Professional Documents
Culture Documents
October 2012 College Bulletin
October 2012 College Bulletin
Early Decision/Early ActionIs it right for you? This year, our monthly College Bulletins will focus on an essential component of the college application and provide extensive information on that topic. This month we will address the issue of applying Early Decision and Early Action. About 450 colleges offer early admission plans. Under these plans, students can apply early (usually November 1) well before the typical January 1st deadline, and get a decision early (usually December 15 rather than April 1). Applying Early Decision can be a good idea if you are certain about which college you absolutely want to attend. That means you not only researched its programs, but you visited the campus at least once. This should be an informed decision! There are three main types of early admission plans. All three plans require you to apply by November 1st. Here are some details of each option:
Early Decision Plans: You can apply to only one early decision college. If the college accepts you and offers you enough financial aid, you must go to that college. Thats why these plans are referred to as binding. Some colleges have two early deadlines; E.D. I and E.D. II. They both work the same way, but the second deadline give you more time to decide whether to apply early. Although you may apply to additional colleges through the regular admission process, you must withdraw all other applications if youre accepted by this college. Early Action Plans You can apply to more than one early action college. If youre accepted, you can say yes right away or wait until spring to decide. You can decline the offer. Single-Choice Early Plans: You can apply only to one college. Otherwise, these plans work the same way as other early action plans. You can still apply to other colleges through the regular admission process. You dont have to give your final answer to the early application college until spring. Below is an article reprinted from the College Board site (collegeboard.org) which helps students and parents evaluate whether applying early is the right route.
E.D. plans have come under fire as unfair to students from families with low incomes, since they do not have the opportunity to compare financial aid offers. This may give an unfair advantage to applicants from families who have more financial resources. . ED applicants
Apply early (usually in November) to first-choice college. Receive an admission decision from the college well in advance of the usual notification date (usually by December). Agree to attend the college if accepted and offered a financial aid package that is considered adequate by the family. Apply to only one college early decision. Apply to other colleges under regular admission plans. Withdraw all other applications if accepted by ED. Send a nonrefundable deposit well in advance of May 1.
EA applicants
Apply early. Receive an admission decision early in the admission cycle (usually in January or February). Consider acceptance offer; do not have to commit upon receipt. Apply to other colleges under regular admission plans. Give the college a decision no later than the May 1 national response date.
Has researched colleges extensively. Is absolutely sure that the college is the first choice. Has found a college that is a strong match academically, socially and geographically. Meets or exceeds the admission profile for the college for SAT scores, GPA and class rank. Has an academic record that has been consistently solid over time.
Has not thoroughly researched colleges. Is applying early just to avoid stress and paperwork. Is not fully committed to attending the college. Is applying early because his friends are. Needs a strong senior fall semester to bring grades up.
Reduce stress by cutting the time spent waiting for a decision. Save the time and expense of submitting multiple applications. Gain more time, once accepted, to look for housing and otherwise prepare for college. Reassess options and apply elsewhere if not accepted.
Keep in mind
ED and EA program specifics vary, so students should get information as soon as possible directly from the admission staff at their first-choice college. ED and EA applicants must take the October SAT or SAT Subject Tests in order for these scores to make it to the college in time.
Please review pages 8 to utilize a questionnaire to help determine whether applying early is right for you. Page 9 is a summary sheet about the Dos and Donts in the Early Decision Process. Page 10 is an Early Decision/Early Action Calendar to help prepare for this process.
MDYHSisonboardwithNavianceandsoshouldyoube!
Seniorswillbeapplyingtocollegeviaournewwebbasedprogram.Applicationscanbesent alongwithessays,lettersofrecommendationandoften,transcripts.Nowyoucanbeinstantly assuredthattheseimportantdocumentshavebeenreceivedinthepushofabutton.But Navianceiswaymorethanthat.LearnabouttheFamilyConnectionontheWebandlinksto thecommonapplicationonpage11.
SoyouwanttogotoMedicalSchool?
