College Admissions

Tests and Registration:

Following are the major tests related to college admission. When registering for exams, students are often asked to provide their high school or CEEB code. The DCS Code is 693005.
Students can register online for an SAT through collegeboard.com, through AmidEast, or through the DCS Counseling Office. The dates for registering with AmidEast and the DCS Counseling Office are different, and are posted in the Counseling Office. When you register online, you will receive immediate confirmation and your admission ticket.

2004-2005	Register Online Before
June 5, 2004	April 29, 2004
Oct. 9, 2004	Sept. 7, 2004
Nov. 6, 2004	Oct 1, 2004
Dec 4, 2004	Oct 29, 2004
Jan 22, 2005	Dec 20, 2004
May 7, 2005 New SAT	Mar 25, 2005
Jun 4, 2005 New SAT	Apr 29, 2005

• You can request that your official SAT's be sent to colleges via collegeboard.com.
• If you're not sure if you need to take SAT-II subject exams you should review the requirements for the college(s) of your choice.
• The "New SAT" will be given for the first time overseas on May 7, 2005. Most universities will require student enrolling in 2006 to submit scores from the New SAT.

ACT

To register for the ACT, contact AmidEast at 331-4420/5316. Beginning in February 2005, an optional writing component will be added to the ACT Assessment. Further information about the ACT can be found on the ACT web site www.actstudent.org.

TOEFL

Students register for the Test of English as a Foreign Language online with ETS, through AmidEast, and through the DCS Counseling Office. The TOEFL is administered at AmidEast. Registration dates will be listed in the Counseling Office.

Preliminary SAT - PSAT/NMSQT

The PSAT is given annually to all DCS sophomores and juniors in October. Students are automatically registered for this exam. Score reports and test booklets will be returned to students in January. Please note that only DCS students are allowed to take the PSAT on our campus.

ACT vs SAT:

Until recently, the ACT was required by colleges in the Midwest, while the SAT was the test of choice for schools in the Northeast and on both coasts. Most schools now accept either or both. Schools may still require the SAT-II even with the ACT. Check with your colleges.
In general, the ACT is a content-based test, whereas the SAT tests critical thinking and problem solving skills. Most students generally do about the same on the ACT as they do on the SAT.
If you have both SAT and ACT scores and aren't sure which set is better, the following table can help. Use this table to compare combined verbal and math scores on the SAT-I with the composite scores on the enhanced ACT Assessment, and vice versa.

Note: Data in this table are based on 103,525 test takers who took both the SAT I and the ACT between October 1994 and December 1996. SAT I scores do not cover the full range of the ACT scale due to differences in how percentiles are distributed at the top and bottom of the two scales.

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SAT Test Prep Options:

SAT preparation programs have become big business. There is a perplexing range of books, software programs, and companies available to help you prepare for the SAT. Spending some time with one makes sense just as long as it doesn’t take time away from your schoolwork and activities. It is not recommended that you spend a lot of time taking prep courses during the school year if you’re using time you need to keep your grades up.

College admission officers say that your course choices and grades are the most important factor they consider when making an admission decision. So coaching courses that require a lot of time and effort may hurt your admission chances.
On the other hand, there are valuable test-taking tips and strategies that you should know. Research from The College Board shows that 20 hours or so of quality preparation time results in about the same improvement as programs that are considerably longer--and more expensive.
A change in your SAT-I scores may help distinguish you from other applicants; but so will success in rigorous courses, involvement in school or community activities, or demonstrating an outstanding talent.

Free Online SAT Preparation
Number2.com is the Internet's first source for absolutely free SAT and ACT test preparation.

Local SAT Prep Options

AmidEast
AmidEast has information on local programs and study guides. The phone number is 331-4420/5316.

The Princeton Review
Usually six weekends. The phone number is 331-5936.

Note to Local Test Prep Companies: If you would like your program listed here, please contact the DCS Counseling Office.

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College Representatives at DCS:

DCS welcomes college representatives each school year. It is a great opportunity for students to get the inside information on what different schools are really like, and to compare schools. During 2003-04 the following universities visited DCS:

Fall (1st Semester):
Lebanese American University/Beirut
Franklin College/Switzerland

Winter (3rd Quarter):
Texas A & M/Qatar
Weill Cornell Medical College/Qatar
American University of Sharjah
Cyprus College/Cyprus
Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology/Canada
British American College/London
Webster University/Geneva/Leiden/Vienna
Huron University/London
Richmond American International University/London
Vesalius College/Belgium

Spring (4th Quarter):
American University/Cairo, Egypt

As of May 6, 2004, members of the Class of 2004 had notified the Counseling Office that they had been accepted to the following schools. This list will be updated to reflect where they plan to matriculate in May. Students attending US colleges and universities have until May 1 to make their decision. We’re proud of our tiny Class of 2004, and all of their efforts!

