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College Application

College Requirements

Most four-year schools set basic high school course requirements for admittance.  When formulating your high school schedule, keep these in mind. Make sure you plan ahead with the college planning timeline.

  • Four years of English
  • Three years of Mathematics
  • Three years of Science
  • Three years of Social Science
  • Two Years of Foreign Language

College Application Procedures

Apply early! The Guidance Office asks that you allow two weeks to process and mail your college applications - so check individual college/university application deadlines and plan your timing with those dates in mind.

  • Many applications are available from your counselor but we encourage students to apply on-line through the college web-site.
  • Students should bring their completed and signed application, letters of recommendation, and transcript request forms to the guidance counselor.
  • Make sure you have a check or money order payable to the college for the application fee.
  • The registrar will attach a transcript, school profile, and mail the application.
  • Typically, the earlier you apply, the quicker the response time of the college.
  • If applying to a selective college/university, be sure to have several second choice schools in mind. Be aware of any special deadlines these schools might have.
  • If asking for a letter of recommendation from a teacher, be sure to give a least one week lead time. Also provide the recommender with an up-to-date resume, and be sure to thank them.
  • Questions? Stop by the Guidance Office to ask your counselor!]

Transcript Release Forms - Must be completed and returned to the counseling office with EACH COLLEGE APPLICATION

College Essay - Download the guide on Writing the Perfect College Essay

College Decisions

College Decision Making Tips

 

Consider these things:

  • How big is it?
    • How many students attend the school?
    • What is the average class size?
    • How far would I have to walk between classes or to get to my dorm?
  • Where is it located?
    • Is it too far away from home or not far enough?
    • What is the surrounding community like and would I be comfortable living there?
  • Does the college offer the things that you are interested in? 
    • Does it have the major you are considering? 
    • What kinds of clubs/organizations or sports does it have?
  • What are the facilities like?
    • Will I need to buy a computer or are their several computer labs?
    • How about internet access?
    • Does it have a fitness center, theater, radio station etc.?
  • Could I live comfortably?
    • How are the food services? 
    • How big are the dorm rooms and what do they look like?

 

Talk to people you know:

  • Talk to your school counselor
  • Ask your parents, teachers, coaches, etc.  Find out what their college experiences were like and why they chose the college they attended

 

Carefully review your Financial Aid Awards:

  • Compare how much you will be receiving as grants/scholarships, how much you will be taking in loans, and how much money you will need out-of-pocket

 

Visit the campus again:

  • Call the admissions office and set up a tour

 

Make your decision:

  • Notify the campus immediately once you have made your decision (most schools have a May 1st deadline)

Notify the campuses you will NOT be attending so they can offer admittance to students on their wait list  

College Search

College Search Sites - These sites are provided as links so you can do your own search for Colleges and additional training and education. Included is a little general info as to what to expect, but students need to be committed to spend some time to learn to use these sites, and access the information. Be sure to ask your Counselor for help, or suggestions!

  • Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is an arm of the State of Illinois, designed to provide help and information to Illinois students and their families. They have 2 sites that are useful to students and parents. One is called the College Zone, which is a search and information site, and the second is called ISAC Online, which provides links to lots of other places to get specific information on student and parent issues, especially focusing on Financial Aid.
  • CollegeView - One of the most versatile search sites for college information and other links. Managed by Hobson's. Contains College Search and Scholarship Search.
  • Making It Count - This is a private, but not for profit organization which seeks and receives Corporate sponsorship. That means that you will see ads for various companies, but the "agenda" for those writing the page is to provide unbiased info.
  • The College Board - The producers of the SAT Test, AP Tests and a lot of info related to colleges and the college search process, not just college searches.
  • Peterson's Guide - Peterson's has published a directory of Colleges for many years, this is the net version. This site also has some features to help students plan for College, and prepare for Tests.
  • CollegeXpress - Owned and maintained by the Private Colleges and Universities Magazine. It also lists other resources (especially publication) that provide information, especially for Private colleges.
  • At The U - A private company called "Nelnet" publishes this site. They provide some information and a lot of services (including book, supplies and College monogrammed stuff) through their "Campus Store" through which you are free to purchase supplies. The info is free, but all other stuff you must pay for.
  • Fastweb - private Company that also supports the Making High School Count and Making your College Search Count programs. Fastweb is best known for their Scholarship search, but has college searches as well.
  • Schools In The USA.com - Private site owned and maintained by a company referred to as the EI Group. This site is more career-focused, and provides ways of connecting career choices to College majors.
  • College and University Link List - This is simply a listing of colleges (about 3,000 of them) and a link to the web sites of those colleges. If you know what college you are looking for, this will give you a short cut to the web site.

