Colleges are interested in what you do in addition to studying and going to class — they would like to know that you’ll have a life outside the books as well. Being involved in extracurricular activities lets colleges know that you can handle multiple responsibilities at once and still be successful. It’s also a way for them to get a sneak peek into the kind of person you are. What are your hobbies and talents? What interests you? Are you a leader, a performer, an athlete? Do you work or help with family responsibilities? All of these things help colleges get a better idea of who you are and what you will bring to the campus community.

• Volunteer in your community. Some scholarships are based entirely upon community service. There are a wide variety of ways you can get involved in community service. Talk to your school counselor, community center, or local religious organization to find them.
• Seek out activities and clubs that interest you. Choose activities that are meaningful and important to you. There is no one perfect activity that everyone should do — it depends on the individual. If you love a good argument, join the debate team; if you love the theater, try out for the school play or help out behind the scenes. The most important thing is to find activities that interest you and allow you to learn new skills. Don’t neglect your own individualism — continue to nurture your own special talents and interests. These things may set you apart from others when it comes down to an admissions decision!
• It’s not the quantity, it’s the quality. Don’t try to join every club under the sun. Pick a few activities you really enjoy and focus on those. In almost all situations, being committed and taking on responsibility in a few select activities is more important than the being a member of 50 clubs.
• Take on leadership roles. Whether you run for president of student council or volunteer to be the school dance chairman, challenge yourself to take on a leadership role in your activities. Not only does this demonstrate your responsibility, it can be a great learning experience.
• Organize your activities. Keep a record of your involvements beginning your freshman year of high school. Be sure to note leadership roles, the number of hours spent on each community service activity, jobs you have held, etc. All of these things will be important when it comes time to apply for college and scholarships!

It is a good idea to keep descriptions of each of your activities along with the amount of time you dedicated to each one. This will help you stay organized before completing college applications, so that you can tweak them, and put your best foot forward for the college.

Keep a copy of ALL community service forms you submit to guidance for your records.

When you apply to college, some colleges give you an opportunity to submit a Resume with your application, as well as listing your Activities on the application, and some colleges give you an opportunity to submit a Resume in lieu of listing activities on the application. It is helpful for you to prepare a resume for college applications, or for scholarship applications, employment, etc.

See sample resumes below in the “Applying to College” section.

College Fair and Local Visits

Each year in September, Sunlake High School offers a college fair for Juniors and Seniors. This special fair is not open to the public, but only to students at SLHS. Make it a priority to attend! Approximately 50+ college representatives will be there to answer questions.

If you cannot attend Sunlake’s College Fair there are other fairs available. The west side of the county hosts a college fair in the evening at PHSC.  It is usually held on the same day as Sunlake’s.  South Florida National College Fair is another opportunity. This fair is in October and February and it is open to the public. Although this is a much larger fair, you can still meet with college representatives from hundreds of colleges and universities.

Pre-College Summer Programs

Thinking about what to do this summer? Would you like to learn what it is like living on a college campus and taking a college course? This is a great way to learn about college life, and possibly receive college credits. If you do take a course for credit, make sure you make an A, because that credit will carry over when you start college. However, unless the summer program is competitive, or offers a scholarship for admission, attending a college summer program will not give you any advantage in the undergraduate admissions process. Some schools which offer programs are: Duke, Harvard, George Washington, Brown, Stanford, University of Chicago, New York University.

 College Visits at Sunlake

Sunlake may host many colleges and universities on campus throughout the school year. These visits are open to juniors and seniors only. Visits from the large Florida public state universities will have limited space and are only open to seniors.

Students are required to get a pass from Mrs. Black.  All students are responsible for making up missed work and teachers will have the final decision on a student’s attendance.

**All visits subject to change

Questions to Ask College Representatives

*This is a link to a printable pdf for students (see desktop “Questions to Ask College Representatives”)

Student Athletes need to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center to compete at an NCAA Division I or II school.

To request your high school transcript to be sent to NCAA, students will need to visit guidance and complete a Transcript Request Form from the school’s registrar.

“Individual schools award athletics scholarships. Divisions I and II schools provide $2.7 billion in athletics scholarships annually to more than 150,000 student-athletes. Division III schools, with more than 180,000 student-athletes, do not offer athletically related financial aid, but most student-athletes receive some form of academic grant or need-based scholarship.” -NCAA Eligibility Center

NCAA Eligibility Center Information

NCAA Eligibility Center Portal

NCAA Members by Division

For more information regarding athletic recruitment, please contact the athletic director, Coach Reesa Pledge at rhendrix@pasco.k12.fl.us

There are thousands of colleges in the United States, so when you begin to put together a college list, it is helpful to narrow the search with the components below.

Think about where you would like to go to college – any geographic areas you love, or aren’t interested in? This can begin with a family discussion – how far away are parents comfortable with? Many students attend colleges in their home state, for reasons of cost, proximity to home, or just preference for one of our great state universities.

