PLANNING FOR COLLEGEBy Michael PorterAdmissions CounselorUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville

Factors Affecting Your College Choice

College environment Extracurricular opportunities Profession Major Geographic location Community College size Concerns

What are your top 4-6 criteria in selecting a college?

Deadlines

Non Restrictive• College will let you

know by a certain dateRegular Decision

• College admits throughout the admissions cycle

Rolling Admissio

n• College will send you a

decision earlierEarly Action

MAY 1ST CONFIRMATION DATE

Restrictive

• If admitted, you are committed to that school

• The school may hold your application for regular decision

Early Decisio

n

Admissions Application

Official High School Transcript• normally sent directly from the high school to the college• schools typically get a school report listing things like AP classes offered, how many students in a class, etc.• colleges might require mid-year grades

Standardized Test Scores• go to act.org (ACT) or collegeboard.org (SAT) to request official copies• some schools are able to take ACT/SAT scores from you transcript, but not all• senior year be sure to mark your top schools to receive your scores on the test

Application Form (Common Application or school’s website)• personal information• honors and awards• extracurricular• employment• summer activities• essays• disciplinary action• application fee or fee waiver• signature

Essay

Tell a Story don’t write what you think they want to

hear show your personality

Proofread strategy: read essay from bottom to top no “thnx” or “B4” grammarly.com

Get a Second Opinion listen with an open mind

Stay Focused really read the essay prompt add substance to some of your

achievements

Testing

ACT SAT AP Exams IB Exams FREE TEST PREP

Khan Academy, khanacademy.org ACT, act.org SAT, satpractice.org

Recommendations

Who? Teachers

core academic subjects (history, math, science, languages)

teachers who know you well recent years (junior and senior)

Guidance Counselors

Tips: What are things you would like your

recommenders to highlight?

Why did you choose this specific recommender?

Give recommenders PLENTY of time

Campus Visits

What To Do Research the school before to ask

insightful questions Request academic appointment if

available If not, contact a professor/department

Search school’s event calendar in preparation for your visit

Attend an information session

What Not To Do Do the campus tour and jet Try to register last minute for peak

times (fall break and spring break) Two visits in the same day Skip the on campus meal Neglect getting the business cards

of people you meet

PLANNING FOR COLLEGE

Michael Porter // michaelp@utk.edu // 865-946-8687

A copy of this presentation is available at tinyurl.com/Life-After-School