Ready.Set.Apply!

OK, welcome everyone. It looks like we have a few coming on. Wonderful, thank you for introducing yourselves. Will go ahead and get started and we can go ahead and let others file in as we go. Welcome to ready set apply. Well web talks with the Hendricks Community. My name is Whitney Lewis and I'm just part of the mission staff here at Hendrix College.

And we hope with these sessions you can find out more about the college to help in your college search tonight. Specifically, will be speaking about the application process, including any application requirements. And let's just a few days to get on your calendar before we dive deeper. I'd like to take a moment to.

Hi everyone, my name is Ryan Castle an I'm the Dean of admission here at Hendrix College and I'm so thrilled that you're on with us tonight and I recognize some names. Some students I've seen on campus already and some students I've seen on virtual chats. It's always great to continue that engagement, but I grew up in a small rural town in central IN Ann.

Part of my college search, I was what you call a first generation college student. I was the 1st in my family to attend and so I can. I can remember what that was like hearing a lot of terms that I didn't know and So what we're going to do tonight is just help you out with some of the terminology and some of the navigation that is that you'll be on over these next few months. Some hobbies I have, I enjoy running. I've run a.

Number of half marathons, 3 full marathons and lift travel. I love seeing new places and look forward to that day when we can travel again.

Honey, I am originally from Clarksville, AR. I would admission counselor been here for two years at Hendricks going into my third year and in some of my hobbies include playing tennis. I play tennis in college, still love to play recreational tennis. US Open is going right now going on right now. So go Serena, I also love exploring the outdoors, taking my dog out which is name is Harry and we love going out for hike in Central Arkansas an also enjoy running. I know a lot of people don't like.

Running, but I'm one of the weird ones, so I like running.

So thank you and eat so move it moving on, you know, let's talk about the application process to Hendrix College. So some of the content that we will discuss tonight will be specific to Hendrix. But much of it you're going to be able to apply to a number of different colleges and their application process is. I'm not sure why you'd want to do that.

I'm just teasing, but we want you to explore colleges and find the best fit. An AR goal is that Hendrix is that best fit. But engagement like this is one of the best ways to figure that out. So one of the first steps is actually submitting the application and you can see that the web link there hendricks.edu/apply and that's where you can go to get started on those steps so you'll have a couple different paths which you can follow and all that. Whitney tackle those.

Sure, so we have two ways to complete an application. Both are free and who doesn't love free? We can start with the common application, so that is an application where you can apply to multiple colleges that use the common app. It can make your life a lot simpler, but we also have the Hendrix College application as well. There is no trick question of which application should you use either or is completely fine with us.

And I'll let Ryan take it away with the material section starting off with the essay.

Not sure what before you start hearing me about that. I'm going to put a pull into the into the chat. I'm just curious what some of you are thinking about. Whether you'll use the common application or the Hendrix application. And as Whitney mentioned, we really don't have a preference one over the other. If you are applying to other colleges that accept the common application, I recommend you do the common app. But really either one will be fine for us and as she mentioned, there's no.

No fee to apply, and so in addition to actually hitting that submit button on the application, you know what are some parts of the application that you will either put into that app or parts that will follow the application and so one of those is the essay or the personal statement and and you'll do this piece of writing. Whether it's common app or Hendrix app, and I do want to say that we don't have any supplemental essays, so I know a number of Colleges Your.

Writing essay upon essay. We figure you have enough to write in your senior coursework for us. You really just have to do that. May an essay or personal statement with the application. It can be. It's usually around 506 hundred words. I have to tell you we're not counting words were looking to see your story in the next slide. Will talk a little bit more in depth about that essay and offer some advice from our experiences rating.

Write an one of my kind of favorite essay is one of my favourites. I was looking back at my last year's pool, one student wrote about her time. She was originally from Nebraska an she spent one year in Japan an it was a cultural shock, as you would suspect, so there were a few surprises like eating cook fish for breakfast instead of the good old Lucky Charms. She rode her bike to school for a full hour.

And really met a lot of friends along the way, including this adorable Golden retriever named Pudding. Ilove the name and they made like an everlasting friendship, but she just came back from that trip. More excited for adventures, excited to learn about different cultures. So that was one that sticks out to me.

