Top 10 College
Application Mistakes

Senior year is hectic, but don't let that affect the quality of your college applications. Take your time, pay attention to detail, and plan ahead so you can meet the deadlines.

The following are some of the top responses from counselors and admissions staff, who shared the most common mistakes on college applications.

1. Misspellings and grammatical errors.
This is a big pet peeve of admissions people. Misspellings on something as important as the application show that either you don't care or you aren't good at spelling. Some students even misspell their intended major. But don't stop with a spell check. Proofread for grammatical errors, too.

2. Applying online, but the application isn't actually submitted.
If you apply online, you should receive confirmation that the college or university received it. Confirmation could be in the form of an email message, a web page response, or a credit card receipt. Follow through and make sure that your application has been received.

3. Forgotten signatures.
Make sure you sign and date the form. Students often overlook that part of the form if it's on the back. Check that all spaces are completed.

4. Not reading carefully.
For example, if the form asks what county you live in, don't misread it as country and write "United States."

5. Listing extracurricular activities that aren't.
Those that make the list include sports, the arts, formal organizations, and volunteer work. Talking on the phone and hanging out with friends don't make the cut. Make sure your activity information is accurate. Colleges may check with your high school.

6. Not telling your college counselor where you've applied.
Let your counselor know which colleges you're applying to, and ask him or her to review your high school transcript before sending it to colleges. Sometimes transcripts have errors.

7. Writing illegibly.
First impressions count, so take your time and use your best handwriting. It will make a better impression.

8. Using an email address that friends might laugh about, but colleges won't.
Select a professional email address. Keep your fun address for friends, but select an address using your name for college admissions.

9. Not checking your email regularly.
If you've given an email address, the college will use it. You don't want to miss out on anything because you didn't read your email.

10. Letting Mom or Dad help you fill out your application.
Admissions people know if your parents help, whether you have two different styles of handwriting or your admissions essay sounds more like a 45-year­-old than a 17­-year-­old. It's fine to get advice, but do the work yourself.

Common terms used in the college application process

Essay writing can be daunting at times. The following resources provide practical advice and insights into the college essay writing process.

College Essay Guy

College Essay Advisors

Guide to Supplemental Essays

• Go to act.org to register for the ACT.
• Go to collegeboard.org to register for the SAT.
• All juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) at Trinity on January 26, 2021.
• Students do not need to register online to take the PSAT at Trinity.

SERVICE ACADEMIES Application Basics

Travis Wittick of Academy Endeavors provides individualized support and help to those applying to service academies or ROTC programs. He has worked with several Trinity students who have had great results. Click below to find out more. Academy Endeavors

Best Colleges Resource for Diverse and Multicultural Students

Scholarship Guide for Hispanic and Latino Students

Becas Universitarias para Estudiantes Hispanos y Latinos (for Spanish-speaking students)

Scholarship Guide for Students of Color

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Meet with College Representatives at Trinity

A wide variety of colleges and universities send admission representatives to Trinity during the fall and spring to talk with students about their institutions. Juniors and seniors should attend many of these visits, being sure to include schools they know nothing about. Only by such a process can you learn about unique programs that might suit you well.

Do not miss these opportunities. It is tremendously helpful for a successful college search, and it will help you identify your particular strengths, needs, and aspirations and find the colleges that match those.

Where do I find the visits?

• Visit SCOIR and sign up for visits.
• Check the College Rep Visit Calendar on the website.
• Sign up to host a college on the shared Google sheet.
• Check your email and listen for announcements.

Preparing for college visits can make a big difference, and we encourage you to do the following:

Do some homework

• Look through materials in the College Counseling Office.
• Peruse the college website.

Be polite and interested

• Introduce yourself with a firm handshake and direct eye contact.
• Sit up straight and be attentive throughout the session.
• Say “thank you” at the end of the session.

Ask good program questions, such as…

• What are the defining features of your academic program?
• What opportunities are there for study beyond the school itself?
• How accessible are the professors?
• How much teaching is done by professors (vs. graduate student teaching assistants)?
• What percentage of your students get into graduate school?
• What is your college known for among peer schools? Job recruiters?
• Please tell me about your _______ program.
• What kind of support do you provide for students with learning disabilities?
• What do you want your graduates to take away with them from your school?

