Objectives:
Students and parents will be provided with information and materials that will enable them to employ strategies to achieve future career success and satisfaction.
Students and parents will increase knowledge regarding paths for choosing and applying to post-secondary institutions.
PA Career Education and Work Standards 13.1.11.B, C, F ASCA National Standards I.B, II.A
Guidance Program: The College Application Process
• You are approaching a very important crossroad in your journey through life.
• YOU have the ability to make your dreams become a reality. – Consider what your personal goals are
and work towards them. • Don’t let long term goals be influenced by
factors that won’t be relevant for much longer.
– Consider what your personal interests and strengths are and use them.
• Find a career that fits what YOU like to do and are good at.
Determining Your Own Destiny
• “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”
• Your senior year, the college application process, the financial aid process, senior prom, and graduation are finally here!
• It is time to gather important information and use your resources, including: – Mrs. Maryssa Hestin, Counselor for Juniors & Seniors A – Lio – Mrs. Deborah Davis, Counselor for Juniors & Seniors Lip – Z – Mr. David Barkovich, Dean of Students/School Counselor – Mrs. Daria White, Counseling Resource Center (CRC) Secretary
It’s Decision Time.
Processes and Procedures
• So I want to go on to further schooling…
How do I get there?
Achieving Your Goals is a
PROCESS. When choosing and preparing for different career and college paths, you may be required to complete certain tasks as part of a larger process in order to reach your goals. These activities might include:
• Conducting career research • Evaluating positive and negative aspects of a particular career/college path • Taking standardized tests (SAT, ACT) • Completing necessary applications • Preparing documents (essay, resume) • Requesting recommendations • Identifying financial resources
Your future won’t happen unless to actively and consistently work towards it!
After graduation, you will have many options to consider:
• University • College • Community College • Vocational, Technical, or Career
Training • Armed Services • Work Force
Post Secondary Choices
Hint: Waiting until June to plan for this may not get you the results you want!
College/Military Representative Visits
• Over 90 different schools and branches of the military visit the CRC from September to November. It’s a great time for you to learn more about a particular school. Sometimes the representative you meet is a member of their school’s admission committee!
• Listen to the announcements and check out the postings in the CRC, in your classrooms, and online to find out when the college/military representatives are visiting North Hills.
• You will need your teacher’s approval to miss class for a college/military representative visit. Passes can be obtained in the CRC. Please do so BEFORE the time of the visit.
Local Fall College Fair
College fairs are another great opportunity for you to speak with representatives about their institutions and gain “face time” with admission personnel.
North Pittsburgh College Fair:
October 6, 2014 6-8pm La Roche College: Kerr Fitness Center
A $500 scholarship will be randomly awarded to a
North Hills senior who attends!
Important New Vocabulary
Hint: Make it your goal to
apply to all of your schools by
Halloween!
Admission Terms Early Decision Early Action
Regular Admission Rolling Admission Open Admission
Degrees Terms Technical Certificate Associate’s Degree Bachelor’s Degree Master’s Degree
Doctoral/Professional Degree
The College Application
The time to be researching + applying to schools is NOW! You may wish to consider applying to a variety of schools:
– “Reach” Schools: You don’t quite meet the qualifications, but you would love to be accepted.
– “Reasonable” Schools: You’re pretty sure you meet their qualifications.
– “Responsible” Schools: Your qualifications match what the schools state they are looking for. It’s a responsible choice.
What Do I Need To Do?
• Define where you will be applying. (Use the College Application Organizer to keep track!)
• Formulate a list of what each school requires to complete their application process.
• Begin forwarding all requested information and documents requested to the schools.
• Make note of deadlines!! Allow time for processing and mailing!
Application Materials There are several basic applications materials that are standard and
most institutions will expect to receive: – Application (most often now available, competed, and submitted online) – Application fee (sometimes waived if you apply by an early deadline or visit) – Official High School Transcript – SAT and/or ACT scores
There may be supplemental materials you will choose or be asked to supply to increase your chances of being admitted: – Essay - Some schools provide/require a topic, other may allow you to choose – Letters of Recommendation, perhaps from a teacher, your boss, or counselor – Resume or list of extra-curricular activities, including any volunteer work – Awards or certificates of recognition – Examples of student work such as videos, websites, DVDs, or portfolios
Always know what schools require what materials!
Completing Applications
• STUDENTS should be filling out the applications. • Paper applications/envelopes should be completed
in pen. • Address envelopes and attach the correct postage. • Many applications ask for comments from your
counselor. Please share a copy of your Letter of Recommendation Information Forms with us too!
Common Application
• www.commonapp.org • Over 450 different schools accept the “Common App”. • You complete all materials once and then your info can
be forwarded to multiple schools (determined by you) electronically.
• You will not need an envelope or postage. You will need to fill out a Letter of Recommendation form.
Potential Pitfalls…
• It is required by the Common Application that every part of the application is sent via their service.
• Many of these schools may have supplemental materials that they will request as well, however, so please make sure that you follow the requests of individual schools carefully.
