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Junior Year College Planning Tips

1. Review and complete College Activity

Resume.

2. How and when to use the Common Application.

3. Discuss the Do’s & Don’ts of writing a college essay.

4. Recommendations

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Sample College Activity Sample College Activity ResumeResume

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Education:

Smithtown High School Grades 9,10 100 Central Road Smithtown, New York 11787

West Morris Central High School Grades 11,12

259 Bartley Road Chester, New Jersey 07930

Academic Achievements: High Honor Roll: Fall 2000, Spring 2001

Fall 2001, Spring 2002 Fall 2002, Spring 2003

Extra Curricular Activities:

Yearbook Committee Grade 12 Lorelei’s (Girls Auditioned Singing Group) Grade 12 ALPS Leader- leader younger student in

various outdoor teamwork and trust building activities as well as outdoor climbing. Grades 11,12

Volleyball Grades 7,8,9,10 Softball Grades 7,8,9,10 REACH (Peer Leadership program of

West Morris Central HS) Grades 11,12 SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) Grades 9,10 FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) Grades 9,10

Employment History:

Pharmacist Assistant September, 2003 – Present Long Valley Pharmacy 67 East Mill Road Long Valley, NJ

Volunteer Work:

Assistant Volleyball Coach- Assisted coaching both boys and girls volleyball team Grades 9,10

References: Available upon request

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Name Address

SS# (optional) E-mail

Objective To explore a foreign language Education 2004-2008 West Morris Central High School Chester, NJ Academic Achievements High Honor Roll (11,12)

Honor Roll (9, 10) Extracurricular Activities Spanish Honor Society (12)

Candidate for National Honor Society Candidate for IB Certificate Peer Ministry GCI (Girl’s Career Institute at Rutgers) FEA (Future Educators of America) (12) Antioch (Team member) (10,11,12) Spring Musical (9,10,11,12) Spring Track (11) Winter Cheerleading (lettered) (10) Gymnastics (9,10)

Volunteer Experiences CIT (Counselor In Training) (6 weeks in summer 2006) (200+)

CCD Teacher (taught 1st graders) (11,12) St. Luke’s Catholic Church (40+) (9,10,11,12) St. Ann’s Annual Festival (40+) (9,10,11,12)

Work Experiences Fall 2007 – Present YMCA Camp Bernie Port Murray, NJ

GFC (Group Family Counselor) Lifeguard, CPR and Climbing Tower certified, ran various

activities including: low ropes, candle dipping, canoeing, climbing tower, and archery.

Summer 2007 YMCA Camp Bernie Port Murray, NJ Day Camp Counselor

Learned to work with children between ages of 6-12, social skills, schedule planning, organization, keeping children occupied.

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The Common Application

Application – Student Data FormTeacher Evaluation FormSecondary School Report FormMidyear Report FormFinal Report FormCollege Specific Supplemental Forms

**Remember to sign all forms!!!

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https://www.commonapp.org

https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/DownloadForms.aspx

To Access a common application type To Access a common application type in the link illustrated below.in the link illustrated below.

Google Common Application

or select

common app within Naviance

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https://www.commonapp.org

https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/DownloadForms.aspx

To Access a common application type To Access a common application type in the link illustrated below.in the link illustrated below.

Google Common Application

or select

common app within Naviance

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Common Application Essay Common Application Essay TopicsTopics

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.

Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

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Common Application Essay Topics (Continued)

Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

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Common Application Essay Topics (Continued)

Topic of your choice.

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Dos and Don’ts on Writing the College Dos and Don’ts on Writing the College Application EssayApplication Essay

Dos

Keep your focus narrow and personal —your essay must prove a single point or thesis

Prove it— develop your main idea with vivid, specific facts, events, quotations, examples, and reasons

Be specific– to avoid clichéd, generic, and predictable writing, use vivid, specific details

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Dos and Don’ts on Writing the College Application Essay

Don’tsDon’t tell your readers what you think

they want to hear.Don’t write a resume.Don’t use 50 words when 5 will do.Don’t forget to proofread—typos and

spelling or grammatical errors can be interpreted as carelessness or just bad writing!

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Summer Checklist

• Continue to...visit colleges, take tours, have interviews, collect applications

• Refine and narrow your college list

• Write your college essays

• Update your resume