THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS MHS Seniors Class of 2019 Presented by the Mills Counselors
Are you feeling… Confused? Stressed?
We are here to help you!
Today’s Agenda ➢ Comparison of College Application Requirements ➢ ACT & SAT ➢ Additional Requirements for Private Colleges ➢ Community Colleges ➢ Financial Aid & Fee Waivers ➢ Upcoming Events ➢ Transcript Distribution ➢ Naviance Activity: Senior Survey & more...
A Healthy Approach to College Admissions ➢ Apply to colleges that would be a good fit for you! ➢ Broaden the scope of the colleges to which you apply ○ 3 Reach, 3 Target, 3 Likely ➢ Do NOT apply to only Reach Schools ○ 8 Reach, 2 Target, 0 Likely
A Healthy Approach to College Admissions ➢ Apply to at least one financial aid safety school (a college your family is likely to afford) ➢ Don’t rule out any colleges based on cost yet! Wait to see how much Financial Aid they offer you...
College Application Requirements
Comparison of College Application Requirements* Online ACT or SAT Personal Letters of Official Application scores Statements Rec Transcript Community X Colleges X X CSU’s X X X UC’s Private X X X X X Colleges * See Comparison of College Requirements handout for more details. ** Requirements vary for out-of-state public colleges.
College Application Deadlines ➢ CSU & UC Application Deadline: November 30 th ➢ Private College Deadlines: ○ Early Application varies (Oct. to Nov.) ○ Regular Application varies (Dec. to Jan.) ➢ Community Colleges: Priority Enrollment begins February 2018
Private Colleges ➢ Early Action = Non-Binding ➢ Early Decision = Binding
The DUE date is not the DO date!
Recommended College Application Timeline SEPTEMBER ❏ Finalize college list Work on college application essays ❏ Request letters of recommendation* ❏ Complete Letter of Rec survey* ❏ OCTOBER Submit FAFSA financial aid application ❏ Request official transcripts* ❏ Refine college applications… ❏ Continue to monitor deadlines ❏ NOVEMBER Submit CSS Profile financial aid application* ❏ DECEMBER Last chance to take the ACT/SAT ❏ * Private colleges only. Deadlines for early applications may be sooner.
California State Universities (CSU’s) ➢ Minimum 2.0 GPA to apply ➢ SAT or ACT scores required ➢ Application window: October 1 st to November 30 th ➢ Apply online: Cal State Apply
University of California (UC’s) ➢ Minimum 3.0 GPA to apply ➢ SAT or ACT scores required ➢ Four Personal Insight Questions ○ Answer four of eight questions that tell your story in 350 words or less ○ Check out the writing Guide for Freshman Applicants on the UC Office of Admissions website ➢ Application available now - Submit between November 1 st to 30 th ➢ Apply Online:University of California Admissions
Private Colleges ➢ Each college sets their own application requirements and Due Dates ○ ACT/SAT scores ○ Personal Statement & supplemental essays CA Essay Tips ○ Letters of Recommendation (1 counselor, 2 teachers) ○ Official Transcript, Mid-year transcript, Final transcript ➢ Only apply to colleges you would seriously consider attending if accepted ➢ Apply online: Common Application, or check college website
ACT & SAT ACT/SAT Concordance Table
ACT & SAT If you’re applying to a 4-year college & haven’t taken the ACT or SAT, SIGN UP NOW!! ➢ Upcoming ACT Dates ○ Oct. 27 th – Register by Sept. 28 th ○ Dec. 8 th – Register by Nov. 2 nd ➢ Upcoming SAT Dates ○ Oct. 6 th – Late registration available ○ Nov. 3 rd - Register by Oct 5 th MILLS HIGH SCHOOL CEEB CODE FOR SAT/ACT: 051972
Sending ACT/SAT Scores ** Students must send ACT/SAT score reports to colleges themselves! ** ○ CSU’s : Send SAT/ACT scores to any one CSU campus, and it will be shared with the rest ○ UC’s: Send SAT/ACT scores to any one UC campus, and it will be shared with the rest ○ Private Colleges: Send ACT/SAT scores individually to each school
ACT & SAT – Sending Scores Money-saving tip: You can send scores to up to 4 colleges for free if you request them BEFORE taking the ACT/SAT!
