Things You Should Know
Things You Should Know
- College Testing Requirements Hide
Click HERE for a list of standardized testing requirements for many colleges.
- Searching for Colleges Hide
Criteria You Should Consider When Comparing and Selecting Colleges
Go through the following characteristics and think about those factors that are important to you. Then use those factors to judge a college's desirability.
- Size: Very small (under 1,000) vs. small (1,000-2,500) vs. medium (2,500-10,000) vs. large (10,000-20,000) vs. very large (20,000+)
- 2 year vs. 4 year
- Public vs. Private vs. Religiously-Affiliated
- Liberal arts vs. Pre-professional/career training
- Semester System vs. Quarter System vs. Alternative Calendars
- Research oriented vs. Teaching oriented
- Required core/distribtution curriculum vs. open curriculum
- Lecture classes vs. discussion seminars
- Location
- Student Body Type
- Selectivity
For more details on these criteria and some more characteristics to consider, please click on the PDF.
- Public Universities Hide
The Master Plan in the state of California is designed to allow every high school graduate an opportunity for higher education.
University of California
The UC system is designed to accept the top 12.5% of high school graduates in the state. There are nine campuses throughout California, eight of which accept those just graduating from high school (UC San Francisco only offers upper division and graduate courses.) The University’s tenth campus, UC Merced, has had a delayed opening until 2005.
ADMISSION:
To be eligible (being eligible only means that your file will be read, it does not mean that you will be admitted) for admission, a student must meet the UC's subject, test, and scholarship requirements. To find out more about the criteria used for admission please refer to the PDF below or click on the following link http://www.ucop.edu/pathways/infoctr/introuc/fresh.html.California State Colleges and Universities
This system is designed to accept the top 1/3 of high school graduates. There are 23 CSU campuses throughout the state. The CSU campuses often have programs not offered at UC campuses (i.e., business administration, nursing, physical therapy, telecommunications). They also tend to have an undergraduate focus which is beneficial to all students.ADMISSION:
For most CSU campuses it is very objective and based simply on the student's grade point average for sophomore and junior years, the SAT (or ACT) scores, and the completion of required subjects. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, San Diego St. and Sonoma St. are, however, using supplemental criteria as part of their admission process. To find out more about the criteria used for admission please refer to the PDF below or click on the following link http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/.Out-of-State Public Institutions: It is difficult to categorize state funded schools in states other than California because they vary tremendously in their admissions requirements and their policies toward out-of-state applicants. Some have eligibility indexes similar to California's. Some look at applicants just like competitive private schools do. Some have stricter requirements for out-of-state applicants, some do not.
Generally speaking, however, most of our nation's public universities are under considerable pressure to increase their admissions standards and to give priority to in-state students. If interested in a non-California public institution, find out early what their policies are by consulting with your college counselor.
**It is imperative that if you are applying to out-of-state public schools, you apply early. Your chances are greatly increased if you apply as soon as possible. These schools include University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Washington, University of Oregon, University of Arizona, and University of Michigan. University of Virginia, College of William and Mary, and UNC Chapel Hill have set admission deadlines. **
- Gathering Information Hide
Researching colleges and discovering what they have to offer is a vital part of this process. It is up to you to do the early ground work to find colleges that match your needs. It takes time but remember the importance of your college choices. Make it a personal one and make it count for you, not your friends or parents. The first place to begin discovering your options is the College Counseling Center, where many of the following resources can be found. Please click on the Gathering Information PDF for ways to gather information.
- Visiting Colleges Hide
When you get there...
- Relax and take in as much as you can.
- Take a tour.
- Have a meal in the cafeteria or a central eating area.
- Locate a campus newspaper. Find out about campus issues.
- Look at the bulletin boards to see what is going on around campus.
- Try to see a dorm room.
- Ask your tour guide personal questions such as why he/she chose the school or what he/she does not like about the school.
- Ask to meet with faculty members from a specific department of interest to you.
- Visit the school's club offices, such as the radio station, the newspaper, community service organizations, social groups, student government, outdoor programs, etc.
- Spend time in the library. Evaluate the environment, knowing that you'll be spending many hours there. Is it a good place to study?
- Ask to use the athletic facilities; test them out.
Try to get a feeling for what life would be like if you were to attend this college. Remember that you can get facts about the college from the published literature; you are there to get your impressions and opinions about the college.
- Testing Hide
PSAT - Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test
Also NMSQT - National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
This test is taken by sophomores and juniors each October. The PSAT offers you a great chance for a preview of how well you will score on the Scholastic Assessment Test(SAT I).
SAT I: Reasoning Test
This is a test administered by the College Board which measures verbal, math, and writing skills acquired over a long period of time. Each section is scored on a 200-800 scale. Most colleges use this test as an important criterion in their admissions decision.
SAT II: Subject Tests
These are hour-long standardized tests in individual subjects. Administered by the College Board, they are designed to measure how much you have learned in the particular subject area. These tests are also scored on a 200-800 scale.
ACT - American College Testing Program
A test which is essentially a combination of the SAT I and the SAT II tests. In addition to measuring aptitude and achievement in English and math, the ACT also has a Reading and Natural Science section. Scores are based on a 1-36 point scale.
A.P. - Advanced Placement Exams
These are tests administered at Marin Academy in May. They are designed to test knowledge in a specially designed, full year college level course taught at Marin Academy. Scores range from 1 to 5.