Technical and Vocational Schools - try this Technical Schools site for schools that specialize in the Technical areas of Information, and Industrial Service and Medical technologies. This also includes Graphic Arts, Automotive, and Manufacturing Technology. Talk to your counselor about other options in the area of Technology and Vocational training that are different than a traditional 4-year or 2-year college.

Colleges in Illinois

School

Location

Link to Webpage

Augustana College

Rock Island

http://www.augustana.edu/

Aurora University

Aurora

http://www.aurora.edu/

Benedictine University

Lisle

http://www.ben.edu/index.asp

Bradley University

Peoria

http://www.bradley.edu/

Chicago State University

Chicago

http://www.csu.edu/

Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

http://www.ctschicago.edu/

City Colleges of Chicago

Chicago

http://www.ccc.edu/

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

http://www.colum.edu/

Concordia University

River Forest

http://www.curf.edu/

DePaul University

Chicago

http://depaul.edu/

DeVry University

Chicago

http://devry.edu/

Dominican University

River Forest

http://www.dom.edu/

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

http://www.eiu.edu/

Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

http://www.elmhurst.edu/

Eureka College

Eureka

http://www.eureka.edu/

Fox College

Oak Lawn

http://www.foxcollege.edu/

Governors State University

University Park

http://www.govst.edu/

Harrington College of Design

Chicago

http://www.interiordesign.edu/

Illinois College

Jacksonville

http://www.ic.edu/

Illinois Institute of Art at Schaumburg

Chicago

http://www.ilia.aii.edu/

Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

http://www.iit.edu/

Illinois State University

Bloomington

http://www.ilstu.edu/

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

http://www2.iwu.edu/home.shtml

Judson College

Elgin

http://www.judson-il.edu/

Kendall College

Evanston

http://www.kendall.edu/

Knox College

Galesburg

http://www.knox.edu/

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

http://www.lakeforest.edu/

Lewis University

Romeoville

http://www.lewisu.edu/

Lincoln Tech

Melrose Park

http://www.lincolntech.com/c_melrosepark_il.php

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

http://www.luc.edu/

Millikin University

Decatur

http://www.millikin.edu/

Monmouth College

Monmouth

http://www.monm.edu/

North Central College

Naperville

http://www.noctrl.edu/

North Park University

Chicago

http://www.northpark.edu/

Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

http://www.neiu.edu/Home/

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb

http://www.niu.edu/

Northwestern University

Evanston

http://www.northwestern.edu/

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

http://www.olivet.edu/

Rockford College

Rockford

http://www.rockford.edu/

Rush University

Chicago

http://www.rushu.rush.edu/

Saint Xavier University

Chicago

http://www.sxu.edu/

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

http://www.saic.edu/

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Carbondale

http://www.siu.edu/

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Edwardsville

http://www.siue.edu/

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

http://www.trnty.edu/

Trinity International University

Deerfield

http://www.tiu.edu/

University of Chicago

Chicago

http://www.uchicago.edu/

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

http://www.uic.edu/index.html/

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

http://www.uis.edu/

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign

http://www.uiuc.edu/

University of St Francis

Joliet

http://www.stfrancis.edu/

Western Illinois University

Macomb

http://www.wiu.edu/

Westwood College-Chicago Loop

Chicago

http://www.westwoodcollege.com/

Wheaton College

Wheaton

http://www.wheaton.edu/

Financial Aid

Financial Aid

In the world of financial aid there are many different forms of assistance available to students and each serves a slightly different purpose than the other.  Many students assume that words like scholarship, grant, and student loan are interchangeable.  For each variety of assistance there are different tax stipulations, service requirements, and repayment expectations attached.  Any student on the hunt for financial aid should know what they are looking for, and how it will help them achieve their goals.