www.acacet.org Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step To College Workshops for Studets Late High School Curriculum Grades 11 ad 12
www.acacet.org Copyright 2008 These materials are copyrighted ad may be used oly with permissio. They may ot be sold or reproduced i ay other form.
Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step To College Workshops for Studets Late High School Curriculum Grades 11 ad 12 www.acacet.org Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets 3
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) Dear Voluteer, Thak you for participatig i NACAC s ( Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig) Step-by-Step to College Workshop for Studets. By egagig the support of a atioal etwork of professioal college couselors, it is our goal to expad ad improve college couselig for first-geeratio ad otherwise uderserved college-boud studets. Your idividual expertise ad commitmet are crucial to this effort. The prospect of college is dautig for all studets. Pressures are compouded for the first-geeratio or uderserved studet. Without adequate guidace from parets who have experieced the process themselves, ad without a strog support etwork i school ad i the commuity, the obstacles to college access for first-geeratio ad uderserved studets are may. Your job as a voluteer is to help promisig studets overcome these challeges ad examie the world of college opportuity that awaits them. Cetral to the Step-by-Step to College Workshops is the hope that you will help make studets more fully aware of the college opportuities available ad accessible to them. We hope that o studet will be limited i the college search process. Therefore, it is importat to actively help studets uderstad that their dreams of college eed ot be compromised by fiacial cosideratios, geographical barriers, or other obstacles. The curriculum that follows is a detailed pla to guide studets with whom you will be workig o the path to college success. We ecourage you to follow the sessio plas accordigly, while keepig i mid the special eeds of ay studet populatio at had. Feel free to apply your ow expertise ad istructio, as ecessary, to maximize the effectiveess ad beefit to studets. Thak you agai for choosig to voluteer your time with the NACAC Step-by-Step Workshop ad for cotiuig to be committed to helpig all studets reach their full potetial. Please feel free to cotact the NACAC Director of Professioal Developmet if you have ay questios. Sicerely, Joyce Smith Mary Lee Hogaso Phyllis Gill Joa Mudge Chief Executive Officer Past Presidet Past Presidet Past Vice Presidet Natioal Associatio Natioal Associatio Souther Associatio for Professioal for College Admissio for College Admissio for College Admissio Developmet Couselig Couselig Couselig Natioal Associatio College Cosultat, IL Providece Day for College Admissio School, NC Couselig Garriso Forest School, MD 4 Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) Itroductio Guidace i the later years of high school ca put studets o a successful path to college attaimet ad graduatio. At this stage, a couselor s role should iclude: Ecouragig studets to assess where they are i their college search ad applicatio process ad what steps to take to reach their goal of choosig the college that best suits their eeds Assistig the studets i puttig together a pla for stadardized testig Helpig studets assess their career iterests ad aspiratios ad begi researchig colleges to pursue those goals Guidig studets through the process of completig ad submittig a applicatio for admissio to the school of their choice Itroducig studets to the fiacial aid process Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets 5
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) Cotets The followig six-sessio curriculum lays a comprehesive foudatio to address all of the above. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sessio 1: Goal Settig: Takig Stock Sessio 2: Stadardized Testig Sessio 3: The College Search Sessio 4: The Applicatio Process (Part Oe) Sessio 5: The Applicatio Process (Part Two) Sessio 6: Fiacial Aid ad Fial Wrap-up PLEASE NOTE: While the curriculum is writte i a certai order, it is importat that you keep the eeds of your group i mid. Please feel free to chage the order of the sessios if you feel the eed to do so. Appedix: Letter for Parets Fial letter to Studets Certificates for Studets Studet Evaluatio Workshop Leader Evaluatio 6 Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) 1 Sessio I: Goal Settig: Takig Stock The purpose of this sessio will be for the studets to talk about where they are i the college search process (have they begu to thik about college, started a search, take a SAT/ACT)? Some idividual time with the Workshop Facilitator ad a college admissio checklist for 11th ad/or 12th grade should ed the sessio. Objectives: By the ed of this sessio studets will have: created a persoal defiitio/descriptio of college completed a persoal resume reviewed a college plaig caledar for juior ad seior years Activities ad Hadouts: Activity #1: Where are you? Activity #2: College Meas How do YOU defie college? Hadouts: How Do You Defie College? Cosiderig College Types Activity #3: Who are you? Hadout: College Couselig Resume ad Questioaire Activity #4: What ad whe? Hadouts: Caledar/checklist How to Use Your School Couselor Choosig Your Team Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets 7
