SpanOne helps students get into top colleges by working one-on-one with an experienced college admissions counselor. Our college counselors help families navigate the complex and stressful process of college planning and applications. Many of them are former admissions staff members and educational professionals from the top colleges. They are best at what they do. Our college counselors are located in cities across the country, including Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and Washington DC.

1. The Road to College
Admissions

2. It’s a brave new college admissions world

3. It’s a brave new college admissions world

4. It’s a brave new college admissions world

5. It’s a brave new college admissions world

6. It’s a brave new college admissions world

7. The big picture

8. 5.07%
Stanford acceptance rate

9. Colleges and universities don’t admit 2400s or 36s.
They admit .real students. with .real experiences. and
.real stories.. You are one of those students.
These numbers don’t tell the full story

10. You will walk away from this more empowered and informed
than ever before about the college admissions journey.
Goal

11. You will walk away from this more empowered and informed
than ever before about the college admissions journey.
Goal

12. The College Admissions Journey
Application
component
s
The final
decision
Absorb
everything
Informatio
n gathering
The
college
essay
Academics
come first
SAT vs.
ACT
Next level
strategy
Getting
involved
Freshman
Sophomor
e
Junior
Senior

13. Parents: Be partners in your child’s success - support
them
● Junior High: Passions, exploration, academics
● Freshmen: Game plan, goals, challenge yourself
● Sophomores: Reach goals, summer plan, explore
● Juniors: Focus, evaluate plan, determine likes/dislikes
1. Absorb everything, start early, set goals
College planning can begin in 7th grade, but it’s never too late to
start

14. ● Past success = Future success
● The importance of .AP. , .IB. , and .honors.
courses
● Challenge yourself
○ Be competitive with yourself, not your
classmates
2. Academics come first
Your transcript is the most important part of your
application

15. .4.0. , .5.0. , .7.0. , .100. ?
2. Academics come first
What’s with all of these crazy GPA scales?

16. .4.0. , .5.0. , .7.0. , .100. ?
.No GPA at all!.
2. Academics come first
What’s with all of these crazy GPA scales?

17. ● Time spent outside of the classroom
● Work? Volunteer? Play a sport, instrument?
● How many hours per week? How many years?
1. Dedication 2. Persistence 3. Personal growth 4.
Leadership
3. Getting involved, athletics, special talents
Follow your passion, be proactive, stay engaged

18. ● Academically: support, desire and ability to succeed?
● Athletically: Can I contribute and improve?
● Socially: Will I be comfortable and grow as a person?
Know NCAA rules: www.ncaa.org
Good grades = more opportunity
The reality of athletic scholarships
3. Athletic recruiting
Be proactive, persistent, and know the rules

19. ● Explore. Know thyself. Likes/dislikes, weather,
school size
● Name brands and looking for the “best fit”
● Research. More knowledge = more opportunity
● Parent research, net price calculators
● “Colleges That Change Lives” - www.ctcl.org
● 10 schools on the list: Reach schools, Competitive,
Probable
4. Information gathering
The science behind building your college list

20. .SAT.
2400 -> 1600
Reading, Math,
Writing
25-min sections x 10
+ SAT IIs
5. SAT vs. ACT
Critical thinking in two different forms.
.ACT.
36
English, Math, Science,
Reading
60-min sections x 4
+ optional Writing section

21. .SAT.
2400
Reading, Math,
Writing
25-min sections x 10
+ SAT IIs
5. SAT vs. ACT
.Score choice? Super score?.
It’s all about your personal preference
.ACT.
36
English, Math, Science,
Reading
60-min sections x 4
+ optional Writing
section

22. ● Personal Information
● Academic Information
● Transcript
● Extracurricular
Information
6. Common application components
The majority of your application is already crafted
● Essay
● Letters of
recommendation
○ 1 guidance counselor
○ 2 teachers

23. ● Personal Information
● Academic Information
● Transcript
● Standardized testing
scores
● Extracurricular
6. Common application components
But really, what’s .most important.?
● Essay
● Letters of
recommendation
○ 1 guidance counselor
○ 2 teachers

24. 6. Additional application components
The majority of your application is already crafted
College-specific supplement
● Essay
● Proposed area of study
On-campus / Alumni
Interviews
Scholarships
Financial Aid

25. 7. The art of the college essay

26. ● Essay can be the “swaying factor”
● Essays and short answers provide an interview on
paper
● Illustrate your personality, humor, eloquence, and
writing ability
● Tips: answer the question, edit, proofread, be
yourself, be concise, be accurate, be vivid
7. The art of the college essay
The “tip factor” that brings YOU off the page

27. The timeline is in your hands. But is there a competitive
advantage?
Early Action
Early Decision
Regular Decision
Rolling Admissions
8. Next level strategy - Early, rolling, regular

28. The timeline is in your hands. But is there a competitive
advantage?
.NOV. Early Action
.NOV. Early Decision
.JAN. Regular Decision
.VAR. Rolling Admissions
8. Next level strategy - Early, rolling, regular

29. The timeline is in your hands. But is there a competitive
advantage?
.NOV. Early Action Not binding
.NOV. Early Decision Binding
8. Next level strategy - Early, rolling, regular

30. The timeline is in your hands. But is there a competitive
advantage?
.NOV. Early Action Apply to
multiple*
.NOV. Early Decision Apply to one
8. Next level strategy - Early, rolling, regular

31. The timeline is in your hands. But is there a competitive
advantage?
.NOV. Early Action Hear by mid-
December
.NOV. Early Decision Hear by mid-
December
8. Next level strategy - Early, rolling, regular

32. Who should apply early action / early decision? A student
who...
8. Next level strategy - Early, rolling, regular
● Researched colleges extensively
● Absolutely sure that the college is the first choice
● Meets or exceeds the admission profile for college
● Consistent academic record of success

33. What’s the true cost of
college?
Scholarships
● Local to national
● School specific
● Follows application
season
8. Next level strategy - Scholarships and financial
aid
Don’t let the price tag of a great education ever deter you
Financial aid
● FAFSA
● CSS profile
● Follows calendar year
(Jan to Dec of junior /
senior yr)
Aid: Need-based
Admissions: Need-blind

34. ● Go with your gut
● Does it feel like home- visiting is imperative
● Campus life
● Long range goals
● Location, weather, school size, cost
9. The final decision
Choice: a good problem to have

35. What does success look like?

37. Even professional athletes need
coaches.

38. Each bullet point is a full
presentation on its own.

39. Success is within reach.
YOU CAN DO THIS.

40. Who’s Guiding Your Child to College?
● College Admissions Advisors - former teachers,
counselors, college admissions staff, professors
● Work 1-on-1 with your expert advisor the ENTIRE
journey
● Complete guidance from finding passion to
acceptance
● Expanding the opportunities while giving peace of
mind
● Finding the best fit for your child
● Start now!

41. Questions?