Campus Visits: Before You Go 

Visiting colleges is a great way to get a feel for what college is like. And when the time comes, it can help you decide if a specific college is right for you.

Exploring campuses is well worth your while. You don’t have to travel far — visiting local colleges is just as valuable. 

Campus visits can range from a quick hour to an overnight stay.

Arrange a Visit

All colleges have admission offices that can help you plan your visit. Your high school may organize group tours of nearby colleges. And you can plan your own informal visit to a college campus. Take these important first steps:

•  Contact the college admission office through the college's website or by email or phone to get details and make a reservation.
•  Talk to your counselor about joining an organized tour of campuses you might not get to visit otherwise.
•  Schedule time to be on your own. Walk around the public areas of the college and don't be shy about asking students questions.

What to Expect

Campus visits can range from a quick hour to an overnight stay, from a casual guided tour to a formal presentation. Be sure to ask how long the whole visit will take so you can be prepared.

Most campus visits will include the following:

• An information session. An admission representative talks to you or your group about the college before the campus tour.
• A campus tour. These are usually led by current students. You’ll see the main parts of the campus and have a chance to ask questions.
• At many colleges, you can also arrange to do the following:
• Attend a class.
• Meet with a professor.
• Meet with an admission officer.
• Meet with a financial aid officer.
• Attend a club meeting or a sports practice session.
• Eat in the dining hall.
• Spend the night in a dorm.

Get Ready

Before your visit, you should get prepared:

•    Explore the college’s official website and review any materials the college has sent you. This will help you come up with questions specific to that college.
•    Make a list of questions to ask both staff and students. You can use the Campus Visit Checklist as a starting point.
•    Get a map of the college campus and check where the admission office is. This will help ensure that you're on time for your visit.
•    When you're ready to go, remember to do the following:
•    Pack a notebook and a camera so you can record your impressions. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to forget details after you’ve seen a few colleges.

Courtesy of the Southampton High School Counseling Office

6 Steps to Get the Most Out of a Campus Visit

Why plan a visit?

Checking out a college campus near you is a great idea, even if you don't know what you want to major in or what type of college you want to go to. College visits can give you a sense of what might be important to you in a college and what college life is all about. Here are six suggestions for planning your visit and getting the most out of it.

Step 1:   Decide where and how

Find out what colleges are nearby and think about planning a visit. There may be programs at your school that arrange group trips to colleges. You could also get a group of friends together and visit the campus by car or public transportation. A family trip is another option, and it allows you to involve your family in the process.

Step 2:   Prepare for your visit

Before you set out, get a map of the college campus (the college's website usually has one) and pick out places of interest. Call the college's admission office to schedule a guided tour of the campus or to ask about the best times to visit.

Step 3:   Take your own tour

Just wandering around the campus on your own or with friends can be the best way to get a feel for what a college is like.

Step 4:   Explore college facilities

Ask a student where the best place to eat is and have lunch there. Visit the library. Check out the gym or the theater. Ask an admission officer if you can tour a dorm and a classroom. Find the spots on campus where students gather; hang out there and get a feel for the character of the college.

Step 5:   Make connections

Talk to current students. Ask the students at the next table or sitting on a nearby bench what they like best about the college or what they like best about being in college in general.

Step 6:  Make notes

During your visit, write down some notes about your experience. What did you see that excited you? Do you feel you could explore the library for days? Can you picture yourself on stage in the theater? Do you want to get a closer look at the equipment in a lab? Are there aspects of the college that you don't like? If so, what are they?

What now?

When you visit a college, just relax, observe and have fun. There's no pressure.

Courtesy of the Southampton High School Counseling Office

What should you do on a campus visit? 

[Stuart Schmill, Dean of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)]

“Visiting campuses is the best way, really, to learn about a college. And I think sometimes you can be constrained by when you can visit — whether you can visit during the week when school’s in session, so you can actually sit in on a class, or whether you have to visit on a weekend when class is not in session. Or a popular time for students to be visiting colleges is in the summer, when, in fact, most students aren’t even on campus.

The ideal situation is to be able to visit a school while it’s in session, and in fact, many universities have programs where they will match prospective students up with current students either for an afternoon, or even overnight, so students can really immerse themselves and feel what it would be like to be a student there. That’s the ideal, and you can’t always get that kind of that kind of depth of visit, but if you can’t, you want to just make the most of it. And at the very least, what you want to do any time you are visiting a school is make sure you leave the tour — at least for a short bit — and just meet and talk with some random students on campus, and ask them, “What’s your favorite thing about going to school here?” and “What’s your least favorite thing about going to school here?” and try to get some honest feedback.”

Adapted from the website https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/know-yourself/6-steps-to-get-the-mostout-of-a-campus-visit. 

Courtesy of the Southampton High School Counseling Office

When to Visit:  How to Schedule Your Campus Visit

Visiting a college campus is one of the most exciting steps in choosing a college. If possible, it’s best to visit colleges before your applications are due. That way, you can be confident you'd be happy at any of the colleges you’re applying to.

It’s also best to go is when the college is in session. That way, you’ll get to see it when classes are meeting and day-to-day activities are taking place.

Plan your visit in advance and make sure classes will be in session.

How to Pick a Date

Below are some guidelines on when to visit. Plan your visit well ahead of time, so you can make sure that you see what you need to see and meet with the people who can tell you what you need to know.