Yeah, when I'm reading essays, of course I'm asking myself, can this student effectively communicate in writing? But beyond that I'm asking questions such as with this with this student be a good lab partner with this student. Be a good teammate. Is this someone I would want to invite to my home and have dinner with my family? And in my introduction I failed to state another part of my role in the submission world. This year. Is that? So I'm a dad.

Of college applicant and so my oldest is in your class. She is a high school senior and I started asking the questions with the essay is just someone I would want to have as my child's roommate. And so Whitney shared a great essay topic that she read last year. Would've my favorite essays is. It's certainly wasn't your standard 5 paragraph essay that you might have been taught in English class. It was really just the.

The story about this. A student, a student who he hated to mow the lawn.

It will be.

The first part of the essay he wrote about all the things he would do to procrastinate, mowing lawn an to put it off.

It then moved into the idea of, well, he finally enough would have to do it. It was expected of him by his family.

And then and then it became just a train of thought type essay. All of those thoughts that run through your head as you're doing an activity like that and the resolution to that writing was that he he really sort of liked mowing the lawn because it was one of the only times in his life where he was alone with his thoughts and couldn't be distracted by all this technology in the screens and never all the other distractions we have in our lives. So that was one of my one of my favorite essays.

Great and then moving on with the resume and activity lists. This is something that you'll see on your application, so either the common app or the Hendrix College app. Everyone has to do it, but as far as the activity list goes, that is required. The resume is optional, but with the activity list you can list really host of different things like participating in community service organizations. Or maybe you participated at your local church. It could even be a responsibility for a family member.

So we really want you to brag on yourself at this activity list. Let us know what grade you participated in, what activity, and really what you learned. What types of skills that you learn. So we're looking at that piece of the puzzle as part of the application process, and then with the resume that is optional. Descend in, but that really includes a snapshot of you, so not only in terms of what you participate in, but also things like what classes have you taken in high school.

What skills have you learn hobbies things like that?

Yeah, and the role of that activity list is, you know, at Hendrix College we have a very engaged student body. You're not just going to class here, you are involved in different clubs and leadership opportunities. Maybe you'll be a varsity athlete. Maybe you'll be on the stage or behind the stage. North Theatre Productions and we so we want to invite students to campus who've already demonstrated a commitment to leading others and serving others. Many students will limit their activity list of things they're doing.

A part of the high school and I encourage you not to do that.

Can be outside the classroom. Maybe you have a part time job. Perhaps you have community service or an organization with which are apart. Maybe it's a family responsibility. Maybe you're the one whose job it is to mow the lawn each week. Or maybe it's your job to take little sister to piano lessons three times a week. Put those on your activity less because those are showing life skills that are. Those are showing areas of responsibility that you have that give us you know strong evidence.

And confidence to invite you into this community.

One more thing I'll say about the activity list is I find that high school students are pretty modest. Something else I didn't say about myself in the beginning, I used to be a high school college counselor, and so I would help students navigate the college search selection process, and so I've worked with a lot of students in developing this list, and I know you're pretty modest. So what students want, I want you to do. I want you to prepare your list, list the activities, a description of it, as Whitney mentioned.

The approximate number of hours per week you spend doing it and the approximate number of weeks per year. So if you wait till last minute, you'll struggle doing that. But do your list and give it to your mom or your dad or your aunt near uncle or whoever plays that mentorship role in your life. And there will be the ones to say Oh remember that day of service you went on. Remember the tree planting event. Remember the leadership retreat. Because let me tell you were not modest when it comes to our babies.

I'm going to help you refine that list and make sure you're putting your best foot forward. Outside of that, though, I say parents have hands off your application. This is your ship to drive.

Alright, and I think it's amazing to think about how many activities that you participate in that you probably don't even realize, so that's something that just take the time and reflect for sure and then moving on with the high school transcript. School Report with a high school transcript that is required. So we are looking at your grades for 9th grade until 11 parade. So again, that is once a small piece of the puzzle, but we're going to look at that transcript and look at what types of classes that you've taken.

Looking at your grades overtime, so again, that's one piece of the puzzle on your common application, I think as well as your Hendrix application incorrectly. If I'm wrong, Ryan, but you can list your high school counselor and that request will be sent to them to get that transcript over to us.

Alright yeah go ahead.