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) 1 Sessio I: Goal Settig: Takig Stock Activity #1: Where are you? Opeig Discussio: At this poit, studets may be at very differet stages i the college selectio process. Usig the followig questios, geerate a discussio about what steps they have take so far i the college search. The purpose of the opeig discussio is ot oly to discuss the followig questios but also to have the studets lear more about oe aother as they share their ideas. This discussio i may ways is a ice breaker. Why are you here? Ask studets to make appropriate itroductios depedig upo settig ad compositio of group. Try to direct the studets to talk about their goals for the sessio ad goals for college attedace. What have you doe if aythig to prepare for college? This could be as sophisticated as doig a college search or as simple as takig college preparatory courses i high school, or talkig to a ext door eighbor. Have you visited a college? If so, what was the experiece like? Have you take the PSAT/PLAN ad/or SAT/ACT? Discuss. Have you started the college search process? If so, what have you doe? 8 Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) 1 Sessio I: Goal Settig: Takig Stock Activity #2: College Meas : How Do You Defie College? Opeig Discussio: The purpose of this exercise is to determie how much the studets kow about colleges ad how accurate their iformatio is. Remember that college ca iclude various forms of higher educatio icludig commuity college ad vocatioal schools. Activity/Hadouts: Defiitio Worksheet Cosiderig College Types Istructios: 1. Ask studets to pair with a parter ad the try to idetify specific ames of colleges amog the categories of colleges listed i order to see what they kow about differet types of colleges. 2. Use this exercise to geerate discussio about the variety of optios i higher educatio ad to give studets a opportuity to iteract with oe aother. 3. After aswerig questios, ask studets to tur to Cosiderig College Types ad read it together or siletly, circlig or highlightig ay facts that iterest them or about which they have questios. 4. Aswer questios oce studets have completed the readig. Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets 9
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) How Do You Defie College? Two year Four year Ivy League Historically Black Urba Suburba Specialized: Egieerig Culiary Art Medical Fashio Techology Iteratioal Coed Sigle Sex Public Private Major Athletic Cofereces Religiously affiliated Udergraduate Graduate Divisio III Other From: The College Board College Advisig Basics Workbook 10 Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) Cosiderig College Types Colleges are t all the same. Differet colleges ad uiversities have differet missios (or fuctios, or goals). While o two are exactly alike, most fit ito oe or more of the followig categories: Liberal Arts Colleges focus o the educatio of udergraduate studets. Classes are geerally taught by professors who see teachig as their primary resposibility. Because most liberal arts colleges are smaller tha uiversities, classes ted to be smaller ad more persoal attetio is available. As opposed to gaiig preparatio for a specific career path, studets who atted liberal arts colleges are exposed to a broad base of courses i the humaities, social scieces ad scieces. I additio, they select at least oe area of i-depth study which is their college major. May employers look for graduates of liberal arts programs, valuig their well-rouded preparatio. Uiversities are geerally larger ad iclude a liberal arts college, as well as some professioally-orieted colleges ad graduate programs. Uiversities offer a greater rage of academic choices tha do liberal arts colleges. They will likely provide more extesive resources i terms of library, laboratory, fie arts ad athletic facilities. At may large uiversities class size will reflect istitutioal size, with most itroductory classes beig taught i a lecture format. Some classes will be taught by graduate studets. Professors at major uiversities will be ivolved i