Palmer Trinity School

palmertrinity.org 5 SECTION 1 REFLECTIONS ON COLLEGE ADMISSION THE PALMER TRINITY COLLEGE PROCESS This process is an exciting step toward your future and we feel privileged to be advising you through this time. It is significant that our office is called the College Advising Office, not the College Placement Office, as we will work with you to help you find colleges that match your interests and goals. While further education is important, the end point of your high school experience is not simply "getting into a good college" and the process in which you are about to embark is only one step along your life path. Remember, your whole future does not rest solely on a college's decision. Starting in the winter of the junior year, you will work together with your parents and to find a number of colleges that will suit your skills, interests, and goals. Although many people will help in this process, the final decisions should be yours. Your willingness to accept these responsibilities – the excitement of envisioning your next step after Palmer Trinity and the hard work of applying to colleges on time – will indicate your readiness for college and the independence it will offer. During this process, you will have five primary tasks: » to determine what you are looking for in a college » to engage in self-reflection » to appraise yourself as a college candidate » to complete your applications » to choose the college you will attend Once college becomes a common topic of conversation, you will hear reports (often conflicting) about specific colleges from various sources – parents, counselors, teachers, coaches, relatives, and well- meaning friends. To resist stereotypes and rumors, you must investigate for yourself. Start your research on the internet, with SCOIR, or with a good college guidebook. As you become interested in particular colleges, start your own file of materials. As you begin to appraise yourself as a candidate, your college advisor will help you to sort through statistical information regarding former Palmer Trinity students, the colleges' admitted student profiles, and recent admission trends to assess your chances of being admitted. We hope that by working together, we can provide you with the assistance you will need to successfully navigate the college process. To accomplish this task, each member of the partnership must recognize, understand, and fulfill his/her own responsibilities. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES » Check your school email daily. » Complete Junior Student Questionnaire (available on SCOIR account in January). » Attend the Miami Invitational College Fair. This fair is an opportunity for juniors to collect information on over 200 colleges located across the globe. » Research the basic admissions criteria at the colleges you are considering. » Plan to visit colleges during winter and spring breaks and summer vacation. » Complete the Common Application and Personal Statement (college essay) over the summer. » Meet college representatives visiting Palmer Trinity in the fall of your junior and senior years. In order to attend college visits you must sign up through SCOIR and pick up passes from Ms. Fabi in the College Advising Office no later than one day prior to the visit. If you are given permission to miss class in order to attend the visit by your teacher, have him/her sign your pass. You will submit your pass to the college advisor hosting the visit. » Complete applications honestly and accurately. » Be mindful of important deadlines. » Request letters of recommendation from junior year teachers in the Spring of junior year. These same teachers will be your recommenders for all your colleges.

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