TEST CALENDAR FOR 2007/2008
Registration forms for these tests can be obtained in the Counseling Office or you can register online, which is the easier and most preferred method. Go to www.collegeboard.com to register for the SAT I & II and www.actstudent.org to register for the ACT.TEST DATES AND REGISTRATION DEADLINES
For an up-to-date calendar of test dates and registration deadlines, click HERE for College Board and HERE for ACT.**It is the student's responsibility to insure that colleges receive official copies of their score reports. This is best done by designating the various colleges at the time of registration. After all testing is complete, students must ensure that the College Board sends their scores to all of their colleges. MA does not send test scores to the colleges.**
For further info about the tests you can click on the Testing PDF or go to www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org.- Applying to College: The Process Hide
The application process is a joint effort between the student, Marin Academy, and the college to which the student chooses to apply. It requires good communication between all. It is vital that the student follow the guidelines set forth by MA’s college counseling office and the colleges. The following is information that is required by us and some general guidelines for the application process. Our office has certain guidelines and procedures that are unique to Marin Academy. It is imperative that you familiarize yourself with these procedures. The Applying to College PDF below has all of the necessary guidelines. It is a “Must Read” for your success throughout the process. There is also invaluable information under the “Recommendations” heading.
- The Essay Hide
The Essay is your opportunity to “talk” with the admissions committee, to tell them about yourself in a way you might not have been able to with mere numbers and facts. It is a way of expressing yourself. It is the only opportunity you will have, other than an interview, to share your thoughts, ideas, experiences, and goals with the committee. Don’t think of the essay as some cruel torture or excessive burden. Think of it as your opportunity to tell your story.
There are two major reasons colleges request an essay:
- It enables the college admissions office to evaluate your communication skills. Through your essay, they can assess the clarity of your thinking and your ability to put those thoughts in writing.
- It allows the admissions office to learn more about you as a person, beyond the grades, activities, and SAT’s. A well-written essay can do wonders for a “borderline” student. It can express your attitudes, feelings, personal qualities, imagination and creativity. The essay can help distinguish you from the pack.
The topic you choose should be a personal one. Essay questions will vary from school to school, some will be very generic and others will stand out with their uniqueness. The more familiar you are with your essay subject, the better written it will be.
Go to the PDF for some helpful hints about writing your college essay. Remember that David and Bill are excellent readers of essays. Utilize this resource!
- Recommendations Hide
Teacher Recommendations:
The purpose of this recommendation is to provide information about you as a student in a particular class. Sometimes colleges will ask that teachers of a specific subject area write your recommendation. Often, however, you choose who will write for you. The person you choose should know you well. The more insight a teacher has into you as a student and a person, the richer your recommendation will be and the more likely it is that it will work for you in the process.
School Report (Counselor's Report):
Written by one of the college counselors, this recommendation is a summary of all you have done at Marin Academy. This report discusses your academic strengths, extracurricular involvements, and general qualities and characteristics. You will be required to fill out a "Junior Questionnaire" to give input to the college counselors for the school report.Recommendation Folders: We have designed a system to help you keep organized with all of the forms that are required as part of the college application process. This system will help you manage the paperwork and will organize things for the people writing your recommendations. Next fall you will be given three large manila envelopes that will be used for obtaining recommendations, two for teacher recs and one for your counselor recs. It is required that you use these folders in order to get recs and transcripts sent to the appropriate colleges.
Requesting teacher recs: It is a good idea to ask your teacher for a recommendation as soon as possible. Many teachers are asked to write several recommendations, therefore, their time can be limited. The earlier you can ask, the better off you will be and the more time a teacher will have to write a strong and comprehensive letter for you.The PDF contains more information about the guidelines regarding the folders. Please take the time to check it out.
- Interviews Hide
Some colleges require an interview as part of the admissions process. This interview might be with an admissions professional or a designated alumnus. Other colleges encourage prospective students to arrange an on-campus interview. At some colleges, interviews are optional and have little influence in the admissions process. In any case, an applicant always wants the interview to be a good experience and to be a positive aspect of the admissions profile.
The best place to go for questions about the interview is your college counselor. But if you would like some ideas about the interview, please click on the PDF below.
- Scholarship / Financial Aid Hide
The thought of paying for college over the next four to six years can be daunting particularly when you consider that the cost of college has far outpaced the rate of inflation over the last number of years. The key is to learn more about the process and how best to wade through all the information and misinformation that is out there.
To get a brief overview of the system click on the pdf below. There are also several links below to gather more information. You may also come to our Financial Aid Workshop which will be held in early November. One of the keys is to not wait to decide to investigate paying for college.
www.finaid.com - A useful site that help explain the basics of college financial aid
www.fastweb.com - A scholarship database with a lot of information about paying for college.
www.fafsa.ed.gov - The government web site that will be a bookmark if you decide to apply for financial aid.
www.csac.ca.gov - Contains useful information about the Cal Grant and other sources of funding.
www.upromise.com - A unique way to accumulate a little funding for college.
www.petersons.com/resources/finance.html - Contains further info.
www.collegeboard.com/profile.html - Has the necessary forms to fill out for the CSS/Profile which many colleges require to process your financial aid application.- Jargon Hide
Learn to speak the language! See full text below to brush up on your college application process terminology.
- Visits from College Reps Hide
Each year Marin Academy has over 100 college representatives visit the school to discuss their institution and inform prospective applicants of admission requirements. These visits occur from mid-September to mid-November at the end of each school day either at 2:30 pm or 2:45 pm depending upon the day. The visits are open to both Juniors and Seniors. Students are encouraged to meet the admission reps and discover more about the various college options. To find out which schools will be visiting, Seniors and their parents can check on the Workspace K-12/ Naviance system. Juniors and Seniors can look for the postings on the bulletin boards in the BBLC and outside the college counseling office.
- College Handbook PDF Hide