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Getting Started

The DCS Counselor is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling and complies with the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice. In my role as high school counselor I help in finding a range of schools where students can be successful, and help students present themselves to those schools in the best possible light.

The single most important piece of advice I can give you is to be organized! I have forms to help you keep track of your information, and folders that I keep in my office so you can keep applications and paperwork in one spot. It is very frustrating to loose papers or forget whether you’ve done everything for every college.

To help with the college application process, DCS has developed a number of pages for our website. In addition to this website, the counselor visits with 10th-12th grade classes to introduce students to the college application process, and to help them decide what is important to them in a school. Students are expected to end 11th grade with a list of at least 5-6 schools that they are seriously considering, to have done all the research on those colleges, and to enter their senior year with all their applications done and ready to send off. Forms to manage the large amount of information are given to students during the classroom visits, and are also available in the Counseling Office.

Deciding where to apply is not easy! Your decision will be greatly influenced by the grades you have already earned. It will also be influenced by factors which are personal. It’s normal to change your mind several times as you try to decide where to apply. The fact is there is no magical formula that will help you to find that one perfect college. The good (and bad) thing is there are any number of schools where you would do well, so please keep an open mind as you search and talk to colleges that come to visit DCS.

If the procedure for choosing that perfect college seems kind of random--you’re right. In the end, deciding which college to attend is completely subjective. The DCS Counselor provides students with forms, timelines, and information sources to help with this huge task. If you are a freshman or sophomore you still have time do something about the one thing that will affect your chances of admission more than any other thing--your grades. If you're a second semester junior you should be thinking seriously about colleges that interest you, taking the required tests (SAT I & II, TOEFL, and/or ACT), making lists, and getting your ducks in a row. Upcoming seniors, all of that should be done by the end of 11th grade, and you should show up at school in the fall with your completed applications for at least 5-6 schools!!! We hit the ground running in the fall and you need to be ready. The counselor just does not have the time to do any research for you. It’s a full-time job to just help you keep track of the whole process! However, please feel free to ask questions of the counselor, your teachers, family members, anyone you can who can shed some light on the issue. Many people choose a college because their teacher, parents or uncle or aunt loved it and they do very well!

Finding College Information

There are tons of web sites that allow you to search for colleges that meet your interests and needs. The sites allow you to focus on your needs based on size, majors, location, etc. They offer a convenient way for you to get specific information about schools you are interested in, including academics, admission requirements and extracurricular activities. The most organized and extensive sites are about US and Canadian colleges, but for those who are looking at other areas, schools usually have their own websites that give you all the information you need.

College Search Engines

College Board
Here you will find a large amount of information on the admission process plus the SAT registration site. It focuses on American schools and some Canadian and overseas American colleges.

CollegeData
CollegeData has facts, advice and tools to help you choose, prepare, apply and pay for college.

CollegeQuest
Sponsored by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and Peterson's, this site has everything from college search to financial aid information.

MyRoad
This NACAC approved site has information about careers, colleges, and majors.

My Footpath
This site provides information on the college selection and application process. A number of articles containing helpful advice are included.

CollegeXpress
Here you will find a search engine, admission, financial aid, and sports information along with some on-line applications.

CollegeView
Another NACAC approved college search engine with on-line applications.

Review.com
In addition to trying to entice you to sign up for a test-prep program, this Princeton Review site offers information on colleges.

U.S. News Edu
Here are the rankings and other information related to college admission.

Liberal Arts Colleges that Change Lives
If you'd like to expand your lists of college possibilities beyond the traditional Ivy League and name-brand schools, check out this site. The percentage of students admitted to graduate school from the most selective colleges is dwarfed by the percentage rates for these 40 schools.

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Applying to College

Most schools have web sites where you can either apply online or download a copy of the application. PLEASE keep track of everything on the DCS Application Cover Sheet, which you will get from the Counselor.

Many of the following sites can be used to apply to a number of colleges and universities. The advantage is that you enter your basic information once and the software then automatically places your data in all of your applications, while following the format required by each school. This can save you a lot of time. Remember, it's the content of your application rather than the format that results in an acceptance. Be aware though, that you still have to pay an application fee for every school you submit the application to!

