Submitting a College Application

Below are specific steps to follow during the college application process:

  1. Remember the Mount de Sales school code: 111955
  2. Plan to apply early.  Have all “regular decision” application materials ready by Thanksgiving. If you are an “early action/decision”applicant, you will need to apply by mid-to-late October.  You do not need to wait on SAT scores or 1st quarter grades.
  3. Continue your research byreading/studying college bulletins, view-books, pamphlets, and internet sites of those schools which possibly interest you. 
  4. Get applications to the colleges to which you think you may wish to apply. Get applications from the college websites, you may call the admissions office at the college (many have 800 #’s), or you may receive some applications in the back of view-books that you find in your home mailbox. 
  5. Before you write on the application, make a photocopy of every page.   Put the original away in a folder until later.  Use the photocopy as your first copy/first draft. If you plan to apply on-line make a hardcopy of the application to use as the first draft then copy from it to the on-line version before submitting it.
  6. Complete the photocopy or hardcopy.  Check spelling, punctuation, caps, and word choices.  In addition, avoid sentence fragments, run-ons, and unclear pronouns in the essay questions. Always make a copy of the application before hitting the “submit” button or before mailing it.  Keep it in a folder at home for reference.
  7. No matter how well you write, please ask an English teacher to read over your essay(s) before the application is sent off to the college.  You must give the teacher ample time to review your essay.  Your college counselor is also happy to read your essays for you, but you must bring a copy to my office well before the deadline.
  8. If you want another SAT score, take the October SAT which will be given here at Mount de Sales.  The registration deadline is mid-September.  You can register on-line, by phone, or by mail.  Later test dates are listed on the SAT page and on the calendar. We also suggest that you take the ACT, especially if you did not score as high as you would have liked on the SAT.  We give the ACT here at Mount de Sales in December.
  9. Request recommendations from a teacher AT LEAST TWO WEEKS before you wish for the recommendation to be mailed.  You must be considerate of a teacher’s time-he/she is doing you a big favor!  Use the green Teacher Recommendation Request form and remember always to:
    1. ask politely
    2. give the teacher a listing of your activities/recognitions (your resume) and
    3. give the teacher the full address of the college
  10. Ask the teacher to give the recommendation the college counseling office when it is completed. 
  11. Bring the Secondary School Report (sometimes called the School Report, the Counselor’s Report or the Counselor’s Evaluation) to the college counselor at least two weeks before you wish the application to be mailed.
  12. Neatly type the final application. If you are applying to the college on-line, carefully complete the application. Remember, this is the first, and sometimes the only, contact that the school has with you before a decision will be made.  It is imperative that the application look its best!
  13. Reread the application, making sure that you have answered all questions.  If you are applying on-line, print a copy of the application and reread that.
  14. Ask a parent to read and check over the application.
  15. When you and your parent are satisfied with the completed application, make a copy of the final version of application.  If you are applying on-line, make a copy of the final version before you submit it to the college.  Keep this copy in a safe place.
  16. If using a paper application, bring the completed application, the application fee (make check payable to the college and write your name and SS# on the check), and a completed blue application checklist to the college counseling office at least five school days before the date on which you wish for the application to be mailed.  We cannot guarantee that the application will be mailed on time if you do not allow us the 5 school days.  You may get the blue application checklist in the college counseling office.
  17. If using an on-line application, complete a blue application checklist and bring it to the college counseling office so we can process the remaining application materials and official transcript.