During the Week

Mondays through Thursdays are ideal for visits since campuses are generally in full swing. Visiting on a Friday may not be as practical, as students, faculty and staff might be busy with social activities starting Friday afternoon.

High school holidays that fall on Mondays are often great opportunities for making college visits. Many colleges are in session on these days — and you won’t be missing any of your high school classes.

The Best Seasons

The late summer and early September before senior year are convenient times to visit, since many colleges begin their fall semester as early as mid-August.

The spring of junior year is a good time if you’ve already researched colleges. Spring break is also good if you play fall sports or are considering applying under early action or early decision plans, which usually have application deadlines in November of senior year.

It may be more useful for seniors to wait until the fall through winter to make their visits. That timing can help seniors narrow college lists.

After You've Been Accepted

Many colleges invite their accepted candidates to spend a few days on campus before the May 1 reply date to encourage them to enroll. This is a good opportunity to make some in-depth comparisons between the colleges that have accepted you.

However, if you're planning to wait to visit colleges until after you've received acceptances, keep in mind that you may have only a few weeks to visit and make your decision. Most colleges don't mail acceptance letters before April, and the standard reply date is May 1.

When Not to Go

Check specific dates with each college so you don't arrive when the campus is deserted. Call the college or look on the college’s website for the academic calendar to find out when breaks, reading periods and exam periods are scheduled.

Courtesy of the Southampton High School Counseling Office

Colleges are not in session during:

• Thanksgiving weekend
• Christmas week
• Winter and spring breaks
• Summer, unless there is a summer session

College classes don’t meet during:

• Reading period
• Exam weeks
• Saturdays and Sundays

The admission office may be closed to visitors at certain times. For example, admission officers may be too busy to meet with you in May and April — that’s when they’re reviewing applications. Check with the college.

Adapted from Campus Visits and College Interviews by Zola Dincin Schneider.

Courtesy of the Southampton High School Counseling Office

Campus Visit Questions

Academics

Do professors or graduate assistants teach the following classes?

• Freshman classes: o My major upper division classes:
• Lab classes:

How accessible are professors? Are they happy to talk to students and to help them? Do they have posted office hours?

• How many students does each professor advise?
• Do students have the same academic advisors for all 4 years at this college?
• How easy is it to get the classes you want?
• What is the size of the largest class students attend? What is the smallest size?
• What is the average student to teacher ratio?
• What is the advantage for students to be accepted into the Honors Program?
• Are all buildings on campus wireless? 
• Are there tutoring and academic counseling services available? How do you find out about them?
• Which study aboard program do most students go on?
• Are there research opportunities for undergraduate students? Can research be done by all undergraduate students regardless of their major?
•  When students apply for admission, does this college split the SAT scores or split the ACT scores?
• In other words, do they take the best test SECTION score from each sitting and add them together? Or do they only use the best TOTAL score from one sitting?

Graduation / Internships / Jobs

What is this average time for students to graduate? 4 years? What percentage of students graduate in 4 years?

• Does the college help students get internships?
• Does this college offer work experience Co­op’s? If not, how do students get real world experience and summer internships?

Does this college assist students in getting a job upon graduation? What percentage of students get placed after graduation or get accepted to graduate school?

• Does this college have a career planning and placement center? Where is it?
• Do businesses come onto campus to interview students for jobs and internships? Which companies and organizations?

Campus/Social

• Where is the student center? Where do students “hang out” on campus?
• Does this college have a freshman advising center? Where is it and by whom is it staffed?
• Are there other student support groups? How do you find out about them?
• How do students spend their time? Studying, socializing, partying or doing something else?
• What activities do students participate in when they have free time?

On Campus:

Off Campus:

•  What do students do on weekends?
•  How many students go home on weekends? Does the campus look empty or lively on weekends?
•  What percentage of students participate in athletics, visual and perform clubs and organizations?
•  How many active organizations and clubs are there at this college?
•  Are there student organizations and clubs involved with events in the outside world, such as community service, local politics, and international events?
• Do bands, musical groups, theater groups and outside lecturers come on campus?

Are there good social and cultural opportunities available in the surrounding community? Do you have to be in a specific major to participate in:

• Theater or drama productions?
• Campus radio or television stations?

What’s the weather like in the winter?

Is it easy to get around campus? Can I walk to and from classes without a problem?

Transportation

• What transportation is available to students? Is there bus service to take student town and to the nearest airport?
• Should students have a car at this college? Is parking free?

Housing / Residence Halls

What percentage of students live on campus?

Are the residence halls co-ed?

Are there theme floors? (science majors, drama majors, wellness, computers, etc.) How many students live in a dorm room?

Are bathrooms shared between just a few dorm rooms or by all rooms on an entire dorm floor?

Are there residence halls for freshman only?

Is housing available for sophomores, juniors, and seniors?

Is housing guaranteed for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors?

Can students change rooms if they don’t get along with their roommate? How long does the process take?

How is residence hall room selection prioritized?

Are there security measures to keep outsiders from entering the residence halls?

Are there sororities and fraternities available to students?

If you choose not to live on campus after your freshman year, what are the housing options available close to the campus (apartments and house rentals)?

Student Health and Safety

Where is the campus health center? Who staffs it?