Ask good culture questions, such as…

• How would you describe a typical student at your university?
• What’s a typical day like?
• What are the core values of your college?
• How many students live on campus all four years?
• Describe the social life. If there are fraternities/sororities, how much emphasis is placed on these?
• Dorm life: Single sex or coed? Single or double (or triple) rooms?
• What kind of town/city life is there for college students?
• Are there faith-based groups on campus? What denomination, if any, are they? Is there a chapter of Young Life? Cru? InterVarsity Christian Fellowship? Reformed University Fellowship?
• Is the food good?
• Can I have a car on campus my freshman year?

Ask application-related questions, such as…

• What are you looking for in your applicants?
• How much weight do you give to grades, scores, recommendations, essays…?
• Do you encourage college visits/ interviews?
• If I’m really interested in your college, should I apply early decision/early action?
• Is demonstrated interest a factor?
• How extensive are your resources for financial aid? Is your admission process need-blind?
• Do you offer merit scholarships? If so, how would I apply?

If you’re really interested…

• Write a thank-you note.

The following article offers sound advice about how to get the most from meetings with college representatives at Trinity and at college fairs. There’s also good advice here regarding formal interviews.

Top 5 Ways to Impress an Admissions Officer

Suggestions for a Successful College Visit

1. Plan Ahead

Plan your visit for a time when classes are in session and the school is bustling.

2. Reserve a Tour, Interview, etc.

You may need to book a tour ahead of time. Some schools allow you to make these reservations online. For others, you may need to call the school’s Admissions Office. When you call, ask to:

• Reserve a tour
• Schedule an interview
• Sit in on a lecture
• Stay overnight in a dorm

Note:

DO NOT have your parent call to make the appointment! Also, when making reservations online, consider changing your email address from partyanimal09@aol.com or hotchick123@gmail.com to something more serious, like your name.

3. Arrive Early.

Download a campus map and any additional paperwork the school has sent. Allow enough time to get lost, find parking, and find the Admissions Office.

4. Come Prepared.

Most campus tours leave from the Admissions Office, where you will likely be asked to fill out extra forms addressing your interests, GPA, test scores, etc. It’s not a bad idea to write down these numbers in advance.

5. Ask Questions.

Campus tours are a great time to ask questions, so come prepared! Think about some of the things you want to know that may not be answered during the tour. For instance, is this a commuter college, or do students hang around on the weekend? What did your guide do last weekend? What’s the best class your tour guide has ever taken...and why? Why did your tour guide select this school? What are the biggest campus traditions? What was the hardest thing to get used to here?

6. Escape the Tour.

Your guide will show you the highlights, but take time to explore on your own. Ask to peek in dorms, make arrangements to sit in on a class, swing by departments that are of interest to you. Check out the bulletin boards and see what’s going on around campus.

7. Scope Out the Big Three: Security, Living Arrangements, Health Services.

• Look into the amount of violent crime on campus. Are there a lot of emergency blue light kiosks? If so, it probably indicates a higher level of violence. Are there services that shuttle students at night?
• Peek inside the dorms. Could you see yourself living here?
• How extensive are the medical and mental health facilities?

8. Find Students.

Talk to regular students, not just your guide. Ask questions!

9. Play Tourist.

Take time to explore the town/city where the college is located. Get a feel for what it has to offer. Can you see yourself strolling around here when you’re not in class?

Questions to Ask When Visiting Colleges

Take some time after your college tour to talk with current students on campus. Here are some potential questions to help you find the school that fits you best.

Questions for Students You Meet on Campus

Why did you choose this school?

Are you happy here?

What do you like about your school?

What would you change or improve?

How easy is it to get answers to your questions from the business office?

Are the students friendly?

What’s the food like?

What makes this school/campus unique?

Questions for Your Tour Guide

Academics

Are most of your classes taught by professors or teaching assistants?

Were you able to take most of your first-choice classes?

How much reading and writing is expected in your courses?

How satisfied are you with academic advising?

Do students use any on­-campus tutoring programs or writing centers?

How big are your freshman classes?

Do the professors have office hours? Are they available to meet with students outside of class?

Can undergraduates work with professors on research?

Do you provide tutoring on campus?

Do you have a writing center?

How’s the Wi­Fi?

Where is the best place to study on campus?

What are the hours of the library? Do these change during exam weeks?

Do you have an honors college? Learning communities?

Graduation Record

What percentage of students graduate in four years? Five years?

What percentage of freshmen return for sophomore year?

What is the job placement rate for last year’s graduating class?

Student Life

Are freshmen required to live on campus?

