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Miami Senior High School
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Choosing the right school that is a good fit while applying to colleges, can be daunting, without some guidance. To be college-ready, it is important that parents and students are aware of the steps needed to apply, as well as the application deadlines.
For parents, it’s important to be aware of the process so they can guide and facilitate the steps their child needs to get into a college that is right for them. Ensuring students meet with a counselor, working on the college essay without being rushed, meeting deadlines, are all ways parents can help their child, especially if they are overwhelmed with school, extracurricular activities or sports.
Here are some tips for parents and seniors who want to begin that process of getting into the college of their dreams:
Plan ahead. Be mindful of deadlines: Parents and students, should be aware that there is a timeframe to consider. Most schools have deadlines that require either the first two weeks of January or February. Schools with rolling admissions accept applications throughout the school year.
Step 1: Meet with their grade-level counselor or CAP (College Assistance Program) advisor. These counselors provide students with invaluable information, which gives them a roadmap through the application and financial aid process. They also will be able to help students choose a college that meets their specific needs and interests.
Families first need to decide whether their child wants to attend a two-year college and work towards an associate’s degree or apply at a four-year college to earn a bachelor’s degree. Some students may even decide that a vocational/technical school is the path they want to take.
Step 2: The application process:
Once students have narrowed down their choice of schools, they need to go to the school website and begin their research about programs offered, eligibility requirements and required documents such as test scores, essays, and letters of recommendation.
These websites offer a step-by-step guide to applying for college along with lots of information about the process: https://www.scoir.com and https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org.
The undergraduate admissions application can be found on the school’s website or you can apply through platforms such as the Common App https://www.commonapp.org or Coalition App https://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org. Some schools require the completion of the Self-Reported Student Academic Record (SSAR) https://ssar.selfreportedtranscript.com.
For students applying to a Vocational Technical program or enlisting in the military, they should meet with their counselor or CAP Advisor for more information. The website https://www.careerinayear.com has a trove of very useful information about M-DCPS Career & Technical Programs. If offered an interview with a local admissions recruiter, students need to research the school’s programs connected to their interests and practice their interview skills with a counselor or mentor.
Parents should know that students already should have taken either the ACT or SAT by the time they apply. If they need to retake these tests, remember schools do superscoring which means they only count the highest score from each of the tests taken, so it is to the student’s benefit to retake if they scored poorly on one section.
Step 3: Writing the college essay “Show not Tell”:
The college essay requires applicants to write a personal statement that is reflective of who they are and what they can contribute to the college campus. Students begin the process of writing early since it will take more than one draft. It’s a good idea to have a teacher or counselor provide feedback. Remember this is a chance for applicants to show the admissions committee what their talents, interests, and abilities are beyond what is on their transcript. Students should take personal experiences and achievements inside and outside of the classroom to paint a picture of who this student is and why a college would benefit from having them in their school.
Here are some resources when it comes time to write that essay:
• https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-to-write-a-college-essay
• https://summer.harvard.edu/blog/12-strategies-to-writing-the-perfect-college-essay/
• https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/college-essay
Step 4: Recommendation Letters:
Schools may require letters of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, advisor, and/or community leader. When requesting a letter, it should be done in a timely manner. Ensure that the person you choose knows you well. The letter should focus on a student’s development in their classroom or as a leader within the school. Students should always make sure to thank whoever recommends them for taking the time to help them.
Step 5: Financial Aid and Scholarships:
Parents, it’s important that you gather all your financial documents before completing the FAFSA. All eligible students planning to attend college must complete a FAFSA application for federal aid. FAFSA is required by all post-secondary institutions. Soon after applying students will receive notification about the expected parent contribution (EFC), amount of Pell Grant awarded, and loan amounts offered. Here is a useful website about the process of applying for financial aid:
https://studentaid.gov/h/understand-aid/how-aid-works
Students not eligible to complete the FAFSA, should see their counselor for more information.
The completion of the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA may be required by some schools. The CSS Profile is an online application that collects information used by colleges, universities, and scholarship programs to award financial aid from sources outside of the federal government. Visit https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org.
Seniors can apply for merit or need-based scholarships. Students should get advice from a counselor or CAP Advisor for their school’s scholarship newsletter and apply to these scholarship platforms:
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship: https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/
RaiseMe: https://www.raise.me
Big Future Scholarship: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org
The Dream.US National Scholarships (Undocumented Students) https://www.thedream.us/scholarships/national-scholarship/
Parents and seniors need to remember that the college process is not a one-size-fits-all process; early planning, thorough research and meeting deadlines will help a student’s chance of success in being accepted to the school they really want to attend.
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