What services are offered by the health center?

Is there a doctor or nurse always on call in the health center?

 What are the operating hours of the health center? What about 24-hour emergency care?

 How close is the nearest hospital?

 How safe is the campus? What is the crime rate on campus?

 How safe is the area surrounding the campus?

 Is there a blue light system on campus to help students get protection when their safety is threatened?

Are escorts available for students when they walk to their dorms late at night?

Do campus police patrol the campus on a regular basis? How large is the campus police force?

Dining Hall / Food

Where is the dining hall? Is the food good?

Will all meal plans allow students to buy food at places other than the dining hall such as at on campus deli’s, coffee shops, and restaurants?

How late are on campus snack shops and restaurants open at night?

Are meal plans based on the number of meals per week or on a dollar amount?

Do students go off campus for late night snacks? Is there a grocery store nearby to buy snacks?

Financial Aid

What percentage of students receives financial aid?

What percentage of financial aid is composed of scholarships and grants (money you don’t have to repay)?

Are scholarships and grants renewable each year?

Are financial awards renewed at the same level every year? Are they adjusted for inflation each year?

Are there campus jobs available? How easy is it to get one?

If you demonstrate financial need, will the college be able to provide a financial aid package that will meet 100% of your demonstrated need?

Additional Notes: Questions to Ask Current College Students

Do you like being at this college? What would you change if you could?

If you had to start over, would you choose this college? Why or why not? What do you like least about this school?

When students get together, what is the one thing they complain about? 

What are the students like here? Are they competitive or supportive?

How many hours per week do you study? Is that typical for all students?

How hard do you have to work for good grades?

What’s the reputation of the department of my major?

How difficult is it to change majors?

Do professors know your name? Are professors available outside of class?

How helpful is the career center?

• Do you feel safe walking around campus at night? What about the surrounding neighborhood?

ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS YOU SHOULD NOTE:

 How does the admissions office staff treat prospective students who are waiting for an interview or for a campus tour?

• Are staff in the admissions office friendly toward each other and toward students entering the office?
• How do the students dress? What kinds of cars are parked in the student parking lots? Do students appear to be similar to you? Do you think the students are people you can live with next year?

Does the campus seem too big or too small?

Do the residence halls seem comfortable, quiet, crowded, or noisy?

Do an extraordinary number of students wear sorority and fraternity t-shirts and jackets?

Do the buildings and grounds look well cared for? Do you feel comfortable and safe on this campus?

 

The College Application Process Fast Facts:

1. Submit the College Planning Questionnaire/Activity Resume to your guidance counselor as soon as possible so your counselor can write your recommendation.

2. All College Application Checklists (blue sheets) need to be submitted to your counselor at least TEN (10)

SCHOOL days before the deadline set by the college.  Keep in mind that if a school has a January 1^st deadline the application should submitted to your guidance counselor TEN (10) SCHOOL DAYS before the December break.

3. If you are not using the Common Application, you need to download and print out the counselor recommendation page from the college website. Your counselor needs to sign this page and send it in with your transcript.  Please note that some colleges do not have a recommendation page.

4. When you ask teachers to write letters of recommendation, please complete the Request for Teacher Letter of Recommendation (yellow sheet) and give one to each teacher at the time of request. You must make sure to allow sufficient time (at least three weeks) for your teachers to complete the recommendations.

5. The list of colleges that are visiting Southampton High School is available on the Counseling Website and posted outside of the in the Counseling Office.  It is updated daily.

6. Keep a list of all usernames and passwords in a safe place.

7. Send official SAT and/or ACT scores by visiting collegeboard.com and www.act.org.

8. Apply to at least two “safety schools” that you would seriously consider attending.

9. Leave yourself enough time before the deadline to follow up with each college you apply to making sure all materials have been received. It may take the college some time to process what has been received.  (Note: All application materials are sent with a return receipt card).  If something is missing, we can always resend it. 

However, in order for your counselor to submit your transcript and counselor recommendation, you must have a completed application at the college/university.

10. Don’t forget financial aid forms. If you are late in filling out and submitting the FAFSA, CSS profile, or the Southampton High School Scholarship forms (green sheets), it can affect the amount of aid you receive.  Check the school calendar for the annual Financial Aid Night date.

11. See your counselor often and this process will be easier to manage.

12. RELAX!! This is not as hard as it may seem and can be fun if you stay on top of things.

Courtesy of the Southampton High School Counseling Office

College Planning Checklist

Freshman

Plan a challenging program of classes to take. n The courses you take in high school show colleges what kind of goals you set for yourself. Are you signing up for advanced classes, honors sections, or accelerated sequences? Are you choosing electives that really stretch your mind and help you develop new abilities? Or are you doing just enough to get by? Colleges will be more impressed by respectable grades in challenging courses than by outstanding grades in easy ones. 

Keep in mind the courses that colleges expect you to have completed for admissions; your schedule should consist of at least 4 college preparatory classes per year, including:

• 4 years of English
• 4 years of math (through algebra II, trigonometry or higher)
• 2-4 years of foreign language
• 3-4 years of laboratory science
• 2-4 years of history/social studies
• 1 year of fine arts
• 1 year of electives from the above list

Create a file of important documents and notes. n Copies of report cards, lists of awards and honors, and lists of school and community activities in which you are involved, including both paid and volunteer work, and descriptions of what you do.

