Seniors get a head start on college

Photo by: Shaiyla Hakeem

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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Poland Seminary High School senior Anna Sabol (left) and mother, Marcia, attended the school's college application workshop Wednesday. They learned the basics for applying to highly selective schools.

Photo by: Shaiyla Hakeem

Photo

Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Poland Seminary High School guidance counselor Judy Volosin spoke to seniors and parents about the college application process. She gave tips on meeting deadlines and requesting written recommendations.

The new school year has just begun, but the seniors are already beginning to prepare for college.

Poland Seminary High School held its fourth annual College Application Workshop Wednesday for parents and seniors who are going through the college search and application process.

High school guidance counselor Judy Volosin administers the workshop each year. She spoke to the crowd primarily about the Common Application, a generic application that is accepted by 414 schools including both national and international institutions.

Established in 1975, the Common Application Membership Association provides an easy way for students to apply for highly selective schools through one application. For information, visit www.commonapp.org.

Guest speaker Diane Feckanin, from Case Western Reserve University, talked about the admissions process and how to write a strong essay. Though the high school wants parents to be involved with their children’s college application process, Volosin said they don’t want the parents to take full control.

“I encourage the parents to be the cheerleaders and let the students do the work,” she said. “It’s important that they know what to do.”