How many schools should I apply to?
Navigating the College Application Process
just remember it s still September!
DA VINCI SCIENCE COLLEGE COUNSELING The following statistics are based on the final transcript requests of the graduates of 6/7/2012. Graduating Class of 2012.45 Percentage attending College in Fall of 2012 100% Percentage accepted to a Four Year Institution..87% Percentage attending a Four Year Institution..60% Percentage attending a Two Year Institution..40% Percentage attending a School Out-of-State..22.2%
LIST OF COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (4) INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS IN CA (11) Sierra Nevada College Davis Art Institute of Los Angeles South Dakota School of Mines and Tech Merced Azusa Pacific Southern Oregon University Riverside Cal Lutheran University University of Advancing Technology Santa Cruz Dominican University University of Alabama Laguna College of Art & Design University of Arizona CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY (17) Marymount College University of Bridgeport Bakersfield Menlo College University of Hawaii, Manoa California Polytechnic Pomona Otis College University of Kansas Channel Islands University of La Verne University of Nevada, Las Vegas Chico University of the Pacific University of New Mexico Dominguez Hills University of Redlands University of Oregon East Bay University of Utah Fullerton OUT-OF-STATE SCHOOLS (24) Weber State University Humboldt American University of Paris Long Beach Arizona State University CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES (3) Los Angeles Colorado State University El Camino College Maritime Drexel University Santa Monica College Northridge Georgia State University West LA College San Bernadino San Diego San Francisco San Marcos Sonoma Hofstra University Louisiana State University Northern Arizona University Oregon State University Rochester Institute of Tech
College Writing and Senior Workshop Review Transcripts Graduation Requirements A-G Requirements Gather Your Documents Transcript Brag sheet Resume Parent questionnaire (parents) 2012 tax documents (parents) Letters of recommendation (private schools only) Essay prompts (when necessary) Finding The Right Fit CCC 106 campuses CSU 23 campuses UC 9 campuses Independent over 1,000 across the country Public Out of State over 1,000
October-December Register for standardized tests (SAT/ACT) for October-December: Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 1 Create professional email address and give password to a parent/guardian Create user name/password MASTER SHEET for all of the below accounts (as needed): Create Common App account Create CSU Mentor account Create UC account Create other college accounts Use Naviance to make sure of application deadlines & financial aid dates Da Vinci Design login: http://connection.naviance.com/davincidesign Da Vinci Science login: http://connection.naviance.com/davinciscience Create activities resume assisting in your filling out of college applications
Complete your brag sheet (to be given to teachers who are writing your letters of recommendations) Decide who the best teachers are for your recommendations and ask them to write you one (4-6 weeks notice is best) Work on your personal statement/essay questions for college applications Create list of scholarships
Reach - Target - Safety Aim to apply to five colleges and to complete five scholarship applications and the FAFSA by the end of January of your senior year. Why five? When you apply to only one or two schools, you take a risk. You might be turned down, or you might close off your options too soon. The five schools you apply to should include reach, target, and safety schools. Reach: Your top choices, the most academically challenging schools on your list. You should include a couple of long shots, you might be pleasantly surprised. Target: Schools where you would be very happy and are likely to be admitted. These are your realistic choices. Safety: Schools where you are almost certain to be admitted and where you think you would be happy and get a good education. (Make sure to pick safeties that you will actually attend)
Finalize your list of colleges/universities in Naviance Gather all necessary documents based on list of requirements from colleges Select your application types for each college: Regular Admission Early Action (non-binding) Early Decision (binding) Rolling Admission Know your deadlines and make a calendar
CCC CSU UC INDEPEN DENT OOS PUBLIC Application Online application Online application Online application Online application Online application Tests Placement tests in Math and English SAT or ACT SAT or ACT 2 subject tests recommended Essays No essay No essay 2 essay prompts Requirements vary Requirements vary Requirements vary Requirements vary Other Spring Oct. 1- Nov. 30 Oct. 1 (opens) Submission periods Nov.1-30 2 teacher recs 1 SR Resume Supplements Requirements vary
Online application (ex: Common App) www.commonapp.org www.csumentor.edu www.universityofcalifornia.edu Other Applications Secondary School Report/Counselor letter (to counselor) Teacher Evaluations (2 academic teachers) Official transcripts (sent by counselor via Naviance) Envelopes addressed to colleges Send test scores from testing agency (1 UC only) Essays Supplemental applications Naviance!
Electronic system for college applications and supporting documents -Transcripts (initial, mid year & final) -Teacher & Counselor Recommendations -School profile/secondary report Efficient (and preferred system) for colleges, students and parents -Eliminates the need for paper (envelopes, stamps) & phone calls to colleges and Da Vinci -REDUCES the time needed to get documents to colleges -REDUCES the chance of error and mix-up of student files -Allows parents to monitor status of college applications and assist your students
Students add colleges to their list on Naviance Family Connection Students create Common Application account (this allows Da Vinci to electronically send their documents directly to the college) Counselors submit transcripts to colleges electronically Students can request recommendations from teachers Counselors and teachers transmit electronically to colleges Not ALL colleges accept electronic submissions, so some colleges will have to be sent via postal mail
It s not too late! Register for last chance SAT s and ACT s. Test prep via Naviance. UC SAT or ACT with Writing and 2 subject tests (recommended) CSU SAT or ACT with Writing Private Universities requirements vary OOS Public requirements vary Community College placement tests for English and Math Note: Every college/university will accept either the SAT or the ACT for admission, however, sometimes they recommend one over the other.
October 1 UC and CSU application available online October 1 CSS Profile opens October 6 SAT and subject test date October 10 - College Night in Spanish October 27 ACT test date November 1 Deadline for some early applicants November 3 SAT test date November 30 Deadline for all UC/CSU applications December 1 SAT test date (last chance) December 8 ACT test date (last chance) December 5 Financing Your Education (DVS & DVD) January 1 Submit FAFSA
Federal Types Grant of Financial Programs Aid Cal Grant Scholarships Work Study Student/Parent Loans
October 1: CSS Profile becomes available Tax return from previous year (2011) W-2 Forms from previous year (2011) Records of Investments January 1: FAFSA becomes available Current year tax returns (2012) W-2 from current year (2012) *** If applying to private schools, please check their websites for deadlines***
Create accounts for scholarship searches and apply! Fastweb.com Collegeboard.com/pay Scholarships.com Research the cost of education of potential universities student might attend Stay organized with documents need for FAFSA and CSS Profile Attend Financial Aid Night on December 5th
Send test scores directly through the testing agency no later than December 16 th or as soon as scores are in. Meet all college application deadlines. Visit Naviance, College Board or individual college websites for more info. Request official transcripts 4-6 weeks before deadlines. Check your email frequently. Keep your grades up. All acceptances are conditional.
How many schools should I apply to?
Please join us for our presentation on Financing Your Education in December 5th.