Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start working with a college counselor?

Every student is ready to launch into this process at a slightly different time, but most students find it helpful to begin working with a college counselor somewhere in the middle of the junior year.  Fay College Counseling prefers to engage students in January or February of their eleventh grade year, but space permitting, we will begin working with students as early as the fall of the junior year and as late as December of the senior year.  Of course, we are available by phone and email for quick questions and advice anytime.  It can often be helpful to have a college counselor consult on course selection freshman and sophomore year as well.

I’m just a sophomore.  What should I be doing now to strengthen my college application?

The best way to prepare yourself for the challenges to come both in the application process and in college itself is to take the most rigorous courses you can and do well in them, to make connections with your teachers and share your curiosity with them, and to involve yourself fully in the various opportunities your school and community have to offer.

I did not do well on the SAT-I when I took it for the first time.  Should I take a prep course?

Begin by taking a look at where you lost points on the first SAT.  Did you run out of time in the reading comprehension sections?  Did you lose points for guessing on hard questions?  Once you have identified the areas in which you are already doing well versus those in which you need some help, you will be able to use your limited time to prepare most effectively for the next test date.  Read more, look up vocabulary words you don’t know, memorize the formulas and practice timed writing exercises.  The best preparation for taking the SAT is taking the SAT, so taking a number of practice tests will help you feel more confident on the big day.  Some students find they can do this work independently, using a resource like 10 Real SATs, published by the College Board.  Others find group courses, like those offered by national test-prep chains, are helpful.  Still others appreciate the opportunity to work one-on-one with a standardized testing expert.

Should I try taking the ACT?  What’s the difference between the ACT and the SAT anyway?

The ACT is a curriculum-based exam, so some students who do well in school but don’t perform well on standardized tests find the ACT is a more user-friendly experience.  There are four sections on the ACT (in addition to the newly adapted writing section) – English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning.  Since your score on the ACT is a composite, or average, of your scores on those four sections, a relative weakness in one area is more easily balanced by strengths in other areas on the ACT than on the SAT with just two scores – Critical Reading and Math – in addition to Writing.

What is the most important part of my application?

There is no standard formula for weighing the various parts of your application.  Half of the application – namely, your transcript (grades, curriculum and class rank, if available) and standardized testing results – offers some objective measurement; the other half – recommendations (including an interview if one is offered), essays and extra curricular involvement – is more subjective and helps the admissions committee develop a complete picture of each candidate.  But of the 20 or so pieces of paper you will send to the Admissions Office considering your application, you can be assured that the single most important one is always your transcript.  For every college, the classes you have taken and how well you have performed in them is the best indicator of how well you will do at their school, and therefore the most important component of their evaluation.

Whom should I ask to write my recommendations?

Your school counselor will be responsible for writing the primary recommendation on your behalf.  It is your counselor who will be able to put your achievement in context and explain any extenuating circumstances that should be considered along with your performance.  In addition, you may be asked for as many as three other recommendations – two from academic teachers who know your strengths as a student and another personal recommender – a peer, a coach or work supervisor, or a college alumnus/a in the case of an interview.  For your teacher recommendations, you should ask two teachers who have taught you in traditional academic courses (English, history, mathematics, science or foreign language).  Concentrate on those teachers whose classes you took as a junior or are taking as a senior as these are the people who know the scholar you are as you prepare for college.  Don’t assume that the best teacher to ask is the one who gave you the highest grade.  You want to ask the person who knows your engagement in the classroom and you may not have shown that in a class that came easily to you.  Also, resist the temptation to ask the teacher you think likes you best.  The admissions committee doesn’t just want to know how nice and likeable you are, they also want to know how smart, engaged and committed you are.  They want to extrapolate from your high school contributions what your contributions to their college community and classrooms might be.

Should I apply Early Decision?

Since the answer genuinely is “it depends,” this is a question best posed to your college counselor in person, but here are a few rules of thumb.

Applying Early Decision might be a good idea if:

  • You have done enough research on both your favorite school and others to know that this school is truly your first choice and a good match for your interests and goals
  • Either you do not need to apply for financial aid or you are applying for need-based financial aid and the school meets 100% of demonstrated need
  • Your standardized testing (including SAT IIs) will be complete on or before the October test date
  • You feel comfortable making this commitment (to enroll if admitted) without knowing where else you might have been accepted

Applying Early Decisions probably isn’t a good idea if:

  • You really don’t have a clear first choice
  • You are feeling pressured (by a coach, an admissions officer, a well intentioned parent, statistics, the media) to apply somewhere early
  • You will not be able to present your strongest application in the fall of your senior year (that is, you need more time to improve your grades and complete your standardized testing)
  • You need to compare financial aid awards or apply for merit scholarships

To Contact Us or Ask a Question:
Phone: 202-420-0793
E-mail: gfay@faycc.com

By mail:
1207 Floral St NW
Washington, D.C. 20012