applying to colleges
Visiting and Applying to Colleges - Senior Year
As you are exploring what college may meet your needs, the college visit will play an important part in the college decision-making process. You will be able to get a feel for the campus. The fall is a great time to view different colleges. You will need to contact the admissions office to schedule a time. The college will give you an itinerary of your visit. During the school year, many universities host campus view days. Many use fall holidays such as Columbus Day and Veteran's Day to hold programs for interested students. You are allowed 3 pre-arranged college visits days during the school year to visit during the school day. You will need to contact the college's admissions office to arrange your visit. The Guidance Office has a form that needs to be completed and returned with all the necessary signatures. This form should be completed a few days prior to the college visit. There are suggested questions to ask on this site.
You will wait until September to apply. Universities are still processing their freshmen and do not want the applications until September. Most colleges want you to apply online. Make sure you finish your year strong! Colleges will receive a final transcript after you graduate.
The College Application Process
* Obtain and complete the applications. By the beginning of October, you should have your colleges narrowed down. You may be able to download paper copies of the applications from the university's website. Some colleges have a deadline for applications for example University of Illinois has a priority deadline of Nov. 1.
* Complete the Request for Recommendation form located in the guidance office. Many scholarships and colleges will require you to include recommendations from a teacher or a counselor.
* If you are submitting a paper application, turn it in to the guidance office. DO NOT MAIL THEM YOURSELF! An official transcript with your ACT scores needs to accompany the application. It takes a minimum of one day's notice to process and mail the application. Do not wait until the last day of the deadline. Official transcripts may NOT be hand delivered - they must be mailed.
* Don't forget to put your name and social security number on all the items you are sending.
ONLINE APPLICATIONS
* Some colleges have you print a signature page after completing the online application. Bring the page to the guidance office so the official transcripts will be sent to the university. If no signature page is required, let the guidance office know what school to send your transcript.
* Many universities recommend the online process in which students can attach the essay and pay by credit card. This procedure can speed up the admissions process. You may also be able to view the status of your application.
* Make sure you tell your counselor to send your transcripts to the university. Some schools require you to send your ACT scores directly from ACT. If this is the case, you can contact ACT at www.actstudent.org
* You will want to turn in all the application materials together such as the signature page, fee, essay and recommendations. They will need to be mailed together with your transcript. Make sure your name and social security number is on everything you send.
* Be Neat. This is the first impression colleges may have of you.
Miscellaneous
Morris Community High School CEEB (School) Code: 142990
1000 Union Street, Morris, IL 60450
Timelines
- Letters of recommendations- the guidance office has a form you can complete to give to the person writing the recommendation. This will help them write a more complete recommendation for you. Allow at least 2 weeks for the counselors or teachers to write these letters.
- Apply early - colleges and universities observe deadlines.
- Early Decision/Early Action/Priority deadlines are usually Nov. 1, Nov. 15, or Dec. 1. Students applying to selective universities have a greater chance of being admitted if they apply early.
- Student will need to start the financial aid process by completing the FAFSA after the first of January of their senior year. Most students apply in February/March when the information for taxes are available.
- Continue to investigate outside scholarships by contacting the potential university's financial aid office, using Internet searches and view the MCHS scholarship notebook located in the guidance office.
- In order to play Division I or II athletics, students will need to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. Register online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
- Visit the universities.
Enrollment Information for Joliet Junior College
For students wanting to attend Joliet Junior College as a full-time student:
Fall
- Complete an application online at www.jjc.edu
- Have your transcripts sent to JJC by letting your counselor know.
Spring
- Take the COMPASS test; call 280-2284 for days and times or online at www.jjc.edu
- Go online for new student information at www.JJC.edu/newstudent
- Take the online tour at www.JJC.edu/newstudent
- Attend a New Student Group Registration to enroll in classes
Do not wait until the end of summer to register!
If you want to enroll at courses at JJC while in high school, talk to your counselor.
Writing a college Application Essay - Things to Know
- The essay is one of the key subjective elements in the admission application process.
- A quality essay can swing the admissions decision in your favor. It can move you from the waiting list to admit, or a poorly done essay could mean a denial or waiting even for a student with an outstanding academic record.
- Admission counselors read hundreds of essays, try to take an angle to make yours unique. Consider an unconventional opening.
- Give yourself plenty of time to write your essay. It should not be the type of thing that you do over one weekend.
- Your essay needs to have the admissions people feel that they get to know the person behind the GPA, the test scores, and the extracurricular activities.
- The principle audience who will read your essay are men and women who are five years older than you.
- Find a subject you care about and which in your heart you feel others should care about.
- One important idea to cover is what can you bring something to the campus to add to the diversity of the audience.
- Write in your own vocabulary; don't be looking words up in the thesaurus to impress someone. Read your essay aloud; if you can't imagine yourself ever saying the words on the page then you need to adjust the vocabulary.
- Do some research on the university you are applying to and include that information in your essay?
- Try to be straightforward and honest, but that doesn't mean being dull
- Use correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. Have someone look over your essay, preferably and English teacher.
- Keep your essay length to 1 page, or at most a page and a half.
Suggested Questions to Ask on a College Visit
Academic:
What is the average class size? What is the largest number of students in a class?
Who will help me choose my classes for freshman year? What about after that?
Will a faculty member teach my classes? Does this school use Teaching Assistants?
What happens if I need help with one of my classes?
Will I be able to graduate in four years?
What have recent graduates from this school done with a major in _____?
Social:
How many students live on campus? Do most of the stay on campus on the weekends?
What social activities does the school provide?
Is there a Greek system (sororities/fraternities)?
Are there intramural sports teams?
Can I have a car on campus?
What can I do around campus if I don't have a car?
Athletics:
What division are the teams?
If not a Division 3 school, how many scholarships are available for my sport?
What happens if I make a team, but then get injured?
How long have the coaches been with the school?
Admissions:
Do you have a minimum GPA, ACT/SAT or Class Rank requirements?
What happens if I don't meet one of the requirements?
When should I turn my application in?
How long does it take to let me know whether or not I've been accepted?
Do I need to write an essay? What about letters of recommendations?
Financial Aid:
Do you require any forms in addition to the FAFSA?
How long does it take to process the financial aid once you receive the FAFSA information?
Do you provide financial aid estimates?
What need based aid does the college give?
What merit based scholarships does the college give?
Will my financial aid stat the same for as long as I'm in college?
Housing:
Is housing guaranteed?
Do I get to pick what residence hall I'll be in?
Can I pick my roommate? What if I don't know anybody else going to this school?
What happens if I do not like my roommate?
What amenities are provided (cable, phone, internet access, etc.)?
Are there computer labs in the residence halls?
