ETHS College Application Guide

ETHS College Application Guide Class of 2016 Your Path to College A guide for students and parents/guardians Prepared by Student Services Department September, 2015

Table of Contents Page 2-3 2015-2016 Senior Calendar 4 ETHS College & Career Services 5-7 The College Application Process at ETHS 8 Additional Tips for the College Application Process 8 Common Application Specifics 9 Application Deadlines and Decisions 10 Suggested College Application Timeline 11-12 Transcript Request Form 13-14 The Application Essay and Essay Tips 15-16 Frequently Asked Questions 17 College Representative Visit Guidelines 18 Student Planned Absence Form Class of 2016 Counselors Alana Amaker Denise Chaitkin Anitra Holloway-Nelson Anthony Johnson Karen Morris Julie Morrow-Soto 1

2015-2016 SENIOR COUNSELING CALENDAR Aug 7 Aug 24 AUGUST 2015 Deadline for ACT Registration (Test Date: September 12, 2015 not at ETHS) First Day of Classes Sept - Nov Sept 2 & 3 Sept 3 Sept 3 Sept 4 Sept TBD Sept 12 Sept 18 Sept 20 Sept 26 SEPTEMBER 2015 Fall College Representative Visits at ETHS, Check schedule on Naviance College Application Process for Seniors (Counselor-specific small groups) College Application Process for Parents/Guardians of Seniors, 7:00pm (Auditorium) Deadline for SAT and Subject Tests Registration (Test Date: October 3, 2015 at ETHS) Counselors begin student recommendation interviews/accepting Transcript Request Forms Common Application Information Sessions for Seniors, Wildkit Academy ACT Test (not at ETHS) Deadline for ACT Registration (Test Date: October 24, 2015 at ETHS) Performing & Visual Arts College Fair, 1:00-3:30pm, DePaul University-Theatre School Chicago National College Fair, 11:00am-3:00pm, Navy Pier Oct 3 Oct 7 Oct 7 & 8 Oct 9 Oct 12 Oct 15 Oct 24 Oct 26 Oct 27 OCTOBER 2015 SAT and Subject Tests (at ETHS) Assessment Day Senior Information Sessions, 9:00am-12:00pm (W201) Fall Parent Teacher Conferences Deadline for SAT and Subject Tests Registration (Test Date: November 7, 2015 not at ETHS) Transcript Request Forms for College Applications with Nov. 1 Deadline Due to Counselors CHOICES Post-Secondary Planning Night for college-bound students with disabilities, 6-9pm, Niles North ACT Test (at ETHS) College Application Completion Workshop for Seniors, 2:45-4:00pm (W201) Transcript Request Forms for College Applications with Nov. 15 Deadline Due to Counselors NOVEMBER 2015 Nov 4 Kit Career Day, speakers in W201, periods 1-9 Nov 4 BEST Transition Resource Fair, 6:30pm, Niles North High School Post-secondary options for students with special needs Nov 5 Deadline for SAT and Subject Tests Registration (Test Date: December 5, 2015 not at ETHS) Nov 6 Transcript Request Forms for College Applications with Dec. 1 Deadlines Due to Counselors Nov 6 Deadline for ACT Registration (Test Date: December 12, 2015 at ETHS) Nov 7 SAT and Subject Tests (not at ETHS) Nov 30 Transcript Request Forms for College Applications with Jan. 1 & 15 Deadlines Due to Counselors Dec 5 Dec 10 Dec 12 Dec 28 DECEMBER 2015 SAT and Subject Tests (not at ETHS) Financial Aid Night for Seniors & Parents/Guardians, 7:00pm (Auditorium) ACT Test (at ETHS) Deadline for SAT and Subject Tests Registration (Test Date: Jan. 23, 2016 at ETHS) Jan 8 Jan 8 Jan 23 Jan 30 JANUARY 2016 Transcript Request Forms for College Applications with Feb. 1 Deadlines Due to Counselors Deadline for ACT Registration (Test Date: February 6, 2016 at ETHS) SAT and Subject Tests (at ETHS) Gap Year Fair, 1:00-3:30pm, New Trier High School, Winnetka campus 2

