Syllabus – College Application Fall Bootcamp (October)

Week 1 – October 2

Finalize Your College List

- Identify “safety,” “match,” and “reach” schools based on your academic profile

- Filter for colleges that meet ≥ 75% of financial need

- Tools to research academic programs, scholarships, and campus life

- Hands-on Activity: Organize a list of 12–15 colleges

Homework: Finalize your college list and submit it for review

Week 2 – October 9

How to Search and Apply for Scholarships and Financial Aid

- The 4 types of aid (federal, state, institutional, private)

- Exact calendar for FAFSA, CSS Profile, and external scholarships

- Strategies to find local and national scholarships

- How to organize financial documents and avoid common mistakes

Homework: Create your FAFSA account and begin filling out financial aid/scholarship forms

Week 3 – October 16

How to Write the Perfect College Essay

- What colleges are looking for in your personal statement

- Winning structure: hook, body, and memorable ending

- Essay writing do’s and don’ts

- Analysis of real essay examples (the good, the bad, and the excellent)

Homework: Choose a prompt and write the first draft of your personal essay. Identify possible topics for supplemental essays.

Week 4 – October 23

Application Submission Strategies & How to Write the Extracurricular Activities Section

- Full profile setup in the Common Application

- How to add colleges and track each one’s specific requirements

- Priority order for submitting (EA, ED, RD)

- Avoiding common mistakes in testing, grades, and recommendations

- How to review, submit, and confirm receipt of each application

Homework: Create your Common App account and write the extracurricular activities section

Additional Resources Included

- Video tutorials on FAFSA, CSS Profile, and financial aid appeals

- Downloadable templates (scholarship timeline, application checklist, essay samples)

- Email support throughout the duration of the camp