How many students live on campus?

What is the campus crime rate?

How large is campus security and do they patrol regularly?

Do most students go home on the weekends?

What is Greek life like and how do students feel about it?

What clubs and activities are offered to students?

What type of transportation is used around campus?

Outside Opportunities

Are there opportunities for internships?

What percentage of students study abroad?

Do you have a career center? Is there help with job placement?

Are there opportunities for service learning?

Questions to Ask Yourself

How did you feel when you were on campus?

How did staff members interact with students?

How did you feel about being in a class with the students you met?

Did the campus seem to be a good size for you?

Were the dorms single­-sex or co­ed? How did you feel about that?

Did you feel comfortable and safe?

Are there stores nearby for groceries, materials, supplies?

College Interviews

1. The interview is primarily for you to learn about the college and to allow the interviewer to learn about you. Use it as a tool to assist your college selection. The interview can have a positive effect on your admission—rarely a negative one.
2. When you schedule an interview, check to see if it is evaluative (used as a factor in admission decisions) or informational (used in helping an applicant learn more about the college). Knowing the purpose will help you prepare for the interview. In most cases, even if the interview is evaluative, it is not one of the most important criteria used by the college.
3. Relax and be yourself!
4. Your interview will usually be with an admissions staff member, but it may be with a student, alumnus, or a professional interviewer. Keep this person's perspective in mind.
5. Don't write off the college just because you think you had a bad interview. Interviewers have bad days, too.
6. The interviewer is eager to get to know you and is almost always on your side. An experienced person knows that you may be new at interviewing and will try to put you at ease. The interviewer will answer your questions but will be more interested if you have helpful questions that show you've done some research on the college already.
7. An important part of preparation is self-assessment. In what kind of environment do you work best? Would you take advantage of class discussions or would you rather learn by the lecture method? Know your rank, your test scores, your present areas of interest. If you are undecided about your career, feel free to say so (half of college students change their intended major). You should, however, recognize that you are going to college primarily to learn. Think through some areas you would like to explore, competencies you would like to develop, projects or situations that intrigue you.
8. Be prepared. Do your homework about the school to get the obvious questions answered. You don't want to be silent when asked, "What would you like to know about our college?" Questions or comments like, "What if I can't decide between two majors?" "What kinds of internships are there, and how often do students take them?" or "I've liked art, but don't want to major in it" show more maturity in your thinking than asking about the number of books in the college library.
9. Interviewers may ask questions about your interests, extracurricular activities or jobs, books you've read, meaningful experiences, reasons for applying to this college, life at school, and similar topics. Be ready to talk about these subjects.
10. Be honest. Everyone has strong and weak points. College will help you with some of the latter and promote the former.
11. Plan to have your interview alone. Do not bring your family members to the interview. Admissions officers want to see that you can do things independently.
12. Dress neatly and comfortably.
13. When you return home, write a thank-you note to the person(s) who interviewed you.

Getting Ready for College:
9th Grade

When a student becomes a freshman, everything starts to count. The Trinity grade point average (GPA) students will use to apply to college does include freshman year grades, so academic performance is more important than it has been in previous years. Freshman GPA, activities, honors classes, and awards can all be listed on college and scholarship applications.

Getting Ready for College:
10th Grade

Students should be acclimated to Upper School life by the beginning of tenth grade. Your sophomore year should be a year of personal growth. In addition to working hard in school and being involved in activities, sophomores should be identifying personal abilities, aptitudes, and interests. This needs to be a year of consistent performance.

Junior Year Checklist

FIRST SEMESTER

• Work hard to keep your GPA high.
• Use the College Search tool via SCOIR.
• Identify 3-6 Potential Schools:
  • 1-2 Reach Schools - A school where your academic credentials fall below the school‛s range for average freshmen. These are long shots but could be possible.
  • 1-2 Target Schools - A school where your academic credentials fall well within (or even exceed) the school‛s range for the average freshman. There are no guarantees, but it‛s not unreasonable to be accepted to several of your target schools.
  • 1-2 Safety/Likely Schools - A school where your academic credentials fall above the school's range for the average freshmen. You can be reasonably certain that you will be admitted to your safety schools.
• List your colleges of interest in the "Colleges I'm Following" in SCOIR.
• Attend college rep visits at Trinity.
• Check the SCOIR main page to see all colleges visiting Trinity each week.
• Check emails from SCOIR regarding colleges visiting Trinity. You will receive an email if any of the colleges you listed in “Colleges I'm Following” are planning a visit.
• Listen to announcements and check your emails.
• Set up college visits.
• Sign up for campus tours via the individual college websites.
• Visit a variety of schools (even if you think you have your mind made up).
• Athletes looking to play collegiate sports:
  • Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
  • Register with the NAIA Eligibility Center.
  • Original ACT and/or SAT score reports must be sent directly to NCAA (9999).
• Record your accomplishments in SCOIR:
  • Awards
  • Certificates
  • Community service
  • Job shadowing or internships
• Look regularly for scholarships and other opportunities.
  • Scholarships and other opportunities are listed by their deadlines on the Scholarships and Opportunities Calendars on the Trinity website, so look ahead!

