T.C. WILLIAMS HIGH SCHOOL Senior Handbook Class of 2016

Transcription

1 T.C. WILLIAMS HIGH SCHOOL Senior Handbook Class of 2016 STUDENT NAME:

2 T.C. WILLIAMS SENIOR CHECKLIST for COLLEGE PLANNING Fall (September November) Take the time to get to know your counselor. Your counselor will be your gatekeeper for the college application process (letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc.). Meet with the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria (SFA, A115 & A121), the College and Career Center (CCC, A114), or your counselor to narrow down a list of colleges that fit your interests, your academic qualifications, and that will be affordable for your family. Complete the career and personality assessments in Naviance (Career tab) to explore your interests and plan for college majors/future careers. Visit your counselor or CCC for assistance. Reference Ms. Feldman s Average GPA and Test Scores chart on pages 7-8. Use the Net Price Calculator at to find out how much each college will cost for you before you apply. The Calculator takes into account your grades and your family s financial information to estimate what your individual cost of attendance will be after scholarships and financial aid. More information on page 6. If you are undocumented (or if you have a diplomat or student visa), see page 23 for a specific list of colleges that will be affordable for you. Try to visit the colleges you choose, if possible. If not, make sure to attend representative visits in CCC. Sign up in Naviance and pick up a pass, or take a virtual tour at Register for the SAT/ACT (obtain fee waivers from Ms. Johnson in CCC), and request that your scores be sent to the colleges you expect to apply to. See registration deadlines on page 25. Register to take the TOEFL if English is not your first language and if recommended by your colleges (obtain fee reduction form from your counselor). More information on pages Register to take two SAT IIs (SAT subject tests such as Biology, US History, etc.) if recommended by your colleges. Make sure to apply for NOVA s Pathway to Baccalaureate program (application due Nov. 6). Whether NOVA is your first choice or not, every senior should apply. See the NOVA Pathway application on page Sign up for Ms. Feldman s scholarship list at ow.ly/ll1yj and follow her on twitter to find out about local and national scholarship opportunities. Visit you must open an application, and complete the Profile, Education & Family sections and the FERPA agreement, even if you are not completing the Common App. Then link your Common App and Naviance accounts. For directions, see page 3. Submit Parent Consent for Transcript Release/Colleges I am Applying To form, and Personal Statement/Parent Information form to Ms. Christian in CCC (red & blue forms). Transcripts cannot be sent without signed forms. Request recommendation letters, in person, from two teachers at least four weeks before the application deadline. You must also request through Naviance (Colleges tab). Ask counselor about outside recommendations. For college student-athletes, register on the NCAA Clearinghouse Attend the annual College Fair at 7pm on Tuesday, October 13 th. See Ms. Johnson in CCC. Complete/update your résumé. A résumé is required for many scholarship applications (including SFA) See Ms. Feldman in SFA for a résumé template/help margaret.feldman@acps.k12.va.us, A115 1

3 Write several drafts of your college essays. Help is available from SFA, CCC, and local author Karen Schwarz visit & see more information on page 24. Work on your SFA application at starting November 1 st. More information on page 27. Submit the NOVA Pathway application to your counselor by Friday, November 6 th. Attend All About NOVA Community College at 3:15 or 5:30pm on Thursday, November 12 th. Winter (December March) Attend SFA s FAFSA 101 Workshop at 5:30pm on Tuesday, December 8 th. Complete and submit the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria application by 4:30pm on Friday, February 5 th. Get assistance at SFA s Application Workshop from 3:15 4:15pm on Thursday, January 21 st. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid between January 1 st and February 15th. More information on page 9. Get assistance at one of SFA s FAFSA Completion Workshops: 8:30 11am on Saturday, January 9 th and 5 8pm on Tuesday, January 27 th. If required by your college, complete the CSS Profile at student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile by February 15 th. Get assistance from SFA. Spring (April June) Make sure to update and resubmit your FAFSA with your 2015 tax information if you initially filed using estimates from Your FAFSA may be selected for a process called verification, meaning you will be asked for proof of the financial information you included in your FAFSA. If you are selected for verification, your college will request that you submit additional documents to their office. Regularly check your , application portal, and mailbox for communication from colleges. Since financial aid dollars are awarded first come, first served, any delays in updating your FAFSA with 2015 tax information or submitting verification paperwork to a college can cause you to miss out on possible aid. Complete all financial aid paperwork ASAP! For more information on next steps after submitting your FAFSA, see page 10. You will not receive a financial aid award letter from a college until you have completed all of these steps. You need a financial aid award letter in order to make an informed decision on May 1 st about which college to attend. Meet with SFA or CCC to compare financial aid awards, interpret different types of grants/loans, and decide on the best offer for you and your family. For more information on the different types of aid, see page 11. Notify each college with your decision (accept, decline) by May 1 st. Send in housing/enrollment deposit and register for college orientation. Attend National Decision Day festivities during lunch on Friday, May 13 th. If awarded an SFA scholarship, attend SFA Awards Program at 7pm on Wednesday, June 1 st. If you have any questions over the summer from registering for college courses to the social transition to college please stop by and see Ms. Feldman in A115. She will be available anytime between 9am and 4:30pm all summer long. Ms. Christian will also be available in A114 to assist with final transcript requests from colleges. 2

4 CONNECTING NAVIANCE AND THE COMMON APP T.C. Williams utilizes the Naviance system to send official transcripts and Letters of Recommendation and the Common App Evaluation to colleges. This system requires that all students connect to the Common App in order for this process to take place. All seniors MUST complete four sections of the Common App, even if they are not applying to a Common App college. Use the following instructions to match your Common App and Naviance accounts. I. Visit Commonapp.org 1. Click Log in and select I am a Student 2. Create an account or sign in if you already have an account 3. Click on Common App tab and complete Profile, Family and Education sections. All three boxes must be checked off to move to the FERPA agreement. 4. Go to the College Search tab and open up an application. 5. Go to My Colleges tab and click on Recommendation and FERPA. Review the agreement and sign it. Once the Profile, Family, Education and Recommendation and FERPA sections have a green check mark, you can connect your CommonApp and Naviance accounts. II. Log into Naviance 1. Log into Blackboard 2. Click on Naviance 3. Sign in again with Blackboard username/password 4. Go to Colleges tab 5. Under My Colleges, select Colleges I m applying to 6. Enter Common App address and date of birth and click Match ** Even if you re not applying to a Common App school, a Common App account must be created. **Name, and date of birth listed in Commonapp must be identical to information in Naviance III. Requesting Teacher Recommendations: 1. After matching your Naviance and CommonApp accounts, scroll down and click on Add/Cancel Request 2. Request teachers to prepare recommendations 3. Find the ACPS staff member(s) and send a professional to each teacher 4. Click update request - a message will be sent to the staff member **Ask teachers face-to-face before sending recommendation requests through Naviance ** Counselors are not responsible for sending recommendations from anyone outside of ACPS. ** You do not need to request a letter from your counselor through Naviance 3

