College Interview Guide

While interviews are just one small piece of the interview process we think interviews are a great opportunity for a student to get to know more about the school and also to introduce themselves and share something that isn’t revealed in their application. So, it’s a good idea to prepare.  Not all school offer interviews, but some schools require them, either on-campus or with interviewers who will visit their high school.

Schedule your on-campus admissions interview. Interview slots are often limited, so once you know that you plan to apply to a school, you should schedule your interview as soon as possible.  Many schools also offer or require alumni interviews. Check the school website to know whether an alum will contact you or if they you are responsible for requesting an interview. 

Interviewers want to get a sense of who you are and what you will bring to the campus community. The goal of the admissions office is to build a qualified, well-rounded entering class. Remember, the person interviewing you is already familiar with your transcript and activities resume. They are looking for something more.

Get ready for your interview by reading through the school’s website. The interview is your opportunity to show that you’ve done your homework and also to learn about things that are not available online. Think of a few questions in advance, plan to share your interests and talk about what you like to do in your free time. Talk about how you see yourself as a member of their college community. Ask a parent, sibling or friend to role play to allow you to practice. Remember to avoid slang and offensive language. This is also your chance to bring up anything in your record that you’d like to explain, like a temporary drop in your grades.

It’s time for your interview…  arrive a few minutes early, dress appropriately, turn off your cell phone, spit out your gum, shake hands, make eye contact and be confident.

During your interview, try to relax and keep in mind this meeting is a chance for both parties to get acquainted and see if this is a good fit.

After the interview, remember to send a thank you note.

This is your chance to get a feel for the the school’s personality and decide whether you’re a good fit. Most importantly, be yourself–the goal is to find a school that’s right for you!

 

 

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FAFSA Follow -Up

If you haven’t already submitted your FAFSA, now is the time to complete it. The urgency lies in the fact that the earlier you submit, the sooner your application will be reviewed. Some programs have limited funds, which are awarded as applications are processed, so the earlier you send in your application, the sooner it will be reviewed.  Once you submit, the big work is done, but there are still things you need to do to make sure you have your best shot at receiving the aid you need:

1. Review your FAFSA confirmation page.
2. Review your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
3. Apply for as many scholarships as you can.
4. Be on the lookout for your aid offer(s).
5. Make FAFSA corrections if you need to.

 

Get Ready

A few thoughts if you’re scheduled to take tomorrow’s SAT or SAT IIs:

To minimize your stress tomorrow morning, it’s a great idea to get organized ahead of time. The last thing you need on test morning is a desperate scramble. These are some of the things you can do tonight to get your big day off to a great start:

First, check with your parents to make sure they know when and where you’re scheduled to take the test, and arrange how you’ll get to the test center. Next, gather and pack all the things you’ll need to take with you. Some of the things on this check list are “must-have” items, while others are optional.

REQUIRED: Don’t forget any of the following items or it will be a long ride home!

• Admission/Standby ticket
• Acceptable form of photo ID
• Sharpened #2 pencils
• Calculator

SUGGESTED: These are things you may want to bring along.

• Water
• Snack
• Sweater
• Back-up calculator
• Extra batteries for your calculator
• Watch (to keep track of time)

Set your alarm, get a good night’s sleep and have a healthy, satisfying breakfast.

Good luck!

Registration Reminder

Remember, today is the registration deadline for the December 1st SAT and SAT Subject Tests.

Registration Reminder

Today is the registration deadline for the December 8th ACT.

 

 

Prep To Ace The Test

To do your best on standardized tests you need to develop a strategy.  Consider your learning style, how much time you plan to dedicate to test prep and your budget.  We suggest you decide whether you prefer to study on your own, in a group or with a tutor.  Regardless, the best way to prepare is to become familiar with the tests you’ll be taking to increase your comfort level and confidence when test day arrives. Take as many practice tests as possible to learn how to pace yourself, manage your timing and understand how the test is scored.

There are many free tests available through the resources listed below:

For the SAT:

1. Take an official SAT practice test. College Board has both online and printed versions available.
2. College Board has a daily practice app you can use to build your familiarity with the exam daily.
3. College Board offers free sample practice questions in Math, Reading and Writing for the SAT as well as questions for SAT Subject Tests.
4. Test prep companies, including Kaplan, The Princeton Review and Peterson’s offer free practice tests, both online and at their test centers. You’ll be required to register and provide your contact information to have access to the tests.
5. McGraw Hill offers an interactive online SAT test prep center with practice tests, videos and other helpful resources.

For the ACT:

1. Take an ACT practice test, score your exam and read about helpful test taking strategies.
2. Go to ACT’s website and do the practice questions in English, Math, Reading, Science and Writing.
3. Download ACT’s free study guide.
4. Register for free online and onsite practice tests with Kaplan, The Princeton Review and Peterson’s.
5. Check out McGraw Hill’s interactive online ACT test prep center which offers 2 complete practice tests with explanations. Prep videos and other resources are also available on this site.

For the SAT Subject Tests:

1. Success on an SAT II demonstrates your proficiency in a specific subject. Think about the subjects you excel in and ask for your teacher’s for input.
2. Time the exam to match up with the timing of other exams for that subject such as your final exam or AP exam.
3. Plan your test prep. Take as many practice exams as possible using prep books and go through the online practice questions as well.
4. Understand how the SAT subject tests are scored to maximize your results; you earn one point for each correct answer and lose a fraction of a point for each incorrect answer.

Get Ready for Tomorrow’s ACT

A few thoughts if you’re scheduled to take tomorrow’s ACT.

To minimize your stress tomorrow morning, it’s a great idea to get organized ahead of time. The last thing you need on test morning is a desperate scramble. These are some of the things you can do tonight to get your big day off to a great start:

First, check with your parents to make sure they know when and where you’re scheduled to take the test, and arrange how you’ll get to the test center. Next, gather and pack all the things you’ll need to take with you. Some of the things on this check list are “must-have” items, while others are optional.

REQUIRED: Don’t forget any of the following items or it will be a long ride home!

• An approved calculator
• Sharpened #2 pencils
• An acceptable form of photo ID
• Your admission or standby ticket

SUGGESTED:

• Water
• Snack
• Sweater
• Back-up calculator
• Extra batteries for your calculator
• Watch (to keep track of time)

Set your alarm, get a good night’s sleep and have a healthy, satisfying breakfast.

Good luck!