page background

Researching Colleges - A How-To

Researching Colleges - A How-To

What an exciting time!

This guide is designed to help BHS students and their families navigate the college admissions process.

What's covered:

  • BHS College-Related Events + Workshops
  • Useful Resources
  • College Application Timeline
  • Researching Colleges (Where to look, tours, what to look for)
  • Applying to Colleges (Letters of Rec, Common App, Essays, etc)
  • Financial Aid + Scholarships
Thinking something other than College?
Check out information trade schools, military service, apprenticeships, employment, and training programs.

Michigan College Application Month is October!

Colleges Waiving App Fees in Oct.

Colleges with no App Fees

Mark your Calendar!

College Info Sessions @BHS

~ 40 colleges coming!

During a College Info Session, a college admissions representative/counselor presents to a group of BHS juniors and seniors about their college, admission requirements, application process, scholarships, campus life, and more!


Meeting the college admissions representative for a school you are interested in applying to can be very helpful during the application process. Especially if a school visiting is one of your first choices, introducing yourself to the representative can go a long way!


To attend a College Info Session:

  • You must sign up at least 1 day in advance.
  • You must be in the 11th or 12th grade.
  • You must use your confirmation email as your pass to leave class. You will not be called down.
  • You can sign up for up to five info sessions.

Common App + Essay Workshops at BHS

Common App Walk-through + How to Create an Outstanding Activities List and Additional Info Section" Workshop

Onsite Admissions Day @BHS!

🚩 ROHS/BHS/Clawson College + Career Fair 🚩

Drop-In College Application Help - Wednesdays @lunch

Are you confused about...the college application process?... filling out college applications?... not knowing where to start?


Drop-in College App Help in the College + Career Center Wednesdays @lunch!

  • Starts Wed, Sept. 4th thru Wed, Nov. 6th!
  • Bring your device, lunch, and a friend!
  • Be sure to check out the BHS Counseling College website for answers to many of your questions!

EVERYthing you need to research + apply!

BHS - My College List Tracker
Use this document to keep track of all college things! There are 5 different tabs, so you can keep track of colleges you are thinking about, colleges you are applying to, whether those colleges require essays, passwords, and scholarships!

BHS + College Essay Guy -- A Family's Handbook to College Admissions

In-depth look at the college application process.

College Application Hub

Website from CEG with all👏the👏things.

FREE College Advising Textline from GetSchooled

FREE Advising Textline gives students the ability to get important college and career information, scholarships, and tips throughout the year, as well as connect with a College & Job Advisor anytime they have a question or need additional support. It's FREE for students to join at getschooled.com/text-us or they can text #HELLO to 33-55-77.

Summer

  • Research colleges
  • Tour campuses
  • Create your College Resume/Activities List
  • Write the Personal Statement / Common App Essay (if required)

Fall

  • Create your college application list
  • Write supplemental essays (if required)
  • Attend any college events at BHS, on campus, virtually
  • Complete FAFSA + financial aid (TBD, sometime in October)
  • Submit applications by November 1st

Winter

  • Apply for Scholarships
  • Wait for admissions decisions

Spring

  • Review financial aid award packages from colleges (once accepted)
  • Decide where you will be attending college and pay deposit/housing (no later than May 1st)

What are you looking for in a college?

  • In-state? Out of state? How far from home?
  • Big campus or small?
  • Large student body? Medium? Small?
  • Rural, Suburban, or Urban campus?
  • Any must-haves? Clubs, sports, activities, programs?
  • Which academic program/major(s) are you thinking about? Do the schools have them?

Start a "Colleges I'm thinking about" list

Keep track of your research on colleges
Use this document to keep track of all college things! There are 5 different tabs, so you can keep track of colleges you are thinking about, colleges you are applying to, whether those colleges require essays, passwords, and scholarships!

Where can you find information on colleges?

College Databases + Guides

Contact Admissions Counselors + BHS College Info Sessions

Every college/university has an admissions counselor/representative assigned to BHS!

  • Call or email with the admissions counselor to ask questions, get contact information regarding a major/program.
  • Ask to be connected with advisors, professors, students - in the majors/programs you are interested in.
  • To find out who the Admissions Counselor is for BHS, go to colleges' undergraduate admissions websites and look for "Meet our Team" or "Find my rep".
  • Attend College Info Sessions at BHS, talk to reps at College Fairs, attend Admissions Events on campus or virtually - they keep track of that stuff!

Sign up for Email Updates + Social Media

  • Request more info on the colleges' undergraduate admissions websites!
  • Follow colleges' undergraduate admissions!

Official Campus Tours

  • Make a plan to visit a couple schools based on your college research, if you’re able.
  • You can set up tours on schools' undergraduate admissions websites.
  • When arranging a tour, email or call to ask the admissions office if you can be connected with advisors, professors, students - in the majors/programs you are interested in while you are on campus.

