Post on 22-Dec-2015
transcript
TOPICS WE WILL GO OVER TONIGHT INCLUDE…
SAT / ACT
College Applications
The Common App
College Search on NavianceSummer
Opportunities
How to choose a collegeNEW! Senior
student/parent panel
College Visits
Course selection
Financial Aid / Scholarships
Lottery Money $
College
Philosophy
HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE
Step 1: Education, Self-Evaluation, and Preparing to ApplyJunior Year Spring and Summer
Step 2: Shopping for CollegesJunior Year Spring, Summer and Senior Year Fall
Step 3: Choosing and Applying to CollegesSenior Year Fall and Winter
Step 4: Making a College ChoiceSenior Year Fall, Winter, Spring
STEP 1: EDUCATION, SELF-EVALUATION, AND PREPARING TO APPLY
JUNIOR YEAR SPRING AND SUMMER
Educate yourself – Naviance college search can help you!Six Key Issues to Examine:
• Academic Program• Size: College or University• Geography/Location• School Culture• Cost/Financial Aid• Selectivity
ACADEMIC PROGRAM: LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES
HumanitiesHistory, English, Philosophy, Theology, Languages
Math and SciencesVisual and Performing ArtsSocial Sciences
Psychology, Economics, Sociology, Political ScienceInterdisciplinary Majors: (Interdisciplinary majors allow students to construct a college major with
courses from various departments within a college or university) Internet Studies Environmental Policy and Planning Earth and Ocean Sciences African American Studies Non-Profit Management
LIBERAL ARTS VS. PRE-PROFESSIONALLiberal ArtsPrepares for nothing?Prepares for Everything!Classical EducationDevelops Skills:
Problem SolvingWritingResearch
Pre-professionalPrepares for ProfessionOffers license, credential, and/or state certificationDevelops SkillsDownside?
Less flexibilityFor the Student who is Career Certain
SIZE: COLLEGE VS. UNIVERSITY
CollegeOne missionSmall classesClose student/faculty relationshipsOpportunities for several interestsResearchLess diverse
UniversityCollection of collegesDiversityMore programsMore and less flexibilityLots of stimulationBig classesTA’s
GEOGRAPHY SCHOOL CULTURE
Urban vs. RuralPlanes, Trains, AutomobilesCost of travelWeather
Liberal vs. ConservativeReligious AffiliationHighly Intellectual/Party SchoolCommitment to DiversityHBCU’sSingle Sex vs. Coed
WHAT MATTERS IN THE COLLEGE APPLICATION
GPA and Course Rigor #1! (especially for Honors Colleges)
School reputation ACT/SAT Scores *Some schools are test optional*
Resume - athletics, activities, community service, work
Essays
Letters of recommendation
Question to think about…
How does my academic profile match up to the admitted student profile at those schools I am considering?
STEP 2:SHOPPING FOR COLLEGES
(Junior Year Spring, Summer and Senior Year Fall)
Junior student/parent meetings to begin in March – look for letter to schedule
Register for the SAT and/or ACT (3 left for SAT / 2 for ACT)
Study for SAT and/or ACTVisit, visit, and visit more colleges! 2 excused absences allowed
Do well in classCultivate teacher relationships – they will be writing your rec. letters!
Plan for the summer – see “summer opportunities” on the Guidance webpage
COURSE SELECTION FOR NEXT YEAR’S CLASSES WILL BEGIN NEXT
WEEK!
**New courses for 2014/2015 school year**AP Chemistry
Honors Physics II
SAT TEST DATES ACT TEST DATESMarch 8th Register by Feb. 7th
May 3rd Register by April 4th
June 7th Register by May 9th
Where to register:
www.collegeboard.org
or
www.sat.org/register
(Feb. 8th) (Deadline passed)
April 12th Register by March 7th
June 14th Register by May 9th
Where to register:
www.actstudent.org/start
STEP 3: CHOOSING AND APPLYING TO COLLEGES
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS 101
Two Options:
School specific applications or
Common Application
SCHOOL SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS
Students go to college website and click APPLY Students will need a copy of their unofficial transcript Students send their ACT/SAT scores directly to each college Application may include an essay or short answer. No essay is optional, students should fill out ALL parts of application
Letters of recommendation not required Examples of School Specific Applications
USC, CofC, Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia
COMMON APPLICATIONWWW.COMMONAPP.ORG
Mostly private schools One application, but each college may have one or more “supplements”
Require letters of recommendation (at least one teacher, one counselor)
Mid year report Due Dates vary!!!
MORE APPLICATION INFORMATION Early Action – Early deadlines, with early responses – *CAUTION*
Early Decision – Binding agreement – mostly private schools *CAUTION*
Rolling Admission – window of time, when all spots are filled, window closes
Deferred – means they are waiting on more information – mid year reports, updated SAT/ACT, letter of recommendation
NAVIANCE AND THE COLLEGE APPLICATION
Naviance serves as a “holding tank” for transcripts, letters of recommendation and counselor forms
Teachers upload letters into Naviance –they do not go through student
Counselors send material in Naviance – either to Common Application or electronically to the school
Naviance is only as good as the student keeps it
STEP 4: MAKING A COLLEGE CHOICE /
COLLEGE PHILOSOPHY Be realistic Choose 5-6 schools that you can live with. One dream school, two or three mid range schools and one safety
Visit the campuses – ask questions. Be an educated consumer Talk to graduates, current students Check out the requirements for the major and general education courses
FINANCIAL AID/SCHOLARSHIPS Take a look at the Guidance Web Page under “Scholarships”
Never too early to look for $$
FAFSA Form – Free Application for Federal Student Aid – for your students – will be based on 2014 Tax Return (can’t be filed until January 1, 2015)
South Carolina Lottery Money
FINANCIAL AIDCost of Attendance: Tuition, Room/Board, Fees, Books,
Living ExpensesFinancial Aid = Cost of Attendance - Family Contributions Types of Financial Aid: Need Based vs. Merit“Need Blind” vs. “Need Aware”Need Based Aid: Loans, Grants, WorkGapping: Need minus offer Outside Scholarships
FINANCIAL AID EXAMPLE
Cost of Attendance $55,000Est. Family Contribution $10,000
Determined by FAFSA, CSS ProfileFinancial Aid = $45,000Questions: What % of $45,000
Loan? Work Study? Grant?
BREAKDOWN OF LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP MONEY
Palmetto Scholarship: $6,700 Criteria
1. 1400 SAT/ 32 ACT and 4.0 SCUGP 2. 1200 SAT/ 27 ACT, 3.5 SCUGP and Top 6% (Sophomore or Junior Year)
Life Scholarship: $5,000 Criteria:
Must meet 2 out of 3 1100 SAT / 24 ACT, 3.0 on SCUGP, top 30% of class
Hope Scholarship: $2,800 Criteria:
3.0 on SCUGP alone
JUNIORS AND SENIORS WILL BE SPLIT NEXT YEAR BETWEEN
MS. GASTALDI & MS. SALLEY
Ms. Gastaldi Last names A-K
Ms. Salley Last names L-Z