North Kingstown High School Guidance

The Application Process

Need a place to start?

The PowerPoint presentation from the October 10th Senior Parent College Night is available by clicking here.

Need to get yourself organized?

Click the link to get the NKHS College Application Checklist.

Use the NKHS Application Organizer. Here is a previously filled out sample.

Need a letter of recommendation?

Click the link to get the Letter of Recommendation packet.

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION APPLICATIONS

Use the Common App, get an application from the college (or their website) or pick one up in the Guidance Library.

Students are responsible for bringing their completed application, including letters of recommendation, resume, the application fee and essays (if applicable) to the guidance office in a pre-addressed manila envelope.

The guidance office will check your packet for completion, insert your transcript, seal the application and record the date it was returned to you. This process works the same whether you apply online or through the mail.

The student is responsible for mailing the completed packet.

You should already have sent your SAT scores to that college. We do not send scores to the college as they require electronic receipt. If you did not include a college on your original list when you took the SAT, you can send your scores by clicking here.

Colleges and universities outside of Rhode Island have a variety of application procedures to follow. Essays, recommendations and interviews are frequently required. Your counselor will need to complete some portion of the application form and official transcripts will need to be sent. The procedure is explained in the packet provided by the college and is usually due earlier than Rhode Island schools.

Public and private vocational schools will have unique applications, too.

To assist in the selection of the right school for you, the Guidance Department has computer resources, including this website, as well as a wide variety of hard copy information on colleges, universities and technical schools through out Rhode Island and the United States.

THE NORTH KINGSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL CODE IS 400088

Writing An Admission Essay

Your guidance counselor will work with senior English teachers to run special seminars on how to write a college essay. You will have practice and several drafts to help you write the best possible advertisement for yourself. However, here are some pointers to give you a head start:

Starting Your Essay

Make certain you understand the question or the topic. Your essay should answer the question or speak directly to the given topic.
List all ideas. Be creative. Brainstorm without censoring.
Sort through ideas and prioritize. You cannot tell them everything, Be selective.
Choose information and ideas which are not reflected in other parts of your application.
This is your chance to supplement your application with information you want them to know.
Be persuasive in showing the reader you are deserving of admission. Remember your audience.

Filling out a personal profile will help you complete the application process more quickly and easily. You can use this form as a cheat sheet as you complete your college applications, and give copies to the people who are writing your letters of recommendation. If you haven’t thought of that perfect essay topic yet, a thoughtfully completed profile should give you some good ideas.

Writing the Draft- Apply what you have learned in English class

Develop paragraphs, one idea at a time, with topic sentences, using examples or giving convincing reasons.
Make transitions between paragraphs.
Select action verbs and avoid the passive voice (ask your English teacher about that).
Use concrete examples. Often examples of behavior demonstrate an idea better than an adjective.
Develop exact, concrete language. Avoid vague references, wordy usage or clichés.

Editing Your Draft

Does your introduction capture the reader's attention?
Are you consistent in your verb tense?
Are you clear and coherent?
Are you concise enough to adhere to the limits in length?
Have you checked for grammatical and spelling errors?
Does the essay present you as you wish to be seen?
Did another person review your essay for possible mistakes?
Would you remember your essay if you read one hundred others?
Does your closing paragraph present you as you wish to be remembered?

Completing Your Essay

Some applications list a preference for typed or handwritten work. Regardless of the preference, the application should be neat and legible.
Keep a copy for your records.
Follow this link to read one student's college application essay.

Early Action and Early Decision

In some instances where you have a desire to attend a particular college, an advantage may be gained by applying "early." A small group of schools offers this opportunity, especially to those who are highly qualified.

A question to ask yourself is: "Do I look as good on paper now as I will in January?

If you are considering this process you should see your counselor early in the senior year and take all tests required by that college. The completed application needs to be completed and returned to the Guidance Office at least two weeks before the deadline.

These applications and recommendations must be mailed by either November 1 or November 15, depending on the college (consult your catalog). Notification of acceptance, deferral, or denial will be received about December 15.

"Early action" is a program for those of you who choose to send in an early application to one college. If admitted, you are under no obligation to matriculate and may apply to other colleges under their regular admissions. If the student is deferred, you may be reconsidered later for admissions. If accepted, the you will not have to reply until May 1st.

"Early decision" involves the same procedures as early action, but with "early decision" you are honor bound to attend the institution if accepted. A few colleges offer this option.

School Visits

How to Get the Most from a Campus Visit

Visit on weekdays so you see the day-to-day campus life and visit with students, the administrative staff and faculty in their "natural habitat."

