College Application Packet
- 1. Let's Talk about College A GUIDE TO SEARCHING, APPLYING & CHOOSING FIRSTTALKCOLLEGE.WORDPRESS.COM
- 2. WWW. FIRSTTALKCOLLEGE. WORDPRESS. COM Hi! My name is Jenna. I am currently a junior at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. studying American Studies. This semester I am abroad in Dublin, Ireland where I am using some of my free-time to promote a cause I care about: college access. In high school I never-ever expected to get into a College like Georgetown. Coming from a small town in Maine as a first generation college student, it just was not something that seemed in the realm of possibilities. Also, I had no idea where to even begin. Thanks to some wonderful mentors that took the time to sit down with me and explain the process, reviewed my essays, and simply encouraged me to apply to competitive colleges: the people that told me I could get in, I'm here today! I am living a life that three years ago I would have never imagined. I have traveled to three continents, had internship experiences from the U.S. Senate to my College dining hall, and have become a much happier, healthier, and active person. The world has become a cooler place to live in now that I have had the opportunity to learn so much about it. Granted I am VERY lucky and it has not always been easy. There have been low points, hurdles, and moments of doubt, but I have luckily had all of the support I've needed to overcome them. I am writing and distributing this packet in hopes that I can make it a little easier for someone else to access the wonderful world that is college as I have. I am **not an expert**, but I've been there. If anything this is a resource that can connect you to the experts, empower you, and make the process a little less daunting. To follow up on this resource, I have also created a blog platform where I intend to continue to upload helpful materials, answer questions, and spread the word about college access. Please don't be afraid to reach out- I want to help! A Bit About Me For Context 2
- 3. TABLE OF CONTENTS Ready, Set, Go! P4) College? Why?! P5) Terms I Wish I'd Known Sooner P7) Exploring Your Options P8) Things to Consider P9) Applying P11) The Essay P12) Financial Aid P14) Contact Me 3
- 4. COLLEGE?! WHY The Department of Education says. . . H T T P S : / / C O L L E G E S C O R E C A R D . E D . G O V / H T T P : / / W W W . H U F F I N G T O N P O S T . C O M / J A M I E - M E R I S O T I S / W A N T - T O - B E - H A P P I E R - A N D - H E _ B _ 8 2 8 8 3 5 4 . H T M L H T T P S : / / C E W . G E O R G E T O W N . E D U / W P - C O N T E N T / U P L O A D S / P A R C H M E N T - C R E D E N T I A L S - C O M P E T E N C I E S - I S S U E - B R I E F . P D F On average college graduates earn over $1 MILLION more over their lifetimes than high school graduates. Georgetown' s Center for Education and the Work Force says. . . The only strategy more expensive than going to college is not going to college. I say. . . Go to college because it is the best investment you can make in yourself and your future. Not only will a degree help you get a job, it will help you live a life you enjoy. It will open your mind to a million ideas and opportunities you'd never considered before and it will give you the freedom to explore them further. The Huffington Post says. . . Going to College will make you Happier and Healthier. 4
- 5. The interview! "First generation" Tips terms I wish I'd known sooner Nooneinmyfamilyhasevergonetocollege.Comingfromsmalltown Maine,thisneveroccurredtomeasbeingunusual.Whenmy GeorgetowninterviewerseemedsurprisedtohearthatmyDadwasa carpenterandmyMomanadministrativeassistantIwasconfused. Whilesomeschoolshavelargerpopulationsoffirstgensthanothers, atschoolslikeGeorgetownitcanbeabigdeal.Ireceiveamazing financialaidandendlessotherformsofsupportfromsocial, professional,toemergencyfinancehelp,asafirstgenerationstudent. BeginningtheapplicationprocessIhadNOIDEAthatinterviewswere athingattheendtheyweremyfavoritepartofall.Notonlyweremy interviews(Ihad5)agoodwayformetoaddaninpersoncomponent tomyapplication,buttheywereafantasticwayformetogettoknow theschoolsIwasapplyingto.Theinterviewersweremostoften alumniwhowerejustasexcitedabouttheprospectofmeattending theiralmamaterasIwas.Itevenhelpedmedecidewhichschoolsto crossoffmylistcomedecisiontime.Bearinmindnotallschoolsoffer orrequireinterviews,butiftheydodonotpassuptheopportunity! 5 Financial Aid Youcouldpotentiallyattendacompetitiveprivateschoolforlessmoney thanyourlocalschoolorcommunitycollege!Eliteschoolsareoftenthose thatcanaffordtobe"100%needsmet".Grantedthisrequiresbeing accepted,butifyouareinafinancialsituationthatqualifyyourforaidyou couldgotoacompetitiveschoolforlessthanitwouldcostyoutogoto communitycollege. Donotbeafraidtoapplytoaschoolbecauseofapricetag.Youwill notknowhowmuchtheschoolisgoingtocostuntilyougetin.
