Those of you who are using the Common Application to apply to colleges may be confused as to whether or not you must waive your right to access recommendations and other information contained in your application. Please use the following link to view a detailed explanation of the process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-dTI2wJ_JA
As you can see, you must sign the FERPA waiver in order for your high school and teachers to release information about you to your prospective college. However, you do not need to waive your right to access the materials and recommendations they send.
Some students feel that failure to waive that right may be frowned upon by college admissions officers - that it may imply collusion on your part regarding what your recommenders write. If that were the case, why wouldn't the colleges suspect your grades as well. The letter of recommendation is just that - a recommendation. It is not an evaluation or a progress report. Ergo, the teacher who agrees to write one has agreed to highlight your attributes, like the letters of reference of old which many travelers carried to vouch for their character in parts unknown.
If you choose to waive that right, confident in the fact that you have chosen your recommenders wisely, you should at least get a copy of the letters. When you succeed in gaining admission to the college of your choice, you can use the letter to win an off-campus job in a town where you are most likely unknown and too new to get the backing of your current professors. It just may make the difference as to whether you or your legion of competitors get that barista job!
Showing posts with label Common Application. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Common Application. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The College Application Essay
Years ago, it seemed only a handful of colleges used the Common Application. Actually, when I began my career as a counselor, only fifteen schools used the program and it was, as I found out on their website, their Pilot Project year. Now, over 400 programs use the Application and 134 schools use it exclusively. Many of those 134 are quite exclusive as well, e.g., Williams, Brown, Yale, et. al.
On the Common Application home page, www.commonapp.org, under "Additional Resources", you'll find a link to the National Association for College Admission Counselling, www.nacacnet.org, which provides valuable information on parent and student resources. There is also a link to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, www.nasfaa.org.
Those rising juniors who know the schools to which they plan to apply as seniors, can begin their applications now. The Application website provides online and print versions of its first year and transfer applications. The preview of the 2011-2012 application can be accessed online. It provides six topics from which you may choose to write a 250-500 word essay. One of the selections is "Topic of your choice". The LEAST you should do this summer is prepare a rough draft. Even if your senior English teacher plans to cover this in next year's curriculum, this is a head start you will not regret having taken.
I rate essays for a major educational testing program and I can commiserate with application essay readers in admissions offices. Nothing stands out more than a well written, creative essay. Of the hundreds, if not thousands, of essays they must read, I'm sure the majority neither have these qualities nor give the reader a real sense of the writer's voice, of who he is. As a former English teacher, I know that one great tip we have imparted through the years is, "Read your essay aloud". Things that would have been missed in a silent edit of your essay will be picked up and language that is confusing and stilted will not go unnoticed, nor will run-on sentences, which this one has become! All kidding aside, a great website which will help you navigate this process is www.englishclub.com. Just search "College Application Essays Help" and you'll be taken through a series of "lessons" (six in all) that will help you write a good, if not great, application essay. As the saying goes, you've only got one chance to make a good first impression. The college application essay is your chance to do that.
Bi-weekly posts will resume on September 21, 2011.
HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER!
On the Common Application home page, www.commonapp.org, under "Additional Resources", you'll find a link to the National Association for College Admission Counselling, www.nacacnet.org, which provides valuable information on parent and student resources. There is also a link to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, www.nasfaa.org.
Those rising juniors who know the schools to which they plan to apply as seniors, can begin their applications now. The Application website provides online and print versions of its first year and transfer applications. The preview of the 2011-2012 application can be accessed online. It provides six topics from which you may choose to write a 250-500 word essay. One of the selections is "Topic of your choice". The LEAST you should do this summer is prepare a rough draft. Even if your senior English teacher plans to cover this in next year's curriculum, this is a head start you will not regret having taken.
I rate essays for a major educational testing program and I can commiserate with application essay readers in admissions offices. Nothing stands out more than a well written, creative essay. Of the hundreds, if not thousands, of essays they must read, I'm sure the majority neither have these qualities nor give the reader a real sense of the writer's voice, of who he is. As a former English teacher, I know that one great tip we have imparted through the years is, "Read your essay aloud". Things that would have been missed in a silent edit of your essay will be picked up and language that is confusing and stilted will not go unnoticed, nor will run-on sentences, which this one has become! All kidding aside, a great website which will help you navigate this process is www.englishclub.com. Just search "College Application Essays Help" and you'll be taken through a series of "lessons" (six in all) that will help you write a good, if not great, application essay. As the saying goes, you've only got one chance to make a good first impression. The college application essay is your chance to do that.
Bi-weekly posts will resume on September 21, 2011.
HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Virtual Tours and Other Tools
OK - You've got a few places in mind in which you and your family can justify spending THOUSANDS of dollars! What's next? You need to get up close and personal - visit the campus. This part of the process may seem daunting. You may have a few dozen places of interest all over the country. Luckily, you have an invaluable tool at your disposal - the Internet.
When you look up a specific college on www.collegeboard.com, you are often given a link which will take you directly to the college website. Many times that site will include a virtual tour of the campus. There is another site, www.campustour.com, which provides virtual campus tours for many colleges and universities. As stated in a previous post, www.unigo.com is another excellent resource which links to campus tours as well. While these virtual tours are not a substitute for actually visiting a specific school, something you see or learn from the website may rule out a campus or make it a definite "must see".
Another way to learn about a school is through college fairs or a college representative's visit to your high school. These events are often only as good as the rep sent by the college. However, it is a good way to pick up brochures and applications if the school does not accept the Common Application which I'll cover in a future blog. (Many schools have online application procedures but having a paper copy will help you prepare a rough draft.) If a college representative does visit your school, it's a good idea to attend the session even if you have already visited the college and have decided to definitely apply. If it's a group session, you'll get an idea of which other students in your school are considering that college and you can "size up" your local competition. Try to meet with the rep personally. Be sure to take her card or get contact information such as an email address so that you can get in touch with a follow-up email if you have further questions. If you decide to apply to the college, email the rep to let her know. Considering all the students a rep visits with, she may not remember you but anything that might put a face to the application papers is worth a try!
When you look up a specific college on www.collegeboard.com, you are often given a link which will take you directly to the college website. Many times that site will include a virtual tour of the campus. There is another site, www.campustour.com, which provides virtual campus tours for many colleges and universities. As stated in a previous post, www.unigo.com is another excellent resource which links to campus tours as well. While these virtual tours are not a substitute for actually visiting a specific school, something you see or learn from the website may rule out a campus or make it a definite "must see".
Another way to learn about a school is through college fairs or a college representative's visit to your high school. These events are often only as good as the rep sent by the college. However, it is a good way to pick up brochures and applications if the school does not accept the Common Application which I'll cover in a future blog. (Many schools have online application procedures but having a paper copy will help you prepare a rough draft.) If a college representative does visit your school, it's a good idea to attend the session even if you have already visited the college and have decided to definitely apply. If it's a group session, you'll get an idea of which other students in your school are considering that college and you can "size up" your local competition. Try to meet with the rep personally. Be sure to take her card or get contact information such as an email address so that you can get in touch with a follow-up email if you have further questions. If you decide to apply to the college, email the rep to let her know. Considering all the students a rep visits with, she may not remember you but anything that might put a face to the application papers is worth a try!
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