MostpeopleinNYdonotknowoftheonlyCUNYMedicalSchool,attendedbystudentsdirectly after high school graduation. This metropolitan gem is called The Sophie Davis College of Biomedical Education, housed in City College. Their innovative BSMD Program integrates undergraduateeducationwiththefirsttwoyearsofmedicalschool.Studentsgraduatewitha BSdegreefromCityCollegeandmoveontocompletetheirfinaltwoyearstowardstheirMDin oneofsixcooperatingmedicalschools:AlbanyMedicalCollege,DartmouthSchool,NYMedical College, NYU School of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and SUNY Stony Brook SchoolofMedicine. TheBiomedicalEducationProgramisdesignedasasevenyearintegratedcurriculumleadingto a BS and M.D. degrees. During the first five years of the program, students fulfill all requirements for the B.S. degree as well as the preclinical portion of a medical school curriculum.AftersuccessfullycompletingthefiveyearsequenceandpassingStepIoftheU.S. Medical Licensure Examination, students go through a matching process at collaborating medicalschoolsfortheirfinaltwoyearsofclinicaltraining.TheB.S.degreeisconferredbyCity College,whilethemedicalschooltowhichthestudenttransfersawardstheDoctorofMedicine degree. The fiveyear curriculum is designed to foster student interest in practicing primary care medicineinunderservedurbancommunities.Allstudentsenteringthisprogrammustsignan Agreement on PostGraduation Service Commitment promising to provide all term medical services as a primary care physician for two years in a designated primary care physician shortageareainNYState.Uponcompletingtheirresidencytraininginprimarycare,graduates fulfill their commitment by working full time in a community health center, clinic, private practiceorotherambulatorysettinginadesignatedprimarycarephysicianshortagearea.For manygraduates,thisexperiencemarksthebeginningofalongtermdedicationtoserviceasa primarycarephysicianinanunderservedcommunity. One of the most important factors considered in the admissions process is the applicants potential for and interest in pursuing a career as a primary care physician in medically underserved urban areas. The overall assessment of the applicants by the Admissions Committeeincludes:
Academic ability as demonstrated by high school grades in all subjects especially Regents examinationscoresinBiology,Chemistry,Physicsand11thyearMath ACTexam SATexam Personalattributessuchasinitiativeandresponsibility Interest in working with people as evidenced by healthcarerelated experiences and participationincommunityandextracurricularactivities. Following a screening, the most highly qualified applicants are invited for personal interview.TheAdmissionscommitteemakesthefinalselectionofthestudentsadmitted fortheFallsemestereachyearfromthoseinterviewed.
If you are a Freshman or Sophomore, this is an ideal time to plan your summer to include participation in medical research, volunteer work in a hospital or medical setting, or other unique activity that has relevance in the medical field. For assistance in this direction, please connectwithMr.DanielZide,ourcareercounselorexpert(dzide@mdyhs.net) ContactInformation:SophieDavisSchoolofBiomedicalEducation Mr.ChristopherWanyonyiDirectorofAdmissions (212)6507718
8
Deciding About Early Decision and Early Action
Early Decision Self-Evaluation Questionnaire* Answer the following questions to decide whether or not to apply early to a particular school. If you answer yes to every question, consider applying ED. If you answer one or more questions with a no, consider applying EA or regular decision. Question Have I completely researched this college and other colleges that interest me? Have I visited this college while classes are in session and met with someone at the admissions office? Have I explored my academic, extracurricular, and social options at this college? Have I talked with a financial aid officer to get an estimate of college costs and to find out how early decision could affect my aid package? Have I discussed this decision with my family and guidance counselor? Is this a true first choice, or do other colleges still interest me?
*Excerpted from NACAC's Steps to College online newsletter
Yes No
Pros and Cons of Applying to College Early Pros Bypass regular spring notification deadline Avoid cost of submitting multiple applications Reduce time spent waiting for a decision Have to deal with less stress if accepted May increase chances of getting into top schools and greatly increase chances of getting into less selective schools Cons Must make serious decision before exploring all options Can only apply to one school May not have time or opportunity to compare financial aid packages May have no or fewer aid options and few scholarship options Sometimes compete with a smaller but much stronger pool of candidates than during the regular application period
2007 The College Board. This material may be reproduced for educational non-commercial purposes only.
Do Withdraw all applications upon being accepted Request a release from your contract only if the college is unable to work out appropriate financial aid Take your Early Decision seriously Discuss the cost of the college before applying Attend the college that accepts you
Don't Apply to ED programs at more than one college Have your counselor send transcripts to more than one ED school or to any other schools once admitted Try to get out of an ED acceptance because you've changed your mind Have someone else write or heavily edit your application essays Submit deposits to more than one college State an intended major you don't plan on pursuing because you think it might help you get admitted Inaccurately describe your activities and accomplishments State to more than one college that it is your first choice
