The University is poised for greatness and I want to become part of the next phase of its transformation and growth. - Jack Welch

Transcription

1

2 The University is poised for greatness and I want to become part of the next phase of its transformation and growth. - Jack Welch The Jack Welch name has long been synonymous with business success at General Electric. Now it stands for excellence in business education at the AACSB-accredited John F. Welch College of Business at Sacred Heart University. We offer the Welch MBA and graduate certificate programs that feature the Welch Experience, our unique approach to undergraduate business education and career preparation. JOHN F. WELCH COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Stamford Fairfield Luxembourg

3 Brought to you by: Graduation will be here before you know it, but don t panic! This guide can help you: èènavigate Family Connection s powerful resources. èèget more from the student-counselor relationship. èèget noticed online for the right reasons. èècheck off college-bound tasks in real time. èètake control of your academic path. èèmaximize college cash. èèdebunk popular college-bound myths. èètrust that your future is in good hands your own! The interactive digital edition of this guide provides an even more seamless transition to Family Connection. You can access the free digital version via the URL to the right. Whichever version you're using, be sure to go to your counselor for assistance with the featured Family Connection resources. Copyright Hobsons All rights reserved worldwide. Hobsons, the Hobsons logo TM, Naviance, Family Connection TM, CollegeView, and SuperMatch are registered an/or common law trademarks of Hobsons Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners. Hobsons U.S. Office: 50 E-Business Way, Suite 300, Cincinnati OH 45241, (513)

4 home courses colleges careers about me my planner Keep track of your schedule, calendar, and important tasks using the planner tools. >goals >to-do list >tasks Your personal info, test scores, surveys, and favorite colleges and careers it s all here! >goals >tasks >portfolio >favorite colleges >favorite careers & clusters >personality type >résumé >game plan >documents >journal >completed surveys >profile >test scores >account >Naviance Student mobile app Learn more about the careers that fit your interests. >favorite careers & clusters >explore careers & clusters >personality type >cluster finder >career interest profiler >Roadtrip Nation interview archive Here are all the tools for getting into cool schools. >colleges I m thinking about >colleges I m applying to >upcoming college visits >SuperMatch college search >college match >college compare >college lookup >college search >college resources >college maps >scattergrams >acceptance history >enrichment programs >scholarship match >scholarship list >scholarship applications >national scholarship search View your current classes as well as those you d like to take in the future. >view my course records >interesting courses >thoughts about my course plans >manage my course plans >view my current multi-year plan

5 Family Connection TM is an online tool, custom-designed for your high school, that you, your family members, and your school counselor can use together to determine your best path to college and ultimately a career. This guide will show you how to maximize your course, college, and career planning using the resources available through Family Connection. Your school may also use Family Connection to share information about upcoming meetings and events, local scholarships, clubs, and other college and career opportunities. Navigating Family Connection is easy! It is divided into five main tabs: Courses, Colleges, Careers, About Me, and My Planner. On the opposite page you will find a quick glimpse of the tools found within each tab. Refer to the Family Connection Tips throughout this guide to see many of these tools in action (look for the boxes with the icon). Your school may not use all the features mentioned, so talk to your counselor about the options available and how to get started. kelsey.che@myschool.com Manage your school work and the college planning process on the go with Naviance Student! Download this easy-to-use, free mobile app to access upcoming and overdue tasks, update your status, and communicate with counselors directly from your mobile device. It is important that both parents and students accurately assess the financial commitment required for various schools. You might want to sit down as a family and evaluate your finances, academic standing, and test scores when deciding where to apply. Julie Savino, executive director of university financial assistance at Sacred Heart University

6 First-generation students who consult with their school counselors are more likely to take a college entrance exam and to plan to enroll in a BA program.* *National Center for Education Statistics Family Connection Tips courses colleges careers about me my planner Confused about which courses to take? Ask your counselor for help using View My Course Records, Interesting Courses, and Thoughts About My Course Plans to organize your notes for a course plan that matches your post-graduation goals. Family Connection Tips Use the Manage My Course Plans and View My Current Multi-Year Plan tools to take the guesswork out of class scheduling and stay on track for your future goals. *National Association of College Admission Counselors

7 Understand the importance of managing your digital footprint. Social media, if utilized responsibly, can be a great way to gain insights and unedited feedback about a college. Apps like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have created a whole new outlet for students to become familiar with schools. Kevin O Sullivan, executive director of undergraduate admissions at Sacred Heart University

8 courses colleges careers about me my planner Talk to family members and other adults to get ideas for possible career paths. Use Total Reader and PrepMe to assess ACT/SAT reading and math skills. Use Course Planner to make sure you re taking the right classes to meet graduation requirements and prepare for college-level work. Manage summer volunteer work with intellivol, making special note of opportunities with career potential. Applying to and visiting schools is a large financial and time commitment. To narrow down your choices, make a list of the characteristics that are most important to you (e.g., small or big, private or public). Kenneth Higgins, director of undergraduate admissions at Sacred Heart University Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October. Search schools according to must haves using SuperMatch. Tune in to institutional YouTube channels for virtual campus tours and videos. Gather info about college costs and student aid. Prep for spring exams with online tools, like PrepMe in Family Connection TM. Tour campuses and talk to college reps, professors, and current students. Take SAT/ACT pre-tests. Plan a schedule for senior year with your counselor. Follow schools on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to narrow your list. Prep for AP exams and explore sources of early college credit and funding. Connect with other students using the College Confidential mobile app. Start looking for summer jobs and internships. Continue to visit prospective schools and get ready for senior year!

