Choosing a College Students should look at types of institutions - liberal arts, universities, colleges, technical/trade schools, industrial schools and two-year junior colleges. Look at factors, such as size, location, programs, costs, test requirements, academic requirements, affiliations, social aspects, and athletics. Be aware of how colleges evaluate prospective students - school record, rank in class, scholastic aptitude, extra-curricular activities, recommendations, interviews, and volunteer work.
Write colleges for additional, specific, current literature and application forms necessary for admissions.
Make sure to be aware of individual admissions procedures and deadlines. Applications for many colleges are now available on their websites.
Meet with college representatives who visit Blair.
Admissions representatives from a wide variety of universities, colleges, proprietary schools, and two-year colleges visit on a regular basis. These visits are publicized through the Career Center Notes, InfoFlow, and the bulletin board outside the Career Center door. Seniors and juniors are welcome to meet with representatives provided that they obtain permission from their classroom teachers prior to the session. A staff person in the Career Center will provide a pass for the student to return to class. These visits provide a valuable opportunity to learn first hand about the schools program of study, special open house opportunities, tuition costs, financial aid, admissions requirements and facilities of schools.
Schedule On-site Visits.
Students should plan to visit several colleges of their choice. The visits should be scheduled for times when classes are in session, preferably in the spring of the junior year or the fall of the senior year. The visits help students learn what college admissions representatives expect, help them absorb something of the atmosphere of the college, allow prospective students to talk with current students, and help students observe the community in which the school is located.
Register to take required tests: SAT I: Reasoning Test, SAT II: Subject Test, ACT, or TOFEL if English is not your native language and you have been in the US less than five years. Complete application, following directions and deadlines carefully.
Carefully read instructions regarding preparation of transcripts and recommendations.
All post-secondary schools require transcripts which are copies of the high school record beginning with grade 9 and test scores. Some schools require recommendations from teachers and/or counselors. The registrar prepares transcripts and recommendations for mailing. However, no request will be accepted until the completed yellow "Authorization to Release Records" form is signed and on file in the Registrar's Office. The Transcript Request form is completed and signed in order to request that a transcript is sent to a particular college or university.
Explore options for financing a higher education. Students can review available scholarship guides and other information found at the
MCPS Scholarship database and in the "Scholarship Credenza" and "Scholarship Binder" in the Career Center. Also, students can pick up a copy of the Maryland Higher Education Commission's
411 - Student Guide to Higher Education and Financial Aid in Maryland. Students can also obtain loan packet brochures from various lending institutions from the
Maryland Higher Education Commission and complete the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students must complete the FAFSA to be eligible for state and federally-funded financial aid programs and scholarships. Several private colleges and universities may also require the
CSS Profile.
The College Application and Transcript Process These steps are the responsibility of students and parents. Counselors and Career Center staff are ready and willing to assist in the process.
1. Students should be certain to have either an ACT or SAT score on file in the registrar's office. Students who have not yet taken the SAT or ACT should register for the earliest available date. Most colleges require one of these scores as part of their application process. Registration materials for all tests are available on-line or in the Career Center. Students needing to take the TOEFL test should call Prometrics at 301-718-9893.
2. Trailblazer Packets for seniors have materials that students should have completed by the beginning of the 12th grade year. The information that students provide on the brag sheet helps their counselor and teacher(s) compose a letter of recommendation that is personally tailored to the student. Packets are available in the School Counseling Office.
3. Obtain college applications. Most applications are now available online. Some hard copy applications are on file in the Career Center. Students might also consider using the
common application, which eliminates the need to complete multiple applications when applying to more than one common app school.
4. The University System of Maryland features a single
application that can be used for applying to any of the followng 11 institutions:
Bowie State University
Coppin State College
Frostburg State University
Salisbury University
Towson University
University of Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
University of Maryland University College
5. Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) also feature a common online application. The
EDU Online Common Application is accepted by the following HBCU Member Institutions:
Alabama State University
LeMoyne Owen College
Albany State University
Mississippi Valley State University
Benedict College
Morgan State University
Bennett College
Morris Brown College
Bethune Cookman
Norfolk State University
Central State University
Paine College
Coppin State University
Savannah State University
Cheyney State University
St. Augustine.s College
Dillard University
South Carolina State University
Fisk University
Tuskegee University
Florida Memorial College
University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff
Huston-Tillotson College
Virginia State University
Jackson State University
Virginia Union University
Kentucky State University
Voorhees College
Lincoln University
Wilberforce University
Wiley College
Students should always make a photocopy of each application as they are received or download them to use as a rough draft. Students should read all instructions before beginning to complete the applications and all information should be typed unless directed to write by hand. If essays are required, they should be checked for structure and content. They should reflect the student as an individual and should show dimension and character. The Career Center staff or the student's counselor may be available to review the student's essays.