The College Application Process

The College Counseling Office designed the College Knowledge (CK) course to assist students in their understanding of the college research and application process. This course is required for all juniors in the spring semester and meets once weekly. Classes are taught by each student’s College Counseling director in a small, interactive setting. Topics include: an overview of available college research options, self assessment, resume writing, college essays, standardized testing, making the most of college visits, mock interviews and the application submission process.

 

The College Counseling Office utilizes the SCOIR software program as an online research tool as well as an application managing system. In the fall of junior year, all D-E students are given individual access codes to this program in order to assist them in their college research and application process. Through their individual SCOIR account, students can organize and store the materials they will need to complete their college applications. Parents of juniors are given access to this program in a “read only” format so that they can stay informed throughout their child’s application progress. To access SCOIR, go to:

https://app.scoir.com/signin.

 

SCOIR provides a range of services for students, parents, and college counseling professionals. Users can:
• view individualized displays of their personal academic information and test scores
• send and receive e-mail from the college office and get automatic e-mail reminders about colleges visiting Dwight-Englewood
• search for colleges and start a list of potential schools to explore more in depth

 

In addition to College Knowledge, students and families are encouraged to meet individually with their College Counseling director as early as the spring of sophomore year to develop a strategy of how to approach their college application journey. While the CCO directors have certain required meetings with students begnning in the junior year, families are encouraged to make appointments as they feel necessary. Our goal is to develop a working relationship with each student and family early in the process. By the end of junior year, students, in conjunction with their College Counseling director, will have developed a preliminary college list specifically tailored to their interests and goals. This list is composed of a wide range of colleges that emphasize fit and balance, based on an array of criteria including students’ preferences and level of selectivity. During the application season, the CCO directors continue to work closely with each student as he or she completes their applications. After students submit their applications, the CCO directors offer ongoing support and advocacy for each student through the application review and decision notification process.