Feb 2 Feb 3 Apr 28 Feb 5 Feb 6 Feb 16 19 Feb 17 Feb 23 Feb 23 & 24 Feb 25 Feb 25 TBD Feb - April FEBRUARY 2016 FAFSA Completion Assistance Day, 8:30am-7:00pm by appointment (W201) (Assistance for seniors & parents/guardians) Summer School Mail-in & Online Registration Registration Deadline for the Redesigned SAT (Test Date: March 5, 2016 at ETHS) ACT Test (at ETHS) Military Visit Week (W201) UNITY Scholarship Fair, Periods 4,5,6 (W201) ETHS Scholarships Application opens Counselor Meetings: Countdown to Graduation & Beyond (Counselor-specific small groups) ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test), 8:30am-12:30pm (W124) Spring Parent Teacher Conferences Black Teen Summit Field Trip, Oakton Community College Spring College Representative Visits at ETHS, Check schedule on Naviance Mar 4 Mar 5 Mar 8 Apr 28 Mar 15 Mar 21 Mar 22 TBD Mar/Apr MARCH 2016 Deadline for ACT Registration (Test Date: April 9, 2016 at ETHS) Redesigned SAT (at ETHS) Summer School Walk-in Registration Nominations for Outstanding Senior Awards (in English classes) ETHS Scholarships Application Deadline 4:00pm Outstanding Senior Awards Voting (in English classes) Siguele Field Trip (for Latino students), Oakton Community College, Des Plaines Oakton Community College English Placement Test Apr 7 Apr 8 Apr 9 Apr 13 Apr 14 Apr 23 APRIL 2016 Senior Assembly, 3 rd period (Auditorium) Registration Deadline for the Redesigned SAT & Subject Tests (Test Date: May 7, 2016 not at ETHS) ACT Test (at ETHS) Niles College Night, 6:30-8:30pm, Niles West High School Understanding Your Financial Aid Award Letters, 8:30am-7:00pm by appointment (W201) (Assistance for seniors & parents/guardians) AP Academy (AP Exam Review), 9:00am-12:00pm (W201) May May 2-13 May 5 May 6 May 7 May 11 May 31 Jun 2 MAY 2016 Academic and Extracurricular Awards Programs Advanced Placement (AP) Exams Registration Deadline for the Redesigned SAT & Subject Tests (Test Date: June 4, 2016 at ETHS) Deadline for ACT Registration (Test Date: June 11, 2016 at ETHS) Redesigned SAT and Subject Tests (not at ETHS) Senior Awards Scholarship Night, 7:00pm (Upstairs Theatre) Summer School Final Registration, 7:00am-4:00pm JUNE 2016 Jun 4 Redesigned SAT and Subject Tests (at ETHS) Jun 7 Summer School begins (ends July 20) Jun 11 ACT Test (at ETHS) 3

What is available? ETHS College & Career Services The HUB (W201) 847-424-7160 Individualized assistance from a post-secondary counselor (walk-in or by appointment) o Exploring various pathways to careers o Navigating the planning process o Searching colleges and careers o Completing college and scholarship applications o Writing college and scholarship application essays o College representative visits Quality programs throughout the year dedicated to topics relevant to your needs Financial aid and FAFSA completion assistance Information regarding community colleges, scholarships, military options, athletics recruiting, summer programs, gap year, study abroad, standardized testing (ACT, SAT), and much more Extensive library of ACT/AP/SAT test preparation manuals and books related to career and college and miscellaneous post-secondary resources Check-out of materials from our resource library Internet access and individual computer work stations Naviance registration codes Online interest assessment tools and career database Who is available? Mrs. Beth Arey, College & Career Coordinator 847-424-7160 Provides comprehensive post-secondary counseling and coordinates areyb@eths.k12.il.us college planning programs. Mrs. Michelle Vazquez, Post-Secondary Counselor 847-424-7163 Provides comprehensive post-secondary counseling and coordinates vazquezm@eths.k12.il.us career exploration programs. Ms. Joyce Anderson, College-Bound Student Athlete Advisor Provides NCAA eligibility and athletic recruiting advising to student athletes considering collegiate athletics. andersonjo@eths.k12.il.us Ms. Nancy Wolf, Support Specialist 847-424-7160 Provides support to students and College & Career Services staff. wolfn@eths.k12.il.us Ms. Porsha Bostedt, ISACorps Representative 224-806-1996 Provides financial aid counseling and scholarship assistance. porsha.bostedt@isac.illinois.gov Check your email and visit the College & Career Services web page regularly! (listed under Students & Families on the ETHS website: www.eths.k12.il.us) 4

