WHS College Applications

SUGGESTIONS FOR FILLING OUT COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

The appearance of your application as well as content will influence the Admissions Committee. Allow yourself sufficient time to fill out the application. A "rush job" results in careless errors. Work at home, alone, in a quiet place where you can give the job the consideration it deserves.
Read directions carefully; follow them accurately.
Read all questions on the form and think about your answers before you begin to write.
Write all answers to essay questions on scrap paper first. Ask your English teacher to approve this before writing it on the application form.
Make your answers truthful, specific, and concise.
Write neatly, type if possible.
Plan your use of page space. If a small space is provided for a long answer, use the space above and below the line and keep all writing the same size.
If you do not type, use a washable blue or black ink. If you should make an error,, use ink eradicator or erase it neatly.
Avoid errors and ink blots. Many colleges will refuse a request for a second application form.
Avoid spelling errors; use a dictionary.
Answer all questions.
If an application fee is required, enclose a check or money order with your application.
If a photograph is requested, paste or staple it to the form in the space provided. An expensive studio portrait is not necessary. Consult the yellow pages of the telephone book for "Passport Photo Studio"; they will furnish adequate photos quickly at a low cost.
Fill out a transcript request card in the Registrar's Office in order to send an "official" transcript.
Applications for housing may or may not be included with the college admission application. Many colleges do not send students the housing application until the college admission application has been received. Since housing is often in short supply, it is important that students make application at the earliest possible date.

COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY

Some colleges will request a one or two page (typed) autobiography.
Begin rough draft in September; don't wait until the last minute in October.
If you write your first draft in pencil, you can erase mistakes and correct copy as you write.
Put your rough draft aside for 24 hours, then reread.
Make corrections for sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Ask someone else to read and evaluate your paper; your English teacher may be able to give you some pointers.
Type your final draft. If you do not type, write legibly in ink and finalize plans to take typing next semester (you'll need it in college).

Outline of Autobiography Each paragraph should develop and discuss only one idea and lead easily into the next topic. Include as much of the following information as possible, though not necessarily in this order:

Family background information should describe how it related to your life as a future college student, including size of family and parental information. Avoid unnecessary detail about the family, and DO NOT begin the first paragraph as "I was born in..." Try to be as original as possible.
Financial background information should describe why you need financial help, projected extent of parent support parents' occupation and income range.
High school and college background information:
1. Academic: Give an honest appraisal of your work in school, including those courses you enjoyed most, as well as honest reasons for any low grades such as employment, illness, etc.
2. Extra-curricular activities, special hobbies or talents (musical instrument, writing, painting, singing, etc.) should also be included.
Community involvement (outside of school) should include church groups, service organizations, work experience, and other special interests pursued in your spare time.
Statement of your educational goals should include why you want to go to college. Specify careers you are considering, even if you are an undeclared major. Incorporate in this section why you chose a particular college using factual reasons: interest in nursing school, friend's recommendation/reputation of the engineering department. (This may require requesting further information about the campus and the department to which you are applying.) Explain the relationship between your educational plans and stated career goals.
Incorporate any other information asked for by specific colleges or scholarship programs.
Remember, if the college finds you marginal in terms of acceptance, your essay may play a very important part in the admission decision. Since you will not know prior to applying where you will fall in the applicant pool, you should complete your essay with care.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Purpose:

	To help Admissions personnel get to know the student as an individual
	To allow the applicant to fill in the gaps, explain unusual circumstances, and provide a more complete picture or her or himself
	To help the reader understand a student's interests, achievements, opportunities, and challenges faced while achieving academic & personal success
	Scholarship consideration.

Topics:

	Reflecting on your family's experiences and personal circumstances, what would you like to tell the college that is not already revealed or explained sufficiently in your application.
	What you do in the classroom defines only a part of who you are. How do you spend your time when you are not in class or studying? Focus on one activity, two at the most, and discuss what you have gained from your involvement.
	You may have taken or are currently taking high school, summer session or community college courses that do not fulfill the college preparatory curriculum required for college admission. If you feel that any of these course have helped you develop special skills and enhanced your overall preparation for college and your future, give a brief description and discuss how they have benefited you.

What the Personal Statement Is NOT:

	A visionary statement of what you plan for your future, without concrete examples of what initiatives you have already taken that will lead you to your goals.
	An elaboration on someone you admire, without a specific description of what you, yourself, have done or not done as a result of your inspiration.
	An exaggeration of problems but an acceptance of responsibility for choices, academic performance, and/or behaviors.
	An exhaustive listing of activities, honors, awards but rather a judicious selection of important indicators.
	Solely a sample of writing skills although appropriate grammar, level of usage and spelling are expected.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Most private colleges, competitive college major departments, and the University of California will request a letter of recommendation.
Colleges are looking for personal insights about student applications, not a reiteration of grades and test scores. The most effective letters are usually obtained from teachers or counselors who know the student very well.
The most competitive colleges usually prefer letters from teachers of college prep courses, (i.e., English, Lab Science, Advanced Math, and Foreign Language). These faculty members will witness strengths in their classroom. These teachers are often better able to promote admission than, for instance, an administrator who has not had such extended personal interaction.
When requesting a letter or recommendation, allow the faculty member ten to fourteen days for completion.
Make personal contact with the faculty member. DO NOT assume the letter will be completed if you send a request by mail.
Be sure to give the faculty member an addressed, stamped envelope containing the names of the individual/office to receive the letter.
Write a short "thank you" to the individual who has taken the time to support you in this way.