5 A Guide to Choosing & Paying for College What is the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria? The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria (SFA) is a nonprofit organization housed in rooms A-121 and A-115 of T.C. Williams. We raise money and give need-based scholarships that are just for T.C. seniors. o Last year our average scholarship award was $2,700 per year with the chance to renew for all four years of college! o The odds of you receiving a scholarship from us are much higher than they would be for any other scholarship, so if you only apply for one scholarship this year, make sure it s SFA! o Our application opens up November 1st and is due February 5th. Go to to begin filling out your application! The Scholarship Fund s College Advisers, Margaret Feldman and Samantha Karp also offer college, career, and financial aid advising to ACPS students 6th through 12th grade. Meet the Scholarship Fund s College Advisers MARGARET FELDMAN Director of College Advising Grades T.C. Williams Room A-115 margaret.feldman@acps.k12.va.us (703) SAMANTHA KARP College Adviser Grades 6 10 T.C. Williams Room A-121 samantha.karp@acps.k12.va.us (703) Our College Advisers are available before, during, and after school to help you come up with a plan for life after high school. Stop by the Scholarship Fund office to speak with us anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. We can help you: Find a good college fit Search for scholarships Brainstorm and edit your college essays Prepare for the SAT/ACT Write a résumé Fill out financial aid applications (such as the FAFSA and CSS Profile) Understand financial aid options for undocumented students Complete the Scholarship Fund Application Ms. Feldman s Monthly Scholarship ow.ly/ll1yj Occasional Text Messages from Ms. Feldman Follow Ms. Feldman on twitter Follow SFA & Ms. Karp on twitter Class of 4

6 1. How much does college cost? College costs generally range from about $7,000 to $60,000 per year. Costs include more than just tuition. The Cost of Attendance (COA) is also room (where you live), board (what you eat), books, fees, transportation and personal expenses. 2. My family can t pay all that. Can we get help? Yes! Most colleges won t actually make you pay their sticker price. Colleges take into account your family size, income, and grades to determine your individual net price. You can get an estimate of how much each college will cost for you by going to the Net Price Calculator at collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx. You should use this tool to help you choose the colleges to which you will apply. You ll find that each college will award you a different amount of financial aid, and this tool will give you the information you need to make sure that the schools on your list will be affordable for you. Find out how much aid you will get from each college BEFORE YOU APPPLY! Go to: collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx 3. How do you apply for financial aid? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a 30-minute application to qualify you for free money for college from the federal government, the Commonwealth of Virginia, colleges, and the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria. You can find the form online at starting in January. The financial aid you receive from the Federal Government is based solely on income, not grades! Every senior should fill out the FAFSA! Before the FAFSA application opens up in January, you can apply for scholarships directly through the colleges on your list (institutional aid), and you can apply for private scholarships with different scholarship funds (such as the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria). The Net Price Calculator takes into account the financial aid you may receive from the FAFSA as well as any institutional aid you may qualify for. It does not factor in private scholarships. 4. What are the types of financial aid? There are three types of aid grants, work-study, and loans. Grants (AKA, scholarships) are free money which you do not have to pay back. Work-study is a campus job that helps pay your college costs. Loans must be repaid with interest. Grants are the best. Work-study is second best. Loans are the least favorable. Your goal is to get as much aid as possible in the form of grants/scholarships! Scholarships come in two different forms, need-based and merit-based. Need-based financial aid is awarded to low-income families, and merit-based financial aid is given to students who excel in a specific area of interest. Most scholarships are awarded based on some combination of both financial need and academic merit. It is a misconception that private scholarship awards usually cover the entire cost of college. The reality is that there are many more small awards out there, and it often requires several of them to add up. Applying for private scholarships is just one part of the financial aid process, but the most important piece is using the Net Price Calculator to choose colleges that will be affordable for you and your family. 6. Where can I find a list of other private scholarships? Ms. Feldman sends out a monthly scholarship with upcoming local and national scholarship deadlines, and she would be happy to help you determine which scholarships might be a good match for you. Sign up at ow.ly/ll1yj or margaret.feldman@acps.k12.va.us 5

7 Step 1 Choose Colleges Wisely Use the Net Price Calculator: Find your college s net price calculator at: collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx o You will answer questions about your GPA and your family income. o At the end, the tool will estimate what the total cost of attendance will be for you, based on your academic qualifications and family income. Cost of attendance (or COA) includes housing, food, tuition, fees, and estimates for books, personal, and transportation expenses. o The tool takes into account the federal, state, and institutional aid you may be eligible for. Generally, Virginia public colleges will be the least expensive because your taxes support them. Public colleges in North Carolina, Maryland, etc., will be much more expensive. You can make sure there are some schools on your list that will be affordable for you and your family! Don t rule out private colleges: Just because the sticker price of private colleges is very high doesn t mean they will turn out being the most expensive schools for you. Private colleges sometimes give out the best financial aid for example, the University of Richmond is free for students whose families make $60,000 per year or less. Use the Net Price Calculator to see how much financial aid you might receive! Don t rule out NOVA: If you qualify for Free or Reduced-price lunch, you most likely also qualify for a Pell Grant from the government (through filling out the FAFSA). This grant covers almost the entire cost of tuition at NOVA, so you can knock out your first two years of college for free! Then you only need to pay for two years of college at a four-year university to receive your Bachelor s Degree! Many professors that teach at community colleges also teach at four-year schools. And many ambitious, high-achieving students go to NOVA because it makes financial sense! You can transfer from NOVA to the Virginia four-year college of your choice under the Guaranteed Admissions Agreement that in-state universities have with community colleges. o For example, if you maintain a 3.4 GPA at NOVA and take the required classes, you can be guaranteed acceptance to UVA for your final two years of college! o For more information on NOVA s specific agreements with schools, check out: Pay attention to a college s graduation and retention rates: You want to make sure that the money you are paying in tuition actually goes towards a degree! A Bachelor s degree typically takes four years to complete, but at many Virginia colleges, less than 50% of students obtain their degree even after 6 years! Take a look at the chart on the next page, Average GPA and Test Scores of Students Accepted at Virginia Colleges (orange = graduation rate under 50%, yellow = graduation rate between 50-60%, green = graduation rate above 60%), or check out collegecost.ed.gov/scorecard to evaluate your schools. 6

8 Average GPA and Test Scores of Students Accepted at Virginia Colleges Please note that these test scores and GPAs are provided to show you how your scores compare to those of students enrolled in Virginia colleges. Some students had lower scores and GPAs, while other students had higher scores and GPAs. College GPA 3.24 and below SAT 25 th Percentile SAT 75 th Percentile Average GPA 6 Year Graduation Rate Averett University* % Bluefield College* % Ferrum College* % Marymount University* 1350^ 1610^ % Norfolk State University % Radford University % Virginia Intermont % College* Virginia State University 1100^ 1340^ % Virginia Union University* % GPA Bridgewater College* 1405^ 1670^ % Hampden-Sydney % College* Hampton University* % Liberty University* 1390^ 1700^ % Longwood University % Lynchburg College* 1340^ 1653^ % Mary Baldwin College* 1270^ 1610^ % Old Dominion % University Roanoke College* 1480^ 1750^ % Shenandoah % University* University of Virginia s 1240^ 1560^ % College at Wise Virginia Military 1570^ 1810^ % Institute Virginia Wesleyan College* % *^See key on the following page. 7