research which adds to the vitality of the academic commuity, but may also draw eergy, focus, ad resources away from udergraduate teachig. Techical Istitutes ad Professioal Schools eroll studets who have made clear decisios about what they wat to study. They emphasize preparatio for specific careers, for example i music or fie arts, egieerig or techical scieces. You will wat to be quite sure of your future directio before selectig oe of these optios. Historically Black Colleges ad Uiversities fid their origis i the time whe Africa-America studets were systematically deied access to most other colleges ad uiversities. Studets at HBCU s have a uique opportuity to experiece a educatioal commuity i which they are a part of the majority. They fid committed faculty metors who ecourage their expectatios of success. Tribal Colleges are similar to HBCU s, focusig o the eeds ad educatio of Native America studets. Wome s Colleges, with their larger umbers of female faculty ad admiistrators, offer college wome cofidece-buildig role models, greater opportuities to serve i a full rage of studet leadership positios, ad a heighteed awareess of career possibilities for wome. Wome s colleges graduate a high umber of sciece majors, as well as studets who cotiue o to graduate school ad/or professioal studies. Commuity or juior colleges geerally offer the first two years of a liberal arts educatio, i additio to specialized occupatioal preparatio. A associate degree is awarded at the ed of a two-year program of studies, followig which may studets cotiue their educatio at a four-year istitutio. Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets 11
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER IN SELECTING COLLEGES INSTITUTION SIZE: The size of a college or uiversity will have a impact upo may of your opportuities ad experieces. The rage of academic majors offered, the extracurricular possibilities, the amout of persoal attetio you ll receive, ad the umber of books i the library will all be iflueced by size. I cosiderig size, however, it is essetial that you look beyod the raw umber of studets attedig. Cosider istead, average class size for both first year studets ad upperclassme. Ivestigate ot just the umber of faculty, but also how accessible faculty are to studets. Perhaps you are cosiderig a small departmet withi a large school, or vice versa. Large schools may offer extesive support services for studets with special eeds or those who are experiecig difficulty. Smaller schools may ot be able to fud similar programs. O the other had, extra support may ot be ecessary if faculty work closely with idividual studets. LOCATION: Distace from home may be importat to you. Is it importat to you to be able to visit home frequetly, or do you see this as a time to experiece a ew part of the coutry? Some of you will prefer a urba eviromet with access to museums, ethic food, or major league ball games. Others will hope for easy access to outdoor activities or the sereity ad safety of a more rural settig. ACADEMIC PROGRAMS: If you have a good idea of somethig specific you wat to study i college or a career for which you wat to prepare, look for well-respected academic departmets i this disciplie at the colleges you explore. Talk with professors ad studets i these departmets. Research relative reputatio by surveyig adults already i the field ad usig prited resources which rak academic departmets. You should ot limit your selectio process to academic program issues aloe. Studies show that a majority of college studets chage college major at least oce durig their college years. Therefore, it is importat to pick a college or uiversity that will offer you may appealig possibilities. Look for uique optios such as study abroad, uusual academic caledars, or cooperative educatio plas which eable you to iclude several paid iterships with your class work, as ways of ehacig your educatio. If you are udecided, relax ad pick a academically-balaced istitutio which offers a rage of majors ad programs. Most colleges offer expert couselig to help the udecided studet fid a focus. CAMPUS LIFE: Be sure that you cosider what your experiece will be like at a college beyod the classroom. I order to grow i all ways, you will wat a reasoable balace betwee academic rigor ad a active social life. Fid out what is available i terms of extracurricular activities, athletics, special iterest groups. Does the commuity surroudig the college offer attractive outlets for studets? Are studets truly welcomed by the commuity? Is there a ethic or religious commuity i which you ca participate? What ifluece, if ay, do fraterities ad sororities have o campus life? Colleges will ofte require that you live i campus housig for oe or more years. So, i cosiderig social