Surviving the College Application Process

Jennifer Romano is a high school counselor with over 18 years of experience helping students achieve academic, social, and personal success through their unique lens as they navigate post-secondary goals.

Introduction

Part 1: Where to apply?

1 College-bound for everyone?

2 Trends of a forever-changing college landscape

3 Two-year vs. four-year colleges

4 Alternative post-secondary pursuits—considering a gap year, immersion programs, travel abroad, or full-year college deferments

Part 2: How to apply?

5 Common-, coalition-, institution-based applications: What and how do they matter?

6 Data-driven schools vs. holistic

7 Admission types and deadlines

8 The wave of selectivity: Reach, target, and safety

9 When to test, what to test, how many times? 32

10 Self-reported academic record (SRAR©/SSAR©)

11 Alternative branch campuses and various semester starts (including summer)

12 The value of spiked interest vs. well-rounded

Part 3: The parts of the application

13 The essay vs. personal statement

14 Value of the LORs (letters of recommendation)

15 Social media and email etiquette

16 What schools look at: Major-specific

17 World language

Part 4: After the application

18 You’ve been deferred or wait-listed. . . . Now what?

19 Transferability vs. apply direct

20 Applying undecided—developmental studies

21 ROTC and service academy candidates

22 Athletes and athletic division I/II and III considerations and recruitment

23 Paying for college

24 ACCUPLACER®/ALEKS® placement exams

25 “Thank you”: The power of a great attitude = gratitude

Part 5: After acceptance

26 Mental health and balance

27 Disabilities: SSD and SDI

28 Senioritis—finishing strong

29 Preparing for successful arrival on campus