Get involved with academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, and science.

Keep in mind that learning doesn’t happen solely in the classroom.

Stay active in clubs, activities, and sports that you enjoy. n Colleges look at more than just your academic record for admissions. It’s important that you demonstrate your abilities outside of the classroom too.

SOPHOMORES

• Learn what resources are available to help you plan for college by meeting with your school’s college or guidance counselor. Ask about catalogs, guidebooks, college search programs, and college information websties.                                                         
• Begin your college search and visits. n Create a list of colleges and universities in which you are interested and discuss the list with your parents and school counselor.
• Find out about the different types of schools. Decide which characteristics are most important to you, such as the size of the school, distance from home, cost, and extracurricular activities.
• Continue extracurricular activities, as admissions officers look at students’ extracurricular activities when considering them for admission.
• Continue participation in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, and science.
• Update your file of important documents and notes
• Prepare for standardized testing
• Review PLAN or PSAT test results with your parents and school counselor. n Many students take SAT Subject Tests for college admissions as early as sophomore year. These tests help you show colleges your proficiency is different subject areas.
  Ask your counselor about taking the ACT PLAN or PSAT test in the fall. These are valuable tests to help you prepare for the actual ACT and SAT, two college entrance exams, which you can take during your junior year.
• Sign up for junior year courses keeping in mind that you will want to challenge yourself with tougher courses. It will pay off in the long run not only by making you smarter, but by impressing colleges and helping you win scholarships.
• Talk to your counselor about registering for AP courses next year. AP, or Advanced Placement, courses grant college credit for achievement in exams during high school covering many different college-level subjects.

JUNIORS

August

• Start investigating sources for financial aid. Take note of scholarship deadlines and plan accordingly.
• Starting developing a résumé—a record of your accomplishments, activities, and work experiences. This will be an important part of your college application.
• If you don’t participate in many activities outside of class, now is the time to sign up. Consider clubs at schools, team sports, or even an after school job.

September/October

• Take the PSAT. Even if you took the test during your sophomore year, taking the test this year will count towards National Merit Scholar consideration and will give you a better predictor for the SAT you take later this year or next.
• Sign up for ACT or SAT prep courses or use free test preparation resources on the Internet. If you can’t find the best Web sites, ask your counselor. You will want to take the test at least once in the spring and again next fall during your senior year.November
• Sign up for the ACT and SAT, if you haven’t already.

December

• PSAT and ACT PLAN test results should be coming in. Review the results to learn more about your strengths and weaknesses and discuss them with your parents and counselor.

January/February

• Meet with your guidance counselor again to develop your senior schedule. Ask how you can improve your college preparation.
• Talk to a counselor or teacher about registering for AP courses during your senior year.
• Register for a spring offering of the SAT or ACT

March/ Aprl

Begin taking a more serious look at colleges and universities you are interested in attending. Make a file and gather information about academics, financial aid, and campus life to put in it. Go to college fairs and open houses and learn as much as you can from the Internet about schools.

• Think about registering for SAT Subject Tests this spring. The final registration deadline for taking the test this academic year will be in April                
• Begin planning college visits. Spring break is a good time because you can observe a campus when classes are going on. Even if they are not campuses that you think you would attend, it is important to get exposure to college campuses and the college experience. o Think about lining up a summer job, internship, or co-op.
• o                                          If you are in AP courses, get ready for the AP exams next month.
• Develop a preliminary list of colleges that interest you. Write or call them to request a viewbook and additional information.
• Take a look at some college applications and consider all of the different pieces of information you will need to compile.

May

AP Examinations are given in high schools nationally this month. Make sure you are signed up and know the dates and times for your exams.

Make a list of teachers, counselors, employers, and other adults who you might ask to write letters of recommendation for your college applications.

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE: 

JUNIOR/SENIOR CHECK LIST

JUNIORS

Fall:

• Start your year off right by talking with your guidance counselor about the year ahead. Confirm that your courses will put you on the right track for college admission. Be sure to ask about test dates for the PSAT, ACT, and SAT. You’ll need to register up to six weeks ahead of time.
• Starting developing a résumé—a record of your accomplishments, activities, and work experiences. This will be an important part of your college application.
• If you haven’t participated in many activities outside of class, now is the time to sign up. Consider clubs at schools, team sports, leadership roles, or involvement in your religious or civic community group.
• Take the PSAT. Taking the test as a junior will qualify you for some scholarship consideration and identify you to colleges as a potential applicant. When you receive the results (usually in December), review them to learn more about your strengths and weaknesses. Discuss the results with your family and school counselor.
• Begin to prepare for the ACT or SAT. Free test preparation may be available at your school, your local community colleges, and community based programs; in addition, there are many free resources on the Internet. If you can’t find the best Web sites, ask your counselor. You should plan to take at least one of these tests in the spring and again next fall during your senior year. Ask your counselor if you qualify for a fee waiver.

January/February:

• Meet with your guidance counselor again to develop your senior schedule. Make       sure          that          you           will            be             enrolled in the most challenging courses for which you are qualified.
• Register for a spring offering of the SAT and/or ACT. Ask your counselor if you should take an SAT Subject Test this spring.
• Ask your counselor about summer opportunities on college campuses. These can be a great way to find out what college life is all about and make you a more attractive candidate for admission to colleges.

