The College Application Process. Class of 2017 Presented April 19, 2016 By Mrs. Corr and Mrs. Bagnick, Counselors

Transcription

1 The College Application Process Class of 2017 Presented April 19, 2016 By Mrs. Corr and Mrs. Bagnick, Counselors

2 Tonight s Goals To allow students and parents to see the big picture of the College Admissions Process To provide families with a timeline from Spring of Junior year through end of Senior Year To encourage families to start making important decisions about college planning now! To answer as many questions as possible before the fall of Senior year

3 Agenda Post-Secondary Options Resources for College and Career Research The College Application Process Financial Aid Timeline now through Senior year Q&A

4 Post-secondary options

5 College isn t the only option. It s OK to be undecided. If you are, continue doing research. Gap years are becoming more popular As long as you have a plan, there s no one right plan for everyone. Website will be updated.

6 Advice from our recent Career Panel with Area Colleges.... College major Career! It s about involvement, exploration, academic success, and work/life experiences. Students have until Sophomore year to declare a major. Resumes (for High School Seniors) should contain only information and achievements from grades Incoming Freshman should know Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, and Access), and Social Media platforms. address should be professional, and checked often for important college communication.

7 Resources for College and Career Research

8 Naviance - Careers

9 Naviance College Searches

10 Video Tutorials show you how to use SuperMatch and College Search

11 Other resources for exploration College Websites Search Academics > Undergraduate > Majors READ about the program, and what you ll be required to do in four years Compare programs at different schools Check out University of Pennsylvania Career Center: Has various Interest Inventories, Skills Assessment tools, and career links

12 College Application Process

13 Types of Applications - deadlines Rolling: No strict deadline. Admission decisions are made approximately 4 weeks after your application is complete. State schools are rolling admissions. Early Action (EA): Deadlines are typically mid-fall. You apply early and find out your decision early (usually before the Holidays). You can apply to many schools EA. Early Decision (ED): Deadline typically Nov. 1 st or 15 th. This is a binding agreement. You may only apply to one school Early Decision, so this must be your 1 st choice. If admitted ED, you must withdraw your other applications, and attend that school (pending financial aid).

14 Types of Applications College s individual online application Follow all directions Common Application (400 + schools) PA State System Penn State Online only

15 Steps for applying to college

16 STEP ONE: Fill out your college applications using either the Common App or by filling out the school s online application available from their website; STEP TWO: Request your a) transcript and b) Counselor Recommendation from Guidance; STEP THREE: Send your SATs/ACTs; and STEP FOUR: Contact 1-2 teachers for recommendations; make sure teachers send letters to desired schools. STEP FIVE: Apply for Financial Aid. Note: Steps do not necessarily have to occur in this order. But all steps must be taken for applications to be complete.

17 Step One: Fill out Applications Two ways to apply: Electronic application on college s website Includes Penn State Includes PA State Schools (PASSHE) The Common Application Create a Common App account at Fill out one application, send to participating colleges (400+). May need to do a Supplement for your particular school.

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19 Common App facts It will become live for the application season on August 1, You must answer all required fields (*), and we will provide you with all school-related information you ll need. We will provide a Step-by-Step Guide to creating a Common App account. You need to complete a FERPA Waiver (also included in Stepby-Step Guide). Common App is very user friendly, with built-in Help Section and How-To s.

20 Step 2a: Transcript Request Forms Every student must print and fill out a Transcript Request Form (TRF) for each school to which a transcript must be sent. This triggers the Guidance Office to track your application, and send all required components to the college. Bring one completed TRF for EACH college to Mrs. Matthews in the Guidance Office. Please be sure to fill in the form with accurate information (address, deadlines, etc.) The processing fee for each transcript request is $1.00. Transcript Request Forms should be turned in AFTER you have submitted your application to the college.

21 Download, print and complete a Transcript Request Form from the CB West Guidance website.

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23 A Note about Self-Reporting Schools Some schools (like Univ. of Pittsburgh) are now selfreporting you enter in all of your courses and grades taken from 9 th 11 th grades, as well as Senior year courses in progress. You then send your final transcript in June to verify all information, and graduation date. BUT: Even if you self-reported grades and do not need a transcript sent with your initial application, you MUST submit a Transcript Request Form for that school to the Guidance Office.

24 A Note about Deadlines Write correct admission deadlines on Transcript Request Form. If it s a rolling deadline, write Rolling. Please allow 15 SCHOOL days (3 weeks) for transcripts and recommendations to go out. All dates will be posted on Guidance Website, and Guidance Office windows. Counselors can NOT guarantee that transcripts or recommendations will be sent sooner than 15 days. It is to your benefit to get your applications in early. Especially at state schools, housing spots fill up quickly. MEET ALL COLLEGE DEADLINES. They are deadlines, not suggestions.

25 Another note about Deadlines 2254: Transcripts sent last year (2015) 2201: Transcript requests received so far this year (2016) 502: Students in the Class of : School Counselors 1: Mrs. Matthews

26 Step 2b: Counselor Recommendation Requests If the college requires a Counselor Recommendation, check the box on the TRF. Complete the Class of 2017 Request for Counselor Recommendation Form in Naviance under the About Me tab. Print your completed Form and bring to Guidance in the fall with your first Transcript Request form. If you would like to complete this Form before you leave for the summer, you may drop it off in Guidance. Form will become live mid-may.