9 GPA Christopher Newport % University Eastern Mennonite % University* Emory and Henry 1320^ 1640^ % College* George Mason % University Hollins University* % Jefferson College of 1300^ 1557^ % Health Sciences* Randolph College* % Randolph-Macon 1470^ 1770^ % College* Regent University* % Sweet Briar College* % University of Mary 1570^ 1830^ % Washington University of 1820^ 2078^ % Richmond* Virginia Commonwealth University 1510^ 1780^ % GPA 3.75 and above College of William and Mary % James Madison University % University of Virginia 1910^ 2170^ % Virginia Tech % Washington and Lee University* 1940^ 2210^ Not Available 90.9% Numerical Grade Letter Grade Standard Classes Honors Classes AP or DE Classes A A B B B C C C D D Year Graduation Rate Below 50% 6 Year Graduation Rate between 50-60% 6 Year Graduation Rate Above 60% Unless otherwise noted, SAT Scores are a combination of Critical Reading and Math calculated out of 1600 ^SAT Scores include the Writing section calculated out of 2400 * Indicates Private College or University 8

10 Step 2 FAFSA Myth #1:... only students with good grades get financial aid. While a high GPA will help a student get into a good school and may help with academic scholarships, all of the federal student aid programs do not take a student s grades into consideration. Myth #2:... the application is too complicated. It's really not. The form takes less than 30 minutes to fill out, and there are many resources available at T.C. to provide free, confidential assistance before school, during lunch, and after school: The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria (A-115) margaret.feldman@acps.k12.va.us or (703) College and Career Center (A-114) patricia.braun@acps.k12.va.us or (703) Myth #3: " I don t know if I m going to college, so I don t need to fill out the FAFSA yet. Financial aid money is awarded first come, first served. If there is any chance you might decide to pursue further education, you need to submit your FAFSA between January 1 st and February 15 th to meet colleges priority deadlines! Myth #4: "... my parents make too much money, so I won t qualify for aid. There is no income cut-off to qualify for federal student aid. Many factors besides income from the size of your family to the age of your older parent are taken into account. Your eligibility is determined by a mathematical formula, not by your parents income alone. When you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you re also automatically applying for funds from your state, and possibly from your school as well. In fact, some schools won t even consider you for any of their scholarships (including academic scholarships) until you ve submitted a FAFSA. Many private need-based scholarships, such as the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, also require the FAFSA. Myth #5: "...I'm not a US Citizen, so I don't qualify for aid." You may be an eligible non-citizen if you have a (n): Permanent Resident Card (Green Card, I-551) Arrival Departure Record (I-94) that says: o Refugee o Asylum Granted o Parolee o T-Visa Holder (victim of human trafficking) o Cuban-Haitian Entrant If you are not a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, there are still many scholarships available to you. We are happy to provide free, confidential assistance to you and your family. Please see Ms. Feldman for more information. FACT: "...OK, you've convinced me...what do I need to fill it out?" You and your parents social security number (or alien registration number), date of birth, & address. You and your parents most recent tax information (W-2 and 1040), OR information about you and your parents income if you do not file taxes. o If your parents are going to file taxes this year, but haven t yet done so, go ahead and submit using estimates from the previous year s taxes. The important thing is to submit your FAFSA early! Current bank statements and information about retirement funds, investments, savings accounts, etc. Go to to fill out your FREE Application for Federal Student Aid! 9

11 Step 3 After Submitting the FAFSA After you submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR), a summary of what you submitted. You will receive an with instructions on how to access your SAR at after 3-5 days Carefully read all comments on your SAR and review your results for accuracy. o Your SAR should display your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). EFC = Expected Family Contribution. The Department of Education uses the financial information you provided in the FAFSA to determine how much money they expect your family to contribute toward your education each year. That amount of money is called the EFC. This number affects what federal and state financial aid you will receive. o If your application was incomplete, the SAR may not include an EFC, but will display comments that identify any issues you need to resolve, such as missing signatures or updating information. If corrections or updates are needed: Make corrections to your electronic SAR at o Click Make a Correction, o Enter your FSA ID, o Add or update any information required to complete your FAFSA, o And make sure to resubmit your FAFSA to resend your SAR to each school on your list. Make sure to update and resubmit your FAFSA with your 2015 tax return if you initially filed using estimates from If your SAR does not request additional information: Once your FAFSA is processed, the colleges you listed on your application will have access to your information electronically. o If you were ineligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, Since financial aid dollars are or otherwise chose not to do so, your college may require awarded first come, first that you submit a copy of your (and your parents ) IRS Tax served, any delays in updating Return Transcript. You can request a transcript from the your FAFSA with 2015 tax IRS at: information or submitting o Your FAFSA may be selected for a process called verification, meaning you will be asked for proof of the verification paperwork to a financial information you included in your FAFSA. If you college can CAUSE YOU TO are selected for verification, your college will request that MISS OUT ON POSSIBLE AID. you submit additional documents to their office. Complete all financial aid o Be sure to regularly check your , application portal, paperwork ASAP! and mailbox for communication from colleges. Your colleges will review your FAFSA to determine the amount of federal and state grants, loans, workstudy, and any available school-based aid for which you may be eligible. o Check with your colleges to see if any additional forms are required for state and school-based aid such as the CSS Profile. o Not submitting additional required forms can prevent you from receiving financial aid from the college! 10

12 o Make sure to do your research and know the exact deadlines and required forms for each college! After you have been accepted, and once you have completed all financial aid paperwork, your colleges will send you a financial aid award letter that details the financial aid you are eligible to receive. Once you receive your award letters, stop by and chat with Ms. Feldman or Ms. Karp about interpreting the different types of grants/loans. We would be more than happy to help you compare awards and decide on the best offer for you and your family. How to Interpret Your Financial Aid Award Letter: 1. The best type of financial aid award includes mostly grants those grants could be from: a. The Federal Government (The Pell Grant), b. The Commonwealth of Virginia (VTAG, CSAP, VCAP, VGAP, or CTGP), or c. The college itself. All of these grants provide you with free money for college that you do not have to pay back. 2. Your package may also include a work-study component. Work-study means that the college will give you a job that will help you afford your tuition bill. a. The money you earn goes directly to you, and then you can save it and apply it towards your tuition bill. 3. Your package may also include Federal Loans these loans are borrowed in your name, not your parent s, so it is your responsibility to pay them back. There are three different types, and you may be offered all three in your financial aid package: a. Direct Subsidized i. Best kind of loan because it has the lowest interest rate AND the government pays the interest for you while you re in college. b. Direct Unsubsidized i. Second best kind of loan because it has the same low interest rate as the Subsidized Loan. The only difference is that the interest starts accruing immediately, while you re still in college. c. Perkins Loan i. Third best kind of loan because the interest rate is slightly higher than both of the Direct Loans above. 4. You may also be offered a Direct Parent PLUS Loan this loan is in your parent s name, not yours. It is the fourth best kind of loan because the interest rate is slightly higher than all three of the Federal Loans that can be borrowed in your (the student s) name. a. Your parents must qualify for this loan and be willing to accept it on your behalf in order for you to receive it. b. If you don t see the Parent PLUS Loan on your financial aid award letter, your parent can apply for the loan directly at studentloans.gov by logging in with his/her FSA ID and password. c. If the college will not offer the PLUS Loan to your parents, they must offer an additional $4,000 in Direct Unsubsidized Loans to you, the student. 5. It is ok to borrow a manageable amount of money in Federal Loans to pay for your college tuition college is an investment for your future because it will help you earn more money in the long run. 6. However, you should NEVER borrow private loans. If you can t afford to pay your tuition bill after all the grants, work-study offers, federal loans, and private scholarships you have received, then that college is not a good choice for you. 11