life, be sure to look carefully at the quality of life i the dormitories. May colleges ow offer residetial-life optios such as substace-free dorms ad special iterest floors for studets who share academic, recreatioal or commuity service iterests. Others will offer dormitory-based study assistace, computer facilities, ad couselig services. Ask if housig is guarateed to returig studets. If so, how are dormitory assigmets made after the first year? 12 Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) COST: Today s price-tag for a college educatio has made cost a importat cosideratio for most studets. At the same time, virtually all colleges work very had to esure that academically-qualified studets from every ecoomic circumstace ca fid the fiacial aid which will allow them to atted. I cosiderig cost, look beyod the price-tag for available assistace. Decide the value of a desired educatioal experiece ad how much sacrifice (usually i terms of work ad loa) you are willig to make to obtai your goals. Work closely with the fiacial aid officers at the colleges to which you apply. Two factors which are less obvious to may studets, but very importat i predictig the kid of experiece you will have i college are DIVERSITY: You will lear much from your college classmates every day i the classroom ad i activities. Cosider geographic, ethic, racial, ad religious diversity of the studet body as ways of assessig your future learig opportuities. RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES: Oe of the best ways to measure the quality of a college or uiversity ad the satisfactio of its studets is by learig the percetage of studets who retur after the first year ad the percetage of eterig studets who remai to graduate. Comparatively good retetio ad graduatio rates are idicators that: a college ad a majority of its studets are well-matched, sufficiet classes ad academic programs are available resposible academic, social, ad fiacial support systems exist for most studets. From: CHARTING YOUR COURSE FOR COLLEGE (Copyright 2004: Mary Lee Hogaso) Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets 13
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) 1 Sessio I: Goal Settig: Takig Stock Activity #3: Who Are You? Opeig Discussio: Now is a time to reflect o idividual goals ad accomplishmets. Give a brief itroductio of the College Couselig Resume ad let studets kow that this iformatio ca help them fid a college that is a good match. Studets should also be ecouraged to share this iformatio with their high school couselor ad family as they work together to research colleges. Activity/Hadout: Persoal Resume Istructios: 1. Ask studets to complete the College Couselig Resume ad ecourage them to ask questios. 2. Make sure to collect the questioaires. 3. Try to allow time for idividual Q&A with the studets durig this activity. 4. Use this iteractio to help you determie the iitial eeds of this group ad to pla future sessios. 14 Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) College Couselig Resume Sectio I Family: Father Mother Guardia Sibligs Name(s) Educatioal Backgroud (high school, post-high school, etc.) Occupatio Sectio II Academics/School: 1. Check the followig: Eglish History Laguage Math Sciece Computer Art Other Which subjects do you like the best? I which subjects have you doe the best? Which subjects are more difficult for you? 2. Your academic record: How would you describe your academic record? Are your grades above, below, or cosistet with your ability? Why? 3. Your fiest academic momet: Describe that achievemet or experiece. Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets 15
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) Sectio III School Activities: Activity Grade Level 9 10 11 12 Beyod Athletics (sport ad level [JV, varsity, etc.] ad ay awards) Extracurricular Activities (clubs, orgaizatios) Employmet ad Summer Activities Church/Commuity Service Sectio IV College/Career Iterests: 1. List the college majors that iterest you. a. b. 2. Idetify the professio(s) i which you see yourself workig. 16 Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) Sectio V: FACTORS AFFECTING YOUR COLLEGE CHOICES: 1. Besides gettig a educatio ad preparig for a career, what are other reasos why you are goig to college? 2. What type of college eviromet will challege you to grow the most academically ad persoally? 3. What are your top 4-6 criteria i selectig a college? 4. I college, what extracurricular activities do you wat to cotiue or begi? 5. What professios iterest you the most? 6. List college majors that iterest you 7. What pressures, if ay, are you feelig from yourself or others about goig to college? 8. What are your major cocers about attedig college? 9. College Type: Sigle Sex Coed Either Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets 17
