BOW HIGH SCHOOL
College Application Procedure

The steps below will help you to proceed through the application process smoothly. We have worked carefully to establish a system that ensures a high degree of efficiency and reliability.

Investigate Several Schools

Meet with your counselor as soon as possible to determine your specific timetable in this process. Your counselor can help you clarify your yearlong goals and focus on a direction.

Gather information through available catalogs and computer software such as Choices and various web-sites on the Internet.

Attend visitations made by college admissions offices at Bow High School. See Weekly Guidance News for list of colleges!

Visit college campuses for a formal tour by admissions representatives. Inquire about interviews if applicable.

Check Admissions Test Requirements

Check the catalogs of schools you are interested in to determine which, if any, admissions tests are required for a particular school. Applications for the College Admissions Tests (SAT I and SAT II) are available in the Guidance Department. Check the registration deadlines!

Gather Recommendations

Most colleges suggest two academic teacher recommendations. In most cases your guidance counselor will also complete a similar recommendation (often called the Secondary School Report). Please meet with your teacher early on to give them adequate time to prepare your recommendation. Follow up with thank you notes.

Counselor Recommendations

To enable your counselor to write an accurate detailed personal recommendation, it is suggested that you meet with your counselor a minimum of three times. One of these appointments will include an interview. Please give your counselor a list of your in-school and extra-curricular activities and experiences.

You should review your essay with your counselor since it provides many insights into understanding you as a person.

Request for Records

At least 3 weeks before the application deadline, turn in a Request for High School Records form ("The yellow sheet"!) to the guidance secretary. Make sure that you have completed all items. It is important that you give the secretary sufficient time to prepare these materials accurately and efficiently. At this time you and your counselor will schedule an appointment to mail your application.

Prepare the Application

Applications should be typed, if possible, or printed neatly. Be sure to answer all questions. Bow High School CEEB (College Board) number is 300-059.

When filing applications for UNH, Keene, and Plymouth, verification and notarization of state residency is required. Ask your parents to help you with this.  Martha Rae, guidance secretary, is a notary.   She can help you with the notarization of this document.  Your parent must sign the form in front of  Martha Rae and bring proper Identification.  Documents can not be notarized if they have been signed at home and brought in by the student.

After you have checked the application for completion and accuracy, add the essay and application fee. Bring the application with envelopes and postage to your mailing appointment. A record will be kept as to the date the application was sent and the material enclosed.

Glossary of Terms

Early Decision:

This is a program that allows seniors the opportunity to apply and be accepted for admission to college early in their senior year. Most colleges stipulate that a student must withdraw all other applications when accepted. (Sometimes called Early Action)

 

Early Notification:

This is a non-binding program that allows seniors to apply early and be accepted early, without the requirement of withdrawing other applications.

 

Rolling Admission:

A continues system of admissions notification by which colleges review application as they are received, and inform the applicant as soon as the decision is made.

 

Deferred Admission:

This is the practice of allowing students that are accepted to postpone enrollment at a college for a semester or a year.

 

FAFSA:

(Free Application for Federal Student Aid.) This is the free federal form used by students in applying for grants, student loans, and federal college based aid.

 

Profile:

A financial aid form administered by The College Board

 

SAT I:

SAT I is a reasoning test consisting of two parts - Verbal Reasoning and Mathematical Reasoning

 

SAT II:

SAT II tests are subject specific, multiple choice question tests that last one hour each.

 

WHEN APPROACHING THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS:

• Be yourself.
• Do everything early.
• Do it now.
• Apply where you want to go.
• Know yourself.
• Fall in love with several schools.
• Read!
• Read more!
• Get gutsy . . .!
• Get interested.
• Take the big tests.
• Take the time for several adults to know you well.
• Become an interesting person.
• And finally . . . Become a learner, for your own sake--- because a world of good things is out there waiting for you if you are willing to work a bit to get there.

Caroline Duncan

Associate Director of Admissions - Middlebury College