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28 Step 3: Send SAT/ACT Scores If colleges want Official Scores, you must send scores from College Board or ACT directly. SAT/ACT scores are on our Transcript; however, those are not considered official.

29 A note about sending SAT scores: When you register for SAT s, you can send scores to 4 schools for free. If you end up applying to those schools, they ll have your Official Scores. If you do NOT end up applying, no harm done Sending scores applying to the college! Most schools will take BEST scores. However, most will NOT mix old and new SAT scores.

30 Step 4: Teacher Recommendations Most colleges ask for 1 or 2 Teacher Recommendations. Teacher should be from Junior/Senior year, and from major content area. Follow college s specifications. Ask teachers in person if they would consider writing you a recommendation. Ideally, you should do this before leaving for the summer. Follow up with the teachers, giving them your contact information, your list of schools, and any information they request (resume, activity list, etc.).

31 Step 4: Teacher Recommendations, cont d Teachers send recommendations directly to colleges. Guidance never sees, nor sends, teacher letters of recommendation. When you submit your transcript request form to Guidance, you will get a green sheet to give to your recommenders, to prompt them to send their letter to the school(s) you want them to send it to. You are responsible for all communication with your recommenders, and for providing all due dates.

32 Financial Aid

33 Step 5: Financial Aid You can start to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) on October 1, Some private schools also require the CSS Profile. MEET ALL COLLEGE S FINANCIAL AID DEADLINES. Plan to attend Financial Aid Night on October 5, 2016 at CB South. Visit for ALL the information you ll need for Financial Aid. Check resources and Scholarship Search Engines on our Guidance Webpage.

34 Start Financial Aid Research Now Every college website has a Net Price Calculator. Scholarship searches can start in fall. Naviance Employers Service Organizations Do NOT pay for a scholarship search opportunity Scholarship Websites: Studentaid.ed.gov Fastweb.com Finaid.org Collegeboard.com/bigfuture Collegenet.com Scholarshipmonkey.com Check Guidance Website

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36 Quick Review

37 Students: Here s what you do.... BEFORE YOU SEE MRS. MATTHEWS WITH YOUR TRF: You must create your Common App Account. Complete the Add Colleges process in Common App add schools to your My Colleges tab. Complete the FERPA Waiver and the Common App-Naviance matching process (see Step-by-Step Guide). Fill out, print out, and hand in the Request for Counselor Recommendation Form if you need a Counselor Recommendation. You should have completed your college application before requesting the transcript.

38 Here s what Counselors send... The guidance office will send the following to your colleges: 1. Your transcript (which includes SAT/ACT scores); 2. A counselor recommendation if requested; 3. Secondary School Report form (we have these forms online, you don t need to bring a paper copy); 4. Our School Profile, which provides data about our school and district. 5. A copy of your senior schedule (if you make any changes to your schedule for senior year after it s sent, you are responsible for reporting that to your colleges).

39 Timeline for Spring and Summer

40 This Spring Visit colleges and Open Houses Research schools, majors, programs Approach teachers for recommendations Take SAT s/act s at least once Compile resume or activity list from 9 th grade through present

41 This Summer Visit colleges! Do SAT prep/class if necessary. Work on Common Application starting August 1, Work on essays. Do Counselor Rec Survey if you haven t already. Have list of colleges ready to go for September!

42 Fall of Senior Year Attend Open Houses at colleges Take SAT/ACT s last time Attend college visits here at West Complete applications and essays Attend Financial Aid Night on 10/5 at CB South

43 Additional Notes

44 Fall College Visits at CB West Over 200 colleges come to West during the fall. Sign up for these visits in Naviance. Print out your confirmation page as your pass to the visit. Visits begin early September. New colleges are added daily, check Naviance to see if your schools will be here. This is the last chance for you to meet the person who will read your application USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A PERSONAL CONNECTION with your college s Admissions Counselor!

45 Essays Spend time on yourf essays they are an important piece of your application. The Common App has one required essay, and you may need to do supplemental essays for each school. Common App essay prompts will not change for 16-17, so you can start writing yours now! SAVE the essay you did in CP11 you may end up using it! Have others review it for grammar and punctuation, but it should be YOUR WORDS in YOUR VOICE! Don t be afraid to be funny or informal; however, you must never be inappropriate or disrespectful.

46 NCAA / Eligibility Prospective Division I and II athletes must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at If you think you may play, or may consider walking on at your prospective college, you should register. Work with your counselor to make sure you meet the academic requirements (courses, GPA and SAT s) for Division I or II. Juniors must forward their official Transcripts to NCAA at the end of Junior year. Please submit a Transcript Request form to Guidance, marked NCAA.

47 Updated information We will update all college information and forms by August 31, 2016 We often receive updates from Naviance and Common App over the summer. Some forms may need to be updated. The website will be updated and reorganized this summer. We will you frequently with updates, changes and new information we receive from colleges. If you do not receive blasts from the principles or from Guidance, please contact us immediately. Students should have professional address, which they check, in Naviance.

48 Contact Information Mrs. Lori Bagnick (A-K) Mrs. Lisa Corr (L-Z) Fax Number: CEEB School Code:

49 SAVE THE DATE SENIOR INFORMATION NIGHT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, :00 PM CB WEST AUDITORIUM REVIEW OF COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

50 Thank you for coming! You are invited to remain for group questions. This presentation is available on the Class of 2017 section of the CB West Guidance Webpage.