COLLEGE OFFICE

CLASS OF 2008 NEWSLETTER #14

∙ December 11, 2007∙

UPCOMING COLLEGE OFFICE HOURS:

Wednesday, 12/12: Drop-ins from 8:00 – 3:00 p.m. (Office closed after school for mailing)

Thursday, 12/13: Drop-ins from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. (Winter break begins at 12:00 p.m.)
Friday, 12/14: Drop-ins from 9:00 – 1:00 p.m. (Office closed after 1:00 p.m. for mailing)

Monday, 12/17: By appointment only from 9:00 – 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, 12/18: By appointment only from 9:00 – 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 12/19 – 1/2: The College Office will be closed

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Milton Academy’s CEEB code number is 221430

College Office phone number is 617-898-2310

College Office fax number is 617-898-1717

u All SSRs should be in to the College Office by now!

If you have not turned in your forms, you need to speak with one of the college counselors or Mrs. Lombard ASAP. The SSR is the signal to us that you are applying to that school.

- If you have applied Early Action or Early Decision, you still need to turn in SSRs for Regular Decision. We plan to mail all materials to colleges before we leave for vacation and we will not know the outcome of early applications before the mailing. Also, please tell us when you receive a decision from a college! You can call, drop by the office or email.

- If you are still deciding whether or not to apply to a particular school, please bring in the SSR regardless. You can always let us know later if you decide not to apply.

u If you haven't met with a counselor to finalize your college list, you must do so before you go home for vacation!

You can stop by during drop-ins to finalize your list or if you are still in the area, come by the office Friday, Monday or Tuesday. Please refer to the Upcoming College Office Hours (above) for counselor availability.

u Distribute teacher recommendation forms before break! (DO NOT slip forms into teacher mailboxes the day we leave for vacation!)

Provide your recommenders with forms (clearly note deadlines on the forms) and stamped, addressed envelopes. Envelopes should be standard business size, preferably pull-and-stick closure, with the return address of: teacher name, c/o Milton Academy, 170 Centre Street, Milton, MA 02186. Remember, large envelopes require extra postage.

u If you submitted an essay for review, completed essays are in Mrs. Lombard’s office. Stop by before you leave for break to pick up your essay.

u Information for the application process:

1. You are responsible for sending your scores to the colleges from the College Board. Send your scores online at www.collegeboard.com.

2. You should self-report your AP scores when filling out your applications. You should not pay to have the scores sent officially through AP Services.

3. If you must answer "yes" to the question about Disciplinary Action on your applications, you need to come by and talk to one of us about your response. You are expected to answer these questions honestly.

4. If you think you qualify for application fee waivers, see Mrs. Lombard.

5. Check your application deadlines carefully!

6. Please remember to photocopy your applications before you send them. Occasionally an application will get lost and you will be asked to produce a copy.

7. Please be sure you provide adequate postage for your application materials before putting them in the mail - this includes your personal materials and the envelopes you provide for teacher recommendations. Larger envelopes require extra postage, but the weight of an envelope also plays into the price of postage. You can calculate postage at www.usps.com or visit the post office.

8. If you are applying for financial aid, file a CSS/Profile online at www.collegeboard.com, a FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/, and complete financial aid applications. A print-out of the FAFSA form will be available in the College Office after January 1.

9. Please do not hand-deliver or FedEx your applications - admissions offices do not look favorably on either practice.

10. Please do not call the admissions offices to check on the status of your application - they are inundated with paper this time of year, and your call will only slow them down. Give colleges at least two weeks after the deadline to get materials filed.

11. If you receive postcards or emails informing you that something is missing from your application folder, or if you are checking your application status online and something is still missing at least two weeks past the deadline, please tell us. Don't get stressed. Don't panic. Just come and see us.

OTHER INFORMATION

u The Boston Independent School College Counselors Association (BISCCA) will be hosting a College Financial Aid Information Night on Wednesday, December 12. The seminar will be held at The Cambridge School of Weston’s Kluchman Theatre at 7:30 p.m. and will address topics such as the FAFSA, searching for scholarships, available types of financial aid, and alternative financing options.

u The ACT is offered on February 9^th this winter.

u We have extra applications for some schools in our office. See Mrs. Lombard if you are looking for a particular app. Also, feel free to bring us extra copies of applications you do not use.

COLLEGE INFO

Bates College: The last date to interview on campus is December 14.

Macalester College: A Macalester College representative will be offering interviews in the Boston area from December 14 – December 17. To schedule an appointment, please call 1-800-231-7974.

Middlebury College: For ED II, the supplement is due December 15 and the application itself is due January 1, with an early February notification date. Please note that most ED II deadlines are the same as those for the Regular Decision process.

Pomona College: Application deadlines for Pomona are received by deadlines, not postmark deadlines, so all application materials must be in Pomona’s admissions office by the appropriate deadline (December 28 for ED II and January 2 for regular decision).