American (with some Canadian schools) Sites:
The Common Application
An application accepted by over 200 colleges/universities. Make certain you also complete the "supplement" that is required by many of the schools that use the Common Application.

Next Stop College
This site by the College Board contains applications for 500 schools. Using data from your SAT registration it automatically fills in some of the information.

Apply!
The grandfather of application software is now owned by The Princeton Review.

College Net
This site contains over 300 applications.

XAP
Several state university systems use XAP to run their applications.

College Quest
Includes 200+ applications.

Colleges in the UK:
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service- www.ucas.com.
For higher education in the UK.

Canadian Colleges:
Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC)- www.ouac.on.ca
For universities in Ontario, Canada.

Canadian Education Centre Network- www.cecnetwork.ca
For information about school in Toronto, Canada.

Requesting Recommendations

Teacher Recommendtions:
DCS has developed a system to help teachers write their recommendations. You should answer the questions found on the Two-Way Street Form that you can get from the counselor and give it to your teacher. Your teacher will turn in the completed recommendation to the counseling office.

This form asks you questions about your career plans, the particular subject or class, your activities, your grades, etc. While not all of this information will be used in a letter of recommendation, it should help a teacher to recall things about you.

Your teacher will write one broad letter or recommendation that can be used for each of your applications. The letter will be turned in to the counseling office and attached to the recommendation forms provided by a college.

If your college has provided a specific recommendation form, you should fill out the top portion with your name and address, sign the waiver statement, and give it to your teacher as soon as possible. Your teacher will write "see attached" in the narrative section, add check marks to any rating boxes, sign, and then return the form to the counseling office. We will attach a copy of the teacher’s letter and send it with the official transcript and other application documents. Since we will be sending everything together in one envelope, it is not necessary to supply a teacher with a stamped envelope.

You should pick teachers who know you, respect you, and will write positive things about you. Be sure to ask the teacher in a way in which he or she can politely decline. Try to talk to your teacher when he or she has a few minutes to spare and ask if "You would consider writing one of my recommendations." You might add something like, "I don’t want to put you in a spot if you’d really prefer not to do this." Give the teacher a way out. If your teacher says something like, "I’d like to help you but maybe someone else knows you better," take the hint and ask someone else.

Do not ask several teachers to write recommendations and expect your counselor to "choose the best one." Teachers are much too busy to spend time writing recommendations that will never be used and the counselor doesn’t have the time to read them all. Letters of recommendation are kept on file in the counseling office for five years. That way if you decide to transfer to another college, another recommendation can be easily sent. Although a copy will be in the counseling office, you will not be allowed to read any of the recommendations kept there.

Counselor Recommendation:
Some universities want a counselor recommendation. If it’s up to you to choose who writes your letters of recommendation, it’s probably better to go with teachers who see you daily and can evaluate your work habits, maturity level, your sense of responsibility, and your abilities. If you need one from me, though, I am happy to do it. You can expect your recommendation to be positive, yet honest, and I will ask teachers what their experience has been with you and will report that, also.

To provide the most helpful recommendation possible, your counselor needs as much information as possible. You will be expected to fill out the Two-Way Street Form that you use for teacher recommendations. The more information available about you, the easier it is for your counselor to include anecdotes to support your application.

Most applications have something called a "Secondary School Report" or "Counselor’s Report." Once you’ve decided for certain that you will be applying to a particular school, you should fill in your name, sign the waiver statement, and give it to your counselor (even if it tells you to give it to the principal). This form usually asks for an assessment of your motivation, academic promise, and integrity. An official copy of your transcript, along with a profile which describes Damascus Community School, will also be attached to the report.

If you’ve been involved in a discipline problem at DCS, perhaps you’re worried about whether this will be reported to a college. DCS uses a "don’t ask-don’t tell" policy. In other words, if a college does not ask about suspensions or disciplinary issues, we assume they don’t want to know and do not volunteer the information. If a college does ask, however, we will answer the question honestly. A mistake, even a fairly serious one, can often be seen as a learning experience and may have no negative impact at all on your admission decision. If you are concerned about your past disciplinary record you should certainly discuss it with your counselor. If your counselor will report this kind of information, it is important that you also be honest and up-front about it in your application.

A Final Note:
Give your teacher or counselor plenty of time to write your recommendation. The earlier in your senior year that you provide the needed forms, the less likely it is that your teacher or counselor will be buried in recommendations. Perhaps it shouldn't be this way, but the fact is that recommendations written early in the senior year are usually better than those written in December. If you ask your counselor to write a recommendation one day before the deadline, don't expect a recommendation commenting on how organized you are!