March/April:

• Begin taking a more serious look at colleges and universities. Make a                file            for             each         college     in               which       you are interested and gather information about academics, financial aid, and campus life. Go to college fairs and open houses and learn as much as you can about colleges online.
• Begin planning college visits. Spring break is a good time to visit. Try to visit colleges near you. and include a large, medium size, and small campus
• Develop a preliminary list of colleges that interest you. Write or email to request a viewbook and additional information.
• Think about lining up a summer job, internship, or co-op.

May:

• Take a look at some college applications and consider all of the different pieces of information you will need to compile.
• Make a list of teachers, counselors, employers, and other adults whom you might ask to write letters of recommendation for your college applications.

Summer:

• Continue investigating colleges
• Begin thinking about your applications. Generally, colleges will have their applications online by the beginning of August. Work on the essay before you return to school!

SENIOR YEAR TIMELINE

August/September

• Register for the SAT and/or ACT if you didn’t take it as a junior, or if you aren’t satisfied with your score and want to take it again. (remember that your counselor can help you with fee waivers)
• Take a look at some college applications and consider all of the different pieces of information you will need to compile.
• The SAT test date most popular with high school seniors is this month.
• Visit with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements. If you’re ahead of schedule, consider taking courses at a local university or community college to get a jumpstart on college credit.
• Take every opportunity to get to know colleges: meeting with college representatives who visit your high schools during the fall, attending local college fairs, visiting campuses (if possible). Ask your counselor if they know of special campus visitation programs.
• Narrow down your list of colleges and begin to consider “safe,” “reach,” and “realistic” schools. Make sure          you           have         the            application               and       financial  aid            information             for             each              Find          out            if                you           qualify for any scholarships at these schools.
• Create a checklist and calendar to chart:
  • Standardized test           dates,      registration              deadlines,                and           fees
  • College application               due           dates
  • Financial aid            application               forms       and           deadlines
  • Other materials                  you’ll        need        for             college     applications             (recommendations,                transcripts,              essays, etc.)
  • Your high          school’s   application               processing                deadlines
• Some schools require the CSS/Financial Aid Profile. Ask the colleges to which you are applying for their deadlines. You can register as early as September. See your guidance counselor about fee waivers.

October

• Some colleges will have deadlines as early as this month. These would include rolling admission, priority, early decision, and early action deadlines.
• If you cannot afford the application fees that many colleges charge, ask your counselor to help you request a fee waiver.
• Finalize your college essay. Many schools    will            require    that          you           submit     at              least         one           essay        with          your        
• Request personal recommendations from teachers, school counselors, or employers. Follow the process required by your high school or provide a stamped, addressed envelope, the appropriate college forms, and an outline of your academic record and extracurricular activities to each person writing you a recommendation.
• Research possibilities of scholarships. Ask your counselor, your colleges, and your religious and civic groups about scholarship opportunities. There are also some good scholarship web sites. You should NEVER pay           for             scholarship             

November

• Finalize and send any early decision or early action applications due this month. Have a parent, teacher, counselor, or other adult review the application before it is submitted.
• Every college will require a copy of your transcript from your high school. Follow your school’s procedure for sending transcripts.
• Make sure testing companies have sent your scores directly to the colleges to which you are
• The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) will be available this month, but cannot be completed before     January                  This          is               the            form       you           will            complete                  to              find           out            what        financial  aid            you           are            eligible to receive from the government. Ask your guidance office for a copy or visit www.fafsa.ed.gov This form should be filed online if at all possible.

December

• Begin to organize regular decision applications and financial  aid            forms,      which       will            be             due           in               January   and/or February.
• Register for the January SAT (If needed). It is the last one colleges will be able to consider for a senior.

January

• Many popular and selective colleges will have application deadlines as early as January 1. Others have deadlines                  later         in               January   and                  Keep         track         of              and           observe   deadlines                  for             sending   in               all required fees and paperwork.
• If necessary, register for the February ACT (some colleges will be able consider it).
• Ask your guidance office in January to send first semester transcripts to schools where you applied. At the end of the school year, they will need to send final transcripts to the college you will attend.
• It is time to file the FAFSA (no later than Feb 1). The sooner you complete it, the sooner you will have an idea of your financial aid options. Watch the mail for your Student Aid Report (SAR)—it should arrive four weeks after the FAFSA is filed.

Feb/March/April

• While most of your applications will be complete and you are waiting to receive admissions decisions, don’t slack in the classroom. The college that you do attend will want to see your second semester transcript. No Senioritis!
• Acceptance letters and financial aid offers will start to arrive. Review your acceptances, compare financial aid packages, and visit your final choices, especially if you haven’t already.

May

• May 1 is the date when the college you plan to attend requires a commitment and deposit. When you’ve made your college decision, notify your counselor and the colleges. Send in your deposit by the            postmark                  date         of              May                         If                you’ve     been        offered    financial  aid,           accept     the            offer       and           follow      the            instructions given. Also notify schools you will not attend of your decision.
• Make sure that you have requested that your final transcript be sent to the school you will be
• If you are “wait listed” by a college you really want to attend, visit, call and write the admissions office to make your interest clear. Ask how you can strengthen your application.