ACT & SAT – Sending Scores ➢ SAT Subject Tests ○ Optional for most colleges ○ Some colleges and/or majors may require subject test scores -- Check individual colleges ○ UC’s have list of which colleges/majors recommend subject tests: SAT Subject Test Recommendations
Private College Applications
The Common Application Over 700 private colleges, one application. 1) Register at www.commonapp.org 2) Add at least one college 3) Submit the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) waiver 4) It is recommended for students to waive their right to view letters of recommendation 5) Sync Naviance account to Common App -- REQUIRED for colleges to receive necessary documents from Mills
The Common Application Need step-by-step instructions? PLEASE refer to the Mills “Applying to Private Colleges” handout! (BLUE handout)
Alternative Private College Applications Coalition App ● Some colleges now use the Coalition App, which is an acceptable alternative to the Common App Free “Priority” Applications ● Some colleges offer a free alternative to the Common App that allows students to apply directly to the university (e.g. Univ. of the Pacific, Univ. of Portland) ● Please use the Common Application anyway… you can still apply for free, but counselors are better able to process your paperwork through Naviance
Letters of Recommendation How many rec letters do students need? ○ Most private colleges require 1 to 2 teacher letters of recommendation ○ Students may request letters from a MAXIMUM of 2 teachers ○ Some colleges also require a counselor rec letter - Check each college’s admissions website Requesting letters of Recommendation are not ○ necessary for the UC’s and CSU’s *please see your counselor for more information
Letters of Recommendation When should students request letters? ➢ Counselors and teachers needs 6 weeks to write a letter of recommendation. Ask early!! ☺ ○ September 25 th : Deadline to request letters for Early applications ○ November 1st: Deadline for Regular decision applications How to Get a Great Letter of ➢ Recommendation Article
Letters of Recommendation Requesting Teacher rec letters: 1) Ask teacher in person 2) Use Naviance to submit requests to each teacher
Letters of Recommendation Requesting Counselor rec letters: 1) Ask counselor in person 2) Complete the Letter of Rec Survey in Naviance (REQUIRED!) 3) Schedule an appointment to discuss colleges (link on Mills Academic Counseling website under Contacts) ○ Ms. Mack (A-He): meetme.so/Mack Ms. Vasquez (Hi-M): meetme.so/Vasquez ○ Mr. Stillman (N-Z): meetme.so/Stillman ○
Letters of Recommendation IMPORTANT: IF you request letters of rec and later decide NOT to apply to private colleges, PLEASE INFORM YOUR COUNSELOR AND TEACHERS ASAP!! Also, keep your Naviance college list up-to-date!
Transcript Requests ○ Request official transcripts for private colleges through Naviance (instructions in today’s handout “Applying to Private Colleges”) ○ Private colleges require mid-year transcripts, which will be automatically sent ○ The college you choose to attend will require a final, official transcript in June ○ NO transcript required of CSU’s & UC’s until requested - check email & portals regularly!
Transcript Requests ➢ If you took any community college or online courses outside of Mills (Skyline, CSM, etc.), you must also request official transcripts to be sent from those schools. ➢ Mills cannot send grades earned from other institutions * See Applying to Private Colleges handout for detailed instructions
QUESTION Do senior grades and academic rigor count for: ➢ CSU’s? ➢ UC’s? ➢ Private colleges?
Senior Grades After applying, seniors MUST notify colleges of changes in schedule or senior year D’s/F’s...
Community Colleges
I’m on the fence…what do I do? 4 Year Community University College
I’m on the fence… what do I do? Community colleges offer: ➢ 2-year transfer program to UC/CSU and some local private colleges ➢ 2-year Associate Degrees/Vocational Training Over 50 Certificate & Associate Degrees offered, including Art, Broadcasting, Computers, Landscaping, Cosmetology, Automotive and Fire Technology
I’m on the fence… what do I do? 3 advantages of community college: 1. Lower tuition & living costs (save $$!) 2. First priority for transfer to UC/CSU (check out transfer guarantee programs) 3. Certificates/Associates degrees enable students to enter workforce sooner
Community Colleges ➢ Requirements: 18 years old or H.S. Diploma ➢ No SAT/ACT required ➢ Registration Workshop at Mills in February → Apply for Priority Enrollment Program (PEP) !!
Financial Aid & Fee Waivers
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