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) 10. College Locatios Check regios ad circle states of particular iterest: o Midwest (IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI) o Southeast (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV) o Mid-Atlatic (DE, D.C., MD, PA, NJ, NY) o New Eglad (CT, ME, MA, NH, VT, RI) o West (AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, HI, KS, MT, NE, NV, NM, OK, OR, ND, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY) o Caada, Eglad, Scotlad If you are iterested i specific cities, list them here ad explai why. 11. Commuity (check all that apply): o small tow o large tow o ear a city o ear the moutais o ear the coast o udecided 12. College size (check all that apply): o uder 500-1000 o 1000-2000 o 2000-5000 o 5000-10,000 o over 10,0000 o o preferece Sectio VI Fial Thoughts: Is there aythig else you d like to share about yourself? 18 Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) 1 Sessio I: Goal Settig: Takig Stock Activity #4: What ad Whe ad Who? Opeig Discussio: Remid studets that eve though the process ca seem overwhelmig, if they take it step-by step, it will be easier. They will feel as if they are i cotrol of the process. Keepig a caledar of importat dates ad deadlies is absolutely essetial throughout the college search ad applicatio process. Developig a solid relatioship with the school couselor will be a additioal source of support, as will recogizig the role of family, frieds ad commuity cotacts. Activity/Hadouts: Caledar/Checklist How to Use Your School Couselor Choosig Your Team Istructios: 1. Had out the caledar for the juior ad seior year that will give studets a idea of where they should be i the preparatio for eterig higher educatio. 2. Briefly go over the list lettig studets kow that much of the iformatio will be discussed i future sessios. 3. Ask studets to check the appropriate boxes ad keep the caledar i a safe, useful place. 4. Go over the hadout o How to Use Your School Couselor, poitig out to studets the importace of usig their couselor to help them through the applicatio process. 5. Ask studets if they have met with their couselor. 6. Had out Choosig Your Team ad ask studets to idetify at least oe perso who will be a support for them as they apply to college. 7. Ask the studets to take home their checklist, resume, ad questioaire, to complete ad brig them back for the ext sessio. Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets 19
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) PREPARING FOR COLLEGE: JUNIOR/SENIOR CHECK LIST JUNIORS Fall: o Start your year off right by talkig with your guidace couselor about the year ahead. Cofirm that your courses will put you o the right track for college admissio. Be sure to ask about test dates for the PSAT, ACT, ad SAT. You ll eed to register up to six weeks ahead of time. o Startig developig a résumé a record of your accomplishmets, activities, ad work experieces. This will be a importat part of your college applicatio. o If you have t participated i may activities outside of class, ow is the time to sig up. Cosider clubs at schools, team sports, leadership roles, or ivolvemet i your religious or civic commuity group. o Take the PSAT. Takig the test as a juior will qualify you for some scholarship cosideratio ad idetify you to colleges as a potetial applicat. Whe you receive the results (usually i December), review them to lear more about your stregths ad weakesses. Discuss the results with your family ad school couselor. o Begi to prepare for the ACT or SAT. Free test preparatio may be available at your school, your local commuity colleges, ad commuity based programs; i additio, there are may free resources o the Iteret. If you ca t fid the best Web sites, ask your couselor. You should pla to take at least oe of these tests i the sprig ad agai ext fall durig your seior year. Ask your couselor if you qualify for a fee waiver. Jauary/February: o Meet with your guidace couselor agai to develop your seior schedule. Make sure that you will be erolled i the most challegig courses for which you are qualified. o Register for a sprig offerig of the SAT ad/or ACT. Ask your couselor if you should take a SAT Subject Test this sprig. o Ask your couselor about summer opportuities o college campuses. These ca be a great way to fid out what college life is all about ad make you a more attractive cadidate for admissio to colleges. 