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College Applications (Download PDF Version)

Now you have come to the heart of the college-planning process: the application. It can be pretty overwhelming –all of those forms to fill out, all of those essay to write…and all of them have to be done by the deadline!

The Value of Grades
A record of strong performance in demanding courses will take you a long way toward gaining admission to your favorite colleges. Although high school courses and performance are not the only features examined in some decision-making processes, most experts believe that high school performance is the best indicator of future academic success in college. Remember, good grades in unchallenging courses will be less impressive than only average grades in challenging courses.

Comparing Apples and Oranges
Some high schools are more demanding than others. Admission Officers assume that a high school with 70-100 percent of its graduating class attending a four-year college (Chaminade) is more demanding than a school where 20+ percent of graduates attend college. Attending an academically competitive school like Chaminade gives students the benefit of the doubt, especially in private college and university application evaluations. Some colleges will equate your success in a more academically demanding high school with your preparedness to attend a demanding college.

Your High School Transcript (or self-reported transcript) 
In its simplest form, your transcript is the record of your grades that Chaminade sends to the colleges you are applying to. Or, if you are applying to the U.C. or C.S.U systems, you initially create your own transcript in their applications by self-reporting your academic record.

In reality, the transcript can be seen as the key to the kingdom of college admissions. It’s true! The transcript is packed full of information and Admission Officers will not make an admission decision without it. Besides the list of your courses and the grades you have received, your transcript includes the results of all the standardized tests you have taken since you started high school. The high school course selection is usually second in importance only to the grades you earned in these courses. Some colleges even view the course selection as equal to, or more important than, actual course performance. Think about that.

What is Early Decision and Early Action?
Students who apply Early Decision to a college do so because it is their first choice college. When a student applies Early Decision, they sign a section of their application that binds them to enrolling at that college if they are offered admission. Students may only apply to one school Early Decision. Whether or not to enter into this process should be agreed upon as a family since the outcome is binding.

Early Action allows students to tell a college that it is a top pick, without signing a section of their application that states they will enroll if offered admission. Early Action, then, is referred to as the non-binding early application process.

The reason why students often consider applying through one of the early options is because it sends a special message of interest to a particular college. Because the deadlines for Early Decision and Early Action tend to be a couple of month prior to the regular decision deadline, students who apply early tend to be those students who are on the ball. In fact, early application statistics (GPA, SATs) are usually higher because early applicants tend to be knowledgeable about college admission requirements and self-selecting of the colleges they are applying to. However, applying early is not right for every student. Some students have several colleges that are equally interesting to them at the time they file their applications. This is the type of student who should apply regular decision so that he/she can continue to ponder his/her options.

Applying for Admission in Different Systems
Each private college and university, along with the University of California and California State University systems have different application requirements. Many colleges list their “minimum” high school course requirements for college-bound students. Remember that, as you use this worksheet to help you anticipate and understand what admission committees in different systems require in the application process.

Application Components and Requirements

Application Components

Private Colleges

University of California

California State University

Community Colleges

Report high school course selection

Required

Required

Required

No, except for special programs

Submit an application 

Required

Required

Required

No application, just registration

Application fee

Required

Required  

Required

No

SATI or ACT

Required

Required

Required

No

SATII:

Recommended

Required

No

No

Writing

Recommended

Required

No

No

Math

Recommended

Required

No

No

Your Choice

Required for certain programs

Required

No

No

Transcript with application

Required

No

No

No

Transcript at mid-year

Required by most

Only if requested by them

Only if requested by them

No

One or two teacher recommendations

Required

No

No

No

Counselor recommendation

Required by most

No

No

No

Interview

Recommended by most

No

No

No

FAFSA if applying for financial aid

Required

Required

Required

Required

CSS Profile if applying for financial aid

Required by some

No

No

No

Eligibility In Different Systems
The University of California (UC) system has ten campuses: Berkeley, 
Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco (graduate school only), Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. Students only need one application regardless of how many campuses to which they apply; a separate fee is required for each campus. The UC system is considered selective because it tends to admit the top 10-12% of the states’ graduates. How they select and what they expect to see in the application is what we are going to discuss here. Entrance eligibility for fall 2002 applicants will be determined as follows:

The UC GPA will be determined using only academic courses completed in the “A-G” subject areas specified by the University for grades 10 and 11. Only Honors and AP courses that are underlined on the “A-G” course list will receive a GPA bonus point. 
· See the “A-G” UC course list for Chaminade in this section.
· See the How to Calculate Your UC GPA worksheet in the “How Admission Officers Evaluate Your Application” section of this workbook.

“A-G” Requirements:

A. History
B. English
C. Mathematics
D. Laboratory Science
E. Language other than English
F. Visual and Performing Arts
G. College Preparatory Electives (In addition to those courses required in “a-f” above, one year/two semesters of electives are required, chosen from history, social science, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, language other than English and visual and performing arts)

The minimum GPA for eligibility to the UC system is a 2.8.

