College Resources
The Application Process
Applying to college isn't as scary as it seems. Check these steps for a generic rundown of how the process usually goes.
- Letters of Recommendation: Ask teachers, coaches, club leaders, administration, or even employers to write you a letter of recommendation. Generally you should allow at least two weeks for these to be filled out. Letters of recommendation are not always required for applying to college, but they are always good to have.
- Career Counseling: Check with a school counselor, the career resource center, or another trusted adult. Let them know your plans or ideas you may have for your future and be willing to talk out the reality of these plans and whether or not your goals are attainable.
- Make A Plan: How are you going to get to your endpoint? What will your course be? Do you need to graduate college before you can get into your career field, or can you find an entry level position that you can work before/during college? What classes do you need to take to fulfill the requirements for your major? Does the college you're looking at offer that major/those classes? These are all things to look into before settling into a career path.
- Fill Out the FAFSA: FAFSA, or the Free Application for Student Aid, is a valuable tool for anyone who is not planning on paying out of pocket for college/university. It is an online application that asks for familial financial information and then calculates how much money you are eligible to receive by way of grants, student loans, etc. It can be time-consuming and confusing, but the CRC, guidance counselors, and some teachers are able to help.
- Scholarships: Scholarships are free money that you can use toward paying for college. Usually they are geared toward a specific type of student or intended career - there are scholarships for musicians, athletes, academics, high achievers, different cultures and ethnicities, and people living in a certain region, state, etc. These sometimes require an essay discussing why or how the grant fits for your circumstances, about who you are as a person, your future plans - there are many different prompts.
- Entrance Essays: Not all colleges require an entrance essay, but many do. Entrance essays generally discuss your academic past and intentions for your academic future. The required lengths may vary, but the general ideas for each essay shouldn't vary too much from school to school. One easy way of completing these is to write a generic version that you can spruce up or pare down as needed for each application. If you need help writing one of these, please see the Entrance Essay tab below.
- Online Applications: Most colleges allow online applications to be filled out. A good way to get familiar with this is to print out a copy of the application and practice filling it out before submitting it online. This also makes it easier to ensure that no other paperwork from administration will be needed.
Look into The Common App. It is an online database where you fill out one basic application and it gets sent out to multiple schools. This avoids having too many heavy application fees. Not all schools accept this, but many do.
Entrance Essays
Most colleges and universities request that you send them in an entrance essay. These essays may not be the main factor that decides whether or not you get accepted, but they play an important role. Usually (not always), you will be asked to write an essay about one of five options. For detailed information, see the list below.
Write an essay about a formative experience.
A formative experience is one that strongly influenced you, like the day you saved a turtle from oncoming traffic and the decision from that point on to become a wildlife rehabilitator.
Write an essay about your personal identity.
Who are you? What makes you the person that you are? In a world where everyone wants to be successful, what makes you stand out from the crowd?
Write an essay about community impact.
Where are you from? Where do you live? What has happened in your community that has taught you a lesson? Do you face adversity because of the house you live in or because of the neighborhood you call home? How has that affected you and how have you learned to overcome these challenges?
Write an essay about a past mistake.
We all know that nobody's perfect. Think of a time in your past where you have messed up and had to work to either find a solution or make amends with someone. What happened? How did you repair the error? What did you realize needs to change to make sure you don't make the same mistake twice?
Write an essay about a meaningful poem/story/piece of literature.
Literature is around us in so many different ways. Poems, stories, even the dialog used in television and commercials counts as literature. Something as small as a three line poem can affect a million different people in a million different ways. Think of something you've read or had read to you. Read or skim it again to refresh your memory. Why does it stick out? What makes it meaningful? How can it be applied to your life, your circumstances, your family, your relationship? Interpret it however it makes sense to you.
Entrance Essay Tips:
- Start strong. Entice your readers to follow along with you and make them feel invested in your story. What about your opening makes me want to stick around? Give me a scenario or a situation that is going to pique my interest. Make me want to know more.
- Don't focus on the past. The present and the future mean so, so much. The past may have helped form who you are now, but your present and your future are completely up to you. Tell the readers how you can solve the issues caused by the past and make them into instances that made you feel stronger.
- Be vulnerable. Let yourself open up and be honest with your readers. They do care about you and your wellbeing. Let them learn about who you are on your own terms. Share your life, but only what you are comfortable with.
- If you don't like writing matter-of-fact essays...don't. Experiment with writing on your topic creatively. Use whatever method feels right to you.
- Use your literary tools. Don't summarize or be too specific. Give your audience something to think about, some assumptions that they can make or infer from your writing. Don't be afraid to put all of those years of English class to waste.
FAFSA FAQ
How do I apply?
* Generally the FAFSA will be available to be filed around October 1st. They are working to simplify it and make it even easier to fill out, so this year it is not available until December 1st.
How long does it take to apply?
* There is no set amount of time that it will take you to apply, since you are able to work at your own pace and take breaks as needed. The website has a save function so you can even step away and finish another time.
Will I get a refund?
* Refunds depend on how much you qualify for and how much your tuition is. Some community colleges (like Mott) even let you buy your textbooks off of the promised amount for student aid.
Do I have to put my parents' tax information in my application?
* Yes, unless you are categorized as an independent student.
Do I have to do the FAFSA every year?
* Yes. Income fluctuates, so your granted amount will also fluctuate.
Scholarship Scams
5 WARNING SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
Processing Fees or other payment:
No legitimate scholarship requires any upfront payment.
Free seminars or interviews:
These are actually high-pressure pitches for 'consulting services' or high-interest student loans.
Unsolicited offers:
If you're offered a scholarship you didn't apply for, it's a scam.
Time-sensitive offers:
Scholarships have application deadlines, but no legitimate provider will pressure you into applying before that deadline.
Sweeping claims and 'guarantees':
No one can absolutely promise you'll get a scholarship --especially if they're not the ones offering the scholarship.
College Visits
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