- 6. Work experience can help you "Holistic" Terms I wish I'd known sooner Oftenthereisanimpressionthatcollegesareonlylookingforone"type"of person.Thisisnottrue!Collegesactuallyprefertohaveadiversegroup ofstudents.Despite,thepreconceivednotionthatyourresumemustbe full,yourgradesmustbeperfect,andyourtestscoresmustbehigh, collegeswouldrathergettoknowyouandyourflaws"holistically"than seeapictureperfectversion. Worriedyourlistofextracurricularactivitiesistooshortbecauseyourpart timejobtookupmostofyourtimeafterschool?Ormaybeyouwere responsibleoftakingcareofyoungersiblings,aparent,lookingaftera neighbor?Theseexperiencescancomplimentyourapplication!Donotbe afraidtoshareorexplainthemtheessayandtheinterviewarebothgreat timestodothis.Thathorriblesummeryouspentmowinglawnstoafford someofyourowneconomicfreedomcouldsayalotaboutwhoyouare. 6 Early Decision Oftenschoolswillwaiveapplicationfeesifyouqualifyit'sabsolutelyworth lookingintoifyouthinkyoumight!Andsomeschoolswillevenflyyououtfora visitifyouareagoodcandidatedon'tbeafriadtoaskaboutthese opportunitieseither, Ifyouhaveadreamschoolthatyouknowyouwanttogoto,sometimesyou canapplyearly!Certainschoolshaveaprocesscalled"earlydecision"which meansiftheyacceptyouyoumustdecidetogo.Thisanoftenhelpyour chancesatgettinginbecauseitshowstheschoolyou'reseriousaboutgoing there.SomeschoolsalsohavenonbindingEarlyActionwhereyoucanfind outifyougotinearlywithoutnecessarilyhavingtogothere.MostEarly decision/actiondeadlinesareNov.1st. Other lesser known perks:
- 7. EXPLORING YOUR OPTIONS H T T P S : / / C O L L E G E S C O R E C A R D . E D . G O V / H T T P S : / / C O L L E G E S . N I C H E . C O M / H T T P S : / / B I G F U T U R E . C O L L E G E B O A R D . O R G / C O L L E G E - S E A R C H TherearesomeAMAZINGresourcesout theretofindandcomparecollegesthatare rightforyou.Eachsitehasitsownoptions tocustomizeyoursearchbylocation,cost, difficulty,etc.alongwithstudentreviews. Checkthemout: The college scorecard is *especially* helpful in evaluating schools. Here are some tips from a FORMER ADMISSIONS OFFICER at Georgetown of things to look for: Universities whose net costs are lower than the national average but whose average incomes are higher and a good 6-year graduation rate are important factors to consider! 7
- 8. T h i n g s t o C o n s i d e r d u r i n g y o u r s e a r c h : 0 8 4)Location:WheredoIwanttobe?Isthedistancefrom homedoable? 3)Financing:Isthisaschoolthatgivesoutneedsbased ormeritbasedaid?Whichareyoumorequalifiedfor? *Seepage12. 5)WillIgetin?:Isthisschoolareach,middle,orsafety?Try tonarrowdownafewofeach. 6)Environment:Rangingfromclimatetosize,isthisa placewhereIwouldbecomfortable? 8)SupportSystems:Whatresourcesdoestheschool provideforphysicalandmentalhealth,academichelp,and careerplanning. 2)Academics:DoesthisschoolhavetheprogramIam lookingfor?Istheorganizationofthisprogramappealing tome? 7)Opportunities:Doesthisschoolhaveopportunitiesto travel,seeguestspeakers,takeinternships,playsports,etc. 1)AfterCollege:Willadegreefromthisschoolhelpme achievemygoals? www.firsttalkcollege.wordpress.com 8
- 9. APPLYING List Schools Make a Timeline Make a Check List 01 02 03 04 05 Apply! Once you've narrowed down the schools you'd like to apply to list them in order of preference. What does each school require for its application? Look at your schools deadlines and map them out. See PAGE ? for more on this one.. Check off the list and submit. (Before doing so check to see if you qualify for fee waivers) Write Your Essay STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP 9 You should start this process as early!