Summer

• It’s been a long journey through high school and to college. Take time to enjoy your summer!
• Getting a summer job can help pay some of your college expenses and give you great career
• Make a list of what you will need to take with you for your dorm room. The suggested list of items, room and furniture dimensions and many other questions can usually be answered by visiting your college’s Web site and searching under ‘Housing’ or ‘Residence Life’ for further information.
• You will most likely get a roommate assignment from your college. Call, write, or e-mail to get acquainted in advance. In your conversations and communication, you should be able to figure out who will bring what for your room.
• Some colleges will offer a summer orientation/registration. Make       sure          to              attend     in               order        to              meet        fellow students and other important people on campus and to familiarize yourself with your new school. This is often the time you sign up for your fall courses.

How to Add Teacher Letter of Recommendation Requests in Naviance

Step1:  Go to the Naviance website and enter your user name 

(LastNameFirstName) and password (sps + 4-digit PowerSchool Id Number). 

Step 2:  Under MyColleges …

Click on the Colleges folder and select Letter of Recommendation            

Step 3:  You will be directed to the Naviance Letter of Recommendation page.  

Click on Add Request to add each individual teacher.  

Step 4:  Select the teacher you want from the drop down menu.  

Select for the teachers letter to be sent to “All Current and future colleges I add to my Colleges I’m Applying To list or “Choose specific colleges from your Colleges I’m Applying To list.  

Be sure to write a brief thank you to the teacher in the personal note section then click on Submit Request.

PERCENT TO GPA CONVERSION CHART

[Retrieved from http://inquiry.princetonreview.com/leadgentemplate/GPA_popup.asp] 

GPA	Percentile
4.0	95-100
3.9	94
3.8	93
3.7	92
3.6	91
3.5	90
3.4	89
3.3	88
3.2	87
3.1	86
3.0	85
2.9	84
2.8	83
2.7	82
2.6	81
2.5	80
2.4	79
2.3	78
2.2	77
2.1	76
2.0	75
1.9	74
1.8	73
1.7	72
1.6	71
1.5	70
1.4	69
1.3	68
1.2	67
1.1	66
1.0	65
0.9	65
0.8	65
0.7	65
0.6	65
0.5	65
0.4	65
0.3	65
0.2	65
0.1	65
0.0	65

Courtesy of the Southampton High School Counseling Office

THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

A Glossary of Terms

The college application process is filled with special terms, forms, deadlines, requirements, standardized

tests, college “searches” and visits —and more. It is daunting, especially for students who are the first in

their family to go to college. On these pages, are a list of terms and definitions students, parents, and

community mentors will encounter along the way. We have grouped the terms, alphabetically, in these

categories: (1) applying; (2) college entrance exams; (4) types of institutions; (3) college acceptance terms

(4) some college lingo; (5) types of post -secondary degrees.

APPLYING

Applicant: Any student who has completed the college application process at a particular institution.

Application: A college application is part of the competitive college admissions system. Admissions departments

usually require students to complete an application for admission that generally consists of academic records,

personal essays, letters of recommendation, and a list of extracurricular activities. Most schools require the SAT or

ACT. Deadlines for admission applications are established and published by each college or university.

Application Deadline: The date set by college admissions offices, after which applications for admission will not

be accepted.

Advanced Placement (AP): AP courses are college -level classes taught in the high school following guidelines and

covering material that will instruct students in AP subject areas an d should prepare them to take Advanced

Placement tests offered by The College Board.

“Best Fit”: The college search is not about getting into the best college. There is no school that is best for all

students. Some students do best at large public universities; others excel in small liberal arts colleges; still others

want to study far from home. If you want to make the most of college, don't just apply to the big –name schools or

the ones your friends are excited about. Do your own research to find schools that are the best fit for you.

Campus Interview: This is a personal, face-to -face interaction between an admissions applicant and an

institutional representative (admissions officer, alumnus, faculty, etc.). Interviews are rarely required.

Campus Visit/Tour: A service by the college admissions office for prospective students, allowing them to visit

various campus buildings, meet key institutional personnel, and get a first -hand look at campus life.

Catalogue: A catalogue is a comprehensive publication that provides a detailed overview of an institution,

including its mission, programs, costs, admissions requirements, faculty and administration, etc.

College Essay: A brief composition on a single subject, required by many colleges as part of the application process

for admission.

College Fair: An event at which colleges, universities, and other organizations related to higher education present

themselves in an exposition atmosphere for the purpose of attracting and identifying potential applicants.

College Rep Visit: This is when a college or university admissions representative visits a high school or

community site for the purpose of recruiting students for admission to the institution.

College Search: These are the steps you take in the early phases of college planning in order to identify, locate, and

investigate college -level programs that meet your individual interests, abilities, and needs as a student.

Common Application: The Common Application (informally known as the Common App) makes it possible for

students to use one admissions application to apply to any of 456 member colleges and universities. There is a

Common Application for First-Year Admission and a Common Application for Transfer Admission. Both versions

allow the application to be filled out once online and submitted to all schools with the same information going to

each.

Demonstrated Interest: This includes a student’s expression of his or her desire to attend a particular college

through campus visits, contact with admissions officers, and other actions that attract the attention of college

admissions personnel. While not all institutions use this as a factor in accepting students for admissions, studies

have shown that more than half of schools do consider demonstrated interest in their admissions decisions.

