Welcome to the Tiger Tips! Our helpful guide on how to approach the college admission process. Continue to check back each week for the next Tiger Tip.
June 7
Let’s talk about college admission. From financial aid terminology to NCAA divisions to different types of applications, there are plenty of unique terms and phrases. To kick off our Tiger Tips series, we're going to start by helping you learn them.
June 14, 4 p.m. CDT
Now that you’ve got an understanding of some of the terminology that you might encounter during the college search process, you can start researching schools you might be interested in. Colleges and universities come in all shapes and sizes—large and small, public and private, urban and rural. So, this next tip is crucial. Join us to learn more about narrowing your college search list.
June 21
The Common Application opens August 1st—great! But then what? That's what we're here to help you find out. We'll discuss how to select the application deadline that's right for you, and, based on which deadline you select, how far in advance to request recommendation letters, when to begin drafting your essay, and other steps in your application timeline.
June 28, 4 p.m. CDT
When you send in your application, your essay won’t be the only chance for a college admission office to get to know you. At Sewanee, we read applications using a holistic approach, meaning we truly look at every component of your application. Rec letters, transcripts, demonstrated interest, we consider it all! It's important to us for to see you as clearly as we can while we evaluate applications. Tune in to find out more about our process!
July 5, 4 p.m. CDT
Sewanee athletics are a part of NCAA Division III, which means coaches abide by a certain set of rules. If you are interested in playing Division III sports, start the recruitment process by asking these questions: When does the process begin? How do I talk to the coaches? What are the rules? Division III athletes are students first and players second, meaning they can still be meaningfully engaged in their campus community.
July 12, 4 p.m. CDT
Sewanee is a test-optional school. But what does that really mean? How are your AP exam scores factored into the admission process? These are just some of the questions you may have when it comes to testing. Tune in to our latest Tiger Tip to have these questions answered and more!
July 19, 4 p.m. CDT
While you’ve got the time (and no homework!), summer break is a great opportunity to start thinking about your college essay. The essay is your chance to tell us something truly unique about yourself in your own words, but it's tough to get it right on the first try. These summer months will allow you to devote some attention to brainstorming, writing, and editing this important component of your application.
July 26
Demonstrating interest in the universities you might want to attend is an important part of the search process. But how do you do that? We'll go over email etiquette, interacting with admission counselors in various settings, what to do on a college visit, and other opportunities for interactions that will keep your name on the top of everyone's mind throughout the admission process.
Aug. 2, 4 p.m. CDT
For many students and families, navigating the financial aid process can be a daunting aspect of applying to college. But it doesn’t have to be. By taking time to familiarize yourself with things like the FAFSA form, the CSS Profile, and other key documents, you’ll find the college application process to be no problem at all!
A visit to the Domain (it's what we call our 13,000-acre campus) is the best way to determine if Sewanee is a good fit for you. Once you set foot on campus, spend time with our students and professors, or take a stroll through Abbo's Alley, we are confident that Sewanee will find its way into your heart.
Our small classes mean that your voice will be heard, your contribution will be expected, and your opinion will be listened to (and disagreed with, and challenged, and seen from a different perspective, and pushed in a new direction, and considered—and you know what? Maybe we’re both right. See how it works?).
We're a community where everyone has a place and there's a place for everyone. Group study? We'll bring our notes. Rock climbing? We're geared up and ready. Jam session? Sure, we'll play with you. Whatever you want to do, at Sewanee, you'll never have to go it alone. Unless you need your space. Then, we totally get it.