The College Application Process at ETHS What does applying to college involve? o Completing & submitting an online application (paper applications are rare) o Requesting school documents be sent Official Transcript School Report form (completed by counselor) Counselor Recommendation Letter (often required with Common App schools, sometimes required for other schools) ETHS School Profile Application Fee Waiver (for students on free/reduced lunch) Letter of explanation for AVID and/or Senior Studies o Requesting Teacher Recommendation Letters (when required) o Sending official test scores via actstudent.org and/or collegeboard.org (SAT) - unless the college is Test-Optional The application o Applications are generally available on-line by late August. o Some colleges use the Common Application (www.commonapp.org). The Common App opens on August 1. You can complete and submit one Common App to multiple schools, but you must first register with Common App through its website. Individual schools often also require that you complete a school-specific supplement, and pay their application fee. Follow instructions for each school carefully. (See Common Application Specifics) o Read the application instructions carefully. Your application is not complete until you have completed all parts of the application, and colleges hold you responsible for this. Look for any essays you need to write or letters of recommendation you need to request. Note each school s application deadline. o ETHS does not begin accepting Transcript Request Forms until September 4, 2015. Best time to apply is prior to December 1. Prioritize the completion of applications by deadlines as well as order of preference. To be considered for scholarships/financial aid offered by individual colleges you may be required to submit applications earlier. Apply well before each school s deadline. o Types of deadlines include Rolling Admission, Priority Deadline, Early Action, Early Decision, and Regular Decision. (Refer to Types of Application Deadlines chart for definitions.) o ETHS will automatically send schools your 7 th semester senior grades/midyear transcript. o Your final transcript will be sent to the school you will be attending after completion of the Senior Graduation Survey after May 1. Final transcripts are sent approximately the second week of June. 5

Requesting school documents be sent o Request your official transcript and other school documents be sent to the schools to which you are applying by submitting a Class of 2016 Transcript Request Form for each school to which you apply. This form is available in the Counseling Office and on the ETHS website. o Once a student submits a Transcript Request Form, the Counseling Office will be preparing and submitting the requested application materials electronically via Naviance edocs. o You must submit a Transcript Request Form to the Counseling Office according to ETHS deadlines. This means you must be prepared to turn in your Transcript Request Form(s) 3 weeks before the college s application deadline. This allows ETHS staff ample time for the preparation and submission of your application materials. You also will be asked to write your initials on the Transcript Request Form to verify that you already have submitted your application or you are finishing your application and will submit it by the college s application deadline. Transcript Request Forms Due to Counselors October 12 For College Applications with November 1 Deadlines November 6 For College Applications with December 1 Deadlines November 30 For College Applications with January 1 & 15 Deadlines January 8 For College Applications with February 1 Deadlines - Always allow up to 3 weeks for processing of school documents and transcript- o Some schools now require students to complete a Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR); they do not want an official transcript to be sent during the application process. You still should complete and submit a Transcript Request Form to the Counseling Office. You still may need an item other than a transcript to be sent such as an Application Fee Waiver. Even if you do not, submitting the TRF allows us to input your application information into Naviance, and will more easily facilitate the process of sending a final transcript later if you are admitted and decide to attend the school. o Many applications require that a School Report form be completed by your counselor. The Common App has its own School Report form. Most colleges also want to see an ETHS School Profile. The ETHS School Profile and the appropriate School Report form are automatically submitted for each of the schools on your Transcript Request Forms. o Set up an appointment with your counselor for a mandatory Recommendation Interview if your application requires a Counselor Recommendation Letter. Allow your counselor at least three weeks to write your letter. o Application Fee Waivers are available for students receiving free or reduced lunch. See your counselor s secretary to obtain a waiver. For Common App schools, student must complete fee waiver requests via his/her Common App account at www.commonapp.org. You can find this option by clicking on the Common App tab and then completing the Common App Fee Waiver segment of the Profile section. 6