- 10. School Deadline Interview Essays Submit Get Organized
- 11. WHO ARE YOU WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE BE CREATIVE w w w . f i r s t t a l k c o l l e g e . w o r d p r e s s . c o m THE ESSAY While "the essay" can often seem like the most daunting part of the college application process, it can also be your biggest ally. Colleges want to get to know you: what makes you different? How do you identify and where do your identities place you in the greater world around you? Now is the time to get creative, to connect the dots between the other boxes you've check in the process, interests you've listed, your resume, classes, etc. The essay is how for an admission's officer gets to know you. Take a breath and check out these tips AND examples before you get started: http://college.usatoday.com/2014/10/23/9essay writingtipstowowcollegeadmissionsofficers/ https://apply.jhu.edu/apply/essaysthatworked/2020/ https://www.apstudynotes.org/essays/ 11
- 12. MERIT BASED VS. NEED BASED F I N A N C I A L A I D M E R I T - B A S E D Merit-based financial aid is funding usually offered in the form of scholarships or grants and is given to students as a reward for exceptional merit. Who gives it?: Merit-Based is given out by many schools from public to private. Merit- based is what the University of Maine gives to its applicants who graduated at the top of their class, have great grades, and or did well on standardized tests. Merit- based aid is also given by many private colleges that don't necessarily have the funds to be "needs met" but seek to obtain great students. Who gets it?: Students that stand out of a merit-based school's applicants. N E E D - B A S E D Needs-based financial aid is funding that is offered in the form of scholarships, grants, or loans based on a student's ability to afford college. Who gives it?: Needs-based financial aid is given by almost all schools (some in the form of scholarship and some in the form of loans), but if a school has committed to be "needs- met" they will give more. Financial need is indicated by the FASFA (submission of taxes done in January) and CSS Profile (another form of reporting income required by some schools). Who gets it?: Anyone accepted into a school with financial need will receive financial aid in the amount of need they state to meet. 12 REMEMBERyouwon'tknowhowmuchaschoolisgoingtocostyou untilyougetaccepted.Applynow,considerfinanceslater.
- 13. O T H E R F O R M S O F F I N A N C I A L A I D Inthebigpicturemostofthescholarshipsyoureceivewill comefromthoselargerscholarshipsthatyourschoolawards youuponadmittance:meritbasedorneedsbaseddepending ontheschool.Thatsaid,thesesourcesarenottheonly availableforhelpingtoensurethatyourdegreeisaffordable. PellGrant:ThePellGrantisbasicallyfreemoneyissuedbythe governmenttohelpstudentswithfinancialneedpayforcollege.The amountyourecievewillbebasedonthecostofyourattendance,whether youareapartorfulltimestudent,andyourfinancialneed. WorkStudy:Ifyouareastudentwithfinancialneedyoumayqualifyfor workstudy.Differentschoolsallocateworkstudydifferently,butatmy school(forexample)myworkstudyhasseparatefrommyfinancialaidI cangetajoboncampus,asatutorinthecity,amongotheropportunities, andthemoneyIampaidgoestomenotmyschooltohelpmepayfor dailyexpenses. LocalScholarships:Whilelocalscholarshipslikelywon'tbethedifference betweenyoubeingabletoaffordaspecificschoolornottheycertainlyhelp! Thesescholarshipsareoftenrelativelyeasytoapplyforandtheyusually comefrombusienessinyourcommunitythatgettoclaimtheirdonationon theirtaxesandhelpyouatthesametime! 13 ThisSpringIwilladdmoredetailedinformationonfinancialaidand scholarshipsonmyblog!
- 14. Contact Me: w w w . f i r s t t a l k c o l l e g e . w o r d p r e s s . c o m jc2436@georgetown.edu If you have any questions, need help, or a review!