Frequently Asked Questions About College Admissions

What is the St. Ignatius School Code?
What standardized tests should I take and when?
How many Subject Tests should I take and when should I take them?
How do I get an application?
When are applications due?
What is Early Admissions?
What about teacher recommendations?
How do I send my standardized test scores to colleges?
Do senior year grades count?

What is the St. Ignatius School Code?

053010

What standardized tests should I take and when?

Students should take a set of tests in the spring of the junior year and retest in the fall of their senior year. We recommend that each student take the SAT Reasoning Test and/or the ACT with Writing once in the spring, then repeat the test once or twice in the fall of senior year. In addition students should take at least two SAT Subject tests in the spring of junior year. Since the SAT Subject tests are content based, June, when the class is complete, is often the best time to take a subject test.

How many Subject Tests should I take and when should I take them?

Colleges vary in the number of subject tests they require. The UC’s require two, some private colleges require three, and many colleges do not require any. It is important to look at the website of the individual colleges to see what they require. The requirements have been changing every year.

Subject tests are based on curriculum from individual classes. It is important that you take the test when you have covered that material and when it is fresh in your mind. Please refer to the Guidelines for Choosing the Best Subject Tests for advice on when an SI student is best prepared to take an individual Subject test.

How do I get an application?

Students should contact a private college admissions office through email, phone or letter. The easiest source of college contact information is through Family Connection. Even if a student gathers most of the information online, it is important to personally contact the admissions office to be on their mailing list.

The UC applications are available online at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/
CSU applications are available online at http://www.csumentor.edu/

When are applications due?

Application deadlines vary. November 30 (the UC and CSU deadline) is the earliest. Although Stanford's deadline is December 15, January 1 is the most common deadline for highly selective colleges. Some colleges have two part applications in which Part I with basic information is due before a more detailed Part II; some have an earlier deadline for a student seeking a scholarship. No matter what the deadline is, we strongly advise students to complete all of their applications by the end of Christmas vacation.

What is Early Admissions?

Some colleges have an admissions process under which a student applies by an early deadline and is notified of the decision early. Under Early Decision program, an application is a binding agreement with the college that, if accepted, the student will attend that college and withdraw all other applications. A student can make only one Early Decision application. Early Action is an early application/notification program that is not binding; an accepted student is not committed to make a decision until the Candidates Reply Date of May 1. The advantages/disadvantages of applying under an Early Admissions program vary by college and by student.

Many early applications are due by November 1 and students are notified by mid December.

What about teacher recommendations?

Many colleges require letters of recommendation. The UC and CSU colleges do not require one, however. A Teacher Recommendation is written by a classroom teacher who knows you well and describes you as a student in the context of his/her classroom. The Counselors Recommendation (aka Secondary School Report or School Report) is written by your counselor and is a report of your academic, extracurricular, and personal life as a student at St. Ignatius. Seniors should read the Nuts and Bolts of the College Application Process so that they know the procedures and deadlines for obtaining letters of recommendation.

How do I send my standardized test scores to colleges?

Scores must be sent directly to colleges from the College Board (www.collegeboard.com) or ACT (www.actstudent.org). You, the student, or St. Ignatius cannot send an official set of scores – it must come directly from the testing service.

Do senior year grades count?

Yes. Colleges consider not only the grades, but also the level of challenge of the classes in which the student is enrolled. Private colleges consider first semester senior grades a very important part of the admissions process. St. Ignatius will send a copy of your first semester transcript to all private and out of state public colleges. Although the University of California and California State University systems do not consider senior grades in the admissions evaluation, it is expected that senior year grades will be consistent with grades received in previous years. For Early Decision/Early Action applicants, it is common for colleges to request quarter grades as part of the admissions evaluation. Keep in mind that admissions decisions are always contingent upon successful completion of senior year course work. If there is a significant drop, a college is likely to require summer work – or revoke the admissions decision.