10 Things Every Parent and Student Should Know About Applying to College

What you don't know can hurt you. So stay in-the-know about the college application process. Patch investigates  college trajectory and provides 10 practical tips and facts from the school itself.

• 1. Last year, 68 percent of graduates went to four-year universities, 26 percent went to community colleges, 1 percent joined the military, another 1 percent went to technical school, and 4 percent fell under "other." That means 94 percent of Arcadia High School's class of 2010 went to college.
  

• 2. The average GPA in the class of 2010 was a 3.25 (unweighted).

• 3. Out of 887 graduates, there were 38 national merit scholars. National merit scholarships are $2,500 awards for outstanding students; Bill Gates was a national merit scholar. Find out more about national merit scholarships here.

• 4. "Advanced Placement" classes always look good on a college application. Arcadia High School offers 19 AP courses. Choose from English Language, English Literature, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Computer Science A, US History, US Government, Comparative Government, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, Physics B, Physics C, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, Chinese Language, French Language, Japanese Language, Music Theory and Art History.

• 5. AHS students are required to meet with counselors twice each year, starting in 9th grade. This is a time to talk not only about their current academic load, but about college plans as well.

• 6. Vicky Shiroma, one such AHS school counselor, encourages parents to begin to talk about college early. Start "exposing kids at the middle school level," she says. "Start thinking about their interests and post secondary plans."

• 7. Shiroma reports that parents are integral in the application process. "Parents can help by supporting kids both in exploring college choices, finding a good match for them, and helping them to also be realistic about what their choices are." Parents can also "make sure [students] have accurate information. Parents can help by setting up an appointment with [the student's] counselor to make sure they'll have the most accurate information when making post-secondary decisions."

• 8. It is crucial to have your information right when applying. Be vigilant in "checking the college's website to make sure students are filling out the application accurately and turning in the application on time." Even if a student had a 9.0, it wouldn't matter if the application wasn't received, would it?

• 9. Be wary of social networking. The Arcadia High School college counseling page notes that an inappropriate photo or piece of information circulating the Web can make or break an application decision. If your profile is less-than-presentable, make it private, or, better still, clean it up. Find other tips on their site as well.

• 10. During the high school years, remember this: "There isn't one important factor. Most colleges are using a holistic model. They're looking for a well-rounded student. They want a student who is strong academically, has strong test scores, is active on campus and in the community."

In short, students should try their best at everything, while also giving back to the community around them. That's a great model for students and parents alike.