Requesting Teacher Recommendation Letters (when required) o Teacher Recommendation Letters must be requested in person from your teachers. o If a teacher agrees to write a recommendation letter for you, follow-up by adding the request to the Teacher Recommendation section on the Colleges I m Applying To page of your Naviance Family Connection account. You must add a note to the teacher reminding him/her of the specific college(s) for which she/he is submitting the recommendation letter and each college s respective deadline. 1. Student navigates to the Colleges tab in Naviance Family Connection. 2. Student clicks Colleges I'm Applying To. 3. Student scrolls to the Teacher Recommendation section and clicks Add/Cancel Requests. 4. Student selects a Teacher from the drop-down menu and adds a note to the teacher. The note section must list the specific college(s) for which the teacher is submitting the recommendation letter and each college s respective deadline. Student repeats the process for all teacher requests he or she wants to make in this session. 5. Student clicks Update Requests. o Important Tip: If you apply to one or more additional colleges after adding an initial teacher recommendation request, you must add another teacher recommendation request in Naviance again including a note with name(s) of college(s) and respective deadline(s). o If your recommender is not a current ETHS teacher, please provide the recommender with stamped envelope(s) addressed to your college(s) so that the recommender may mail their recommendation letter directly to the college(s). o Allow your recommenders at least three weeks to write your letter. A thank-you note to your recommender(s) is always appreciated. Sending official test scores (unless the college is Test-Optional) Send Score Reports to colleges (ACT and/or SAT) if you did not request your scores to be sent when you took the test. Go to www.actstudent.org (ACT) or www.collegeboard.org (SAT). Interviews o Interviews are generally not a required part of the application process. However, if you are offered an opportunity to do an interview with a college, take it. Interviews can be offered on campus (during a visit) or locally by an admissions representative or alumnus in our area. Also note the following important application information: ETHS high school code/ceeb code: 141860 Class of 2016 High School Graduation Date: May 22, 2016 Term you are entering college: Fall 2016 (in most cases) Your type of application: Undergraduate, Freshman, Domestic Date you entered high school (month & year): 8/2012 (in most cases) Class size/# in senior class: Fall 2015 # determined as of 9/8/15 (Will be shared via Naviance) 7

Additional Tips for the College Application Process Create an email account just for college-related correspondence. Document and save all application account usernames and passwords. Remember participation in blogs, chat rooms, forums and social media (such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.) are never private. Inappropriate content may come back to haunt you. Use your legal name (needs to match your high school transcript). You may also need to provide your counselor s name, phone number, e-mail address and fax number. Save all essays, and save or print copies of completed applications just in case. If you ask a teacher for a letter of recommendation, give the teacher information about yourself. You may do so using the Teacher Recommendation Information Form (available in E118 & on ETHS website). Intended Major: If you have a major, great! If not, do not leave this blank. Indicate undecided or undeclared. Some schools will have their own special designation, such as general studies. Be sure to consult with the college about the appropriateness of any changes to your senior schedule. Your counselor is a great resource to help you with this. Common Application Specifics Students must create an account with Common App after August 1 at www.commonapp.org. For ETHS to be able to send transcripts and other documents to Common Application schools using Naviance edocs, the student must complete the Common App Account Matching process. o In your Common App account at www.commonapp.org, you must complete the current or most recent school segment of the Education section under the Common App Tab. o Add at least one college to My Colleges list. o Read & sign the FERPA Release Authorization in the Recommenders & FERPA section under the My Colleges tab. o Then, go to the Colleges I m Applying To page under the Colleges tab of your Naviance Family Connection account to complete the Common App Account Matching process. Your name and e-mail address must be the same in Naviance and in your Common App account. If you want to request an application fee waiver for a Common App School, you must complete the request from within your Common App account. If you are on free/reduced lunch, you qualify for an application fee waiver. You can find this option by clicking on the Common App tab and then completing the Common App Fee Waiver segment of the Profile section. If you are applying Early Decision I or II, you and your parent/legal guardian must complete their part of the Early Decision Agreement from within your Common App account before you turn in a Transcript Request Form to the ETHS Counseling Office. 8