I was just gonna say that's exactly right, Whitney. So on the common app in the in and also on the On The Hendrix app in the recommendation section you'll list them and they'll get that invitation and and soon after you hit submit on your application, whether it's common app or Hendrix, you will receive a log into Your Hendrix applicant status page, so you'll be able to track the materials and see when we receive those. So if you all need to offer a gentle reminder to that school counselor.

To get that in, you can do that again, be gentle. I used to be a school counselor and some students were not general and their parents weren't gentle. So be nice to these folks.

Yeah.

Right and then the School Report that is really something that your high school counselor would know more about this is really a description of your school in terms of what curriculum your school offers clubs and activities. AP classes IB classes. If applicable, so it really is just a brief description or a snapshot of your high school.

And then with the letter of recommendation, it is optional. There is an opportunity though, for you to list a person who will write for you. Maybe this will be a teacher. Maybe it's a supervisor. We certainly the school counselor will sometimes write a letter we would love to see that, but please know this is optional an we really know this is out of your control. You can be as nice as you can be and sweet and write a little note. Thank you. Note to them for agreeing to write your letter.

But if they don't write it.

You really don't have control over them and so please know that if there's a letter of recommendation missing in your application that is not going to stop it from being reviewed, and so we'd love to see it, but if it's not there when it comes time when that day comes and I tell the staff we need all your apps reviewed, you'll be red. If you're if you're only missing the recommendation letter.

Here.

Try anything you do decide to submit those to us really no more than 2 to 3. I think 10 is a little bit too much, but really between 2 to 3 an really getting at that from someone who knows your character knows what you're like inside the classroom outside the classroom. Someone that really knows the real you so and then Lastly SAT or AC T scores. Those are optional. We are a test optional campus. So when we say that we are test. Optional we mean that were test optional you will not be penalized.

On your application review and also for any financial aid.

So and if you do, do submit test scores. We still do super score so if you're not sure what that means for example, that AC T has components like reading, math, English science. We will take the best scores for those sections and will combine those to make an overall new composite.

And if you do decide that you want test scores to be part of your application review, we have a mechanism in a way for you to self report them, and I'm putting the hyper link in the chat. Now this is our self reported Test score form. We don't require the official score report from the essay T or College Board or the AC T.

It cost probably 10 or $12.00 apiece to have those scores sent to your different colleges, so save that money, you can use it when you're at Hendrix to have milkshakes at the purple cow, which is a diner. I can see it out my office window right now. It's a great little great little place to grab a bite to eat and grab a shake, so please do use that self reporting Test score form so you don't have to pay someone else to send the scores to us.

Now one more thing I'll say about test scores. We are test optional even for international students. I know some colleges will still place the expectation that international students do need to submit scores.

If you are applying from outside the United States, you can still go ahead. Mark test optional on your application. Now. One thing I will say though, if you're applying from outside the States and English is not your first language. We do still want to see a test for English efficiency or proficiency rather, and that can be the Toefl, Ielts or a program online called Duolingo.

So I think we might have some students with us tonight who are from outside the US and just wanted to make sure you knew about that pathway.

Oh, that's good Ryan. Thank you, thank you and then moving on just talking a little bit more about the application process. An essay prompts if Ryan, if you can move that excellent thank you. So these are just a few examples of essay prompts that you might see on the application. There are quite a few and we did not want to overwhelm your eyes tonight with putting all those prompts, but you can see here that they do require more than a yes or no answer. Something that you really have to elaborate more on.

And we just wanted to list these problems just to give you an idea and maybe possibly brainstorm tonight what you could be thinking of for your essay. For example, there's one about reflecting on a time when you question or challenge the belief or idea what prompted your thinking. What was the outcome with Hendricks, we love critical thinking. We are a liberal arts institution and you know we would love to see you elaborate. Not only be personable inauthentic, but also making sure that you think.

Through your responses.

Yes.

Yes, and with the you know another part of the essay. A piece of advice I have is prepare your essay. Make sure your voices in it. Maybe you let a couple of trusted people look at it, but don't have too many people reviewing your essay because I've seen essays become so diluted with edits that it's no longer the voice of the student. So I really do encourage you to be very discerning when seeking advice about what goes into your essay.

Another part of the essay is.

You know, tell your story. Please don't let it be a narrative or paragraph version of how smart you are and how good your grades are.