Extracurricular: Extracurricular activities are simply anything you do that is not a high school course or paid

employment (but note that paid work experience is of interest to colleges and can substitute for some

extracurricular activities). You should define your extracurricular activities in broad terms —many applicants

make the mistake of thinking of them solely as school-sponsored groups such as yearbook, band or football. Not so.

Most community and family activities are also "extracurricular."

GPA (Grade Point Average): Quantitative measure of a student's grades. The GPA is figured by averaging the

numerical value of a student's grades. It is cumulative, starting freshman year: grades count every year. A poor

GPA in ninth grade can drag down the overall average, despite, for example, good grades junior year.

Honors Classes: The difference between a regular class (such as English 1) and the honors class (English 1

Honors) is not necessarily the amount of work, but the type of work required and the pace of studying. Honors

courses are not advanced in the same sense that high school Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate

courses are. Rather, honors courses are enriched; they offer the same material in greater depth and with a faster

pace.

In-state (Resident) Student: A student whose permanent residence is in the same state as the college or

university he or she attends or hopes to attend. In -state students pay lower tuition than do out -of -state students.

Prospective Student: Any student who is a potential applicant for admission, particularly those who have shown

interest in attending the institution or in which the institution has shown interest.

Out-of -State (Non-Resident) Student: Student whose permanent residence is in a different state than that of the

college or university which he or she attends or hopes to attend. Out -of -state students generally pay higher tuition

than do instate students.

“Reach School”: A college or university that you have a chance of getting into, but your test scores, GPA and/or

class ranks are a bit on the low side when you look at the school’s profile. The top U.S. colleges and top universities

should always be considered reach schools.

Recommendations: Statements or letters of endorsement written on a student’s behalf during the college

application process.

“Safety School”: A college or university where you clearly meet the admission requirements: minimum GPA, test

scores, etc. It’s important, though, that the school also be o ne that you would want to attend, should you not gain

admission to more selective colleges.

School Profile: This is an overview of your high school’s program, grading system, course offerings, and other

features that your school is submits to admissions offices along with your transcript. For better or worse,

admissions offices use this information to weigh your GPA, placing a student’s GPA against the academic reputation

of the school she or he attends.

Selectivity: Selectivity is the degree to which a college or university admits or denies admission based on the

individual student’s record of academic achievement. In general, a highly selective school admits 25% of

applicants, a very selective school admits 26% to 49% of applicants, a selective school admits 50% to 75% of

applicants and a school with open admission admits applicants based on space availability.

Transcript: This is the official document containing the record of a student’s academic performance and testing

history. The school at which a student is or has been officially enrolled must issue the transcript, certified by the

signature of an authorized school administrator. The school’s official seal or watermarked school stationery may

also be used to authenticate the transcript.

Virtual Tour: This is an online feature offered by some colleges and universities to allow prospective students to

view various aspects of campus life without visiting the institutions in person.

COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS

PSAT Test: This exam prepares students for the SAT and is used to qualify students for the National Merit

Scholarship semifinals and other academic awards.

ACT: A two -hour -and-55-minute examination that measures a student’s knowledge and achievement in four

subject areas -- English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning -- to determine the student’s readiness for

college -level instruction. There is also an optional writing test that assesses students’ skills in writing an essay.

The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36 for each of the four areas. The four subject area scores are averaged to

create a Composite Score.

SAT: This is a widely used college entrance examination program. This includes the SAT Reasoning Test, which

assesses students’ critical thinking skills as they relate to the ability to manage college-level instruction. It is a 3 -

hour exam measuring evidence-based reading and writing , mathematical skills as well as an optional essay.

Students may earn a total of up to 1600 points for the two sections (up to 800 points in each of the exam’s content

areas) plus an additional score of 1-8 on the optional essay).

SAT Subject Test: SAT subject tests (also known as SAT II tests) are offered in many areas of study including

English, mathematics, many sciences, history, and foreign languages. Some colleges require students to take one or

more SAT subject tests when they apply for admission.

TYPES OF POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS

Art School (Arts College, Art Institute, Conservatory): An institution specializing in the visual, performing,

and/or creative arts.

College: An institution of higher learning often referred to as a “four-year” institution, which grants the bachelor's

degree in liberal arts or science or both.

Community College: Community colleges, sometimes called junior colleges, technical colleges, or city colleges, are

primarily two -year public institutions providing higher education and lower -level courses, granting certificates,

diplomas, and associate’s degrees. Many also offer continuing and adult education. After graduating from a

community college, some students transfer to a four -year Liberal Arts College or university for two to three years

to complete a bachelor's degree.

Graduate School: Usually within universities, these schools offer degree programs beyond the bachelor's degree.

Historically Black College: Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher

education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black

community. There are 105 HBCUs today, including public and private, two -year and four-year institutions, medical

schools and community colleges. Almost all are in former slave states.

Liberal Arts College: A degree-granting institution where the academic focus is on developing the intellect and

instruction in the humanities and sciences, rather than on training for a particular vocational, technical, or

professional pursuit.

Private Institution: This is a college or university funded by private sources without any control by a government

agency. The cost of attending a private institution is generally higher than the cost at a public institution.

Proprietary Institution: This is a term used to describe postsecondary schools that are private and are legally

permitted to make a profit. Most proprietary schools offer technical and vocational courses.

