College Planning for Seniors and Their Parents Nashoba Regional - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

College Planning for Seniors and Their Parents Nashoba Regional High School Guidance Department Class of 2018

Agenda @nashobaguidance  Testing  College Visits  Admission Plans  Student Admission Folder • The Application • Essays  The Guidance Package • Transcripts • Recommendations & Checklists  Deadlines

College Planning Events Evening Events Mass Public College Fair  – Wednesday, 10/ 18 6:00-8:00pm Nashoba Financial Aid Night (MEFA)  – Wednesday, 10/ 18 6:00 Auditorium Nashoba Other Events:  FAFSA Day 2017 (www.fafsaday.org) - Area Colleges Saturday October 28 – Worcester State Sunday October 29 – Fitchburg State Sunday January 28 – Quinsigamond CC Now “Prior-Prior Year” FAFSA opens 10/1 – uses 2016 data

Required Testing  Most colleges require some testing – maybe for Merit Aid  The vast majority of colleges accept either the SAT or ACT (It is the student’s responsibility to check the college website for specific, current, requirements).  See www.fairtest.org for a list of colleges which are test score optional.  Score Optional or Score Flexible – 950+ schools  Fewer than a dozen require SAT II Subject tests; another handful recommend them; some specific majors might require 1, 2, or 3 SAT II;s. See www.compassprep.com for a list of colleges that require SAT II Subject Tests.

Test Flexible

Standardized Testing Please note that the CEEB code for NRHS is 220162 Test Date Test Registration Scores to Deadline Colleges 10/7 SAT 9/27 (late) 11/10 10/28 ACT 10/6 (late) 11/7 11/4 SAT 10/5 12/8 12/2 SAT 11/2 12/19 12/9 ACT 11/3 1/5 www.collegeboard.com: SAT I & II ACT: www.actstudent.org

How do the colleges get my test scores? It is your responsibility to have the official test record of your SAT  I/SAT II or ACT tests sent to the colleges from the testing organization. Use the “four free” with each test administration to send, or log on to  your account and “send scores”. $12-$13 per school. No need to wait – colleges will hold them for your application.  EA & ED candidates – be sure that your school will accept scores if  they arrive after the application deadline! Some school require entire test report, others will let you select which  scores you send in. By default College Board sends entire test report; ACT you must  select test dates. Call admissions to clarify any testing questions specific to that college

Speaking of Testing ….. I gnore the “Average” Use the Scattergrams

College Visits Demonstrated Interest  On Campus Tours – Up to three days excused – Learn what college admissions officials expect from candidates. – Evaluate the environments of the school (academic, physical and social) – Sit in on a class, stop and eat, read the school paper, look at the bulletin boards – Meet the students who are attending and who would become your school world. Columbus Day Weekend 10/7-10/9 Early Release – 10/27 & 12/8 PT Confs – 11/6, 11/9 ER Veterans Day – 11/10

Admission Officers visit NRHS (70+ this year) Demonstrated Interest  Approximately 45 minute visit  Click on “register” at least 24 hours in advance  Seek teacher approval to miss class  Most often this rep will be the “first read” of your folder

Admission Plans  Regular Decision (all applications are read together)  Early Decision (binding for student and college)  Early Action (student keeps all options open) – Restrictive Early Action  Rolling (often admitting by major or program; housing may be an issue)  Rolling with deadline (read on a rolling basis, but looks like a “regular decision” deadline  Alternative Plans of Admission Second Semester Admission – Alternative Program Admission – General Studies – Summer Term – Guaranteed Transfer –

Things to do now  Teacher Recommendations  Counselor Recommendations  Activities List  Essays & Short Answers  Applications  Send Scores

ONLY TWO

This is critical --- be sure to select “All Colleges” It is important to note that teachers can no longer see your college deadlines on their Naviance desktop. Th This m akes it CRI T I TI C I CAL t t hat you c com m unicat e deadlines w ell in a advance --- as soon as you know of an early program you will be applying to, see the teachers and let them know.

This field will initially show “Requested” Once a teacher submits their letter to Naviance, it will show “Submitted” “Submitted” will NOT mean submitted to the college. You will know it was submitted when your entire transcript package is sent --- On the Colleges tab it will say “Initial Materials Submitted” rather than “pending”

Counselor Recommendation  At least 3 weeks prior to 1 st deadline  Specific Recommendation Appt – Student write up for counselor – Parent write up for counselor – Activities list or resume – Draft of Essay

Meet with your Guidance Counselor Regularly - Update on where you are in the process - Go over college options - Discuss testing needs - Review application timelines - Update college list in Naviance Make a SPECIFIC appointment for the recommendation - At least 3 weeks prior to first deadline - Hopefully it will be much earlier – think 4-6 weeks - We cannot guarantee a letter if we do not have time to write it !

Things to do in Naviance – Update College List

I clicked “directly to institution” (complete the Common App Match once) Click Pencil to make changes This tells Mrs. Hilliger how to submit the transcript package and what your application deadline is.

Student Admission Folder Student requests SATs or ACTs from testing 1. organization Student mails or submits: 2. Application Forms (completed & signed) – Application Fee – Essay, Activities/Work Resume, other – Guidance mails or submits: 3. – School Profile – Transcript (3 year) & Q1 report card – Recommendations: Teacher(s) & Counselor along with Evaluative Checklists for each

The Application  Common Application  www.commonapp.org Over 700 colleges accepting (48 MA schools including the U-Mass system.)  MOST schools have a supplemental form.  Pay & submit on line – 1 at a time.  Institution Specific Applications Each application is different. Carefully review instructions and deadlines! –  Coalition Application Originally designed for underserved student population – Over 100 schools will accept, but not prefer – U-Floriday, U-Maryland, U-Washington are coalition exclusive – HS materials still go through Naviance –

Essays  The essay serves a variety of purposes for the admissions counselor: – Shows writing style, technical correctness, fluency, etc. – Judges the depth of understanding of intellectual or social issues – Demonstrates perspective and quality of thinking  Since the essay is student produced, it often reflects, or confirms, what is presented throughout the rest of the application package.  Nice place to showcase a part of your personality not already evident in activities & recommendations  The essay can be a powerful “ tipper ” in close cases – and this is especially true with very strong or very poor essays .

The Application Package • Completed application – neatness and accuracy counts!! • Essay (Topic and length may vary by institution) • Short Answers (Just as important as essay) • Application Fee (See Guidance if a fee waiver is needed) Now go into Naviance and click on “have you applied” and indicate Yes !

Student Admission Folder Student requests SATs or ACTs from testing 1. organization Student mails or submits: 2. – Application Forms (completed & signed) – Application Fee – Essay, Activities/Work Resume, other Guidance mails or submits: 3. – Recommendations: Teacher(s) & Counselor – Transcript (3 year) & Q1 report card – School Profile

Counselor Recommendation Students must contact Mrs. Hilliger in order to set up a time for their  Counselor Recommendation Interview to which they will bring: Copy of their resume (Naviance) – – Draft of their College Essay – Parent Survey (Naviance) – Counselor Recommendation Survey (Naviance) Review:  Colleges in Active List – Student has responsibility to send scores – Teachers are listed as requested recommenders – Student has signed the transcript release – Student will click “I have applied” to trigger transcript package – These meeting are in addition to, not instead of, regular individual college  counseling appointments .

Transcript  3 year transcript – Course level & name, final grade & credits – Weighted GPA each year – Cumulative, weighted GPA & unweighted GPA  Q1 grades