Thinking about college post-OCSI?

Major Deadlines

Important Links
​It's never too early to think about college! There are multiple elements when it comes to your college application. Rather than scrambling three days before deadlines, it is best to start thinking about college even from Freshman Year!

​Of course, it's never too late to think about college as well. If you're a senior and lost about the entire process, always contact me via Jupiter, email or walk into my classroom.
US Institutions
Early Action/Deadlines:
  • Usually November 1 or 15; check the institution of your choice!
Regular Deadlines:
  • Usually January 1 or 15; check the institution of your choice!
  • Some may have deadlines at the end of December.
National Deadline Day
  • May 1
  • Students must commit by this day or else they may lose their place to other students on a waitlist.

Japanese Institutions
Deadlines vary, although most institutions have their deadline in the Winter for Fall enrollment
OCSI College Counseling Page
ocsi.org/college-counseling/

The above link includes important information such as transcript request, college planning guide, college search resource, and college terms/lingo. 
​
BigFuture
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

​BigFuture is College Board's college search engine (mainly US institutions plus a few major international colleges; Japanese institutions include ICU, iCLA and Keio). Students can search for colleges based on location, tuition, amount of scholarship available at the college, religion, major, etc.

So...where should I start? What do I need to consider? 

Here are a few things that students need to consider when applying for colleges:
​
It's necessary to find your fit, meaning a location that you'll thrive!

Finding where you'll thrive is more important than stu[dying] at an institution not of your choice.

Take a look at the right column. If students have no idea about the first and second Ps, it's important to understand yourself better before jumping into this process. Students can take a Myers-Briggs Test or the Learning Style Inventory test (both available for free online). A simple conversation with family members, friends, and/or teachers may also help students to figure out their personality, interest, comfort zone, etc.

​You can also use BigFuture's questions as a guide as well.
Finding Fit: 5 Ps
  1. Person: Who am I and would my personality fit?
  2. People: What kind of people attend this college? Is it a small or large community?
  3. Place: Where is this college? In an urban or rural location? Proximity to airport, market, entertainment, etc.
  4. Program: Do they offer majors/courses in areas of my interest?
  5. Price: Can I afford the price? Students should know to what extent they can afford; keep in mind that not all students can receive scholarship.

How do I apply to College?

​Some colleges have their own application program or some colleges may be registered to an application program. One of the familiar application programs is called Common App. More than 800 colleges and universities are registered to this program, and you can apply to multiple institutions with one account! Check your institution of choice for details regarding application.

Finance

Colleges are not cheap and not all colleges are affordable for all families. Students should keep in mind the reality of finance during the application process. This process is stressful, but it will definitely help students to become more responsible for their own future.

The following are things to keep in mind:
Types of Financial Aid
  • Non-need / Merit Based: based on student's academic achievement in high school
  • Need Based: based on student's financial situation
  • Grant / Scholarship: 
  • Loans
American citizen students applying to US institutions should fill out FAFSA.

Japanese citizens who desire to study abroad should check out education loan opportunities (教育ローン)
​Cost of Attendance
A lot of students only focus on tuition fee, but there are many other factors that students and their families must consider:

Direct costs of College
  • Tuition Fee
  • Room / Meals

Indirect costs of College
  • Books and supplies
  • Transportation (airplane, bus, train, etc.)
  • Personal Expense
Resources for Financial Aid
Here are a few sources when looking for financial aid:
​This is not a comprehensive list; there are a lot of opportunities out there, actively look for scholarships! Colleges and universities may have scholarships for their own programs as well, check their websites for more information.

Busting Myths: SATs and GPA

Q: My SAT score doesn't match my dream school...should I look elsewhere?

A: Don't worry! Your GPA and Personal Essay matter more during the college process. Additionally, your SAT scores are viewed in the context of our school. If your score is higher than the OCSI average, you will be seen as competitive even if your SAT score is lower than your dream school. However, there are rare cases where colleges clearly require a certain score for SAT Subject Tests or the regular test; students will have to check their program of interest for such details.
Q: I heard that freshman year GPA doesn't matter for college application. Is this true?

A: Your Freshman GPA matters! Colleges will look at your GPA more than your SAT scores (Freshman to Senior Year). Many colleges also ask for Senior Year GPA post-application, don't slack off!

Building Blocks for College Application

​Students are usually required to submit their (1) SAT and/or other standardized test scores (such as TOEFL), (2) GPA, (3) personal essay and (4) recommendation letters for their College Applications. Some colleges may not require a recommendation letter or a SAT score, check the institution of your choice!

Other Helpful Information