13 Virginia Public Four-Year College and University Admission Deadlines, Fees, and Type of Application Early Decision Regular Decision Financial Aid Application Fee Application Type Christopher Newport University December 1 March 1 March 1 $50 Common App George Mason University November 1 January 15 March 1 On-line: $60 Paper: $100 Electronic James Madison University November 1 January 15 March 1 $60 Electronic Longwood University December 1 March 1 March 1 $50 Electronic Mary Washington Norfolk State University Old Dominion University Radford University University of Virginia Univ. of Virginia College at Wise Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Military Institute January 1 * Honors Admission N/A *Priority Financial Aid: March 15 February 1 March 1 $50 Common App May 31 March 31 $45 Mail December 1 March 15 February 15 $50 Electronic December 15 February 1 March 1 $50 Electronic N/A January 2 March 1 $70 Common App I: December 1 II: February 1 Rolling April 1 $25 Electronic N/A February 1 March 1 $50 Common App November 15 February 1 March 1 $40 Electronic Virginia Tech November 1 January 15 March 1 $60 Electronic Virginia State University N/A March 31 May 1 $25 Common App William & Mary November 1 January 1 March 1 $70 Common App 12

14 Virginia Private Four-Year College and University Admission Deadlines, Fees, and Type of Application Early Decision Regular Decision Financial Aid Applicatio n Fee Application Type Emory & Henry November 1 Rolling April 15 $50 Common App Hampden-Sydney College Hampton University Decision: November 15 Action: January 15 March 1 March 1 $30 Common App December 1 April 15 March 1 $35 Mail Hollins University December 1 Rolling February 15 $40 Common App Liberty University N/A June 30 March 1 $40 Electronic Lynchburg College November 15 Rolling March 1 $30 Electronic Mary Baldwin College November 15 April 15 March 1 None Electronic Randolph College November 15 March 1 February 1 $35 Common App Randolph-Macon College University of Richmond Virginia Union University Washington & Lee University November 15 March 1 February 15 I: November 15 II: January 15 On-line: None Paper: $30 Common App January 15 February 15 $50 Common App N/A June 30 April 27 $25 Mail I: November 15 II: January 2 January 15 February 1 $60 Common App The following schools have no early application program and have rolling admissions deadlines: Averett University, Bluefield College, Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, Ferrum College, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Marymount University, Roanoke College, Saint Paul s College, Shenandoah University, Virginia Intermont College, Virginia Wesleyan College Common Application: Marymount University, Roanoke College Electronic Application: Averett University, Bluefield College, Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, Ferrum College, Virginia Wesleyan College Mail Application: Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Saint Paul s College, Shenandoah University, Virginia Intermont College 13

15 Quick Reference Guide to Colleges in Virginia Be sure to visit the college websites for more information. SAT (combined Math and Critical Reading scores, Writing scores NOT included) and ACT scores listed are the middle 50% range unless otherwise indicated. GPA listed as middle 50% range unless otherwise indicated. Student population numbers reflect both undergraduate and graduate students. Financial aid deadlines given are priority-filing dates; students may file after dates given, but the funds may be limited. It is very important to meet all deadlines. o In order to be reviewed for eligibility, students must file the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You may file for financial aid for the upcoming school year beginning January 1, 2015 by o visiting Questions regarding your tax information will be asked, so be sure to have necessary documents handy. We are available to help file the FASFA with you as well. Some schools also require supplemental financial aid forms, so keep up-to-date with any requirements to ensure your chances. Tuition figures for public schools are based on in-state costs. Admission is based on many factors. Do not rule out a school if your GPA and scores are not an exact match. Application deadlines are subject to change always check the college s website for the best information! 4-Year Virginia Public Colleges and Universities (Receive most of their funding from state and local governments, so usually a cheaper option.) Christopher Newport University - Located in Newport News (Tidewater Virginia), about 170 miles from TCW - Small: about 5,000 students on residential 260-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: *please note: students with a 3.5 GPA or higher or who are in the upper 10% of their class may opt to not submit their college entrance exam scores - New performing arts center, convocation/athletic facility, dorms, and library - Division III athletics; USA South Atlantic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Decision: 11/15; Early Action (non-binding): 12/1; Regular Decision: 2/1; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $50; Tuition and Fees: $11,140; Books and Supplies: $1,005; Room and Board: $7,192 - Address: Office of Admissions, Christopher Newport University, 1 University Place, Newport News, VA The College of William and Mary - Located in Williamsburg (Tidewater Virginia), about 150 miles from TCW - Small: about 8,000 students on residential 1,200-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Division I athletics; Colonial Athletic Association Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Decision (binding): 11/1; Regular Decision: 1/1; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $60; Tuition and Fees: $17,428; Books and Supplies: $3,050; Room and Board: $10,344 - Address: Office of Admissions, College of William and Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA George Mason University - Located in Fairfax (Northern Virginia), about ½ hour from Washington, D.C.; about 15 miles from TCW - Large: about 33,917students attending four campuses with a large commuter population - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Lots of opportunities for internships/work experience in the DC area - Division 1 athletics; Colonial Athletic Association Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Action (non-binding): 11/1; Regular Decision: 1/15; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $100 (reduced fee if apply online); Tuition and Fees: $10,657; Books and Supplies: $900; Room and Board: $10,100 - Address: Office of Admissions, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive MSN 3A4, Fairfax, VA

16 James Madison University - Located in Harrisonburg (Shenandoah Valley), about 130 miles from TCW - Medium: about 20,181 students; residential 655-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Unique major: Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT) for students interested in computer programming and engineering - Division 1 athletics; Colonial Athletic Association Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Action (non-binding): 11/15; Regular Decision: 1/15; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $50; Tuition and Fees: $9,662; Books and Supplies: $876; Room and Board: $8,828 - Address: Office of Admissions, James Madison University, Sonner Hall MSC 0101, Harrisonburg, VA Longwood University - Located in Farmville (South-Central Virginia), about 170 miles from TCW - Small: about 4,800 students; residential 60-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Most popular majors: Business and Education; also offers cooperative programs in engineering with other schools as well as a variety of pre-professional majors in the medical field. - Division I athletics; Eastern College Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Action (non-binding): 12/1; Priority: 3/2; Regular Decision: no closing date; Financial aid: 3/1. Students applying to the Nursing program must apply by 1/15. *Please note that Longwood offers on-site acceptance if a student visits and brings the proper paperwork. - Fees: Application fee: $50; Tuition and Fees: $10,418; Books and Supplies: $800; Room and Board: $8,876 - Address: Office of Admissions, Longwood University, 201 High Street, Farmville, VA Norfolk State University - Historically Black University, located in Norfolk (Tidewater Virginia), about 190 miles from TCW - Small: about 7,000 students, mostly commuting to the 134-acre campus in urban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Dozoretz Scholarship for students interested in studying Physics, Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Applied Mathematics - Division I athletics; Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Regular: 5/31; Financial aid: 3/31 - Fees: Application fee: $35; Tuition and Fees: $6,400; Books and Supplies: $1,125; Room and Board: $8,624 - Address: Office of Admissions, Norfolk State University, 700 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA Old Dominion University - Located in Norfolk (Tidewater Virginia), about 190 miles away from TCW - Large: about 24,500 students on this 188-acre campus in urban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Career Advantage Program; New Convocation Center - Division I athletics; Colonial Athletic Association Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Action (non-binding): 12/1; Regular: 2/1; Financial aid: 2/15 - Fees: Application fee: $50; Tuition and Fees: $8,970; Books and Supplies: $1,000; Room and Board: $8,796 - Address: Office of Admissions, Old Dominion University, 108 Rollins Hall, 5215 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, VA Radford University - Located in Radford (Southwest Virginia), about 270 miles away from TCW - Mid-sized: about 9,000 students on this 177-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: New College of Information Science and Technology and State of the Art Venues for Performance Majors - Division I athletics; Big South Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Action (non-binding): 12/1; Regular: 2/1; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $50; Tuition and Fees: $9,360; Books and Supplies: $1,100; Room and Board: $8,516 - Address: Office of Admissions, Radford University, 115 Martin Hall, Radford University, Radford, VA