2007 The College Board. This material may be reproduced for educational non-commercial purposes only.
Take the SAT and/or ACT Visit colleges during spring break Take SAT Subject Tests if required Work hard and keep up good grades (Note: Colleges only have your transcript through junior year) Senior Year
MayJune
Work on and complete applications Get teachers to fill out recommendation forms File early decision or early action applications according to school deadlines and procedures Take SAT or ACT if necessary (Note: October is the last test date that will make scores available in time for early decision and early action programs) If necessary, register for CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE online or by using a form Continue filing early decision or early action applications according to specific school deadlines Follow up with teacher recommendations Work on regular-decision applications as a backup if you don't get in early decision or early action File the PROFILE form and any other collegebased financial aid forms that may be required of early decision candidates
September October
November
2007 The College Board. This material may be reproduced for educational non-commercial purposes only.
WelcometoNaviance
Magen Davids College Guidance Department is moving into the 21st Century with the introduction of Family ConnectionfromNaviance,awebbasedcollegeprogramdesignedespeciallyforstudentsandparents.Naviancewill allowMagenDavidtosecurelytransmitdocumentselectronically,whichwillspeedupdeliveryandtrackingofcollege applicationmaterials;therebyreducingpostalcostsandincreasingthetimelinessandreliabilityofdocumentsbeing receivedbythecolleges.
11
Naviancewillberolledoutoverthenextfewmonthsbygrade,startingfirstwiththeClassof2013.Seniorsinthe Classof2013mustuseNaviancetoapplytocollege.Thisdocumentwillwalkyouthroughthestepsneededtoapply to college using Naviance. Additionally, your teachers and counselor will also be able to submit your recommendationforms,lettersofrecandtranscriptsthroughNaviance.
BelowarethestepbystepdirectionstoassistyouwiththisprocessofloggingintoNavianceFamilyConnectionfor thefirsttime.
NavianceFamilyConnectionisontheWeb
Gotohttp://connection.naviance.com/magendavidyhs Seniors will register with your email address and registration code. Students will receive their registration codeinschoolfirst.Seniorparentswillreceivetheirregistrationcodesviaemailinthenexttwoweek.
ToLinkyouCommonApptoNaviance
1. CreateaCommonAppaccountthroughwww.commonapp.org 2. KeepyourCommonAppusernameandpasswordhandy,becauseyouwillneedittolinktoyourNaviance account(probablyagoodideatokeepyourNavianceandCommonApploginallthesame!)
YouarenowreadytologintoyourNavianceaccount
1. LogintoNaviance 2. GototheCollegestabandclickonCollegesIamapplyingtothefirstscreenthatpopsupisthescreen regardingyourrights(pleasereaditandanswerthequestion.)Thisisalsowhereyouwillbepromptedtogive yourCommonAppusernameandpassword. 3. ClickonAddtothislistandgotoLookup 4. UsetheSearchOptionstofindthenameoftheCollege(s)youareapplyingtoandselectthecollegeonce youhavecompletedyourlist,clickonAddColleges 5. YouwillnowberedirectedtotheCollegesIamapplyingtopageandyoushouldseealistofyourcolleges, includingalicktoeachcampusaswellasinformationaboutsubmittingtheapplication. 6. GotoHaveyouAppliedandupdatethedeadlineinfo(i.e.RegularDecision,EarlyAction)andthebesureto clickonUpdateatthebottomofthepage 7. GobacktotheCommonAppandfilloutyourapplications(andsupplements,iftheyhaveany)andsubmit. ForthoseschoolsthatdonotaccepttheCommonApp,justapplythoughtheirwebsite.
Sendingrequeststoyourteachers/counselorPleasebesureyouhavespokentothemfirstabouta recommendationandpleasegivethemtimetosubmittherecommendation.
1. OntheCollegesIamapplyingtopage,youwillseeasectioncalledTeacherRecommendations 2. SelectAdd/cancelrequestsitwilltakeyoutoalistofourteachersthatwillbesubmittingthroughNaviance. Findyourteachersandclickontheirnameyoucanalsoincludealittlepersonalnotetothemaswell.Itwill alsorecordyourrequestinyourNavianceaccountandsendyouaconfirmationtoyourNavianceaccount whenyourrecshavebeensubmitted. 3. Ifyourteachers/counselorsarenotlisted,youcanjustprintoutyourpreparedformsandbringthosetothem, togetherwithstamped,addressedenvelopes.
TH E
C ITY
U N IV ER S ITY
O F
N EW
Y O R K
12
Mean SAT
(CR + M)
ACT
Mean GPA
Mean SAT
(CR + M)
(comp)
ACT
ACT
COMMUNITY COLLEGES
Borough of Manhattan Community College Bronx Community College Hostos Community College Kingsborough Community College LaGuardia Community College The New Community College Queensborough Community College
Includes students admitted to Macaulay Honors College. The mean SAT score only includes Critical Reading and Mathematics. *Based on students admitted to both associate and bachelors degree programs. Based on the first step of a three step admission review process.
www.cuny.edu/undergraduate