November 13, 2024
WELCOME ABOARD!
Dear Parents and Students:
The North Shore Hebrew Academy High School College Guidance Office is excited to embark upon the college search and application process with you and your family. This handbook contains advice and important information for you as you go through the college search, application, and admissions process. Please examine it carefully.
Each student is unique and therefore each student’s college search must be unique. Your task is to discover and to choose a balanced college list which includes institutions that are the best match for your religious and academic needs.
We are looking forward to working with you through the process.
Sincerely,
Susan Davidson Director of College Guidance
Test Dates and Registration Deadlines
College Visits
Campus visits are the most important part of the college search process. Think about it: Your choice of college is where you will spend the next four years of your life. You must visit; see the campus; ask questions; observe the students (your future classmates); get a feel for the dorms (where you will live), etc.
Plan now for possible visits. A great time to visit is during the Pesach Break. It is important to see colleges (if you can) when students are there. Summer is the most popular time to visit a college, but keep in mind that many colleges are not in session in the summer and the “pulse” of the school will be different.
Plan on visiting overnight. Almost all admissions offices will arrange a campus host for you, if need be. When you contact a college’s Hillel program, a representative can arrange for you to stay with a student in his/her dorm, attend services, go to classes, etc. This is the best way you can really get to know a college. (If time permits, arrive early and stay for Shabbos). If you are planning to apply somewhere for Early Decision, you must spend some time on the campus. It is highly recommended you schedule an overnight visit to get the true flavor of the college.
Most colleges offer both information sessions and group tours. Most tours and info sessions require signing up in advance online. Even if they do not offer these services, be sure to check in at the admissions office so they can record your interest. Always follow up after your visit with an email to the admissions office.
When on the campus tour, be sure to ask the student guide many questions. Students are the best sources of information about a college. Ask questions you really want answered. (What do you like best, what do you like least? Why? etc.) Talk to him/her as a peer. Chances are the tour guide is only a year or two older than you. Take pictures and write notes because colleges tend to blend together.
Other ways to maximize your visit include attending classes and kosher dining with other Jewish students. A great way to find out about a campus is to read the student newspaper and read the bulletin boards. Ask questions! Speak to the students you meet in the dining halls and on campus.
College Representatives at North Shore Hebrew Academy HS
Last fall over thirty college representatives visited NSHAHS. College representatives come to talk about their colleges and talk to you. You must attend these. Many of these admissions officers will be the “first readers” of your application. They may be the Long Island “advocates” on the admissions committee at their colleges.
The meetings will be posted online, on the College Guidance bulletin boards and also report ed in the weekly guidance email.
In past years, the following College Reps have visited NSHAHS:
Adelphi University
University At Albany
Barnard College
Baruch College
Binghamton University
Boston University
Brandeis University
Brown University
University of Buffalo
Carnegie Mellon University
University of Chicago
Columbia University
The Cooper Union
Dartmouth College
Drexel University
Emory University
FIDM
Fashion Institute of Technology Franklin & Marshall College The George
Washington University
Goucher College
Hofstra University
Hunter College
Johns Hopkins University
LIM College
Muhlenberg College
Long Island University
Macaulay Honors College at CUNY
University of Maryland
University of Massachusetts
University of Miami
University of MIchigan
New York University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
University of Pennsylvania
Reichman University (IDC)
University of Rochester
Rutgers University
St. John’s University
University of Southern California
Stony Brook University
Touro College
Tufts University
Tulane University
Vanderbilt University
Washington University in St. Louis
Yale University - Slifka Center for Jewish Life Representative
Yeshiva University/Stern College
Applications:
“What, When and How Many?”
You may have a number of questions regarding college applications. When should I apply? To how many colleges should I apply? What are the deadlines? What size school do I want? These issues and more will be addressed below.
TYPES OF APPLICATIONS
• The Common App: The Common App is a very popular and easy way to apply to colleges.This application is accepted by over 900 colleges and universities across the country. Whenever possible, use the Common App. Many schools will require an additional writing supplement if you use the Common App. It is your responsibility to ensure this supplement is completed.
• The College’s Own Application: Some colleges have their own applications (as opposed to the Common App), and you can easily access an application online through the school’s website. For example, CUNY schools have their own application.
Number of Applications: On average, students apply to about 6-8 colleges. You will research about 15-20 colleges, then select a shorter list of schools that is consistent with the type of college you want. The schools on your list should differ in selectivity for admissions. You should not apply to more than 10 schools. This is more than most students need (application fees can make your approach very expensive).
You can divide your college choices into three categories: “likely,” “target,” and “reach.” Most of your choices should be in the “target” category. You should have at least two “likelies.” (Some call this a “safety school,” although, experience has shown that nothing is truly a “safety.”) You can also have at least one “reach” school.
A word about “likely” schools: There is no sense in applying to a college if, in fact, you will never go there. We will be working towards finding colleges that are consistent with your desires and criteria. You should pick “likely” schools with the same excitement as your “target” or “reach” schools. You should be very enthused about going there if all else does not go as planned. Choose schools in this category very carefully; you want to be happy there.
