College Prep Handbook
· Factors influencing admission decisions.
· Put together a winning resume!
“The main impact of the college search will be measured by what you learn about yourself”
College can be a tremendous opportunity to really find out who will be master of your life! Being away from home, parents, and church, while at the same time being faced with professors, students, and courses that challenge your beliefs, is a real faith builder. Students will be forced to decide if their faith in Christ is genuine.
College is often where students put legs on their faith.
Start early! It’s never too early to look at colleges and their environments. You have so many options and colleges have so many offerings. Visit different types of schools. Take part in outreach programs (summer camps and enrichment programs on campus). Be realistic-use your time wisely and only look at look at colleges you think you would really attend.
*Take charge of the search. Work with your parents as a team, but lead the effort, take responsibility!
College is frequently the time when a calling in life is determined. Students may ask, "What does God want me to do with my life? In what role will I serve him?"
For many students, college is also a time when God helps them find the answer to the question, "Who will be my mate and lifelong companion?"
Finally, it is a very expensive decision! Room, board, tuition, and fees for students attending colleges and universities for four years can run anywhere from about $36,000 to over $100,000! (And this does not even include spending money, telephone costs, books, etc.) These costs demand that you choose a good match carefully. Transferring to another college or changing majors can increase the cost.
Informed decisions require time invested in prayer, research, and planning. They result in God-ordained futures!
What are my main reasons for going to college?
§ Get a high-paying job
§ Mature spiritually
§ Grow intellectually
§ Pursue career goals
§ Meet Mr./Mrs. Right
Assess your academic abilities and needs.
How academically competitive are you?
What are your ACT/SAT scores, grades
and have you taken the toughest
courses available to you?
Do you thrive under pressure?
Are you self-motivated?
Define success...are you satisfied with your
accomplishments?
What are your major/career interests?
What do you enjoy?
Do you have a strong calling in one area?
Extracurricular interests
What organizations are on the campus?
Do I want mission opportunities?
Define your worldview and lifestyle
What values are important to you and how will your college environment affect them?
Do you want to learn from Christian professors
and from a Christian worldview?
Do you feel called to share your faith on a
secular campus?
How well do I handle peer pressure?
GPA & COURSES: Take the toughest courses available to you throughout your high school career. Study hard! Grades are often thought to be an accurate measure of your academic ability. Colleges are looking for consistency, but especially recognize improvement. Improvement suggests an increased interest in and application to your studies over time (great news if you’re not thrilled with your freshman/sophomore grades).
TEST SCORES: Test scores are also a very important factor in admission and scholarship decisions. They are an “equalizer” among all applicants.
Trinity administers several tests to help prepare you for both the ACT and SAT. Start early second semester of your junior year taking the ACT and SAT. Data has proven that well over half of the students who retake the tests improve their scores.
GET INVOLVED! Find activities that you especially enjoy and go after them with a passion. Participation in extracurricular activities can help your academic skills, contribute to your high school and community, provide you with a chance to pursue your interests and help you develop the experience and skills needed to be your best. Seek leadership positions in areas of greatest interest. Admission officers look at your extracurricular record to determine if you show initiative, are well-rounded and can become a positive, contributing member of their “society”.
Need some suggestions? School clubs (academic, cultural or community-oriented), church, community volunteer work, sports, travel/study abroad, summer internships/programs/camps, and places of employment all have opportunities. Check with your counselor for ideas. Also, if you have an interest, don’t be afraid to start a new club! Most importantly...have fun!
RESUME: Begin keeping a “resume” your freshman year (even if it's a
piece of paper taped inside a kitchen cabinet). Remember to update it
frequently! It’s difficult to remember everything you’ve been
involved in if you wait until your senior year. Keeping track of hours
involved may also prove to be beneficial later. Many colleges and
universities require a resume for admission. Resumes are also
frequently requested with scholarship applications. REMINDER:
Colleges value depth, passion and commitment much more than
volume.
“The real character of a man is found out by his amusements.” Thomas Fuller
SALLY SUE SMITH (put both of these at top of 2nd page)
SS # 000-00-0000
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (Cont.)
Icthus (city-wide high school Christian youth group) 9, 10, 11
Trinity Victory Groups (accountability groups) 9, 10, 11
Co-Leader 11
Boy Scouts 9, 10, 11, 12
Central Christian Church 9, 10, 11
Youth Group 9, 10, 11
Church Choir 11
Violin Lessons 9, 10, 11
Wichita Youth Symphony 11
COMMUNITY SERVICE (Do not list Ministry Day activities)
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Vacation Bible School Asst. summer 2001
Third grade Sunday School Teacher Asst. 11
Coleman Middle School tutor (3 hrs. each week) 11
Union Rescue Mission Homeless Shelter (cleaned and cooked meals) 11
United Way Youth Day of Caring 2000, 2001
Big Brothers and Big Sisters (community-based match) since Nov. 2001
Wesley Medical Center Candy Striper (4 hours each week) summer 1999
State Congressman Todd Tiahrt (made calls and distributed literature) June 2001 Franklin Graham Crusade-Shoebox ministry (boxed items for mailing) 11
Wichita Children’s Home (puppet ministry and nursery asst. 2 hrs each week) 10
Habitat for Humanity (helped build a home) summer 2000
ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCES (Exclude family vacations unless major activity).
Colorado wilderness survival training (two weeks) summer 2000
New York City Choir Tour, spring break 2001
Spain (Spanish immersion trip with Spanish teacher) summer 2000
Ensenada, Mexico, Mission Trip with .......Church (painted, taught Sunday School
assisted with medical care) June 2001
****What you put here may be influenced by where you’re applying. If a
Christian School, include and elaborate on trips to Promise Keepers, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Youth Rallies, etc. and very briefly explain
anything special you did there!
WORK EXPERIENCE
Note exact name of company, what did, hours ea. wk., when, example:
Wichita Country Club, lifeguard 25 hours each week summer 1999
Gap sales associate 10 hours each week May 1999 to present
Self-employed swim lesson instructor 25 hours each week summer 2001
*************limit to a maximum of two pages, 12 type is best*************