If possible, write or call the admissions office two weeks in advance ( the Guidance Department can assist you in making contact ), informing them of the day and time of your arrival on campus and requesting appointments and activities which you would like arranged for you (such as those listed below).

If you would like to get an idea of what college classes might be like, ask if you could visit a class or two. In your letter, you should indicate the kind of classes which you might be interested in observing. This makes a good impression too.

If you are unfamiliar with the institution or its programs, request a general interview with an admissions counselor. College personnel are happy to talk with you and tell you about their school. Make the most of this and other appointments by asking questions. If you tend to be shy, prepare some questions in advance. If you don't understand something, don't be afraid to ask why or request further information. This is also a good time to check into special programs in which you may have an interest, such as honors, credit by exam, clubs, sports, AP or minority programs.

In addition, if you have a specific question about a particular program or major, request an appointment with an appropriate faculty advisor.

Request a tour of the campus, including the dormitories.

If you have any questions about financial aid, check with the financial aid office during your campus visit.

If you would like to stay for two days, lodging arrangements are often available for visitors. Inexpensive housing can be arranged in dormitories, fraternities, or sororities.

Ask if you can buy lunch in a dormitory. It's fashionable for students to complain about dorm food; however, it sometimes is pretty good. Taste for yourself.

Have fun-- and if you do encounter a problem, don't be afraid to ask for help.

Selecting a Technical or Trade School

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts three-quarters of the new jobs created from now through 2010 will be in services such as communication, trade, and transportation. Some occupations which will experience the largest growth are truck drivers, nursing aides, automotive mechanics, carpenters, electronic technicians, maintenance personnel, and electricians.

The need for skilled workers trained in these and other trade and technical fields should remain high through the mid-2000's. The selection of a trade school is just as important as the selection of a college. The thousands of dollars and hours you spend to receive training should be seen as an investment. Therefore seek as much information as possible before making a decision. The first step in choosing a trade or technical school is to visit the Guidance Office to see which schools offer training in your fields of interest. If catalogs are not available in the Guidance Office, write directly to the trade or technical school.

Questions you should ask about the institution include:

Is the school licensed by the state's post-secondary school licensing agency?

Is the school accredited? Accreditation represents a standard of quality that has been determined by a neutral agency.

Are the courses offered up-to-date, well-rounded, and of high quality? Will they prepare you for your field? How long will training take?

Do the teachers have professional experience in the field?

What type of facilities and equipment does the school offer? Is the equipment current with what is being used in the field?

Does the school have a laboratory or shop to duplicate a real work environment?

Does the school offer regular job placement assistance? Does it help graduates find jobs? At what types of jobs are graduates placed?

What is the total cost of tuition, supplies, and fees? Can you realistically afford the school?

What kinds of financial aid are available through the school to meet your financial need? Pell Grants? Stafford Loans? Scholarships?, etc.

Finally, visit the school when classes are in session. Talk to students. Are they happy with their training? Look around at the buildings and equipment to see if they compare with the catalog description? If possible, talk to graduates and find what they think of the school.

Post-Secondary Education Costs

Regardless of where you enroll, your expenses include both direct educational expenses and living expenses and usually consist of five parts:

tuition and fees
books and supplies
room and board
personal expenses
transportation

Many students have additional expenses not covered under any of these categories, such as costs arising from medical care or a disability. Be sure to include these extra expenses in estimating the costs of attending the particular college you're considering.

Room and board expenses change from year to year, but vary according to the residence hall, choice of single or double rooms, or off-campus living.

If you live at home and commute, you will need to substitute approximately $3500 to $5000 for transportation, meals, etc., in the place of room and board.

Usually costs to attend are paid at the beginning of each quarter or semester. Some institutions also allow you to pay in installments. See the individual institutional catalogs for payment policies and options on tuition and room and board expenses. Catalogs are available to you in the Guidance Department.

Housing

Students should apply for housing as soon as they make a decision about the college they are attending.

Some campuses are very short on housing. Check your college catalogue for more information.

Colleges and universities have residence halls available, and many colleges require entering freshmen to live in college-approved housing.

Students may also live in sororities or fraternities. Cooperatives, where the residents of a house share chores and maintenance, is another option when available. Lastly, other students choose to live off campus in apartments, houses, or whatever living situation they find satisfactory.

North Kingstown High School

Home of the Skippers

150 Fairway Drive
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Guidance Phone: 401-268-6240

Timothy S. Chace

No unauthorized copying is allowed without prior written permission.