Transcript Release Reminder

Remember, if you are applying to schools with a December 15th, December 31st, or January 1st deadline and you have not already turned in a transcript release form you need to do this Monday or Tuesday! Many of you have asked if it is OK to turn in a transcript release form before you have completed your applications. Yes, it is definitely OK! Your actual application to the college is still not due until whatever their stated deadline is, but if we are going to successfully process all of the forms and transcripts before winter break then we need to have your transcript releases in before December 1st. (Remember, we are not at school working during winter break either...)

Another reminder related to the transcript releases... whatever you put on the transcript release form as far as materials to be included is what we will make sure we have before sending in your transcript. So, for example, I have a transcript and paperwork that have been sitting in my office for at least 3 weeks because I do not have the teacher recommendations that are indicated. If you have any questions about if your transcript has been mailed, you can check that information on PrepHQ. If you look at PrepHQ and see that your transcript is still in the office, then I strongly recommend that you follow up with your teachers and make sure that their letters will be ready before your postmark deadline! Some students are making sure that all of the materials are ready to be mailed when turning in their transcript release forms by attaching the sealed envelopes of their teacher's recommendation letters or by making sure that their teachers have already given me copies of their recommendations prior to submitting the transcript release forms. This is ideal, but you still need to make sure that you are turning in the transcript release forms to Mrs. Hoyt before December 1st.

Summary:

- Due by December 1st: Transcript release form, $2.00, and any additional materials (counselor report form, school report form, teacher recommendation letters, etc.) for EVERY college that need to be mailed for December 15th, December 31st or January 1st application deadlines.

If you have any questions, feel free to let me know. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break! Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow and hearing all about your 5 days off!

A "Black Weekend"

The day after Thanksgiving is known as “Black Friday” and the entire weekend has been called a “Black Weekend.” NOT because of all the brave people who are out shopping, but because high school seniors across the country are forced by parents to spend all weekend working on college applications in an effort to try to get them completed. I keep wondering how many of you are really spending the weekend locked away in your rooms stressed out about trying to finish your college applications. With December 1st being Tuesday, many of you may have been ahead of the game and not procrastinating to try to get everything done over the holiday weekend. Hopefully you finished so you could enjoy the break and that it was not a black weekend with lots of application work.

In case you are still working on your applications and need some additional help or tips perhaps these links will help:

College Application Resume

Last minute reminders about the importance of having your college application essays edited and to write for your reader.

Generic-itis prevention in college essays

Personal Statement Fundamentals

Don’t forget that you can check to see if the college of your choice has updates or hints or reminders about their essay questions on their website or even on YouTube. (For example, the University of California has a YouTube video about their personal statement and what they are looking for in the essay.)

What are you really going to college for?

And for those of you who are starting to look ahead from college application work to focusing on scholarship applications, here are two links that might interest you.

How to Begin Your Scholarship Search

Scholarship Scams

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that you are enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you were able to eat great food with the family or friends who mean the most to you.

We had lots of great food, but my sister and her family were not able to come for the holiday so it just doesn't feel like Thanksgiving with them missing.

Enjoy spending time with your family, eating turkey, watching the parade, watching football, and taking a nap... or whatever your traditions include. :-)

Safe Travels

I'd imagine many of you were like me and were so happy that the school week is already over.

I hope you have a wonderful 5 days off and that wherever your travels take you that you will have fun and be safe!

Pictures on Campus

I don't know about you, but I am so happy that this is only a 2 day school week!

In talking with many of you recently, I know that some of you will be combining the Thanksgiving break with formal visits or informal stops on college campuses. Please remember that I would like to have a picture of you on EVERY campus that you step foot on - regardless of your intention to apply to that school or not.

Earlier this fall Ms. Schwartz, Mrs. Gratz and I attended a conference at the University of Cincinnati and since I would never ask you to do something that I won't do, I thought I would share our "Oh the Places You'll Go" pictures from our trip to UC.

College Admissions Decisions

College admissions decisions are already starting to come in for some students. Every senior looks forward to receiving their college acceptance letters. It is an exciting time and reassures that there is more ahead. Depending upon the schools where you are applying, it is possible that you will hear back quickly or you may be waiting until sometime in March to find out if you have been accepted. I do ask that as you begin receiving your acceptance or, sadly, even rejection letters, to please keep me informed about the decisions. For the vast majority of the colleges, the only way I know about your admissions decision is if you share the information with me.

Remember, the only way to receive an acceptance letter is to actually APPLY to the college! (Just a friendly little reminder for those of you who are struggling to get your applications finished.)

Deadlines Are Real!

Just a quick reminder about the upcoming deadlines related to your college applications...

- Any student applying to OSU (or an OSU branch) that wants to be considered for scholarships MUST apply before December 1st! That means that ALL of your materials (transcript, college prep form, test scores, and application including the essay) are in OSU's hands by December 1st. If you are in the group of students who still plan to hit this December 1st date, then please verify that you have turned in your transcript release form with the college prep form that I need to complete for you and $2.00 to Mrs. Hoyt. You are told to provide at least 10 working days to make sure that we get everything processed on time. (10 days has already passed... so if you have not yet turned in your form, be certain that you have done so NO LATER than Monday!)

- If you are looking at December 15th, December 31st, or January 1st deadlines, your transcript release forms MUST be submitted to Mrs. Hoyt (with all supplemental materials required) no later than Tuesday, December 1st! This is because those deadlines create a massive back up in the system because there will be so many applicants and we need the time to process them all and get them mailed before winter break begins.

- Transcript release forms are available on the center shelves area in the middle of the Counseling and Career Center or you can download them off of the "Shared Files" area on PrepHQ.

- By now I *SHOULD* know about any and all students who need recommendation letters for college applications, but if you have realized that your college application needs a recommendation letter, then please do NOT delay and come and see me immediately so that we can figure out a plan to get your letter written on time to meet your deadlines.

- Stop by my office if you have any questions, but please remember that deadlines are real and they are approaching quickly.