College costs can greatly vary, from attending a public university locally and living at home to attending the most expensive private university in the country. It is important to have a family discussion to be realistic about paying for college. There is a lot of financial aid available consisting of need-based aid and merit-based scholarships – however, it is good to have some less expensive options when applying to college in case you do not receive all the financial aid you need to cover the costs.

Are you studious, artsy, or want big rah rah sports, interested in study abroad, internships, fraternities/sororities, drama or debate? Would you be more comfortable on a friendly, accepting campus, or are excited by a very competitive academic environment? These are all things to consider when looking at colleges. If interested, research Visual & Performing Arts Colleges or Military Academies.

This is the best way to learn about a college. It is never too early to visit. If travel is difficult, begin with local campuses – we have a lot in Central Florida. Visits can help you determine if you are more interested in a large or smaller campus, urban or suburban, observe what the student body is like, visit sports facilities, visit specific buildings on campus, dorms, and more. Be sure to register online for an orientation session and campus tour for any campus visit, if possible. ALWAYS let the college admissions office know you are visiting campus. You can also experience virtual college tours online at Youvisit.

Questions to Ask College Representatives

College Visit Checklist

Campus Visit Score Card

Ivy League Universities

Liberal Arts Colleges

Military Service Academies

A major component of a college application is a student’s standardized test scores. Most schools will accept the ACT and/or SAT. Students will have the opportunity to take the SAT practice test (PSAT) starting in your freshman year. Junior year is the most common time that students will take their first real ACT and/or SAT test. Click on the tests below to read more about each one. 

Are you eligible for Free/Reduced lunch?  If so, you are eligible for 2 ACTs and 2 SATs for FREE to be used during your Junior and/or Senior year.  You can also apply to many colleges and universities using a fee waiver.  For more information or to receive your testing waivers, please stop by Mrs. Black’s office during your lunch period.

The SAT & ACT both began in the 1920’s. The SAT was mainly administered on the east coast and west coast. The ACT was mainly in the middle of the country. As years have gone by the tests have grown to both being administered all over the US, and both exams accepted by 99% of the colleges in the U.S. The tests have become more similar in recent years. The SAT Test is comprised of a Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and a Math section with a top score of 800 for each section. The ACT is comprised of four subject areas – English, Mathematics, Reading and Science Reasoning, with a top score of 36 in each area. These four scores are averaged to create a Composite Score. The essays are optional now on both test, so check college websites to determine if it is a requirement. We recommend that students take each test at least once to determine which test they do better on. Student test scores must be sent from the test company to each college. It is recommended to begin taking tests in the spring of junior year, and continue to test throughout the spring, and possibly the fall of senior year. Most colleges will take the highest scores from multiple test dates of the SAT (superscoring) and some college superscore the ACT. You can find more information, as well as test registration, on these websites below for each test. Be sure

Sunlake offers its students 22 different AP courses, culminating in exams, which allow students to earn college credit, placement, or both. On college websites you can check to see how many college credits you will be awarded for AP test scores of 3 or higher. AP courses prepare students for the rigor of college courses, and also demonstrate to colleges that students are willing to pursue the most rigorous high school curriculum available. AP test scores are only sent to the college which the student will attend, they are not sent to colleges during the application process. However, some applications do allow you to report your AP scores. If so, DEFINITELY report them. If you don’t the college will assume you had a very low score.

You will only need to refer to this guide if you are applying to a college or university using the Coalition Application.

• Create a Coalition Application account if you have not already done so. Create your account at www.mycoalition.org and start your profile.

• Build Your College List. Add any schools you are applying to via the Coalition Application. Complete the Profile Section of the Coalition Application.

• Apply! Begin applying to each of your Coalition Application schools by selecting Start Application then select I’m a Freshman. Complete each section of the application. Do NOT request recommenders through Coalition Application. Once you have submitted your application(s) via Coalition Application, refer to the remaining steps to complete your application.

• Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
• Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
• Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?
• What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?
• Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.

You will only need to refer to this guide if you are applying to a college or university using the Common Application.

• Create a Common Application account if you have not already done so. Create your account at www.CommonApp.org and locate Sunlake High School by the CEEB code: 102124. Add any schools using the Common Application to your Common Application account.

• Sign the FERPA Waiver. Click on the first college in your list and click on Recommenders & FERPA. Follow in the instructions to complete your FERPA waiver. It is your choice whether or not to waive your right to view your recommendations however; we strongly recommend waiving your right, as colleges/universities will place more weight on your recommendations when you waive your right to view them. When completing the section for counselors and/or recommenders, please be sure to use Mrs. Black’s contact and email: rlblack@pasco.k12.fl.us

• Apply! Once you have submitted your application(s) via Common Application, refer to the remaining steps to complete your application.