Public Institution: A college or university that receives public funding, primarily from a local , state, or national

government that oversees and regulates the school’s operations is considered a public institution.

University: A "post-secondary institution” that consists of a liberal arts college, a diverse graduate program, and

usually two or more professional schools or faculties, and that is empowered to confer degrees in various fields of

study.

Vocational or Technical School: This type of institution is similar to a community college in that it offers specific

career -oriented programs that last from a few months to a couple of years. Most are specialized and offer intense

training in one specific skill area.

Religion-Based Institution: These are colleges and universities established by and currently operating under the

sponsorship of a church, synagogue, or mosque; a denomination; or a particular religion.

Single -Sex (or Single -Gender) College: This is a college that accepts either women only or men only.

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE TERMS

Acceptance: The decision by an admissions officer or committee to offer the opportunity for enrollment as a

student at a particular institution.

College Selection: The act of choosing and making the decision to enroll in and attend a particular higher -

education program.

Deferred Admission: A category of admission used in conjunction with early (action, decision, notification, or

acceptance) plans to indicate that a student has not been admitted early but will remain in the applicant pool for

reconsideration during the review of applications for regular admissions.

Deferred Enrollment: This is a category of admission available at some institutions for fully accepted students

who wish—for a justifiable reason —to take a semester or year off before enrolling in college.

Denial: The decision by an admission officer or committee to not offer a student admission to a particular

institution.

Early Action: Early action is when a prospective student applies for admission by early deadline (before the

regular admission deadline) and receives notice of acceptance, denial, or deferment with no obligation to the

university to enroll, if accepted for admission.

Early Admission: Through this program, qualifying high school juniors with outstanding academic records may

forego their senior year in high school and enroll in a college or university.

Early Decision: Through this program offered by many post-secondary schools, students willing to commit to a

school if accepted submit their application by a date well before the general admission deadline. If accepted, the

student must enroll in that school, so students should only apply early decision to their first choice school.

Gap-Year Programs: Year -long programs designed for high school graduates who wish to defer enrollment in

college while engaging in meaningful activities, such as academic programs, structured travel, community service,

etc.

Notification Date: The date by which applicants who are accepted for admission are expected to notify the

institutions of their intent to enroll and make enrollment deposits. That date is often on or around May 1st.

Rolling Admissions: This is a practice used by some institutions to review and complete applications as they

arrive, rather than according to a set deadline.

Waitlist: An applicant is put on the waitlist when an admissions officer or committee decides to offer the applicant

the opportunity to enroll in the institution only if there is space available in the incoming class after fully admitted

students have responded to their offers to enroll. This category of admissions is reserved for students whose

profiles are strong, but who are marginally qualified in comparison to the overall strength of others in the pool of

applicants.

SOME COLLEGE LINGO

Alumni: This is a group of people who have graduated from a college or university.

Audit: To attend a class without receiving credit for the class.

Course Numbers: Numbers assigned to specific classes.

Credit (or Semester) Hour: Credit given for attending one lecture hour of class each week for 15 weeks or

equivalent. Most college classes are three credit hours, meaning their total meeting time for a week is three hours.

Enrollment: The action of enrolling or being enrolled. The number of people enrolled, typically at a school or

college.

First-Generation Student: A student whose parents have no college experience.

First-Year Student: A college freshman.

Matriculation: The payment of deposits, tuition, fees, and other charges to enroll in a program of studies at an

educational institution. A university might make a distinction between "matriculated students," who are actually

accumulating credits toward a degree, and a relative few "non -matriculated students" who may be "auditing"

courses or taking classes without receiving credits.

Major: A student's concentrated field of study.

Minor: A student's secondary field of study.

Placement Tests: Colleges and universities use these examinations to place students in courses —most often

mathematics and foreign languages—that match their proficiency. In some cases, a student’s level of competency

on the test may exempt them from having to take a course required for graduation.

Prerequisite: A course that must be taken prior to enrollment in another course.

Registration: Enrollment in classes.

Residence Halls: Dormitories, apartments, houses, and other living quarters provided for students by the college

or university in which they are enrolled.

Student Persistence: This is the act of working, progressing, and earning credits toward graduation in an

academic environment. Student Retention: This is the degree to which students remain enrolled as members of

the college or university community and persist toward graduation.

Undergraduate Student: A student enrolled in a 4 - or 5 -year bachelor's degree program, an associate's degree

program, or a vocational or technical program below the baccalaureate.

TYPES OF POST -SECONDARY DEGREES

A.A.: This stands for an "associate of arts" degree, which can be earned at most two-year colleges.

A.A.S.: This refers to an "associate of applied science" degree, which can be earned at some two-year colleges.

B.A. or B.S.: B.A. stands for "bachelor of arts," and B.S. stands for "bachelor of science." Both degrees can be earned

at four -year colleges.

Graduate Degrees: These degrees are earned beyond the bachelor's degree when the student completes graduate

school curriculum requirements. Common examples include the MA (master’s degree), PhD (doctoral degree) MBA

(master’s degree in business administration), MD (medical doctor).

Certificates: In an economy that increasingly rewards specialization, more and more institutions are offering

certification programs, typically a package of five or six courses, for credit or not, taken over three to 18 months.

Some cost a few thousand dollars, others much more.