• Letters of recommendation must be generalized; the same letter will go to each school.
Transcripts
Your Transcript
• Is your private academic information and your approval is needed to send to release this to anyone.
• A listing of all your courses and final grades from 9th-11th grade, including any AP, CHS, or Honors distinctions.
• Your 12th grade courses. • Your credits earned/attempted and weighted/non-
weighted QPA. • Your attendance.
Official vs. Unofficial
• Official transcripts include a school profile, school seal, and official signature. This is what is most often required by institutions of higher learning. They must be mailed directly from NH to the institution.
NO OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS CAN BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS/PARENTS FOR DELIVERY.
• Unofficial transcripts for your own records can be picked up in the CRC and we encourage you to do so! You should know what it looks like!
Requesting Your Transcript
• Visit the CRC or the Guidance Web page to obtain a Transcript Request Form (if not using an electronic format i.e. Common App, SEND Edu, PSU)
• Follow the directions outlined clearly on the form. • Submit each form along with an appropriately sized and fully
addressed envelope for the materials you wish to send. • You may include additional materials such as an essay, letters
of recommendation, or other materials to all be mailed together. • Appropriate postage must be secured to the envelope. More
than one stamp may be required for oversized envelopes or if you are including additional items.
Over 1500 transcript requests are processed out of our office each year! Because of this volume we require at least five days for processing. Be aware of your deadlines and plan accordingly!
Standardized Testing
Pre-Admissions Testing
• If you haven’t taken your SAT or ACT tests yet or wish to retake them, pay attention to registration deadlines!
• SAT – www.collegeboard.com – Oct. 11 (Deadline 9/12, late registration until 9/26) – Nov. 8 at NH (register by 10/9)
• ACT – www.actstudent.org – Oct. 25 at NH (register by 9/19)
For dates after November, visit the testing sites above.
Score Reporting
• Your SAT and/or ACT scores DO NOT appear on your transcript! However, please include our school to receive your scores when registering: 393752
• All scores should be directly sent to the colleges and universities of your choice directly from the testing company.
• 4 free at registration, fees charged after the fact. • Score choice available for SAT & ACT
Put your BEST foot forward!
Letters of Recommendation
• Letters of recommendation from respected individuals that know you may assist with your admittance to a college or university. Consider asking a teacher, your boss, or a counselor.
• Letter of Recommendation Forms are located in the CRC or can be obtained from your counselor. By completing these, you provide the person who is writing the letter of recommendation with specific and unique information about yourself and your history/activities.
Representing Yourself Online
• It is not unusual for colleges to do a search for your name on Google, Facebook, and other public sites to learn more about who you are.
• Please be aware of how you are portrayed online and make sure to represent yourself in a manner that will not affect the possibility of your acceptance.
Professional Presence
• Be sure that your email address will not hurt your chances for admission. Many schools ask you to provide this and you don’t want a joke to cost you admission. (Example: Indicating an email like “[email protected]” may not send the message that you are a mature young adult who is serious about your studies.)
• Consider establishing an additional email address for such correspondence. Ex. [email protected]
Can I afford this?
Scholarships
Hint: You may wish to work hard to apply to your
schools in the FALL (Sept-Nov) so that
you can concentrate on obtaining
financial aid and scholarships in the WINTER/SPRING
(Jan-May).
The class of 2014 earned over $3.2 million in institutional, public, and private scholarships. • Many institutions contact North Hills regarding scholarship opportunities. These will be posted on Family Connections. Be sure to log in regularly!
• Many more can be found with a little research! (web resources- fastweb.com, collegeboard.com, parent employers, community/civic organizations, etc.)
• Check with Financial Aid Offices for college/university specific scholarship opportunities.
Financial Aid Night
North Hills High School wants to provide you with access to the latest financial aid information. Each year, we host a representative from PHEAA to provide expert advice on the process.
Financial Aid Night
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 7 PM in the Senior High Auditorium
You can also speak with your school counselor with questions about
financial aid.
Note: Male students should register with the Selective Service when they turn 18. You are not eligible for financial aid if you do not.
Supports to Help You Through
Senior Checklist
Keeping track of all of this information can be difficult. • You are strongly encouraged to use and regularly
refer to the Senior Year Checklist to assist you with this.
• Please make your parent/guardian’s aware of this checklist. Post it somewhere prominent (refrigerator?) so that you are reminded to adhere to deadlines.
Don’t “Fail to Plan…”
Preparation and organization are key to setting yourself up for success after high school. No matter what path you will pursue after graduation, proper planning during your senior year can maximize your chances for being successful in whatever endeavor you choose.
We are very excited to be helping you, not only with completing your final year of high school, but also with assisting you to plan the next part of your life’s journey.
Question and Answer Session
YOUR QUESTIONS?
We encourage you to schedule an appointment with your student’s counselor or visit the Counseling
Resource Center. Please also view Counseling Center resources and
postings by following our quick link found on the High School web page!
www.nhsd.net