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Financial Aid

The issue of financial aid is complicated for most families, but even more complicated for families residing overseas. Based upon a student's citizenship, family's financial situation, residency, and academic or other achievements, a student may (or may not) be given scholarships or need-based financial aid. The following is a quick primer on the two major types of aid:

Need-based aid
Financial aid that is based on a student's financial situation is considered to be need based aid. Most need based aid is provided by the US federal government and therefore few colleges provide need based aid to students who are not US citizens or permanent residents.

Merit-based aid
Merit-based aid is based on a student's achievements in areas such as academics or special talents such as music or athletics.

The application process and availability of financial aid to attend a US college or university is very different for US citizens and permanent residents than for non-US citizens.

US Citizens and Permanent Residents
Confused about financial aid? The following is an overview about financial aid, scholarships and other issues associated with paying for college.

Guide to State Residency
U.S. citizens living abroad who seek admission to a public university in a state where their family has existing ties may be eligible for in-state tuition. If you own real property in that state, are registered to vote there, file a resident income tax return, hold a state driver's license or motor vehicle registration, and can demonstrate prior residence of at least 12 months, you may qualify for state residency for tuition purposes. Each state legislature has its own rules and regulations for determining residency and universities make the determination.

For further information about residency, go to www.collegeboard.com where you can find information about states. Be aware that in some states there is inconsistency from one state institution to another. It's possible to get one answer from one university and another from a different university in the same state.

Private Scholarship Searches
A number of foundations and other private organizations have developed scholarship programs. The following search engines can help you sort through them. Beware of scholarship scams. If anyone asks you for money to apply for a scholarship, it's probably a scam.

• Wired Scholar - This is a reputable scholarship search program. It takes 15 - 20 minutes to fill out the profile, but for a national scholarship search it does the job.
• FastWeb - a free scholarship search engine.
• FreSch - must be a US or Canadian citizen. Short stories (only seven awarded) and poetry (four awarded) competition. Definitely a long shot since there are few awards.
• GoCollege - information on financial aid and more.
• College specific scholarships - colleges sometimes offer scholarships to all admitted students meeting narrowly defined objective criteria (e.g., 3.0 GPA and 1100 SAT).

Summer Jobs
There are several ways to pay for college other than applying for financial aid. Students can also work!

Need-Based Financial Aid
Federal financial aid is only available if you demonstrate "financial need" as determined by a federal formula. Need based financial aid in the form of grants, low-interest loans, and student work-study programs is available based upon the information submitted on the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid"--the FAFSA. By entering information on the FAFSA about assets, income, and other data from a parent's (and student's) US income tax form, the government is able to make a determination about your expected family contribution (EFC), or the amount your family can reasonably be expected to contribute toward a student's education.

Will I be Eligible for Need Based Aid?
Since eligibility for US federal aid is based upon your US income tax form, the reality is that very few DCS families qualify for need-based financial aid. For most ex-pat families, housing, travel, and DCS fees are considered to be "compensation" and are included as income on your US tax forms. If you think you have an "unusual circumstance" which should be considered, you should discuss it directly with the college's financial aid office.

Before you go through the arduous task of completing financial aid forms, take a look at these two financial aid estimators. You can enter your financial information and these estimators will provide a rough evidence of whether you might qualify for aid. Both ACT and Peterson's provide this free service.

You should, of course, realize that some colleges and universities are less expensive than others. Cost doesn't always equate to quality, but may be based upon the schools endowment and location. If cost is an issue for your family, please be upfront about that as you're meeting with your counselor. You might also want to look at state universities or universities in Canada since they are much more reasonable in cost.

Merit Based Scholarships
By Ivy League agreement, the most selective schools provide only need, as opposed to merit-based, financial aid. Less selective colleges do, however, sometimes provide merit awards. These awards are used to encourage talented students to consider attending these schools. Colleges realize that talented students will have a number of acceptance offers and use merit awards as an incentive to attract them. Talent grants are given to students who demonstrate a particular talent in sports, the arts, leadership, social service, or academics. These grants are offered regardless of a student’s financial need.

Students can attract merit aid by applying to schools where their class rank and test scores will place them in the top 25% of the applicant pool. The most generous colleges tend to be private liberal-arts colleges that boast large endowments but face stiff competition from more-affordable and academically comparable state schools.

Loans
If your financial aid award package includes an education loan, you are responsible for applying for the loan. Instructions are generally provided with the award letter. Even if an education loan is not a part of your financial aid award, you may get a loan if you cannot meet the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from your savings or current income.