We have your transcript for that, and to be honest that's pretty boring. That doesn't give us a glimpse of who you are as a person. Also, please don't let it be an essay version of all the activities in all your leadership and clubs. That's what the activity list is for. So just do your best to tell a story that no one else in the world can tell. I'll tell you that's probably the hardest part of the application, but for most of you it's the only part of the application that right now is a blank sheet of paper. Those other factors there pretty much all filled in for you already.

You just have to present them, whereas the essay for meant for most of use. I'm guessing it's a blank sheet right now.

In

right takes time to think that through and then Lastly a few days to keep in mind, if you would like to take a picture of this slide, go ahead. I'm a visual person and I love dates on my calendar, so this is a great opportunity for you to go ahead and plug some dates in. So that way you don't miss them. I know that this as the semester goes on, we get busier and we tend to forget some things. So we do want to make mention of a few dates to keep in mind. Our application is open now and.

For those of you who are juniors or maybe younger, I think I saw a few students that were not senior this year. That application will open August 1st of your senior year. So still, for those of you who are juniors and lower still have plenty of time, this is great information for you. Still, for those of you who are seniors, I do encourage you to submit an application. Get that started being on this web top tonight. In the case that you have an interest with Hendricks and with that, if you feel interested or feel compelled.

I do encourage you to submit an application ifast po opens October the 1st so we will have a separate session on financial aid during as the semester goes on. But we did want to mention of this important date, so if you are not sure what the facet is, it stands for the free application for federal student aid and this determines any need based aid such as federal grants, loans, work study again will get all into that on the different session, but we do encourage you to as a senior.

Go ahead and start working on your fast, but when it opens up on October the 1st.

An I just double check the schedule. Guess what the date is for the financing. Your Hendrix Education Web talk.

October 1st.

1st, that was intentional.

That wasn't in trouble.

I love it when things fall in line.

Great and I can let you take an early action.

Sure, sure. So the the main application deadline that we have is called early action and for us that is a November 15th deadline. Now I want to talk a little bit about that terminology. Early action you may have a neighbor or an aunt or someone in your life who will tell you don't apply anywhere early. It means you.

It means you have to go there.

So I want to.

Share a little bit more about some terminology that you will encounter in this college search. Early action is non binding. You're not making a commitment to enroll. If you're admitted now, I don't know why you wouldn't want to enroll if admitted to Hendrix, but we don't. We don't place it as a binding program now. Will contrast that to another plan that you'll see some at some other colleges called early decision. Early decision is binding, so if you're not ready to commit to.

Particular college you should not apply there early decision, so I just wanted to make sure you know that our program is the early action, nonbinding plan. It is a November 15th deadline and we commit to notifying students with a complete set of application materials we commit to notifying you before December 15th, and so you may go into the winter holiday series with a great little great set of news and your.

Inbox.

Now now faster opens October 1st. My recommendation to you is to also submit your fasfa by November 15th.

And if there are any parents in the audience tonight, this one is your job. The fast food is your job students. You're in charge of the common application, but I would recommend having your fasfa in by November 15th as well. And what that will do is that will ensure that soon after the admission decision is made that you'll have your financial aid package. Now. You'll see this next line here called the early Fasfa Filer Grant.

Even if you think you are not going to qualify for need based aid, we still want you to apply. Sometimes you can be surprised by what's offered and so just by filling out the Fasfa, we offer $1000 grant. Now the deadline for that is January 15th, but remember, my recommendation is to submit it by November 15th. Really, my recommendation for all these is don't just meet a deadline, but try to beat it and so that's a little bit about that fast file or grant.

And then, of course, that January 15th deadline. But we know you all will have it in before then.

Yeah, and then decision day May 1st, so this is typically a day when we'd like to hear back from you. Whether you are saying yes to Hendrix or maybe no, and that's OK. We recognize there Hendricks isn't for everyone, but we would like to hear a decision by May 1st. Now, if you know way before May 1st that you would like to deposit, go ahead and deposit. You do not have to wait until May 1st.

And then Lastly, we love to hear from you always, either by phone, email, text, checking out one of our virtual experiences, or maybe an in person experience. We do offer visit so you can sign up online. There are plenty ways to connect with us. We will definitely be reaching out to you. But as Ryan mentioned, go ahead and be proactive in the process. Go ahead and reach out to us and we want to work with you and your family tours. This process and really helping you make the best decision.

