RECOMMENDATIONS
Each student is assigned a College Adviser whose
principal responsibility is to craft an official
school recommendation on behalf of the student. This
recommendation, known as the General Estimate at The
Hill, will be automatically prepared at the start of
the sixth form year. As the year progresses, the
recommendation is amended to reflect the studentís
progress in all areas of school life.
Most colleges also require one Teacher
Recommendation. Each student is expected to
personally request a recommendation from as many a
three letters of recommendation from teachers at The
Hill. It is the students responsibility to provide
his teachers with stamped, addressed envelopes to
each of the colleges to which he intends to apply.
Students should make the request well in advance (at
least two weeks) of application deadlines in order to
allow teachers to craft the recommendation.
Some students may also request additional
recommendations from coaches, hall parents, and/or
advisers. Before requesting supplementary
recommendations, students should consult their
college adviser.
TESTING INFORMATION
(Refer to Testing Calendar)
Standardized Tests
SAT - I (Scholastic Aptitude Tests)
Each year, students may register for the SAT-I
administered here at The Hill. They may do so by
obtaining a form in the College Advisers Office,
registering over the phone, or electronically via the
internet. (The Hill School home page provides a
direct link to the College Board home page where test
registration is available.)
Students are expected to take the SAT-I three
times, beginning in January of the fifth form. They
will take the test again in May or June, and again in
the fall (October or November). Each studentís
testing schedule may vary slightly due to individual
needs.
SAT-II (Subject Tests)
Most students will take at least three SAT-II
tests. The tests should be taken after a terminal
course (biology, chemistry, U.S. History), or at an
appropriate point during an academic sequence
(English 3, Algebra 2).
ACT (American College Testing Program)
All Hill students are advised to take the ACT, a
college admission test which is an alternative to the
SAT-I. The test is a widely accepted by colleges, and
some Hill School students may perform better on this
test. As well, many colleges accept The ACT is
administered once per year at The Hill, and may be
taken at test centers around the country.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
Any student whose native language is not English
should take the TOEFL exam. This test is offered
twice per year at The Hill, and may be taken at test
centers around the country and abroad.
Learning Disabilities
Students with diagnosed learning disabilities are
requested to file copies of their psychological
evaluation with the College Advisers and the Director
of Studies. For the purposes of non-standard writing
of standardized tests, students must file these
documents with Education Testing Services to be
eligible for the ěuntimed testî. In order for the
college adviser to communicate the nature of the
learning difference to the colleges, it is imperative
to have the necessary documentation.
REPORTING DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
In accordance with the NACAC Statement of Good
Practice, the college advisers are obligated to
report any disciplinary actions which results in a
suspension of five days or more. In such a case, the
student will be granted two weeks to notify his
colleges of the incident, and then the College
Advisers will confirm the disciplinary action by
writing directly to the colleges.
ADMISSION DECISION OPTIONS
Each year, nearly all Hill School students enter
college. A small percentage of students choose to
take an interim year to travel, to study in
alternative programs, or to work before beginning
their collegiate experience. Among the choices of
admission policies for students are:
Early Decision
A student is allowed to make only one Early Decision
application. If admitted, the student is obligated to
attend the institution. The student is permitted to
initiate regular decision applications to other
colleges.
Early Action
Under this plan, students have their applications
considered early, but, if admitted, they are not
required to attend the institution. A student is
allowed to make only one Early Action application,
but is permitted to make other applications
Questions to Ask:
What are the Early Decision (Action) deadlines? What
happens to my application if I am not admitted early?
Is there an Early Decision 2 plan? Can I move my
application to plan 2 if not admitted throught plan
1. May I apply for financial aid? Are there any
advantages/disadvantages to financial aid packages if
I apply Early Decision? What if the estimated offer
of financial aid is not enough to enable me to
enroll? What are the required standardized tests for
early admission? What are the
advantages/disadvantages to applying Early Decision?
Rolling Admission
A number of colleges operate under this policy,
allowing students to submit applications early in the
fall. Although there is no binding agreement implied
in such an application, students may receive
notification of their decision within one month of
submission. Any student applying to a college with
this policy (usually state institutions) are advised
to submit their application prior to November 1.
Deferral
Any student who wishes to pursue an Alternative
Year program may request, in writing, a deferral from
a college at which he has been admitted. In most
cases, colleges will grant the deferral provided that
the student intends to demonstrate that he has used
his interim year productively, and a deposit has been
submitted to reserve a place in the class for the
following year. During the interim year, the student
may choose to apply to additional colleges, but he
may risk his place at the deferred college. The
College Advisers will continue to work with any
student who wishes to make additional applications.
Six and Seven Year Medical Programs
Some colleges offer specialize programs designed as
intensive medical school curricula. In most cases,
acceptance into the program includes automatic
acceptance into the universityís medical school.
Such programs are intended for elite students and are
extremely competitive.
The English Speaking Union (ESU)
Students interested in studying at an English
boarding school for a year between graduation The
Hill and college must submit applications by December
1. Students are then interviewed and notified of the
decision in early March. Students must be accepted to
a college, and then defer admission in order to
participate in the program.
An Alternate Year
There are a wide variety of options available to
students who choose not to enter college immediately
after graduation from The Hill. In all instances,
students are advised to gain admission to college,
request a deferral, and then select an alternative
year program.
Among the programs to consider are:
Dynamy
Outward Bound
National Outdoor Leadership School
Semester at Sea
Maine Coast Semester
Oxford Programs
Further information on these programs is
available in the College Advisers Office.
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