Loans have made higher education possible for millions of students, but you should consider your options carefully before borrowing and limit borrowing to only the amount necessary. The following sites have more information about student and parent loans:

• estudentloan
• Sallie Mae
• Nellie Mae

Non-US Citizens
It is a fact that very few colleges in the world offer financial aid to students who are not citizens of that country. Students who are not US citizens or permanent residents should plan on finding their own sources of money to pay for their college education, and thus the cost of a particular college may become a large factor in your choice. If you plan to study in the US, you will not be granted a visa unless you can prove you have sufficient financial resources to pay for your college, living expenses, and a return trip to your home country.

Only a small percentage of colleges offer financial aid for international students. If you are an international student and you must have aid, don’t waste your time applying to schools that don’t offer it. Because the amount of aid available to international students is limited, colleges will only offer it to the very strongest applicants in their applicant pool. A general rule of thumb is that if you are a non-US citizen who requires financial aid, you will need to be among a college’s top applicants in order to receive an offer of aid. If your scores or grades are marginal for that college, you will most likely be rejected, since money will be allocated among the top students, and the college cannot admit you without proof that your family will be able to pay your bills.

If you are not a US citizen but are looking for financial aid to attend a US university, eduPASS provides excellent information. A list of colleges and universities that provide aid to international students is included.

You should realize that some colleges and universities are less expensive than others. Cost doesn't always equate to quality, but may be based upon the school's endowment and location. If cost is an issue for your family, please be upfront about that as you're meeting with your counselor. You might also want to look at Canada or Australia where the cost of education is much lower than it is in the US.

Merit Based Scholarships
By Ivy League agreement, the most selective schools provide only need, as opposed to merit-based, financial aid. Less selective colleges do, however, sometimes provide merit awards. These awards are used to encourage talented students to consider attending these schools. Colleges realize that talented students will have a number of acceptance offers and use merit awards as an incentive to attract them. Talent grants are given to students who demonstrate a particular talent in sports, the arts, leadership, social service, or academics. These grants are offered regardless of a student’s financial need and are often open to international students.

Students can attract merit aid by applying to schools where their class rank and test scores will place them in the top 25% of the applicant pool. The most generous colleges tend to be private liberal-arts colleges that boast large endowments but face stiff competition from more-affordable and academically comparable state schools.

Private Scholarship Searches
A number of foundations and other private organizations have developed scholarship programs. The following search engines can help you sort through them. Beware of scholarship scams. If anyone asks you for money to apply for a scholarship, it's probably a scam. Also, before applying for a scholarship, be sure to verify that non-US citizens are eligible.

• Wired Scholar - This is a reputable scholarship search program, some say the best online. It takes 15 - 20 minutes to fill out the profile, but for a national scholarship search it does the job.
• FastWeb - a free scholarship search engine.
• FreSch - lots of different scholarships.
• GoCollege - information on financial aid and more.
• College specific scholarships - colleges sometimes offer scholarships to all admitted students meeting narrowly defined objective criteria (e.g., 3.0 GPA and 1100 SAT)

Immigration and Visa
If you are not a US citizen, you will be required to obtain a visa from the US Department of Immigration before you travel to the US to attend college.

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Career Information

About one-half of the students who begin college or university in the U.S. have "undeclared" majors. In other words, they aren't exactly sure what kind of career they would like and take a variety of courses to help narrow their focus. Many institutions encourage undeclared majors and at some, students are not even allowed to list a major at the time they apply.

Listed below are some internet sites that are helpful for exploring career choices. Be aware, though, that most information on these sites are based on what is happening in the United States, and you need to take into consideration what is happening in your country. Some jobs that are listed may not even exist where you live!!! If you know of similar sites for your part of the world, PLEASE let the counselor know, and it will be added to this list. Thank you.

Which Career is Right for You?

Planning a Career - This site has one of the best overall career planning strategies available on the web.
MyCoolCareer - Learn about different careers that fit you.
CollegeView Career Center - Allows you to take a self-assessment on-line, and then search and learn about careers that interest you.
JobStar Central - Includes career guides, salary information, and resume hints.
CareerZone - Divides careers into six categories and then lists the careers for each category, with well organized descriptions for each career.
Jobweb - In addition to this general information, you can also find links to a number of other career related web sites.
MyRoad.com - You'll need to log-in to use this site. Once you've done that, you can learn about specific careers that interest you.
What can I do with this major? - From Loyola University Chicago. UC-Santa Barbara has a similar site.
Job outlook - What degrees will be in demand for the next couple of years.
Occupational Outlook Handbook - From the US government.

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