20 Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) March/April: o Begi takig a more serious look at colleges ad uiversities. Make a file for each college i which you are iterested ad gather iformatio about academics, fiacial aid, ad campus life. Go to college fairs ad ope houses ad lear as much as you ca about colleges olie. o Begi plaig college visits. Sprig break is a good time to visit. Try to visit colleges ear you. ad iclude a large, medium size, ad small campus o Develop a prelimiary list of colleges that iterest you. Write or email to request a viewbook ad additioal iformatio. o Thik about liig up a summer job, itership, or co-op. May: o Take a look at some college applicatios ad cosider all of the differet pieces of iformatio you will eed to compile. o Make a list of teachers, couselors, employers, ad other adults whom you might ask to write letters of recommedatio for your college applicatios. Summer: o Cotiue ivestigatig colleges o Begi thikig about your applicatios. Geerally, colleges will have their applicatios olie by the begiig of August. Work o the essay before you retur to school! Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets 21
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) SENIOR YEAR TIMELINE August/September o Register for the SAT ad/or ACT if you did t take it as a juior, or if you are t satisfied with your score ad wat to take it agai. (remember that your couselor ca help you with fee waivers) o Take a look at some college applicatios ad cosider all of the differet pieces of iformatio you will eed to compile. o The SAT test date most popular with high school seiors is this moth. o Visit with your school couselor to make sure you are o track to graduate ad fulfill college admissio requiremets. If you re ahead of schedule, cosider takig courses at a local uiversity or commuity college to get a jumpstart o college credit. o Take every opportuity to get to kow colleges: meetig with college represetatives who visit your high schools durig the fall, attedig local college fairs, visitig campuses (if possible). Ask your couselor if they kow of special campus visitatio programs. o Narrow dow your list of colleges ad begi to cosider safe, reach, ad realistic schools. Make sure you have the applicatio ad fiacial aid iformatio for each school. Fid out if you qualify for ay scholarships at these schools. o Create a checklist ad caledar to chart: Stadardized test dates, registratio deadlies, ad fees College applicatio due dates Fiacial aid applicatio forms ad deadlies Other materials you ll eed for college applicatios (recommedatios, trascripts, essays, etc.) Your high school s applicatio processig deadlies o Some schools require the CSS/Fiacial Aid Profile. Ask the colleges to which you are applyig for their deadlies. You ca register as early as September. See your guidace couselor about fee waivers. 22 Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets
Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets Natioal Associatio for College Admissio Couselig (NACAC) October o Some colleges will have deadlies as early as this moth. These would iclude rollig admissio, priority, early decisio, ad early actio deadlies. o If you caot afford the applicatio fees that may colleges charge, ask your couselor to help you request a fee waiver. o Fialize your college essay. May schools will require that you submit at least oe essay with your applicatio. o Request persoal recommedatios from teachers, school couselors, or employers. Follow the process required by your high school or provide a stamped, addressed evelope, the appropriate college forms, ad a outlie of your academic record ad extracurricular activities to each perso writig you a recommedatio. o Research possibilities of scholarships. Ask your couselor, your colleges, ad your religious ad civic groups about scholarship opportuities. There are also some good scholarship web sites. You should NEVER pay for scholarship iformatio. November o Fialize ad sed ay early decisio or early actio applicatios due this moth. Have a paret, teacher, couselor, or other adult review the applicatio before it is submitted. o Every college will require a copy of your trascript from your high school. Follow your school s procedure for sedig trascripts. o Make sure testig compaies have set your scores directly to the colleges to which you are applyig. o The FAFSA (Free Applicatio for Federal Studet Aid) will be available this moth, but caot be completed before Jauary 1. This is the form you will complete to fid out what fiacial aid you are eligible to receive from the govermet. Ask your guidace office for a copy or visit www.fafsa.ed.gov This form should be filed olie if at all possible. December o Begi to orgaize regular decisio applicatios ad fiacial aid forms, which will be due i Jauary ad/or February. o Register for the Jauary SAT (If eeded). It is the last oe colleges will be able to cosider for a seior. Guidig the Way to Higher Educatio: Step-by-Step to College Workshops for Studets 23