Yeah, that's right, Whitney, it's you know. As someone who's read college applications for years. It's so nice when an application comes up on my screen and it's indented name I recognize and it's a face that I recognized. And, you know, I always say it's much harder to deny someone who you've got to know well and you've grown to like through this process.

That's so true. And then any questions that you may have. We listed our contact information are email and even our texting number. So yes, you can text us given the numbers here again, just let us know if you need anything.

I've also just. I've put a few links in the chat, one for exploring campus visit options, an another one. We would encourage you to sign up for future web talks. I know next week we have another one going a little bit deeper. An with application advice, whereas tonight was a bit of an overview of the timeline and sort of the nuts and bolts of it. The Next One is called Hendrix College in a book on Shell, and if you wonder why we said a book on shell.

Well, I guess you'll have to tune in on September 24th or visit campus, of course. So the link is there for all the future ones we would love for you to have to attend any or all of them. We are recording these and so assuming that the recording is of good quality and there's no break in the feed, we will post the recordings of sessions on this main page as well. Now with that I.

We want future engagement and we want you to contact us, but we're also open to having more discussion tonight. So if you have any questions about anything related to the application process that we haven't tackled tonight, go ahead and put that question in the chat box. And as we're able to get to those, you'll see them pop into the window.

So I see no questions yet they that either means that we've put everyone to sleep or a great job of answering these questions ahead of time.

I'd like to think it's the latter.

Let me think of a question that I could throw out.

Will.

You know one question could be how many? How many people will be reading the application? Will it just be one person with eyes on the application and I'll talk about what that looks like here. The first person to read your application at Hendricks will be your admission representative or your territory Rep. And so if you're one in one of Whitney's territories, which she has some parts of Arkansas and also much of the southeastern parts of the United States.

Her eyes will be the first one on your application. I work with students from California, so some of you on here tonight or from California, ICU, Felix and I will be the first one to read your app and then it will go into a second reader an that will just be another set of eyes. So do know that multiple people are reviewing your application for admission. We did have a question come in from Patrick. What is the latest date you will accept applications?

So we will accept applications well into the spring. Again, November 15th is the main deadline an I would encourage you to apply by that after after February 1st, March 1st in that ballpark. What we will do is we will still receive applications and then as admission spots are available, we will continue to rollout admission decisions. But again, I encourage you not to wait.

But the latest date we will accept would be. You know, it'll be into this spring semester, you know into in March and April. But Please remember that May 1st date, that's the date by which students will commit to a college and hopefully we have a full full class of students by May 1st.

Right, yeah, again, I do encourage you through my students. Feel free to connect with me. I will definitely be connecting with you after this web top. Maybe not tonight, but definitely tomorrow and in the coming days. So I handle again most of the southeast, including the Carolinas as well as the Greater Faulkner, Faulkner County area except Conway High School. So I handle that. Also handle northeastern Arkansas and then Southern Arkansas except Salinan Garling County, SO.

We want to cover but I really enjoy working with my students so.

In this.

Against what Abby posted a question, and that question is our applications for scholarships a separate process? So we'll spend spend a few minutes talking about that.

To be considered for our full range of academic scholarships, all you have to do is apply for admission.

So there is right now there is no separate scholarship application now you may see online or reference to what's called the Hayes scholarship and the Hazel Ward. That's our full tuition for room and board scholarship and what we do when the admission process progress is an were reading applications. Our staff will identify a number of students who we think might be competitive for that award. Anadys quite competitive and we've only offered maybe three or four of those per year. It's so few. Would Jenna.

We don't don't talk about it a whole lot, but there is nothing extra right now. You have to do to be considered for general range of scholarships at all. Now after being admitted. So in the winter time we will introduce to admitted students an opportunity to apply for some some leadership type programs and that can be leadership programs like art fellowships, or there's one called the United United Methodist Youth Fellowship. It's more service oriented.

We have some leadership programs like that now. Some of those do come with with a stipend of a couple $1000. Those are those are supplemental applications that will work to which you can apply after being admitted in the winter time.