9 Register for entrance exams. Secure letters of recommendation. Narrow down your list to 5 10 top schools. Organize application mats and set important deadline reminders. Scour local and national sources of financial aid. Get a head start by completing the FAFSA worksheet at If you ve already chosen a school, apply early (many schools require by Nov. 1). Request test scores be sent to the colleges on your short list. Begin drafting personal essays. Save copies of completed applications before sending. Compare financial aid and acceptance packages (these should arrive by mid-april). Still torn between two schools? Visit each campus to catch last-minute vibes. Make your final choice! Have final transcripts sent to your chosen school. Get ready a life-changing college experience awaits you! Send completed applications according to prospective schools deadlines. Practice for admissions interviews using online tools such as LikeLive. File the FAFSA at then watch your inbox for a Student Aid Report. Explore financial aid topics ( and opportunities ( Update the SAR as needed, and check that each school has received your materials. Submit any remaining scholarship applications. It s important to visit all of your top schools to get a feel for how you fit in the environment. If you have older friends or siblings, take advantage of the opportunity to get a taste of the college life. Amy Ricci, director of student activities at Sacred Heart University Family Connection Tips To stay organized through the admissions process, use My Planner to create To-Do Lists and complete Tasks assigned to you by your counselor. You can even sync these items to your iphone or ipod with the Naviance Student app. * Free Application for Federal Student Aid

10 courses colleges careers about me my planner

11 Family Connection Tips *National Association for College Admission Counselors Focusing on the big picture can be tough, but the Game Plan and Résumé Builder tools will help you explore all your options. And you can organize life experiences and personal essay notes in the Journal tool. Spending time on campus and getting to know the current students, faculty, staff, and others who are going to be part of your potential home for the next four years is pivotal. Spending time on campus to discover if it is a good fit is critical in the college selection process. Kevin O Sullivan, executive director of undergraduate admissions at Sacred Heart University

12 my planner about me careers colleges courses College is an investment in your future. Like any investment, it s important to make sure you conduct ample research. While you will receive plenty of physical mailings, and have access to countless online resources, nothing is more important than taking the time to visit! Rob Gilmore, director of campus experience at Sacred Heart University.

13 *National Student Clearinghouse Research Center Family Connection Tips Narrow down your list of must haves using the SuperMatch, Colleges I m Thinking About, and College Compare tools. Later, Upcoming College Visits and Colleges I m Applying To will help you make that final choice. *National Center for Education Statistics Family Connection Tips Many people don t realize the variety of scholarships that are available online. At Sacred Heart University, we encourage applicants to investigate all possible options to increase their college funding. Elizabeth Baker, associate director student financial assistance at Sacred Heart University SuperMatch lets you customize your search based on criteria like cost and financial aid availability. You can also sort eligible awards by amount and deadline using the National Scholarship Search, Scholarship List, Scholarship Match, and Scholarship Applications tools.

14 Family Connection Tips courses colleges careers about me my planner *Association of American Colleges and Universities Find your best-fit career by perusing job descriptions, required skills, and wages using the Explore Careers & Clusters, Favorite Careers & Clusters, and Cluster Finder tools. If you re still unsure of your path, hear inspirational stories from leaders every stripe in the Roadtrip Nation Interview Archive, such as the CEO of Netflix and the editor-in-chief of Seventeen magazine.

15 UNLEASH YOUR INNER PIONEER! Sacred Heart University is distinct in its unwavering commitment to the growth and development of each student, supporting academic, career and civic pursuits. Engaged Community At SHU we offer you activities, from club sports to Greek life, services, groups and everything in between. Unparalleled Success Over the past five years, 96 percent of our graduating seniors have secured jobs or entered graduate programs within the first year of graduation. Our four-year graduation rate exceeds the national average for all institutions, public and private. Vibrant Location Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT, and is just 90 minutes from Manhattan and 150 minutes from Boston. Nearby Fortune 500 headquarters offer a plethora of professional opportunities including internships, co-ops, jobs and more. See for Yourself: Visit our campus in Fairfield, CT, to learn more about the dynamic opportunities that await you. Visit enroll@sacredheart.edu or call

16 Inspiring Minds. Unleashing Hearts. At Sacred Heart University, we are preparing students for professional excellence but even more, we are educating them for life. Here at the second-largest Catholic university in New England, we challenge and develop the whole individual by cultivating within students a passion for learning, nurturing their spiritual and moral growth and deepening in them a sense of social responsibility. We are preparing students for the future, while giving them an appreciation of who they are and all they can be. Ours is a sacred purpose inspiring minds, unleashing hearts making a difference in the world, one student at a time. Fairfield, Connecticut COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES JOHN F. WELCH COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ISABELLE FARRINGTON COLLEGE OF EDUCATION COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE Best Regional Universities in the North, U.S. News & World Report, SHU s curriculum is recognized nationally by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. The Welch College of Business is accredited by the AACSB International. The Princeton Review includes SHU among the Best 377 Colleges: /14