SECOND SEMESTER

• Register and take the ACT and/or SAT. Test dates and deadlines may be found on the testing websites:
  • www.act.org
  • www.collegeboard.org
• Trinity's high school code is 341-039.
• Prepare to take the ACT and/or SAT:
  • www.actstudents.org/testprep/index.html
  • www.sat.collegeboard.com/practice
• Complete the Junior Survey in SCOIR prior to your individual junior meeting.
• Complete the You Science Career Assessment in SCOIR prior to your individual junior meeting.
• Have parents complete the Parent Survey in SCOIR prior to the family junior meeting.
• Research admissions and scholarship deadlines on college websites and College Kickstart.
• Many schools have deadlines of Oct. 15, Nov. 1, Dec. 1, or Dec. 15 for early admission and scholarship priority. Some may be sooner! Check the college websites to be sure.
• Check for specific school/departmental scholarship information.
• Check with organizations or corporations associated with your family for applicable scholarships.
• Regularly check the Scholarships page on the Trinity website.
  • Remember to look ahead, as they are listed by deadline for application.
• Teacher recommendations: Complete the Teacher Recommendation Request Form and returned the signed form to Mrs. McNeal.

SUMMER

• Take or retake the ACT and/or SAT.
• Consider summer camps and/or programs for academic or leadership enrichment. Check the Leadership and Summer Opportunities page of Trinity's website.
• Narrow your college list for college applications senior year with College Kickstart.
• Look for college application and college scholarship dates. Make a calendar of deadlines.
• Begin your college essays. Common App prompts are typically published in January.
• Sign the FERPA Waiver and Release In SCOIR. Parents must sign the release In SCOIR if the student is under 18.
• Begin working on college essays.
  • Common App typically publishes their prompts in January.

Participation in athletics is a great way to learn life lessons and to develop qualities such as commitment, tenacity, loyalty, selflessness, and leadership. Trinity encourages students to take full advantage of its excellent athletics programs, but for the right reasons. These include character development, love of sports, and being part of a close-knit team.

For most students, athletic involvement influences college admissions only as an indicator of character. Students interested in playing sports in college must place a transcript on file with the NCAA/NAIA Eligibility Center. They should also read the NCAA/NAIA rules regarding eligibility. See the Director of College Counseling for more information.

What is the NCAA and NAIA Eligibility Center?

The Eligibility Center is the organization that officially certifies students as academically eligible to compete in NCAA Division I or Division II athletics.

PlayNAIA.org is the official clearinghouse for NAIA eligibility. Every student-athlete must register with the NAIA Eligibility Center to play sports at an NAIA college or university.

Why do I have to register?

If you want to compete in NCAA Division I or Division II athletics or NAIA athletics, you must fulfill certain academic requirements regarding coursework, grade point average, and test scores. The Eligibility Center checks whether you meet these requirements and certifies your eligibility to play for any college or university that may be interested in recruiting you. Students planning to participate at a NCAA Division III school should contact the college or university for eligibility requirements.

When should I register?

If you want to play as a college freshman, you should register with the NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Center at the beginning of your junior year of Upper School. The Eligibility Center will not evaluate your record unless you have completed four semesters of Upper School coursework. The Eligibility Center must have certified your eligibility before you can receive an athletic scholarship, practice, or compete at a Division I, Division II, or NAIA institution.

What happens after I submit my registration forms?

During the summer before your senior year, the Eligibility Center will send you an evaluation of your academic record. This evaluation will tell you what Upper School coursework you still need to take in order to become certified as eligible to play NCAA Division I, Division II, or NAIA athletics. Use this evaluation to schedule your senior year courses.

Overview of College Resources for Students with Disabilities