17 University of Mary Washington - Located in Fredericksburg (halfway between Richmond and Washington, D.C); 50 miles from TCW - Small: about 5,200 students; residential 176-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: The oldest and most intensive historic preservation program for undergraduate students in the US. - Division III athletics; Capital Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Action (non-binding): 11/15; Regular Decision: 2/1; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $50; Tuition and Fees: $9,660; Books and Supplies: $1,000; Room and Board: $11,878 - Address: Office of Admissions, University of Mary Washington, 1301 College Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA University of Virginia - Located in Charlottesville (Central Virginia), about 110 miles away from TCW - Large: about 24,400 students on residential 1,166-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Minority recruiting effort underway to diversify student body; now accepts the Common Application - Division I athletics; Atlantic Coast Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Action (non-binding): TBD; Regular: 1/1; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $60; Tuition: $10,016; Books and Supplies: $1,240; Room and Board: $9,730 - Address: Office of Admissions, University of Virginia, P.O. Box , Charlottesville, VA University of Virginia College at Wise - Located in Wise (Southwest Virginia), about 410 miles away from TCW - Formerly known as Clinch Valley College; branch of the University of Virginia - Small: about 2,000 students on residential 367-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: UVa-Wise students graduate with the lowest debt load of any liberal arts college in the nation - Division III athletics; Appalachian Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Action (non-binding): 12/1; Regular: 8/15; Financial aid: 4/1 - Fees: Application fee: $25; Tuition and Fees: $8,509; Books and Supplies: $756; Room and Board: $10,214 - Address: Office of Admissions, University of Virginia College at Wise, 1 College Avenue, Wise, VA Virginia Commonwealth University - Located in downtown Richmond (Central Virginia), about 100 miles away from TCW - Large: about 32,300 students, mostly commuting to the 141-acre campus in urban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Very strong Art program. Also has a Forensic Science Program. Home of the Medical College of VA (MCV) - Division I athletics; Colonial Athletic Association Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Priority: 1/15; Regular: no closing date; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $40; Tuition: $7,498; Books and Supplies: $1,250; Room and Board: $8,335 - Address: Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box , Richmond, VA Virginia Military Institute - Located in Lexington (Western Central Virginia), about 190 miles away from TCW - Small: about 1,600 students on residential 140-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Strong programs in Math and Engineering; ROTC classes are mandatory, military commissioning is optional - Division I athletics; Big South Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Decision (binding): 11/15; Regular Decision: 2/1; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $40; Tuition: $14,996; Books and Supplies: $775; Room and Board: $8,372 **Tuition covers all fees, including uniforms and auxiliary fees** - Address: Office of Admissions, Virginia Military Institute, 319 Letcher Avenue, Lexington, VA

18 Virginia State University - Historically Black University, located in Petersburg (Central Virginia), about 130 miles away from TCW - Small: about 5,600 students on residential 246-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Total of 40 majors in three schools - Division II athletics; Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association - Deadlines: Admissions Priority: 3/1; Regular: 5/1; Financial Aid: 3/31 - Fees: Application fee: $25; Tuition and Fees: $8,002; Books and Supplies: $1,200; Room and Board: $10,128 - Address: Office of Admissions, Virginia State University, P.O. Box 9018, Petersburg, VA Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) - Located in Blacksburg (Southwest Virginia), about 270 miles away from TCW - Large: about 31,000 students on residential 2,600-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: 25 (average) - Close-knit community with over 600 student clubs and organizations - Division I athletics; Atlantic Coast Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Decision (binding): 11/1; Regular Decision: 1/15; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $60; Tuition: $12,017; Books and Supplies: $1,080; Room and Board: $7,924 - Address: Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Virginia Tech, 201 Burruss Hall, Blacksburg, VA Year Virginia Private Colleges and Universities (Often more expensive than public schools because they get funding from tuition, fees, endowments, and other private sources. Usually smaller, meaning more individualized attention with students, and often have a religious affiliation.) Averett University - Located in Danville (Central Virginia), about 240 miles away from TCW - Small: about 900 students on residential 19-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: 20 (average) - Unique majors: Aviation and Equestrian Studies - Division III athletics; USA South Atlantic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Priority: 5/1; Regular: 7/15 (rolling); Financial Aid: 4/1 - Fees: No application fee; Tuition: $29,150; Books and Supplies: $900; Room and Board: $7,850 - Address: Office of Admissions, Averett University, 420 West Main Street, Danville, VA Bluefield College - Located in Bluefield (Southwest Virginia), about 350 miles away from TCW - Small: about 700 students on residential 82-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Religious affiliation: Baptist - Division III athletics; Appalachian Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Regular: 8/1 (rolling); Financial Aid: 3/15 - Fees: Paper Application: $30, Online: Free; Tuition and Fees: $22,840; Books and Supplies: $1,200; Room and Board: $9,924 - Address: Office of Admissions, Bluefield College, 3000 College Drive, Bluefield, VA Bridgewater College - Located in Bridgewater (Shenandoah Valley), about 140 miles away from TCW - Small: about 1,700 students on residential 190-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Most popular majors: Biology, Business, Psychology. Religious affiliation: Church of the Brethren - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions no closing date; Financial Aid: 3/1 - Fees: Paper Application: $30, Online: Free; Tuition: $30,380; Books and Supplies: $1,150; Room and Board: $ Address: Office of Admissions, Bridgewater College, 402 East College Street, Bridgewater, VA

