College Knowledge Toolkit

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Visiting college campuses

Diversity Fly-in Programs Explained

Many colleges offer programs that subsidize travel for students that are otherwise unable to visit their campuses due to financial constraints. Students who apply and are accepted participate in a visiting weekend on the college campus typically at no cost. Most schools will open up these programs specifically for underrepresented groups (i.e. low-income students, students of color, LGBTQ+ students etc.) to experience life on their campuses.

THE BOTTOM LINE: APPLY TO AS MANY FLY-IN PROGRAMS AS POSSIBLE.

Why Should YOU Apply to a Fly-in Program?

There are many reasons why you should apply to the fly-in program:

  • Opportunity to visit a college campus that is far away
  • Opportunity to experience the realities of the campus life beyond a short campus tour and an
  • information session
  • Opportunity to meet students and visit classes
  • Opportunity to interview with admissions officers allowing them to get to know you beyond your transcript, test scores, and common application
  • Opportunity to receive a fee waiver to apply to a college (if otherwise ineligible for fee waivers)
  • Demonstrate to the office of admissions that you are authentically interested in their college (major factor in admissions decisions at some colleges)
  • Generate responses to the typical college essay prompts that can be used for supplemental essays or scholarship essays
  • Opportunity to be a part of a pool of applicants that is already selective and therefore, enjoy higher admission rate to a very competitive college; in other words, increase your chances of college admission

Ask the Following Questions when Attending a Fly-In Program:

  • Can you see yourself here? Do you feel comfortable or challenged in this space? Remember, being uncomfortable is a way for you to challenge the status quo and make an impact.  
  • How does faculty connect with their students? Do they know them by first name? Do they stay after class to engage with students?
  • How big is each class? Do students have ample opportunities to share and exchange ideas?
  • Where do students live? Do most stay on campus? If not, where do most students get housing and how far away is it from class buildings?
  • What would your life look like outside of classes? What surrounds the campus?
  • What are the characteristics of this town/city? Do students have a relationship with those in town? Is this important to you?
  • What are the major clubs and organizations?  Are there summer internships available to you?
  • What makes this school unique? What aspects of the college do they pride themselves on, and do they align with your interests?
Writing your essay

What is a personal statement?

The personal statement essay (also known as a college essay or common application essay) is a relatively short piece of writing (max. 650 words) that you will submit to every college you apply to. This essay has to be about YOU. It needs to provide a window into your life, explain any weaknesses in your academic record, share about who you are as a person, etc. This essay also offers evidence of your writing capabilities.

Personal statement essays should be creative and follow the Show Not Tell rule. That is why, thinking through your life stories that best characterize who you are is the first step to writing a personal statement essay. A personal statement is your introduction to a selection committee. It is the heart of your application. That is why, it needs to be personal, specific, and inspiring.

An effective personal statement may answer some or all of the following questions:

  • Who am I?
  • Who do I want to be?
  • What kind of contribution do I want to make, and how?
  • What experiences have shaped me into who I am today?
  • What are my skills and experiences and how have they affected me?
  • What are the personal challenges I have overcome?

Remember the goal: grab the reader’s’ interest, and make them want to know you or feel that they know you. Get a sense of the experiences and dreams you wish to share, then examine them for a helpful means of making sense of it all. You will find your story; and if you share it honestly, you will have written a personal statement.

Personal statement writing resources

TeenSHARP steps to writing a Powerful Essay:

  1. Complete the standout factor sheet: what is your standout factor?
  2. Brainstorm using TeenSHARP’s 25 Prompts to reflect on your life.
  3. Develop a thesis statement with your advisor based off of 1 or more of the 25 prompts: what is the main point of your essay?
  4. Utilize the Bare Bones Outline to write down all of your ideas.
  5. Write your first draft. TIP: just write! Length and grammar do not matter here. The goal is quality information about you. Remember, show, don’t tell!
  6. Write your second draft. Here is where you will cut out information and worry about grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
  7. Send your essay to DGCA for review.
  8. Follow DGCA comments to edit and/or rewrite your essay.
  9. Final draft: send to DGCA for another look.

TIP: do not forget to follow the colleges formatting guidelines (font, line spacing, margins, etc).

TeenSHARP’s 25 Prompts

To help you come up with the most original and meaningful idea, TeenSHARP has developed 25 writing prompts. These prompts help you reflect on your life, pull out most meaningful stories, and identify themes that need to come across in your essay. Please note that the goal here is NOT to just pick one of your responses as your actual personal statement essay. The goal is to brainstorm moments in your life that were meaningful and formative and based on the information offered, give you an opportunity to outline your story. If you are struggling to respond, ask a family member or significant people in your life to help you! Sometimes it is other people who may remember stories that are particularly significant about you.

Your responses should be story-based, not high-level philosophical musings. Suspend concerns about writing quality. It is quality of information that matters for the purposes of this exercise.

  • What’s the most important story you can tell?
  • If you could go back and give yourself one lesson, what would it be?
  • What’s the defining moment that most dramatically changed the course of your life?
  • What early weakness led you to find your passion?
  • If your mother and father was asked to describe one thing you do that is unique, what would it be?
  • What are the biggest personal challenges you had to overcome on your path to college?
  • What is the one thing that few people know about you and your family?
  • Who is the most interesting person in your family and why?
  • What is most unique or interesting about your family’s history?
  • It is easy to say you are passionate about something. Tell a story that provides clear evidence of a deep passion that you have.
  • Give an example of a time when you went against the norm for something you believed in deeply.
  • Who has had the greatest impact on your life? How?
  • Give an example of a time when you’re thinking on an issue, a cause, or a topic evolved. What precipitated your evolution and why was it so significant?
  • Describe something that you created or initiated that you are most proud of. Explain why you are most proud about it.
  • What is your favorite TV show? Why?
  • What is the funniest story about your life that you can tell?
  • Share something about your family or your life that used to make you feel a little ashamed. Why?
  • Change is inevitable. Describe the biggest change you had to deal with in your life and how well you feel you handled it.
  • Describe a world you come from- for example, your family, community or school and how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
  • What are the challenges or opportunities you find in your community?
  • What do you love most about your community and what do you like the least? Explain.
  • Describe a piece of literature you love. Describe in detail what made you love this particular piece of literature
  • If you had to teach a class on any topic, what would it be? Why did you pick this topic
  • You’re asked to give TED Talk during the next TEDxTeen conference. What are you going to talk about?
  • If you could create your own college application essay prompt for the common app, what would it be?
application checklist

Use the following checklist to gather all the information you need to begin the application process:

Common application

  • Create an account
  • Add school and personal information
  • Add your college list
  • Add DGCA as an advisor

Apply Early Decision

  • Complete application requirements
  • Put final touches on your personal statement
  • Complete any supplemental essays
  • Do not submit until ALL application materials are sent to DGCA for review

Begin your FAFSA

  • FAFSA opens on Oct. 1
  • You will need your parents income and tax information to complete
  • Make sure to write down and save all passwords and login credentials

Apply Early Action and Regular Decision

  • Complete application requirements
  • Complete any supplemental essays or materials
  • Do not submit until ALL application materials are sent to DGCA for review

Review acceptance letters and financial aid awards

  • Send DGCA ALL of the schools you were accepted to
  • Once you receive your financial aid award, make an appointment with DGCA to go over the information. 
  • Prepare to negotiate your award, if necessary.

Accept admission and financial aid from the best-fit school 

  • Follow the directions on your admissions letter to accept the offer
  • If needed, submit your deposit
  • Submit final transcripts
  • Submit ALL material needed for financial aid
  • Provide required health immunization materials
  • Plan for new student orientation
  • Bridge into TeenSHARP’s College Success program
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