Admission Plan Definitions
Non-restrictive application plans
Students are not restricted from applying to other institutions and have until May 1 to consider their options and confirm enrollment.
Restrictive application plans
Students are responsible for determining and following restrictions.
Regular decision
Non-binding
Students submit an application by a specified date and receive a decision in a clearly stated period of time.
Rolling admission
Non-binding
Colleges review applications as they are submitted and render admission decisions throughout the admission cycle.
Early action
Non-binding
Students apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the college's regular response date.
Early decision
Binding
Students make a commitment to a first-choice college where, if admitted they definitely will enroll. The application deadline and decision deadline occur early.
Restrictive early action
Non-binding
Students apply to a college of preference and receive a decision early. They may be restricted from applying ED or EA or REA to other colleges. If offered enrollment, they have until May 1 to confirm.
The Anatomy of the College Application
When you write your application, consider what colleges seek when admitting their freshman class. While each college has its own process, generally each applicant is evaluated and given ratings for academic and personal achievement. The ratings are then brought to a committee meeting, where the decision is made by the admissions staff. There are usually six important parts of every applicant’s file:
1. Transcript (the courses you have taken and the grades you have received) 2. Standardized Test Scores
3. Application and Essay
4. Recommendations
5. Extracurricular Involvement
6. Other: Interviews, Special Talent, Coach’s Ratings
Transcript
Your transcript, without a doubt, is the most important part of your application. It is the cornerstone. It is a picture of your academic accomplishments and progress through four years of high school. Keep in mind the following:
• Colleges like to see strong grades.
• Colleges are interested to see that students have challenged themselves by taking a full range of academic courses each year of high school.
• Colleges like to see a positive grade trend that shows consistent improvement over the course of your high school career. (Although improved grades during the first half of senior year are helpful, they do not erase a poor record for the first three years.) • Colleges like to see solid grades in Advanced or AP level work. (Getting a 72 in an AP class does not look good, even though the class is advanced.)
• Junior and Senior years are very important. They can “make or break you,” (Admissions counselors will deny good applicants who slack off in 11th or 12th grades.)
• Work as hard as you can to ensure you achieve the best marks possible. Colleges will use grades including your first semester senior year to make decisions. (ED decisions will be made on 9th, 10th, 11th grade records and possibly first quarter senior year grades.)
• Keep in mind that your final transcript will be sent to the college whose offer you have accepted. If your transcript shows that you have not performed at the same level upon your admission, you maybe placed on probation or your admission may be rescinded.
Secondary School Report
All applications require a Secondary School Report. North Shore Hebrew Academy sends all colleges the following:
• Transcript, including senior year course list (a copy of your transcript from a previous school will also be sent if you started North Shore Hebrew Academy High School after 9th grade).
• College Counselor Recommendation
• North Shore Hebrew Academy High School Profile (description of our school, information about test scores of your class, distribution of grades).
Letters of Recommendation
Teacher Recommendations
Most colleges require one or two teacher recommendations from teachers in core subjects (math, English, science, and/or social studies). Sometimes a college will specify that the recommendation comes from specific disciplines (for example, many engineering schools require a letter from a math and/or science teacher). It is important for students to speak with their college counselor about whom they are considering asking to write on their behalf. Here are some suggestions on the process:
• Ask your teachers if they will write a recommendation for you at the end of junior year.
• Choose teachers you have had as juniors and seniors, if possible.
• Choose teachers who know you very well, not necessarily the teachers who gave you the highest grades.
• All recommendations from North Shore Hebrew Academy High School are considered confidential and may not be released to the student or his/her family. • It is usually not advantageous to pad your applications with recommendations from famous people, or well-placed friends of the family. Recommendations are if they come from people who know you well. It is fine to get an extra letter of recommendation from someone who can add something to your file. Many letters from people who barely know you, however, will probably not make any difference in the process.
School/Counselor Recommendation
This letter of recommendation addresses your intellectual and personal character, as well as your activities at and contributions to North Shore and other communities. It also provides any additional information we feel is important to share about you as an individual.
Essay
Your essay is an extremely important part of your application. Most colleges will require you to write one or two essays. Think carefully about the questions asked of you and spend a fair amount of time formulating your answers. This is your opportunity to communicate to the admissions committee who the person behind the application is: the real you. You will have a College Essay Advisor that will work one-on-one with you, as well as your College Guidance Counselor, overseeing the essay application process as well. Remember, we are here to help you every step of the way!
Your college essay is an excellent opportunity to distinguish yourself among applicants. You have a chance to show your ability to think and write, and also what your character, beliefs, and aspirations are. Your essay should not be a description of events. Rather, it should tell how you feel about an event or activity and what you have learned from that experience. In other words, if you write about your trip last summer, do not spend the whole essay writing a travel log. Tell the events in a short paragraph and use the rest of the essay to describe what you thoughts about the experience and how you have changed because of it. Write what you learned about yourself, the world, and other people.
