<p>Hi all. I am working with my nephew to help him get organized with the application process since I now deem myself very savy :) having just complete the process for S. </p>
<p>We used a file box system (hanging files) separated by --
Resume & ReportCard &Recommendation request,
Data (online sign in codes/usernames & Comparsion Spreadsheet)<br>
Essays
SAT/ACT,
Common App,
FAFSA,
Scholarship Apps,
Colleges (each got a file)</p>
<p>I have made at least a dozen tables, charts, graphs, or other spreadsheet-like materials in Excel. I make them myself and print them out. My favorite right now is a loooong spreadsheet with colleges in a column (the seven that I am applying to), with application materials listed across the top - that is, SAT scores, essays, teacher recommendations, supplements, transcripts, etc. Every time some part of the application is COMPLETE AND SENT, I check off a box. I have grey-ed in the boxes that aren’t necessary (for example, one of my colleges doesn’t require the CSS/PROFILE).</p>
<p>We used a College Box that sounds exactly like yours-hanging folders and all. We were very fortunate that the College Center at our D’s High School used a program called Naviance that tracked all of those deadlines and requirements for us. It even tracked which of her teachers sent in their recommendations, when transcripts were sent etc. We also had six months worth of white board type calendars on the frig and pantry to make sure deadlines were right in front of our faces. We didn’t miss any deadlines.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to get an email address which is just for college mail (the old “<a href="mailto:cutiegirl4■■■■■■■■■■■■”>cutiegirl4■■■■■■■■■■■■</a>" doesn’t cut it for adcoms). It will save you much aggravation if the email address is only used for college related purposes.</p>
<p>Maybe this is too simplistic for the excel types, but in addition to folders, I had a large-ish old fashioned calendar where we wrote deadlines–which applications were due on which days; when the forms were due to the guidance office to request the transcripts to be sent; any other paperwork or interview deadline. I refered to it a million times.</p>
<p>We used a large desk size calendar. We wrote ALL the important deadlines in it. It was a lot easier to see it all in one place in print than to scroll through computer pages on a screen. In addition to writing the deadlines themselves, we also wrote the dates to get the stuff completed!! We wrote in school events, SAT test dates…everything that was happening senior year. That way we knew if there were things that might interfere with completing an application or other college task.</p>
<p>Colored file folders. Green for safeties, yellow for possible matches, red for extras that were interesting but “geographically undesirable.” Blue for the big prize ED choice. CollegeBoard profile, application/supplement printout, and other handy information inside; deadlines, contact information, and application checklist written on the outside. Same thing for every scholarship. All kept in a soft-sided portfolio with a zippered pocket. Test score reports, transcript, resume, and a couple of pens in the zippered pocket.</p>
<p>And his CollegeBoard account was incredibly useful. Once he figured out what appealed to him, I would go out and search for colleges that met his criteria and put them on his CB “my colleges” list with notes. When he had time, he would go through the list, visit the colleges’ Web sites, and ok or nix them. In this way, he whittled his list down to nine colleges; I looked at the list and suggested eliminating two more because they didn’t have the programs he wanted. Ta-da. Then he applied to two rolling safeties and the blue-prize-folder ED, and then it all became moot. No complaints, though; Christmas and Spring were wonderful times in our house. :)</p>
<p>Regarding deadlines, I started sending him Outlook meeting notices for test dates, visits, and when something (e.g., an essay) needed to be started (based on his requirement of two weeks’ advance on any deadline). This would have worked very, very well if he’d been checking his email more than once every month or so. Did I mention a shared email account for college applications? ;)</p>
<p>We had a pendaflex file folder (fondly called “the bucket”) that, at 18" deep, could have been larger at the end of the game. Up front was a sheet with pertinent web addresses, logins and passwords along with a calendar. Then transcripts and scores. Then a section for each college. Important dates and a copy of login info were also kept on the computer (and more often accessed from there). The HS also has Naviance, but we really only used it for transcript requests, etc. from the school. Fun to look at the scattergrams, though.</p>
<p>After THE DECISION was made, we had to adopt “the bucketette” because housing, FA, etc. all have different user names, logins and pretty brochures to read.</p>
<p>DS recently declared parenthood of “the bucket” to his 15-year-old sister. I’m happy to have a breather year before starting this process again!</p>
<p>My girls put together a long “resume” that contained everything…grades, test scores, social security number, activities, awards, work history, high school address, all of the temporary passwords and email addresses you acquire, etc. They kept it on their hard drive and continually updated and referred to it during the application and scholarship process. Everything was in one place. When it was time to create a real resume for certain schools and scholarship competitions…it was a snap. They simple “saved as” and edited away to suit the particular situation. Saved them so much time.</p>
<p>I liked accordion folders–one for each college, then a couple of extras for “general college info.” Then they can stand on their own in a corner if needed.</p>
<p>Do one consolidated sheet for your student: SS number, student ID number, HS school address, phone and fax number; Guidance counselor name and number; all SAT, ACT, or AP testing data (date of test and score).</p>
<p>On the first page of each college folder, put: application due date, mailing address, what recommendations are due (none, one, two and/or counselor–see the specific website for each college to verify this–do not assume you know unless you’ve seen) and when the recs are due. Then as the application is submitted, add your student’s account name and access code onto this sheet. The account number is important to check for online notification of admission later. Also, if you decide to print out a confirmation of the successfully submitted application, put that in the file, too.</p>
<p>The following are included: “online documents, presentations, and spreadsheets”</p>
<p>So you can have EVERYTHING, from essays to spreadsheets to saved information about schools as well as an exclusively college-related email account online all in the same place. You have the option of making your docs and such private, public, open to friends, etc.</p>
<p>It really is an amazing tool. I myself am graduating high school 2010, have been using these tools since forever, and am definitely using it during this application process.</p>
<p>we used a spreadsheet to track interest…incoming mail/phone calls/email. </p>
<p>initially, used a file folder for each school for the applications. it’s handy to make notes right on the front of the folder (dues dates, etc.). later, used pocket folders for each school in order to keep the f/a package and other information all together for that one school.</p>
<p>No Spreadsheet here - at least not until FA offers came in.
Just did a simple table on Word with similar info as above. Couple of additions: 1. Name of contact or reader at college. 2. Column for dates received by college - as opposed to sent to college.</p>
<p>Our son use the minimalist approach. He merely completed all his applications by October, thus no need to keep track of deadlines. In addition he did his college research jr year and applied to six colleges which he would have been happy to attend. It was a really easy and stress free approach.</p>
<p>I am just starting to put everything together since I will be heading towards deadlines in the next couple months. I will probably be applying to 5-10 schools.</p>
<p>For each school I have a manila folder (yay for recycled ones!) and the front cover is a word documents with username/password of applying online (if not using Common App), name of college, location, and miles/hours away from home. The next section is application info: early action/decision and regular decision deadlines and the amount of money for the application fee and where to pay it. The third section is for scholarships (if applicable) and the people who need to fill out the forms for recs. The fourth section is the essay prompts so they can be in hand and so I won’t have to look back at the website. The last section is the miscellaneous forms like teacher recommendations, school counselor form, transcript request, SAT/ACT scores sent, FAFSA, and interview dates. </p>
<p>I am a little OCD about the process but I am pretty sure my plan is foolproof. I tried spreadsheets but this seems to work a lot better. I will just make a word document for each school and fill it out accordingly.</p>