Types of Application Deadlines Early Decision: In this process, a commitment is made by the student to the institution that, if admitted, the student will enroll. The student may apply to other colleges but only one can be an Early Decision application. It is always recommended that you speak to your counselor prior to choosing this option. Early Action: This process permits a student to submit an application to an institution of preference and receive a decision well in advance of the normal response dates in the spring. The candidate is not committed to enroll at that particular institution. The student may apply to other colleges. Priority Deadline: A specific deadline, earlier than the college s regular deadline, which allows a student s application to be reviewed and compared only to those who have filed by that priority date. Decisions are made and the students are notified earlier than students applying under regular admission. *** Colleges that have the above admission practices often admit the majority of their students by these early deadlines. Regular Decision: There is a specific deadline date for applying. The student is usually notified of the admissions decision by April 1 st or April 15 th. The student, in turn, must notify the colleges by May 1 st as to whether he/she will attend or not attend. Rolling Admission: The college notifies the applicant of the admission decision as soon as the application has been processed, usually in four to six weeks. It is to the student s advantage to apply early; however, some colleges may defer a decision until they receive seventh semester grades. Types of Admission Decisions Accept The applicant is formally admitted to the college or university. Deny Admission was not granted. Defer The college or university determines that more information is needed to make a final decision about the applicant. They will often want to see the seventh semester grades and/or new test scores. Wait List If a student is notified that he/she is on a wait list, this means that the college has many more qualified students than they can accept. Students being offered admission from the wait list will be notified after the May 1 st National Candidate Reply Date. Advantage to Applying Early? Many students make an effort to apply through one of the early application programs because they hope to beat the competition of regular decision. Although most colleges have a smaller number of applications in their early programs, whether it s easier to get accepted earlier than later depends on each college s policies. One factor to consider is whether your academic record will be stronger later in your senior year. If you had stellar junior-year grades, this may not be a concern. But if you think that your application would be stronger with the addition of your grades for the fall of your senior year, waiting for regular decision may be the way to go. A possible advantage to applying early, especially Early Action, is that you will receive admission decisions early. If you re accepted to one or several colleges, you may feel a bit less stress about the rest of the college admission process. If your application is declined at one or more colleges, you have some time to re-assess your college choices, if necessary. Colleges also can choose to neither accept nor reject, but rather defer your application to regular decision. If this happens, make sure to send updated information in time for the regular decision deadline to bolster your application. 9

Suggested College Application Timeline September Finalize your college list Read over applications Register with www.commonapp.org if you are applying to any Common App schools Start writing college essay(s). Ask for help from your English teacher and/or in College & Career Center in the Hub Set up a Recommendation Interview appointment with your counselor if you need a Counselor Recommendation Letter Ask teachers to write a letter of recommendation if one or more of your schools require Teacher Recommendation Letter(s) Attend College Representative Visits in the College & Career Center and/or visit college campuses October Submit applications on-line and turn in Transcript Request Forms to the Counseling Office for public, state schools and those schools with Priority Deadlines, Early Decision and/or Early Action Request ACT and/or SAT Score Reports be sent directly to the schools to which you are applying from the testing agency (www.actstudent.org or www.collegeboard.org) Attend College Representative Visits in the College & Career Center and/or visit college campuses Attend the Senior College & Career Information Sessions on Assessment Day, October 7 November Submit applications on-line and turn in Transcript Request Forms to the Counseling Office for schools with early deadlines of December 1 and Regular Decision deadlines of January 1 and 15 Request ACT and/or SAT Score Reports be sent directly to the schools to which you are applying from the testing agency (www.actstudent.org or www.collegeboard.org) Attend College Representative Visits in the College & Career Center and/or visit college campuses 10

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The Application Essay Colleges are seeking to get to know the person behind all the data on the application; more than just knowing your grade point average and test scores. Colleges seek to learn about your interests, aptitudes, social development, and leadership skills. They want to know what you will bring to their campus. You should not join clubs just for the application; you should get something out of it that you can share. It s what makes you interesting. A growing number of colleges require a personal statement from students. This is a very important part of the college admission process, especially at selective schools. More and more schools are requesting an essay, for several reasons: 1. The essay serves as a writing sample. Can this student develop a logical thought? Can he/she organize his/her ideas in a rational fashion? Can he/she communicate on a very basic level? Does this student utilize critical thinking skills? 2. The essay allows a college to see the person behind all the facts and data. This is a great opportunity to personalize the entire admission process. 3. The essay reveals what is important to you and shows how you think. Below are some actual essay questions from college applications. Try your hand at answering these. This would be good practice for you. Briefly describe your extracurricular activities and experiences, then choose the one activity or experience which has been most important to you and explain its significance in your life. In an essay, describe your educational and professional goals. Why are you applying to our college? Why should we accept you over other candidates? In an essay, tell how a play, movie, book, piece of art or musical composition has influenced you most. Assume we are familiar with the subject of your essay - do not do a "book report." In this space, feel free to tell us more about yourself. Use this space to let us get to know you better. Many students find this part of the application process to be most difficult. It's never very easy to write about yourself, much less your goals, dreams, and ambitions. Ease your mind. It may be possible to choose a topic that can be tailored to fit more than one college s essay question. When students understand that the personal essay serves to allow the applicant to shine through all the college admission statistics, they usually can relax with the process. Talk it out with someone. We welcome essay appointments in the College & Career Center in the Hub. 13