Here are some college essay tips:
• START WRITING EARLY.
• Count on writing several drafts before it is finalized.
• There is no excuse for spelling or grammatical errors.
• Be concise and be interesting.
• Essays should be personalized. Use anecdotes. Discuss feelings and impressions. The experience should come alive for the reader. “Show, don’t tell.”
• Do not try to write what you think the committee wants to hear. The readers are looking to learn more about who you are and how you write.
• Do not even think of having someone else write it. Admissions counselors are very skilled at identifying fake essays.
• The topic does not have to be dramatic, bizarre or unusual. What counts is what you learned and observed, or how you changed.
• Avoid using the essay to tell why you have such poor grades, or how you know your next semester will be better. An essay of excuses, no matter how valid, highlights your weaknesses.
• Your essay should be a personal statement, not a resume or list of your accomplishments.
• Good colleges expect good writers. They are also choosing among many qualified candidates. Your essay can set you apart.
• Avoid writing about SAT/ACT exams or the college process.
14 • Accentuate the positive, even in a painful experience.
Standardized Tests
Many colleges have switched to “test optional,” meaning they do not require standardized test scores. Some schools have already announced that they will remain test optional for the 2024-2025 application cycle, but many have not. Colleges should make their final decisions regarding their policies by the end of the summer. These schools may require additional information such as an interview or graded paper in lieu of test scores. A list of these schools can be found at www.fairtest.org. Still, some schools do require testing. When applying you must be aware of a college’s requirements and be certain that you have completed the appropriate testing.
• You are responsible for sending your standardized test scores to the colleges. The College Guidance Office cannot not do this. You can do this by going online to
www.college board.org or www.actstudent.org. SAT/ACT scores are not listed on your NSHAHS transcript.
• Some colleges participate in Score Choice which allows the student to select which test dates to submit to the college.
Most North Shore Hebrew Academy High School students will take SAT and/or ACT in the spring of their junior year and fall of their senior year.
Test Preparation
If you are planning to test, prep is essential for success. Standardized tests follow a specific structure and assess a standard set of concepts. Test prep allows you to become familiar with the format, timing, and content before taking the actual exam. When you know what to expect and how to pace yourself, you are more likely to be relaxed and comfortable, which typically leads to better scores.
There are various types of test prep available. Many students use private tutors or tutoring companies. Test prep does not need to be cost prohibitive. A partnership between College Board and Khan Academy offers free online test prep for the SAT.
AP Tests
Advanced Placement tests are given in May. These tests are designed to measure your mastery of college-level work in specific courses. Senior scores on these tests have no impact on the college admissions process, because the test is given after all admissions decisions have been made. Seniors may, however, be eligible for college credit based on their test scores. Enrolling and doing well in an AP course will show on your transcript, and a Junior AP score of 4 or 5 is a strong academic credential for your college application.
Demonstrated Interest
In an effort to predict yield, some colleges consider an applicant’s interest when making admissions decisions. Students can demonstrate interest by meeting with college representatives when they visit North Shore, following the school’s social media, visiting campus, interviewing, applying early decision or early action, responding or reading through emails a school may send you, or corresponding with an admissions officer. Always answer an email from a college admissions representative. Monitor your emails and be responsive.
College Interviews
Each college has its own interview policy. You should inquire about the interviewing procedures of each school. Like the essay, the interview is a chance for you to give the admissions committee a glimpse into the person behind the numbers. It is also a good way for you to learn more about the school and to evaluate whether the college is a good place for you, an environment where you think you will be happy and successful.
If the college does offer an on-campus interview, and you are able to visit, take advantage of the opportunity. It will be helpful to you. Whether you have an on-campus interview or interview with alumni, the goal is the same: to distinguish yourself and to show a strong interest in the college.
Financial Aid
Financial aid refers to a wide spectrum of funding sources available to students and their families to help reduce the cost of attendance at a particular college. It is important to understand that every college has its own unique way of determining your family’s financial need. North Shore hosts a Financial Aid Information Night in the fall where an expert speaks about the Financial Aid process.
It is very important that students adhere to the college’s financial aid deadlines!!!
Important Financial Aid Terms:
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): A financial aid form produced by the federal government that is required by nearly all colleges for students seeking financial assistance. Found at https://fafsa.gov/
College Scholarship Search Service Profile (CSS Profile): A customized financial aid application from the College Board,required by many private and some public colleges and universities in addition to the FAFSA. Found on College Board website: www.collegeboard.org
Student Aid Index (SAI): Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is a formula-based index number ranging from –1500 to 999999. Where your SAI falls within the SAI range helps your school determine how much financial support you may need. This is determined by the information you fill out on the FAFSA.
Need based financial aid: Aid that is awarded according to the family’s ability to pay.
Merit based financial aid: This is the aid that is awarded in the form of scholarships based on a student’s academic and/or extracurricular merits. This type of aid has nothing to do with a student’s ability or inability to pay for college.
Net Price Calculator: Tool on individual college websites and College Board that gives an early estimate of how much and types of financial aid a student might qualify for.
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