19 Eastern Mennonite University - Located in Harrisonburg (Shenandoah Valley), about 130 miles away from TCW - Small: about 1,500 students on residential 97-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: School emphasis on peacemaking and service. Religious affiliation: Mennonite - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions no closing date; Financial Aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $25; Tuition: $30,660; Books and Supplies: $1,000; Room and Board: $9,860 - Address: Office of Admissions, Eastern Mennonite University, 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg, VA Emory & Henry College - Located in Emory (Southwest Valley), about 300 miles away from TCW - Small: about 1,000 students on residential 331-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: The Theater Department works closely with the Barter Theater in Abingdon. Religious affiliation: Methodist - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Action (non-binding): 12/1; Priority: 3/1; Regular Decision: no closing date; Financial aid: 4/15 - Fees: No application fee; Tuition: $30,126; Books and Supplies: $1,000; Room and Board: $10,250 - Address: Office of Admissions, Emory & Henry College, P.O. Box 10, Emory, VA Ferrum College - Located in Ferrum (Southwest Valley), about 270 miles away from TCW - Small: about 1,500 students on residential 331-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: The Theater Department works closely with the Barter Theater in Abingdon. Religious affiliation: Methodist - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Priority: 3/1; Regular Decision: no closing date; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $25; Tuition: $38,122; Books and Supplies: $800; Room and Board: $9,970 - Address: Office of Admissions, Ferrum College, P.O. Box 1000, Ferrum, VA Hampden-Sydney College - Located in Hampden-Sydney (Central Virginia), about 170 miles away from TCW - Small: about 1,100 male students on residential 1,200-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: All male college with a loyal alumni base. Religious affiliation: Presbyterian - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Decision (binding): 11/15; Early Action (non-binding): 1/15; Regular Decision: 3/1; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Paper Application: $30, Online: Free; Tuition: $38,018; Books and Supplies: $1,000; Room and Board: $10,312 - Address: Office of Admissions, Hampden-Sydney College, P.O. Box 667, Hampden-Sydney, VA Hampton University - Historically Black University, located in Hampton (Tidewater Virginia), about 160 miles away from TCW - Small: about 5,000 students on residential 255-acre campus in urban setting - GPA: 3.3 (average); SAT: ; ACT: Popular majors: Business Management, Psychology - Division III athletics; Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Action (non-binding): 12/1; Regular Decision: 3/1; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $35; Tuition and Fees: $19,548; Books and Supplies: $1,025; Room and Board: $10,020 - Address: Office of Admissions, Hampton University, Hampton, VA

20 Hollins University **All women s college** - Located in Roanoke (Southwest Virginia), about 230 miles away from TCW - Small: about 1,000 students on residential 475-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Creative Writing program, Art, Political Science, Business; has one of the strongest riding programs in the US - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Decision (binding): 10/5; Priority: 11/15; Regular Decision: 2/1 if full-rolling; Financial aid: 2/15 - Fees: Application fee: $40; Tuition and Fees: $33,600; Books and Supplies: $2,200; Room and Board: $11,904 - Address: Office of Admissions, Hollins University, P.O. Box 907, 8060 Quadrangle Lane, Roanoke, VA Jefferson College of Health Sciences - Located in Roanoke (Southwest Virginia), about 240 miles away from TCW - Small: about 1,000 students on one-acre campus in urban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Associate and Bachelor degree programs in 21 health care disciplines - Growing athletics program; currently co-ed tennis and running, softball, volleyball, and women s basketball - Deadlines: Admissions 11/15 early non-binding; regular- rolling deadline. - Fees: Paper Application: $35, Online: Free; Tuition: $23,080; Books and Supplies: $1,200; Room and Board: $5,200 - Address: Office of Admissions, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 13186, Roanoke, VA Liberty University - Located in Lynchburg (Central Virginia), about 180 miles away from TCW - Large: about 55,223 students (includes large distance-learning population), residential 4,400-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Christian academic community. Religious affiliation: Baptist - Division I athletics; Big South Conference - Deadlines: Early- 11/1; Admissions 6/30 (Rolling); Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $40; Tuition: $20,300; Books and Supplies: $1,400; Room and Board: $7,000 - Address: Office of Admissions, Liberty University, 1971 University Boulevard, Lynchburg, VA Lynchburg College - Located in Lynchburg (Central Virginia), about 180 miles away from TCW - Small: about 2,600 students on residential 214-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Westover Honors Program has lots of scholarship money. Religious affiliation: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Decision (binding): 11/15; Regular: no closing date; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Paper Application: $30, Online: Free; Tuition: $33,600; Books and Supplies: $1,000; Room and Board: $9,330 - Address: Office of Admissions, Lynchburg College, 1501 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg, VA Mary Baldwin College - Located in Staunton (Shenandoah Valley), about 160 miles away from TCW - Small: about 1,800 female students on residential 54-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Boasts Virginia Women s Institute for Leadership, a leadership-training program. Religious affiliation: Presbyterian - Division III athletics; USA South Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Decision (binding): 11/15; Regular: no closing date; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $35; Tuition and Fees: $29,595; Books and Supplies: $900; Room and Board: $8,650 - Address: Office of Admissions, Mary Baldwin College, P.O. Box 1500, Staunton, VA

21 Randolph-Macon College - Located in Arlington (Northern Virginia), about 90 miles away from TCW - Small: about 1,200 students on residential 120-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: 22 (average) - Dual degree programs available in Engineering and Forestry. Religious affiliation: Methodist - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Action (non-binding): 11/15; Regular: 3/1; Financial aid: 2/15 - Fees: Paper Application: $30, Online: Free; Tuition: $35,360; Books and Supplies: $1,000; Room and Board: $10,500 - Address: Office of Admissions, Randolph-Macon College, P.O. Box 5005, Ashland, VA Randolph College - Located in Lynchburg (Central Virginia), about 180 miles away from TCW - Small: about 500 students on residential 100-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Writing Requirement in every discipline. Formerly Randolph-Macon Woman s College. Religious affiliation: Methodist - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Action (non-binding): 12/1; Regular: 4/1; Financial aid: 2/1 - Fees: Application fee: $50 (reduced fee if apply online); Tuition: $33,500; Books and Supplies: $1100; Room and Board: $11,650 - Address: Office of Admissions, Randolph College, 2500 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA Roanoke College - Located in Salem (Southwest Virginia), about 240 miles away from TCW - Small: about 2,100 students on residential 68-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: SAT: ; ACT: Community service requirement. Religious affiliation: Lutheran - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Decision (binding): 12/1; Regular: 3/15; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Paper Application: $30, Online: Free; Tuition: $36,688; Books and Supplies: $1,000; Room and Board: $11,924 - Address: Office of Admissions, Roanoke College, 221 College Lane, Salem, VA Shenandoah University - Located in Winchester (Northern Shenandoah Valley), about 70 miles away from TCW - Small: about 3,700 students on residential 100-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Excellent Music program: Conservatory of Music, Theater and Dance. Religious affiliation: Methodist - Division II athletics; USA South Atlantic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Priority: 3/1; Regular: 8/20; Financial aid: 3/15 - Fees: Application fee: $30; Tuition: $28,998; Books and Supplies: $1,500; Room and Board: $9,728 - Address: Office of Admissions, Shenandoah University, 1460 University Drive, Winchester, VA Sweet Briar College - Located in Sweet Briar (Central Valley), about 160 miles away from TCW - Small: about 700 female students on residential 3,250-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Horse stables on campus. - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions -- Regular: 2/1; Financial aid: 2/15 - Fees: Application fee: $40; Tuition: $34,460; Books and Supplies: $900; Room and Board: $10,790 - Address: Office of Admissions, Sweet Briar College, P.O. Box 1052, Sweet Briar, VA