ESSAY TIPS Before you begin. Read the question/prompt carefully. Are you being asked to list, define, explain, compare and contrast? Pay close attention to the requested length. More is not better; less may weaken your efforts. Define your purpose. What s the point of what you are writing: to explain your academic performance, to highlight activities, to display your creativity or special interests? Add depth to your application. What do you want the college to know about you that they won t know from the rest of your application? Don t spend time repeating information that you have previously filled in on the application. Focus on what makes you unique. Think about a personality trait, an experience, your family situation or a world view that sets you apart from other high school seniors. However, don t reveal something about yourself that may be inappropriate or offensive to others. Strategies to get the job done right: Get your point across quickly and clearly. Grab the reader s attention with your introduction. Structure your essay logically guide the reader from point to point with strong transitions. Write in first person. (Just be careful not to start every sentence with I.) Use your own voice and vocabulary. Use examples and details to make your point. Make sure you have someone else read it! Key admission counselor quotes: Show, don t tell. Don t tell me about Aunt Sally s death. Tell me about how her death affected you. Don t tell me about the action, tell me about your reaction to it. The goal line means nothing I want to know how you got there. Use your resources: Teachers, Counselors, Writing Center, College & Career Center staff, to name a few. 14

Frequently Asked Questions Below are several of the most frequently asked questions about the college admission process: How many college applications should I plan to send? o If you are planning to attend a four-year college, we suggest you apply to at least three colleges with a good balance of the admission risk factor. For financial reasons, you might choose one to apply to as a "financial safety" school. o Many ETHS seniors file six or seven applications. There is no limit to the number of applications you may send, but remember that limiting your choices in the fall will make the decision easier in the spring. Should I bother to apply to a college we can't afford? o YES! The sticker price is not what you will pay. Take advantage of tools like the net price calculator and FAFSA 4caster to gain a clearer understanding of cost of attendance and eligibility o for financial aid. Remember, many private colleges have endowments that are used to help offset the cost of attendance. o Merit scholarships and non-need based university grants are generally awarded with the acceptance letter. o It is wise to diversify your list with a variety of cost options. When do I start applying to colleges? o NOW! o College application deadlines vary. Pace yourself so you won t have to rush to complete all your applications at once. 1. Refer to the 2015-2016 Senior Counseling Calendar for your ETHS deadlines. 2. File your state school applications early. Remember, the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign application has a priority deadline of November 1 st. 3. Apply early to colleges to give yourself the best chance at being admitted. And remember that after you turn in your Transcript Request Forms to your counselor, it will be up to three weeks before your transcript & other school documents are submitted to your schools. 4. Note: As you apply, you'll need to send an official copy of your test scores to each college if you did not do so when you took the ACT or SAT. (ACT: www.actstudent.org; SAT: www.collegeboard.org). One of my college applications requires me to write an essay. Where can I get help? o While writing a personal essay can be more challenging than a paper for a class, the same principles of good writing apply. Here are some tips to help you. 1. Allow yourself time to complete an essay section of a college application. 2. Review your essay. 3. Have someone (your counselor, Writing Center, English teacher, or College & Career Center) read over your rough draft to make any suggestions. 4. Proofread! A misspelled word or grammar error can ruin your efforts. 15