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? (New)
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (New)

Colleges want to know that you can do more than just study and go to class — they want to know that you’ll have a life outside the books as well. Being involved in extracurricular activities lets colleges know that you can handle multiple responsibilities at once and still be successful. It’s also a way for them to get a sneak peek into the kind of person you are. What are your hobbies and talents? What interests you? Are you a leader, a performer, an athlete? Do you work or help with family responsibilities? All of these things help colleges get a better idea of who you are and what you will bring to the campus community.

• Volunteer in your community. Some scholarships are based entirely upon community service. There are a wide variety of ways you can get involved in community service. Talk to your school counselor, community center, or local religious organization to find them.
• Seek out activities and clubs that interest you. Choose activities that are meaningful and important to you. There is no one perfect activity that everyone should do — it depends on the individual. If you love a good argument, join the debate team; if you love the theater, try out for the school play or help out behind the scenes. The most important thing is to find activities that interest you and allow you to learn new skills. Don’t neglect your own individualism — continue to nurture your own special talents and interests. These things may set you apart from others when it comes down to an admissions decision!
• It’s not the quantity, it’s the quality. Don’t try to join every club under the sun. Pick a few activities you really enjoy and focus on those. In almost all situations, being committed and taking on responsibility in a few select activities is more important than the being a member of 50 clubs.
• Take on leadership roles. Whether you run for president of student council or volunteer to be the school dance chairman, challenge yourself to take on a leadership role in your activities. Not only does this demonstrate your responsibility, it can be a great learning experience.
• Organize your activities. Keep a record of your involvements beginning your freshman year of high school. Be sure to note leadership roles, the number of hours spent on each community service activity, jobs you have held, etc. All of these things will be important when it comes time to apply for college and scholarships!

It is a good idea to keep descriptions of each of your activities along with the amount of time you dedicated to each one. This will help you stay organized before completing college applications, so that you can tweak them, and put your best foot forward for the college.

 Once you complete the Profile on your Coalition Application you can Import your Profile to each college on the Coalition Application. On each individual college section of the application they require different data. For example, University of Florida asks the following:

Community Service – List and describe your community services activities. Please include your role in the activity and level of responsibility. 950 character limit

Employment – List and describe each job you’ve had, including dates of employment, job titles and hours worked each week. 950 character limit

Some colleges MAY ask for one or two academic teacher recommendations. Think hard about which teachers to ask. It doesn’t have to necessarily be a class in which you got an “A”, but could be a class in which you greatly improved. Some colleges also allow you to submit “Other Recommenders” which may be a coach, boss, etc. Read each college admissions website to determine how many letters of recommendation each college requires/allows. The Common Application also has very clear guidelines for each college. Many public universities, including the majority of our Florida public state universities do not look at letters of recommendation. This is clarified on each college admissions website.

Students should select only two teachers to write recommendations or complete application materials on their behalf. Like transcript requests, teacher recommendations also require a MINIMUM of THREE WEEKS notice prior to the deadline. The student must ask the recommender if he/she is requesting an online recommendation and/or form. You must ask your teachers in person and provide them with a copy of your resume prior to requesting.

Showing gratitude goes a long way. Please write a thank you letter to the teachers who have provided you letters of recommendations.

Here are two resources you could use in addition to providing an Academic Resume when requesting letters of recommendations. Only select one from the following.

Senior Information Form

Senior Questionnaire

Some colleges conduct student interviews, either on campus or by local alumni. Read the college admissions website carefully regarding interviews – some are only offered if you apply by a certain date. You cannot prepare for every question that might be asked in an interview, but you can anticipate a few and have an idea of how you might answer. However, be careful; an overly rehearsed answer will come across as disingenuous and insincere. Be sure to be aware of current events in case you are asked. Some of the questions to prepare for include the following:

• What do you think is our most pressing social issue in the Unites States right now?
• Why do you want to go to this college? What do you know about this college? How did you come to include us among your choices?
• What have you read recently?
• Tell me about your school, your high school experience.
• What activities are you involved in at school, out of school?
• Describe your family, your background.
• What was the last cultural event you attended, or what have you done or seen lately?
• Who and/or what has influenced you the most? Any heroes?
• What are your academic goals, your career goals?
• Are there any significant events or challenges you have had to overcome? What significant accomplishments or rewards have you received? What accomplishment are you most proud?
• Describe your favorite subject/teacher? What makes a good teacher?

Be sure to have a couple of your own questions about the college prepared in case they ask you if you have any. Here are a few samples:

• I noticed that (a program you’re interested in) has these (benefits, criteria, rewards, etc.) for students. Can you tell me more about it?
• What does the college do to assist students with career planning, internships, and future job placement?
• Why should I choose your college?
• What advice would you give me as an incoming freshman?

At the end of your interview look the interviewer in the eyes, smile and thank them. Send them a thank you note or email after the interview. Mention something specific you discussed in the interview and reiterate your interest while thanking them for meeting with you.