You’ve submitted your application but you still have some work to do. It’s time to put the icing on the cake you’ve been baking for the last three and a half years. We’re down to the details and crumbs.
Get your official transcripts sent from your school to each college. These are not sent automatically and colleges must receive them by the application deadline. Be sure to confirm the transcript before it goes out. In particular, please make sure that your classes, grades, community service hours (if on your transcript), test scores (if on your transcript and you want it there) are correct. You’ll be amazed at all the stories we’ve heard about mistakes on transcripts. Then, order transcripts for each of your colleges. While many schools send transcripts for you, if you are mailing them yourself, please send them registered mail. Addresses for transcripts can be found on Naviance, the Common App, and simply by Googling the school’s admissions office.
** Very important for our non-U.S. students – If your transcript is in another language, it needs to be translated into English (If you need help- let us know!).
Confirm that your Letters of Recommendation have been sent/ are in the process of being sent. While many public colleges do not require letters of recommendation, all the common app schools do require a counselor recommendation and at least one teacher recommendation. If your school uses Naviance, the counselor will be tracking the letters for you, but for everyone else, you can simply look under the “School Forms” tab on the common application for those letters that have been “Assigned” and those that have been “Submitted.”
Send your best test scores. Make sure you send the best of your ACT or SAT, Subject tests and/ or TOEFL. These need to be sent by you, and come directly from the College Board, ACT.org or ETS. These do not get sent automatically to the schools unless you indicated where you wanted your scores sent when you registered or tested (depending on the test). If you’ve retaken the test and received higher scores, you will want to send the higher scores to the schools.
Fill out and send in your financial aid documentation. All U.S. students regardless of family income should fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and CSS profile. International students, students who are not citizens, or students who are not permanent U.S. residents may have to send a certificate of finances and a bank letter. Check with each school either by calling or searching their website, to find what you need. Make sure all deadlines are met! These are inflexible deadlines. For Floridians, Bright Futures applications are not available until January.
Visit the campus if you have not done so already. Meeting with admission staff, faculty members and/or sitting in on a class demonstrates that you are truly interested in a school. Also attend any regional events that the school hosts. Schools like to see that you are interested and this gives you extra points with the admissions committee. Visiting a school and/or attending events are also good ways for you to get more information on whether a school if a good fit for you.
Please remember that without just one of the pieces above, your application is not considered complete. In all cases, once you submit your application, you can confirm receipt of these supplemental documents either via an online portal (save those log in and passwords they send you!) or via a phone call to the admissions office. This is another reason to get your applications in early- to provide you with enough time to confirm receipt, and to re-send if something does not make it.
Just a few more steps, and you are officially done! Congratulations! Now the hard part…. the wait!
This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.
For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please call 954 414-9986 or visitwww.internationalcollegecounselors.com.
Free Upcoming ICC Seminars – Save the Dates!
IMACS Plantation – Oct. 11 – 7pm
IMACS Boca Raton – Oct. 25 – 7pm
Space is limited. Call 561 470-1178 for more info and to reserve your spot.You’ve submitted your application but you still have some work to do. It’s time to put the icing on the cake you’ve been baking for the last three and a half years. We’re down to the details and crumbs.
Get your official transcripts sent from your school to each college. These are not sent automatically and colleges must receive them by the application deadline. Be sure to confirm the transcript before it goes out. In particular, please make sure that your classes, grades, community service hours (if on your transcript), test scores (if on your transcript and you want it there) are correct. You’ll be amazed at all the stories we’ve heard about mistakes on transcripts. Then, order transcripts for each of your colleges. While many schools send transcripts for you, if you are mailing them yourself, please send them registered mail. Addresses for transcripts can be found on Naviance, the Common App, and simply by Googling the school’s admissions office.
** Very important for our non-U.S. students – If your transcript is in another language, it needs to be translated into English (If you need help- let us know!).
Confirm that your Letters of Recommendation have been sent/ are in the process of being sent. While many public colleges do not require letters of recommendation, all the common app schools do require a counselor recommendation and at least one teacher recommendation. If your school uses Naviance, the counselor will be tracking the letters for you, but for everyone else, you can simply look under the “School Forms” tab on the common application for those letters that have been “Assigned” and those that have been “Submitted.”
Send your best test scores. Make sure you send the best of your ACT or SAT, Subject tests and/ or TOEFL. These need to be sent by you, and come directly from the College Board, ACT.org or ETS. These do not get sent automatically to the schools unless you indicated where you wanted your scores sent when you registered or tested (depending on the test). If you’ve retaken the test and received higher scores, you will want to send the higher scores to the schools.
Fill out and send in your financial aid documentation. All U.S. students regardless of family income should fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and CSS profile. International students, students who are not citizens, or students who are not permanent U.S. residents may have to send a certificate of finances and a bank letter. Check with each school either by calling or searching their website, to find what you need. Make sure all deadlines are met! These are inflexible deadlines. For Floridians, Bright Futures applications are not available until January.
Visit the campus if you have not done so already. Meeting with admission staff, faculty members and/or sitting in on a class demonstrates that you are truly interested in a school. Also attend any regional events that the school hosts. Schools like to see that you are interested and this gives you extra points with the admissions committee. Visiting a school and/or attending events are also good ways for you to get more information on whether a school if a good fit for you.
Please remember that without just one of the pieces above, your application is not considered complete. In all cases, once you submit your application, you can confirm receipt of these supplemental documents either via an online portal (save those log in and passwords they send you!) or via a phone call to the admissions office. This is another reason to get your applications in early- to provide you with enough time to confirm receipt, and to re-send if something does not make it.
Just a few more steps, and you are officially done! Congratulations! Now the hard part…. the wait!
This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.
For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please call 954 414-9986 or visitwww.internationalcollegecounselors.com.
Free Upcoming ICC Seminars – Save the Dates!
IMACS Plantation – Oct. 11 – 7pm
IMACS Boca Raton – Oct. 25 – 7pm
Space is limited. Call 561 470-1178 for more info and to reserve your spot.
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