22 University of Richmond - Located in Richmond (Central Valley), about 100 miles away from TCW - Small: about 3,600 students on residential 350-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: (average); SAT: ; ACT: Offers Leadership Studies program, the only one of its kind in the country - Division I athletics; Atlantic 10 Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Decision: 11/15; Regular: 1/15; Financial aid: 2/15 - Fees: Application fee: $50; Tuition: $46,680; Books and Supplies: $1,050; Room and Board: $10,790 - Address: Office of Admissions, University of Richmond, 28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA Virginia Intermont College - Located in Bristol (Southwest Virginia), about 310 miles away from TCW - Small: about 600 students on residential 27-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: Unique majors: Equine Studies, Paralegal Studies. Offers four-year scholarship to one TCW graduate per year in the amount of 40% off the state tuition price. Religious affiliation: Baptist - Division II athletics; National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics - Deadlines: Admissions Regular: no closing date; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $25; Tuition: $24,542; Books and Supplies: $1,200; Room and Board: $7,849 - Address: Office of Admissions, Virginia Intermont College, 1013 Moore Street, Bristol, VA Virginia Union University - Historically Black University, located in Richmond (Central Virginia), about 100 miles away from TCW - Small: about 1,300 students on residential 84-acre campus in urban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: The City of Richmond s Police Training Academy is on-campus and is home to the Criminal Justice Program. Religious affiliation: Baptist - Division II athletics; Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association - Deadlines: Admissions Priority: 6/20; Regular: no closing date; Financial aid: 4/27 - Fees: Application fee: $25; Tuition: $14,930; Books and Supplies: $1,080 Room and Board: $7,704 - Address: Office of Admissions, Virginia Union University, 1500 North Lombardy Street, Richmond, VA Virginia Wesleyan College - Located on Norfolk/Virginia Beach line (Tidewater Virginia), about 190 miles away from TCW - Small: about 1,300 students on residential 300-acre campus in suburban setting - GPA: ; SAT: ; ACT: New Center for the Study of Religious Freedom. Religious affiliation: Methodist - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Priority: 3/1; Regular: no closing date; Financial aid: 3/1 - Fees: Application fee: $40; Tuition: $32,636; Books and Supplies: $1,000; Room and Board: $8,594 - Address: Office of Admissions, Virginia Wesleyan College, 1584 Wesleyan Drive, Norfolk, VA Washington and Lee University - Located in Lexington (Shenandoah Valley), about 190 miles away from TCW - Small: about 2,200 students on residential 322-acre campus in rural setting - GPA: 3.9 (average); SAT: ; ACT: Also, two SAT Subject tests are required. - Speaking Tradition: students greet each other in passing on campus whether they know each other or not - Division III athletics; Old Dominion Athletic Conference - Deadlines: Admissions Early Decision: 11/15; Regular: 1/15; Financial aid: 2/1 - Fees: Application fee: $50; Tuition: $44,660; Books and Supplies: $1,800; Room and Board: $10,645 - Address: Office of Admissions, Washington and Lee University, 204 West Washington Street, Lexington, VA

23 Resources for Undocumented Students Are you a Dreamer, or do you have any questions about how your immigration status impacts your college and scholarship options? Stop by the Scholarship Fund to see Ms. Feldman or Ms. Karp for confidential assistance! The Benefits of Applying for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals): Become eligible for in-state tuition at Virginia colleges Get a Social Security Number Receive a work permit and the ability to have a job with benefits (like health insurance) Apply for a driver s license Ability to pass a background check You can apply for a credit card and begin to build your credit history Obtaining this status DOES NOT qualify you for federal financial aid, BUT it often makes it easier to obtain scholarships from private colleges You May be Eligible for DACA if You: Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012; Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday; Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time; Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS; Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012; Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety. Where to Go for More Information: Speak with Margaret Feldman in the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria Office (Room A-115) o margaret.feldman@acps.k12.va.us or (703) USCIS: Legal Aid Justice Center: E4FC: Some Scholarships Just for You: First, make sure that you are applying to some private colleges they are sometimes able to give you financial aid even though most public universities cannot. For a specific list of colleges that have historically given significant financial aid to undocumented students, see the next page. Next, make sure you are applying to some scholarships outside of the college. 22

24 MALDEF: - Scholarship List E4FC: - Scholarship List Scholarships A-Z: - Scholarship List Questbridge: o Full-ride scholarship for high-achieving, low-income students. Some partner colleges will award scholarship to undocumented students. See Ms. Feldman for a list. Posse: o Full-tuition scholarship for high-achieving, low-income students. Must be nominated to apply. Some partner colleges will award scholarship to undocumented students. See Ms. Feldman for a list and nomination information. Haz La U: o Open to students with Hispanic heritage, including students with DACA status; 3.0 GPA +. The Dream US : o Scholarship for DACA or TPS eligible students, must be admitted to a Dream US partner college (colleges marked by * below). Also open to students who are currently enrolled in community college. Dream Scholarship: o Local scholarship open to students who were born outside of the United States or have at least one parent who was born outside of the United States. Also open to students who are currently enrolled in college. Davis Putter Scholarship: o Open to students who actively participate in struggles for civil rights, economic justice, international solidarity or other progressive issues. Also open to students who are currently enrolled in college. Esperanza: o Local scholarship open to students born outside the US, or students who have two parents born outside the US. Next Gen Scholarship: o Local scholarship open to non-citizen or international students with 3.0 GPA or higher. Also open to students who are currently enrolled in college. The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria: o Local scholarship with merit-only awards open to non-citizen or international students with 2.5 GPA or higher. Colleges that Have Historically Given Financial Aid/Scholarships to Undocumented Students: * Denotes a Partner College for the Dream US Scholarship Amherst College (Massachusetts) 100% Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)* Bard College (New York) Limited funding available Northwestern University (Illinois) 100% Bates College (Maine) 100% Notre Dame University (Indiana) 100% Berea College (Kentucky Christian) 100% for DACA Oberlin College (Ohio) 100% approved students Occidental College (California) Limited funding Brown University (Rhode Island) 100% available Bryn Mawr (Pennsylvania Women s College) 100% Pomona College (California) 100% Claremont McKenna College (California) Limited Princeton University (New Jersey) 100% funding available Reed College (Oregon) 100% Columbia University (New York) 100% Santa Clara University (California) Limited funding Dartmouth College (New Hampshire) 100% available Dominican University of California (California) Merit Stanford University (California) 100% Only Scholarships Trinity Washington University (DC Women s College)* Franklin & Marshall College (Pennsylvania) 100% for 5 Tufts University (Massachusetts) 100% DACA approved students per year University of Puget Sound (Washington) Significant Harvard University (Massachusetts) 100% Funding Available Kaplan University (Online)* Wesleyan University (Connecticut) Limited Funding MIT (Massachusetts) 100% Available Mount Holyoke (Massachusetts Women s College) Whitman College (Washington) 100% Limited funding available Williams College (Massachusetts) 100% Mount Washington College (Online)* Yale University (Connecticut) 100% Please meet with Ms. Feldman so that we can confidentially come up with the best plan for you and your family! Contact margaret.feldman@acps.12.va.us at the Scholarship Fund, , or Room A

25 Admissions Essays Most four-year colleges require applicants to submit a personal statement, or one or more essays. The writing sample(s) provides decision-makers with a sense of your personality, and whether you would be a good fit for their school. The quality of your essay, as measured by the content and writing mechanics, alerts admissions officers to your level of interest in their school. Colleges and universities that accept the Common App require that applicants submit an essay as described in that application. (You have a choice of 5 prompts.) Additional essays, or supps, can be found in each college s section on Commonapp.org. Scroll to the end of the Questions tab. Colleges that don t take the common app will post their supps on their website or within their application. The College & Career Center assist students with their essay/s. Students can get help with: * Developing ideas. * Organizing their essays. * Improving their writing. Please check Blackboard for info on essay workshops and one-on-one help. In addition, the College and Career Center suggests that students go to essaymom.net, which offers extensive advice on admissions essays. This website was created by TCW parent and volunteer Karen Schwarz. For specific questions, students may her at kschwarz109@gmail.com. 24

26 SAT and ACT Test Dates and Registration Deadlines SAT ( Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline ($54.50) ($80.50) October 3, 2015 September 3, 2015 September 22, 2015 November 7, 2015 October 9, 2015 October 23, 2015 December 5, 2015 November 5, 2015 November 20, 2015 January 23, 2016 December 28, 2015 January 8, 2016 *March 5, 2016 February 5, 2016 February 19, 2016 *May 7, 2016 April 8, 2016 April 22, 2016 *June 4, 2016 May 5, 2016 May 20, 2016 *Redesigned SAT begins March 5 Cost of Test: $54.50; After February $54.50 with essay & $43 without essay ; Subject test: $ $18.00 per subject, or $26.00 language with listening ability. Late fee: Add $28.00 to cost of test; Waitlist fee: Add $46.00 to cost of test; Other fees may apply. Fee waivers available- eligibility required. **If you do not remember your username/password, do NOT create a new account. SAT information, call Collegeboard directly at ** ACT ( Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration Period ($56.50) ($81.50) September 12, 2015 August 7, 2015 August 21, 2015 October 24, 2015 September 18, 2015 October 2, 2015 December 12, 2015 November 6, 2015 November 20, 2015 February 6, 2016 January 8, 2016 January 15, 2016 April 9, 2016 March 4, 2016 March 18, 2016 June 11, 2016 May 6, 2016 May 20, 2016 Cost of Test: $56.50 (with writing) $39.50 (without writing). Late fee: Add $25.00 to cost of test; Waitlist/ Standby fee: Add $49.00 to cost of test. Other fees may apply. Fee waivers available- eligibility required. **If you do not remember your username/password, do NOT create a new account. ACT information, call ACT directly at , and follow the teleprompts** TC School Code: ; SAT Test Center Code: 47115; ACT Test Center Code: Students receiving Free/Reduced lunch services qualify for two SAT fee waivers, and two ACT fee waivers- available in College & Career Center, A114. Applications for Free/Reduced lunch available at schoolmealapp.com, or paper application. For questions, contact food@acps.k12.va.us or School Nutrition Office: 1340 Braddock Place, 2 nd Floor. STUDENTS MUST HAVE AN UNEXPIRED PICTURE ID AND ADMISSIONS TICKET TO TEST. YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED IF YOUR NAME ON THE TICKET AND ID DO NOT MATCH EXACTLY. NO EXCEPTIONS! 25

27 T.C. WILLIAMS HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL COUNSELING DIRECTORY Name Position Room Phone No. Inter- No. (703) com Greg Forbes Director of School Counseling A gregory.forbes 6326 Admin. Assistant to Director/ 6112 Deborah Johnson CCC Coordinator A deborah.johnson Sharon Blackwell Registrar (King St. Campus) A sblackwell 6118 Chanel Yancey Registrar (MH Campus) MH chanel.yancey 1125 Patricia Braun College & Career Specialist A patricia.braun 6321 Samantha Christian Transcripts Specialist/ College & Career Center Assistant A samantha.christian 6109 Barbara Silverman Data Entry A bsilverm 6110 Learning Community 9 Counselor Alpha Room Phone No. Inter- Grade Level Breakdown No. (703) (@acps.k12.va.us) com Kathleen Brewster A C 9 MH kathleen.brewster 1145 Clarence Martin D J 9 MH clarence.martin 1129 Stacy Morris K Q 9 MH stacy.morris 1152 Melissa Deak R Z 9 MH melissa.deak 1128 Learning Community 10 Counselor Alpha Room Phone No. Inter- Grade Level Breakdown No. (703) (@acps.k12.va.us) com Mary McCarthy A-C 10 B129B mary.mccarthy 6108 Annette Lee D J 10 B129C annettelee 6080 Janelle Lee K Q 10 B129A janelle.lee 6074 Jacob Suter R-Z 10 B129E jacob.suter 6077 Learning Community 11 Counselor Alpha Room Phone No. Inter- Grade Level Breakdown No. (703) (@acps.k12.va.us) com Allison Mullen A-C 11 B328B allison.mullen 6169 John Crews D-J 11 B328D john.crews 6231 Michelle Denton K-Q 11 B328E michelle.denton 6114 Dee Marrara R-Z 11 B328C dmarrara 6292 Learning Community 12 Counselor Alpha Room Phone No. Inter- Grade Level Breakdown No. (703) (@acps.k12.va.us) com Cassandra Ford A-C 12 B221D cassandra.ford 6284 Nancy Nguyen D-J 12 B221E nancy.nguyen 6294 Debbie Karr K-Q 12 B221C debbie.karr 6198 Tracie Jackson R-Z 12 B221B tracie.d.jackson 6116 Counselor Alpha Breakdown International Academy Grade Level Room No. Phone No. (703) (@acps.k12.va.us) Maria Christina Mendoza A-Z 9 & 10 A322C maria.mendoza 6119 Varita Mateos- varita.mateos- A-Z 9 & 10 A322E Bendinelli bendinelli 6104 Maureen Selgas A-Z 11 A322B maureen.selgas 6107 Elizabeth Merino A-Z 12 C elizabeth.merino 6133 Intercom 26

28 The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria (SFA) is a college advising and financial aid resource for T.C. Williams students. We award scholarships to graduating seniors and provide assistance to students through all four years of college. Focal Services New and Renewal Scholarships College Advising and Career Planning Financial Aid and FAFSA Completion Workshops 1-on-1 Advising and Classroom Presentations Near-Peer Mentoring College Access Events Impact by the Numbers Almost $12 million awarded to over 4,200 ACPS graduates since In 2015, $943,000 in new and renewal scholarships was awarded. Average award is $2,700. Merit and financial-need based scholarships awarded. Largest scholarship is $10,000. Recipients of an SFA award are 50% more likely to graduate from college compared to other T.C. Williams graduates. Quick Facts Over 1 in 2 students who applied in 2015 were awarded scholarships. 58% of all 2015 recipients were Pell Grant eligible. Scholarships can be applied to any college in the U.S. Need-based scholarships are eligible for renewal through all 4 years of college. We want to hear from you!! Ms. Feldman grade College Adviser Ms. Karp grade College Adviser Ms. Damratowski - Asst. Director Ms. Lovain - Executive Director Phone: (703) Office hours: 8-4:30pm Website: Location: A-121 (by nurse s office) & A-115 Margaret.Feldman@acps.k12.va.us Samantha.Karp@acps.k12.va.us Alysha.Damratowski@acps.k12.va.us Beth.Lovain@acps.k12.va.us Scholarship Application October 2015 Review the application overview and application tutorials available on Blackboard under College Knowledge. November 1 February 5, 2016, 4:30pm Submit the online application Upload following items to application: 1. 2 personal statements (one is same as Common App essay) 2. 2 recommendations 3. Updated resume 4. Student Aid Report from FAFSA (for need-based awards) after January 1 January 21, Attend SFA Application Workshop for seniors and parents in Rotunda. 30 years of making college dreams come true! 27