior year. Below is information to help you at the District 207 College Fair or at others that take place in the region.
Preparing for and Attending a College Fair
College Fair Questions and Checklist
College Night
October 1, 2009
Maine West High School
7-9 PM
Athletes:
http://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/ - Eligibility Center - Students interested in participating in college athletics must register at the NCAA Eligibility Center. Information regarding eligibility, rules, regulations, and more can be obtained from this website. The Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete can be downloaded from this site.
http://www.ncaastudent.org you can download a copy of Guide for the College Bound Athlete. You can also call 1-800-638-3731 to request one free copy.
http://www.ncaa.org/sponsorships/ - To see lists of colleges and universities by sport and division.
Parent Pointers
www.collegezone.com – the State of Illinois oversees this website. It has good information for parents and responds to many commonly asked questions.
What is your involvement in your student’s college preparation? Take a quiz: Parent Quiz
Teacher Resources
Writing letters of recommendation can be daunting. Here are some tips to keep in mind: Writing Teacher Letters of Recommendation.
Helpful Websites
(See the sections on Financial Aid and Scholarships for specific information and links for those topics.)
www.collegeboard.com – Along with information about the PSAT, SAT, and AP tests, you can find information about colleges, as well.
www.collegezone.com – Information for students and parents about planning for college, finding a college, and financial aid.
www.college.gov - The U.S. Department of Education this website to motivate students with inspirational stories and information about planning, preparing and paying for college. Designed with students' input and participation, College.gov was created by the U.S. Department of Education to be a go-to online resource for credible information about college that also provides real life experiences of peers who are already attending college.
www.highereducationstation.org – Website through the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC) which provides answers to some common questions regarding the college and search.
Tips for Writing a College Essay
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