I need a letter of recommendation. What do I do? o First, ask a teacher if he/she is willing to write a letter for you. o In most cases you should request your letter from a junior teacher from a core course (English, Math, Science or History/Social Science). o Provide only the letters being requested. o Always give your recommender a minimum of two to three weeks to write the letter! Don't assume that he or she will, or even can, "drop everything" for you! Supply your recommender with a list of your grades, extracurricular activities, work experience and goals. o Check back with your recommender in about a week as a "friendly reminder" so that he/she doesn t forget to write the letter. And always send a thank you for his/her efforts on your behalf. Waive or do not waive? o Generally, not waiving your right displays a lack of trust for your recommender. Your recommender may choose not to write for you if you indicate do not waive. Note: Those who choose to write a recommendation letter for you will not be negative! When do I apply for financial aid? o In order to be considered for any federal aid programs, the student must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid Form (FAFSA). However, the FAFSA form can only be filed after January 1, 2016. (You and your parents/guardians should attend the Financial Aid Night on Thursday, December 10, 2015 for an in-depth explanation of financing your college education.) o The FAFSA is filed and submitted online as soon after Jan. 1 as possible. o Printable FAFSA Worksheets are available on the website (www.fafsa.ed.gov) to use for practice or reference. o Note: If your college has a separate institutional form or requires the CSS Profile, there will probably be an earlier deadline. o Watch for specific college application deadlines that must be met to be considered for institutional financial aid. I've been accepted to three different colleges. How do I let each of them know if I am attending or not attending? What if I'm not sure? o It is your responsibility to inform all the colleges, to which you have been accepted, about your decision. The college you are planning to attend must be notified of your decision by May 1 st at the latest. Sending a deposit to a college confirms your acceptance of a college's offer of admission. o You should inform colleges that you will not be attending in the fall by sending them a short letter, which thanks them for the offer of admission but informs them that you will not be attending. If you are unsure about whether you will attend a particular college (you're waiting to hear from your #1 choice college, or you're waiting to hear about financial aid), simply write a note to the college(s) telling them that you are unsure but wish to remain in the applicant pool until you have decided where you will attend. o In any event, it is YOUR responsibility to let a college know what your plans are. You expected the colleges to reply to your application quickly in the fall; grant them the same courtesy in the winter and spring! If you have any other questions, please visit your counselor, the College & Career staff, or call the college's Admissions Office. 16

ETHS College & Career Services COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE VISIT GUIDELINES Representatives are scheduled for one class period in the HUB (W201) unless otherwise noted. The purpose of these college visits is for the colleges to inform you about their curriculum, student opportunities, amenities, and to answer your specific questions. You are advised to plan ahead and frequently check for an up-to-date schedule of visits on Naviance. You may only miss one class per day, and you cannot miss the same class more than once per week. You are encouraged to sign-up for college visits through Family Connection. You must request permission from your teacher at least one day in advance. Permission to attend will be at the discretion of your teacher. Admittance to a visit is on a first-come first-served basis. Students should arrive promptly to ensure a seat in the presentation. You will sign the College Visit Attendance Roster during the college visit. If you are not signed in, your absence from class will be unexcused. NOTE: If you are unable to attend a desired session, sign up for the session online; then stop by College & Career Services (W201) after the session to pick up any informational materials left by the college rep. You are also encouraged to communicate with the rep about your interest. Contact information for the rep is listed in Naviance. Students who abuse the privilege of attending college representative visits will not be allowed to continue to participate. When these procedures are not followed, teachers have the option of treating attendance at a college representative visit as unexcused. Teachers are encouraged to notify Mrs. Arey, College & Career Coordinator (W201), of students who abuse this privilege. 17

Evanston Township High School Student Planned Absence Form Statement of Policy on Planned Absences: (1) The school believes that any extended absence from school means loss to the absentee, (2) that extended absence may cause serious loss, (3) that all absences should be for genuinely good reasons and (4) for college visits, students must provide verification of the college visit. The student and parent should consider carefully before deciding on any activity that necessitates school absence. The value of the activity should very clearly compensate for the loss of school instructional time. It is conceded that learning is not confined to the classroom and school; valuable learning may come from work experience or travel during the regular school year. It is, therefore, the belief of the school that the decision to miss school for work, travel, or visitation is primarily the responsibility of the parent and the student. The decision should be made in the light of the student s current status in school coupled with the value of learning. The student must assume the responsibility for make-up work. Students planning an absence from school for a college visit or a religious holiday for one or more consecutive days or will be out for 2 or more consecutive days for other reasons should complete the following: I,, ID#, grade, request to be absent from school beginning, 20 through, 20, in order to. (State Reason of Absence) Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Your signature means you approve this planned absence. Signature: Date: Teacher(s): Your signature means that the student has contacted you to inform you of the intended absence. You may write comments, however, you are not required to do so. 0. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Course Title Teacher Signature Comments Counselor: On the basis of his/her teacher(s) I approve / disapprove this request.* Counselor Signature: Administrator Signature: s scholastic, attendance record and information from Date: Date: Counts towards eight absence policy Does not count towards eight absence policy 18