And again, going back to the faster. That requires a separate application. So with the faster that's its own application for any need based aid, like federal grants, loans, work study in again will have a whole session just dedicated into the nuts and bolts of the financial aid process. But just that's a general overview.

But stay tuned.

Yes.

Yes.

So Sasha has asked how many applications do we get an do we turn down a lot of them?

This year we expect to get about 2000 applications and and the goal freshman class is just over 350 students. Now we will admit more students than than 350 because we're not naive. We know that you all are applying to a number of colleges and you may find Hendrix to be that best fit. You might not. I believe, last year the admit rate was it was just over, maybe 70%. Now this is a topic.

But I feel very passionately about sometimes students will or families in general will evaluate a school based upon the admit rate, and they may think will 70%. That means you admit more people than than you deny.

People like Whitney and I. We don't get into this business to deny students. You know, some of these colleges who their admit rates are so low. I have. I asked the question at what point can you stop calling yourself the office of admission and you have to call yourself the office of denial and so we're in office of admission. We're looking for reasons to invite students to this community and we're excited to do so.

Yeah, couldn't said it better.

So Laurel asks, how long do we have to decide if we get accepted and so our notices for early action will go out and buy mid December and you'll have until May 1st to decide if Hendricks is the best choice for you.

And then I'll throw the next one to you, Whitney, 'cause I know you were aware of our state athlete in college. If I want to play soccer for Hendricks, does apply now affect that you want to talk a little bit about varsity athletics and how that might work?

Sure, if I want to play soccer Hendrix does applying now OK, so we in general I'm just going to talk about athletics in general, so we are incidentally Division Three so we don't offer athletic scholarships. So we're not, you know, Division One, Division Two, where scholarship is on the line.

I hope I'm making sense. Is applying the affect that? Am I reading the question correctly, Ryan?

Yeah, I think so so.

I mean my my thought is we we encourage you to apply now. Now will applying well before the November 15 deadline. Will that mean you have a better or worse chance of getting a spot on on the on the squad? No, but you know just keep in contact with the coach and.

What applying now will do is it will take some stress off your shoulders. It's going to feel so good to hit that submit button.

Yeah, definitely. I encourage you if you haven't spoken with the coach before from us, or I haven't really actually filled out recruiting questionnaire. I do encourage you to go on the Athletics website and there is a tab I believe under future Warriors and you can complete a recruit questionnaire. So just to get your name plugged in there.

Great.

Yeah, and I'm going to post that link into the chat while I start tackling the next question an it's from Abby and Abby asks are test scores received after the application. So after you've submitted the application, are you still able to submit test scores? And the answer is definitely yes. Just as long as it's before that admission deadline. Those those scores can come in and be part of the application review so.

And that's another piece I've heard this over the years, students will say.

Well I I'm ready to apply. My application is done but I'm just waiting for my recommendations.

You don't have to do that because what will happen is. It's almost like magic. I call it. Some people say things happen automatically. I say they happen auto magically. So what will happen is you will submit your application and then those other parts of the application that we need to see, like the transcript and any rec letters they will feed into your record in our system. And so if you're sitting up there ready to hit submit, but you feel like you.

Should wait for the counselor to get done with his or her part, so the recommendation. Don't wait. It's going to feel great for you to hit that submit button and then all those other items who come in later and as long as it's before the deadline, you will be fine.

So.

Who said keep the questions coming? These are really good questions. We appreciate it.

I struggled to type and talk at the same time, so I promise I'm going to put that link. If you are interested in varsity athletics and you want to make yourself known to the coaches.

That link is coming right up. It's not all admit it's not as pretty as some of the other other links I need to work on that, don't I?

Alright, well I'm not seeing any more questions in the inbox, so seeing no more. I just want to say how excited we are that you joined us tonight and both of us are really looking forward to engaging with you further and senior application submitted soon.

Right, and again, feel free to check out that Laney Page or that link that Ryan did display earlier. We can check out more of our web talks for the rest of the semester.

And the next one is coming up next Thursday at 7:00 PM Central.

And I believe it's advancing your application. I think we might have skipped a week there, but just talking a little bit more about the application process and how you can really elevate you know your application, so that will be next Thursday the 17th at 7:00 PM.

Alright, well thank you all. Have a have a great evening. Stay healthy and we look forward to seeing you on campus soon.

Alright.

Hi everyone.

I.