Application for admission
The college wants the application to reflect you (your interests, values, and how you write and think), so completing your application will take a great deal of time and energy. Put your best foot forward without coming across as boastful. Throughout the application, pay close attention to directions and be honest, thorough, and concise. You should save a copy of the application prompt to use as a rough draft.
Once your materials have been sent from the Counseling Office (based on the deadline provided), you should call to “check the status” of your file to make sure that all materials have been received. Give the college 2 weeks after the deadline date and do not call more than once. See the Counseling Office immediately if you find that some of your materials are missing.
Housing Applications
If the college offers a housing application before you have applied, you should go ahead and submit it if that school is one of your top choice institutions. Check the literature to find out whether or not your deposit is refundable (most are, albeit in decreasing increments as time progresses). If you wait until you are accepted to apply, you may not have housing. Some very large institutions do NOT guarantee student housing on-campus.
Honors Programs
Don’t forget that many colleges and universities have honors programs. Check their literature for requirements for admission and whether or not there is a separate application.
Scholarship Applications
Sometimes a college or university will have a separate scholarship application and a specific deadline for that application. Check their literature for requirements (GPA, test scores, etc.) and whether or not there is a separate application (e.g., academic merit, talent, Alumni, departmental, Honors, etc.).
Test Scores
Almost all colleges or universities require either the ACT or SAT I for admittance to college. Some highly selective schools also require SAT IIs (Subject Area Tests). Test scores should be sent directly from the testing agency (www.actstudent.org for ACT and www.collegeboard.com for SAT I, SAT II&AP test results). For a list of colleges that don’t require tests, see fairtest.org.
Transcripts
Colleges Students should add the college(s) to the Naviance “Colleges I’m Applying to” roster, noted in the Colleges tab. Make sure you designate whether sending via Common App or not. NOTE: When you add to your college list make sure you select the correct application type; Rolling, Regular Decision, Early Action, Early Decision, etc.
Scholarships For scholarship applications or special programs, students should submit a Transcript Request Form (available outside of the Counseling Office) to the Counseling Office. Transcript request forms must be turned in no later than 3 weeks PRIOR to the deadline date.
Teacher Recommendations
Ask two teachers to write a recommendation; one from the humanities (English, foreign language, or social studies) and one from the math/science areas. Provide these teachers with a folder containing a listing of institutions you are applying to and their due dates, and a copy of the senior questionnaire, an unofficial transcript, and your current schedule (available in the Counseling Office). If your teacher cannot complete the forms online, you will also need to provide college specific recommendation forms with the personal information of the student already filled out (name, date of birth, address, etc.) and self-addressed (made out to the admissions office of the university) and stamped envelopes.
Students whose applications require teacher recommendations should give the teacher at least a one month notice.
TIP: Students should sign and denote that they waive their right of access to the recommendation letter. A number of teachers will refuse to write the recommendation letter until this is completed. If you are concerned about this, then maybe that teacher is not an appropriate person to ask. When asking a teacher if they will write a letter of recommendation make sure to use the buzz words “positive” or “good”; ex., “I was hoping that you might be able to write me a positive recommendation when I start applying to colleges this fall.”
College Visits
Upperclassmen (Juniors and Seniors) are allowed a restricted number of college visit days that count as an excused absence. These college visits do not count against you as part of the absences for exam exemptions PROVIDED you complete the form ahead of time and provide proof of attendance. See College Visit Form for more details.
Admission Representatives
It is important to make contact with admissions representatives when they are in town. These are generally the people who will be examining your application and determining whether or not to grant you admission and scholarship consideration. Be on the look out for information about:
The college wants the application to reflect you (your interests, values, and how you write and think), so completing your application will take a great deal of time and energy. Put your best foot forward without coming across as boastful. Throughout the application, pay close attention to directions and be honest, thorough, and concise. You should save a copy of the application prompt to use as a rough draft.
Once your materials have been sent from the Counseling Office (based on the deadline provided), you should call to “check the status” of your file to make sure that all materials have been received. Give the college 2 weeks after the deadline date and do not call more than once. See the Counseling Office immediately if you find that some of your materials are missing.
Housing Applications
If the college offers a housing application before you have applied, you should go ahead and submit it if that school is one of your top choice institutions. Check the literature to find out whether or not your deposit is refundable (most are, albeit in decreasing increments as time progresses). If you wait until you are accepted to apply, you may not have housing. Some very large institutions do NOT guarantee student housing on-campus.
Honors Programs
Don’t forget that many colleges and universities have honors programs. Check their literature for requirements for admission and whether or not there is a separate application.
Scholarship Applications
Sometimes a college or university will have a separate scholarship application and a specific deadline for that application. Check their literature for requirements (GPA, test scores, etc.) and whether or not there is a separate application (e.g., academic merit, talent, Alumni, departmental, Honors, etc.).
Test Scores
Almost all colleges or universities require either the ACT or SAT I for admittance to college. Some highly selective schools also require SAT IIs (Subject Area Tests). Test scores should be sent directly from the testing agency (www.actstudent.org for ACT and www.collegeboard.com for SAT I, SAT II&AP test results). For a list of colleges that don’t require tests, see fairtest.org.
Transcripts
Colleges Students should add the college(s) to the Naviance “Colleges I’m Applying to” roster, noted in the Colleges tab. Make sure you designate whether sending via Common App or not. NOTE: When you add to your college list make sure you select the correct application type; Rolling, Regular Decision, Early Action, Early Decision, etc.
Scholarships For scholarship applications or special programs, students should submit a Transcript Request Form (available outside of the Counseling Office) to the Counseling Office. Transcript request forms must be turned in no later than 3 weeks PRIOR to the deadline date.
Teacher Recommendations
Ask two teachers to write a recommendation; one from the humanities (English, foreign language, or social studies) and one from the math/science areas. Provide these teachers with a folder containing a listing of institutions you are applying to and their due dates, and a copy of the senior questionnaire, an unofficial transcript, and your current schedule (available in the Counseling Office). If your teacher cannot complete the forms online, you will also need to provide college specific recommendation forms with the personal information of the student already filled out (name, date of birth, address, etc.) and self-addressed (made out to the admissions office of the university) and stamped envelopes.
Students whose applications require teacher recommendations should give the teacher at least a one month notice.
TIP: Students should sign and denote that they waive their right of access to the recommendation letter. A number of teachers will refuse to write the recommendation letter until this is completed. If you are concerned about this, then maybe that teacher is not an appropriate person to ask. When asking a teacher if they will write a letter of recommendation make sure to use the buzz words “positive” or “good”; ex., “I was hoping that you might be able to write me a positive recommendation when I start applying to colleges this fall.”
College Visits
Upperclassmen (Juniors and Seniors) are allowed a restricted number of college visit days that count as an excused absence. These college visits do not count against you as part of the absences for exam exemptions PROVIDED you complete the form ahead of time and provide proof of attendance. See College Visit Form for more details.
- Have parent/guardian sign the College Visit form. Have teachers sign the form and turn it in to the Front Office no later than 3 days before the scheduled visit.
- When you return, you MUST provide proof (a note or letter from the school) of your visit to the HFA Front Office.
Admission Representatives
It is important to make contact with admissions representatives when they are in town. These are generally the people who will be examining your application and determining whether or not to grant you admission and scholarship consideration. Be on the look out for information about:
- Local receptions
- College Fairs
- HFA College Corner (posted on Naviance under Colleges)
- HFA College Fair