Virtual Tours

  • If getting to the campuses isn’t possible, learn as much as you can online via virtual information sessions.
  • Check out CampusReel - the tours on Campus Reel are led by real, current students, usually in selfie-mode on their phone, and you get to hear them share more about what they love (and don’t love) about their college, whether you’re following them on their way to class, in the dining hall, or at a get-together.

Specialized College Information

Did you know? With a 3.0 GPA or higher...

You will be admitted to....

  • Central Michigan University
  • Eastern Michigan University
  • Ferris State University
  • Lake Superior State University
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Oakland University
  • Saginaw Valley State University
  • University of Michigan - Flint
  • University of Michigan - Dearborn
  • Wayne State University


Michigan Assured Admission Pact (MAAP) - https://maap.org/

Create your "Colleges I'm applying to" list

Apply to 3-8 schools (at least 1 in-state!)

Use "My College List" below to keep track of your applications, requirements, username/passwords!
Keep track of college app requirements, passwords, essays!
Use this document to keep track of all college things!

Types of College Apps

Common App

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lYNU6D6sVcg7DS1pMb8xr3ODR9fEVZGhxI6uQw9-T4E/edit?usp=sharing

BHS-specific info for Common App Education section

  • Find School = Berkley High School

  • Date of Entry = 09/2021

  • Grades tab:

    • Graduating class size = 307

    • Class rank reporting = None

    • GPA Scale reporting = 4

    • Cumulative GPA = (MiStar, or email counselor for a transcript copy)

  • Current or Most Recent Year Courses = SENIOR CLASSES
    • Honors + AP classes are NOT college level
    • PA + Honors Zoo are NOT dual enrollment (they are honors)
    • PA should be listed as in your Courses currently taking:
    1. Honors Writing (Project Advance-Syracuse University) - Semester 1
    2. Honor Textual Studies (Project Advance-Syracuse University) - Semester 2

Common Black College Application

Understanding College App Deadlines

Three (3) main parts of a College App

Part 1: College Application

☝🏻 See above section on Types of College Applications ☝🏻

Part 2: Sending BHS Transcripts to Colleges

Applying via Common App?

BHS counselor will send transcripts via Common App, provided they have been listed in the student's Common App.

  • Students must the student must complete the Education and FERPA/Recommender sections in Common App, then invite/list their BHS counselor (spell their email correctly!)
  • The BHS Counselor will also send mid-year report with transcript at the end of semester 1 to schools listed in student's Common App.

Applying via College Website Application?

Students must order their transcripts using Parchment.

  • Students will have to create a "New Learner" account and waive their FERPA rights. Students should only complete the required* fields.
  • Students must indicate where they would like their transcripts sent (referred to as "Destination" in Parchment). Transcripts orders are fulfilled by the BHS registrar in 2-3 school days.
Order your BHS transcripts (Parchment)
Use Parchment to order your transcripts when applying via website app (not Common App).

Part 3: SAT / ACT Scores

College Testing Policies

  • TEST OPTIONAL: school is one that accepts, but does not require, test scores from applicants.

  • TEST BLIND: school is one that will not consider test scores from any student, even those who might wish to submit them.

  • TEST FLEXIBLE: school is a generally test-optional school that places limitations on applying without test scores. (for instance, you might need to have a certain GPA in order to apply without a test score or answer additional essay questions)

Good to know

  • Many college are still test optional for admission. However, some colleges offer merit scholarships based on test scores. It is important to research and keep track of college requirements and scholarships!
  • Can take SAT (or ACT) as many times - on Saturday National Test dates at local schools.

  • Colleges do not have a preference for one test over another.

Test Prep Resources

  • The Tutoring Center in Birmingham

  • Khan Academy (online, free!)

  • Mally ACT in West Bloomfield

Sending SAT/ACT Scores to Colleges

  • Colleges want to receive test scores directly from these portals, not from BHS.
  • BHS does not have access to student portal login information.

Possible "Extra" Parts of College Apps

College Resume / Activities List

Start a Google Doc with your Extracurriculars!

  • List sports, jobs, volunteering, clubs, hobbies, family obligations and any Honors/Awards.
  • Click on the file below on "How to Write Your Common App College Activities List"
  • Check out College Essay Guy's video below on creating a fab Activities List!
How to Create an Outstanding Common App Activities List (w/ examples)

Letters of Recommendation

Student Request for Letter of Recommendation from BHS Teacher
Complete this form *only* if a BHS teacher has already agreed to write you a letter of recommendation.

Does your application require a Letter of Rec?

Make sure the colleges require a letter before you ask a teacher!

Check the Common App Dashboard!

  • Once you created your Common App account and added the colleges you plan on applying to in the "My Colleges" tab, then you can click on the college and view their requirements.
  • In Common App, Teacher Evaluation (TE) = teacher letter of recommendation

Not using Common App?

  • Check the application requirements on the colleges' admissions websites!

College Essays

Not all colleges require essays for admission!

Keep Track of Scholarships!
Use this document to keep track of all college things! There are 5 different tabs, so you can keep track of colleges you are thinking about, colleges you are applying to, whether those colleges require essays, passwords, and scholarships!
Christina Belsky
Christina is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters