College Counseling

Browse through this knowledge base for answers to frequently asked questions about the topics below. Always feel free to contact the College Counseling Office with any additional questions.

Standardized Tests

We recommend taking one SAT and one ACT test, and determining which test is a better fit for you. Once you choose one test (either the SAT or ACT), it is encouraged that you seek preparation for that particular test. You may take the test multiple times, to give yourself the opportunity to improve your score.

You may also need to consider SAT II Subject Tests. Some schools recommend or require these additional tests as a component of their admission process.

If you are an international student, you may be required to take the TOEFL as well. Please check the website of the colleges which you are applying. Sometimes TOEFL is waved depending on SAT and ACT scores.

Q: When should I start preparing for the standardized tests?

A: It is recommended that you prepare to take either the SAT or ACT in December of junior year. Click here for a full list of test dates and test prep resources. The next test offered after that is the ACT in February, or the SAT in March. You may certainly take a test prior to December of junior year, but it is discouraged to take the SAT or ACT prior to junior year. Many colleges require that the tests be taken after sophomore year.

Regarding SAT II Subject Tests, it is encourage to take each assessment immediately upon completion of an advanced course in the subject. For an example, it would be best to take the Molecular Biology SAT II Subject Test upon completion of an AP Biology Course.

Q: What does it mean to "superscore" my test scores?

A: Superscoring is a method where a college can choose to take your best scores from each subject tested, even if these scores were earned on different testing dates. For an example, the college may choose to take your highest Math score from an SAT you took in June, and your highest Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing score from an SAT you took in October, to combine them to get your highest possible score. Some colleges also choose to superscore for the ACT components. Not all colleges superscore, so it is important that you do your research by visiting the college admission website or inquiring the admission office to find out what is true of the admission process for each particular institution.

Q: I am applying to a test-optional school. Should I self-report and send my scores?

A: It depends on the school's freshman profile. All schools have a median fifty percent SAT or ACT score range, or an average SAT or ACT score, even the test-optional schools. You can find this by searching for it on the admission website or by asking a college admission representative. If your scores fall within the range or above the range, it is recommended that you send your scores. If you fall below the range, only send them if your transcript needs additional support. Test-optional schools look heavily upon the transcript (rigor of classes taken and grades earned) to determine your readiness and fit for their program. If your transcript is not the strongest, you may want to consider sending in test scores as well. Some schools even provide a required minimum GPA in order to opt for test-optional.

Q: How many times should I take my SAT or ACT?

A: This is entirely a personal preference. It is recommended that once your choose which test is a better fit for you, stick only to that test, and retake it at least once or twice more from when you originally took the test. You may choose which scores you send to a college, and therefore it is no risk to take the test multiple times. You may score higher months later just by the fact that you have more math under your belt than you had the last time you took the test. On the other hand, it is good to strike a healthy balance. If you have taken a test 3 or 4 times, it may be best to rest. I don't recommend taking the ACT and SAT within the same month, or repeatedly taking both tests over again.

Q: Who sends my standardized test scores in to colleges?

A: You (the student) do. It is required that official standardized test scores be sent to colleges through the testing website - either the College Board (for the SAT) or the ACT website. You may choose to have your scores sent for free up to 4 colleges, however, you must make this decision before you take the test, before you get to see your scores.

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Application Timeline

Applying to Colleges

The earliest you can begin applying to colleges is the summer prior to your senior year, although that still is early to be submitting an application. Each college has a different timeline and deadlines, so be sure to become an expert on the admission websites of your colleges of interest. Particular programs require early application deadlines.

It is of no benefit to start an application during your junior year (unless you plan to graduate early) for many reasons.:

1) You will want to report your senior year schedule/classes on your application.

2) You will be asked to report your involvements and activities throughout high schools, and senior year activities, leadership positions, and service hours all count and will be evaluated. You will be unable to build your senior year activity list and report potential leadership positions if you complete your application prematurely.

3) You may lose your work. The Common Application rolls out an updated application on August 1 prior to senior year. If you have already started the application prior to that date, some of your work may be lost in the rollover.

My suggestion is that instead of prematurely beginning an application, invest your time in becoming an expert in the admission process of each school of interest. Make a chart. Learn about what is recommended, what is required, and research potential essay questions. Visit campus if you can, and interview if interviews are offered. Prepare for standardized tests, make sure your curriculum aligns with that which the college requires. If you need to take a summer course to put your on track for senior year, do so; (i.e. if you plan to apply to an engineering program and you are not on track to take Calculus your senior year, you may want to consider taking PreCalculus over the summer to put you on track).

Early Action, Early Decision, and Early Decision II?

Early Action has an early deadline just like Early Decision, and you are notified of your decision early, however it is non-binding. This means that if you are offered admission at the school, you are not required to enroll. The benefits of applying Early Action is that your application has been submitted early and you will find out early whether or not you are admitted without having to commit to that particular school. The con to Early Action is that it is often more competitive than Early Decision and Regular Decision (depending on the school). In most cases you can apply to multiple schools Early Action, however, some schools have Restricted Early Action, which means you can only apply to that particular school EA or ED.

Early Decision is for you if you "know that you know" that you want to attend a particular school. You can only apply to one school Early Decision, and it is binding. Be sure to have applied for Financial Aid before you decide to commit to a school, it is important that you are able to afford the school, given the financial aid award, before committing. This means that if you are offered admission, you are promising to enroll at that school. ED is a way to express your interest, and show that particular school that they are your number one choice. You will find out your admission decision early in the process. Often ED is less competitive than Early Action, and in many cases, less competitive than Regular Decision, however, like most things it depends on the school. It never hurts to look at data to determine the number of students accepted from the ED applicant pool compared to the number of students accepted under EA and RD.

Early Decision II is for those who may not have been admitted into their first choice ED school, however, are prepare to to commit to their second choice school. Sometimes if a student is deferred from Early Action, a school will allow select applicants to apply ED II. This is essentially a second round of Early Decision applicants. It is for those who are ready to commit, as it is binding. It may be slightly more competitive than ED I, however, less competitive than RD (depending on the school, of course). ED II applicants are often notified of their decisions before RD applicants are notified.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Types of Aid

Student Loans - Loans are monies that you do need to pay back to the federal government upon graduating. Freshman are offered up to $5500, Sophomores are offered up to $6500, and Juniors and Seniors are offered up to $7500 per year. All students who apply through the FAFSA (regardless of financial need) are offered these loans. Financial need determines the types of loans a student may receive. If a student has demonstrated financial need, a student might receive a portion of these loans in a subsidized loan, which is a loan that does not accrue interest until a student graduates from college. All students who apply through the FAFSA and who plan to be a full time students, are offered an unsubsidized loan, which is a loan that does accrue interest from the minute it is dispersed.

Grants - Grants are free monies that do not need to be paid back. Grants are need-based, and can be offered through the federal government (The Pell Grant), through your individual state, and through individual colleges. Since financial need may fluctuate year to year, so do grants, depending on the family's finances. Students need to re-apply for grants every year by completing the FAFSA and (if required) the CSS Profile.

Scholarships - Scholarships are free monies that do not need to be paid back. Scholarships are, most of the time, not based on financial need. They may be based on merit, service, or any number of categories that identify a student as 'exceptional.' Scholarships that are "renewable" mean that they may be offered each year that the student attends college. Some scholarships are fixed for all four years, and others may only be offered for one year. It is a good idea to make sure you know whether a scholarship is renewable or not. Some schools will automatically consider you for scholarships based on your college application, others require that you apply for specific scholarships that are offered at the school. There are many scholarships that are offered outside of institutions and can be found through your local community or websites such as fastweb. It is recommended that students apply for many scholarships, especially the smaller more obscure ones. Scholarships should cost you nothing to apply and may require an essay and transcript submission. (Beware of scholarships or scholarship search sites that make you pay in order to apply.) Click here for a substantial list of scholarship options and search sites. *Updated scholarships are accessible to seniors through a google sheet updated regularly by Mrs. Pavlick. 

FAQs

Q: When can apply for Financial Aid?

A: The FAFSA and CSS Profile opens October 1 of the senior year. It is required that you refer to the prior prior year's taxes. For an example, if I am a senior, class of 2021, I can (and should) complete the FAFSA for the 2021-2022 school year (this is when I will be in my freshman year of college) using the taxes that have already been filed in 2020 (which are reflective of the 2019 finances).

Q: What is the FAFSA?

A: The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is FREE and can be found here: https://studentaid.gov. It must be completed from the perspective of the student. It does NOT bind you to taking out loans, it simply is a way to see what aid you might qualify for with the federal government, state, and individual institutions. Both the student and the parents must sign the FAFSA using a pin. The FAFSA generates an EFC, or Expected Family Contribution. This is how much money the government determines that a particular household can contribute to their child's post-secondary education, per year. Based on this amount a family may qualify for grants through the federal government, state, or institution. This amount changes each year based on financial fluctuations that may occur in the family, and therefore a family needs to apply for financial aid every year.

Q. What is the CSS Profile?

A: The CSS Profile is the College Scholarship Search Profile, developed by the College Board. Many colleges require that the CSS Profile be submitted in addition to the FAFSA in order to calculate the family's EFC in order to determine student's need. The CSS Profile can be found here: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org. There is a fee to completing the CSS Profile. The CSS profile asks for similar information as the FAFSA and also does a bit of a deeper dive into finances and assets.

Q: What if I am only interested in applying for scholarships, do I have to apply for Financial Aid via the FAFSA and CSS Profile?

A: Be prepare to complete both the FAFSA and CSS Profile, even if you are only interested in scholarships. Some college require that all students interested in any aid - be it merit-based scholarships, or grants, complete these applications.

Q: What if I don't want to take out any student loans?

A: It is still very important to apply for Financial Aid, as you may qualify for need-based grants. Grants do not need to be paid back, and are free money offered to help you pay for your education.

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Each year begins a new chapter in the adventure of college preparation at Oakland Catholic High School. Explore menu items below to get a sense of every grade level's full trajectory.

*Note: Check 'Updates & Events' and 'Covid-19 FAQs' above for changes relevant to our current situation.

As successfully as Oakland Catholic High School prepares young women for the next step in their educational journey, it is also essential that students pursue opportunities and explore interests outside the realm of our school community. Colleges often reward extracurricular experiences that mandate an added level of effort and commitment. Browse through the list we've compiled below, but feel free to search beyond this site and research additional programs. Opportunities abound!