All academic information is self-reported on the application; no official transcript is necessary.

You will be required to answer one essay question from the four choices provided.

Required standardized tests include the SATI or ACT, and three SATII Subject Tests. The SATII Subject Tests must include: Writing, Math (Level 1 or 2) and a third test from one of the other subject areas. All students must fulfill the testing requirements, regardless of GPA.

The UC index formula for minimum eligibility will include the GPA, SATI or ACT, and SATII Subject Tests. The formula will weight the SATII composite scores more heavily than the SATI or ACT composite. The test score formula to determine your "SAT Total" is (SAT I or ACT composite score) + (SAT II composite scores= 2x(SAT II writing + SAT II math + third chosen subject)). This “SAT Total” should be used to place you on the eligibility index and help you discover what your minimum UC GPA needs to be in order to be system eligible.

UC ELIGIBILITY INDEX

“A-G” GPA     SAT Total   
2.80-2.84         4640            
2.85-2.89         4384            
2.90-2.94         4160           
2.95-2.99         3984 
3.00-3.04         3840          
3.05-3.09         3720           
3.10-3.14         3616            
3.15-3.19         3512 
3.20-3.24         3408
3.25-3.29         3320
3.30-3.34         3248
3.35-3.39         3192
3.40-3.44         3152
3.45-3.49         3128
> or = 3.50       3120

The California State University (CSU) system selects from the upper one-third of California high school graduates. Students need to file a separate application for each campus that they apply to, or apply electronically through CSU Mentor. Entrance eligibility for fall 2002 applicants will be determined as follows:
q Complete 15 units of college preparatory subjects (a “unit” is one year of study in high school), as follows: 


1. English, 4 years
2. Mathematics, 3 years
3. U.S History or U.S. History and Government, 1 year
4. Science, 1 year with laboratory
5. Foreign Language, 2 years in the same language
6. Visual and Performing Arts, 1 year
7. Electives (selected from the above categories), 3 years

CSU ELIGIBILITY INDEX

CSU GPA ACT Composite SAT1 Composite

3.0 No minimum score requirement
2.8 14 660
2.6 18 820
2.4 22 980
2.2 26 1140
2.0 30 1300
Below 2.00 does not qualify for regular admission 

The Private College and University system offer the widest range of characteristics and selectivity in the country. They vary in selectivity, size, location, academic emphasis, and cost. 

Academic Requirements:

The most commonly advertised minimum GPA for eligibility to private colleges is a 3.0. This does not mean that you cannot apply to less selective private schools if your GPA is below a 3.0. 

Required standardized tests include the SATI or ACT, and sometime the SATII Subject Tests. Private colleges usually encourage students to take the SATII Subject Tests in: Writing or Math (Level 1 or 2). All students must fulfill the testing requirements, regardless of GPA.

Most private colleges and universities require usually two teacher and one counselor recommendations.

You will be required to answer at least one essay and possibly some short answers.

Your application will not be counted complete without an official transcript.

See the “Chaminade Policies and Procedures Pertaining to College” section of this handbook for how to request an official transcript.

A Community College is a two-year, tax-supported college designed to serve students living in the surrounding area. Upon successful completion of course work, students are awarded the two year degree, an Associate of Arts (A.A.). There is no application process for attending a community college. Instead, students need to fill out registration materials by the posted deadline. 

Some students are choosing to attend a two-year college because their high school GPA is low and prevents them from gaining admission to their first choice college. Or, this may be a low cost way to get general education requirements fulfilled before spending the big bucks at a four-year college. Note that the University of California transfer system has preferential admission for community college students. 

In fact, most students that transfer into the U.C. system are from two-year colleges. Students should talk with U.C. transfer admission coordinators or community college transfer coordinators for details.

How To Organize Your College Applications

See the application organizer worksheet in this section for help.

On the outside of each folder, either attach the application organizer worksheet from this section, or list the following information: name of college, application deadline, application fee, essay topic, and names of individuals writing your recommendations.

If your application requires recommendations, request and distribute appropriate forms to teachers and counselors. Chaminade teachers and counselors need at least two weeks notice to complete a recommendation for you.

Each recommendation request should be accompanied by the following:

See the Chaminade Policies and Procedures section of this workbook for how to request an official transcript.

When applications are complete, make another photocopy to keep for your records in case the original is lost. Either on the application organizer worksheet or on the outside of the folder, indicate the date you mailed it.

Take all applications to the post office and obtain a Certificate of Mailing. This is proof of the date on which you mailed it. Do not simply put an application in a mailbox…it could lead to later frustrations.

APPLICATION ORGANIZER

College Name

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Applications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Application Deadline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Essay completed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Application form completed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Application mailed 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recommendations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gave form to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On this date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writer mailed form or returned to me 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sent thank you note

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gave form to: