COLLEGE PLANNING AN OVERVIEW

Presented by GVHS Counselors:Mr. Chip Harvey

Ms. Anna Impriano

Junior Meeting• WHO?• student, parent(s), school counselor

• WHEN?• Parents are invited to call and schedule these meetings

following junior night. It is recommended to schedule the meeting in November, December or January

• WHY?• This meeting will allow for individualized college planning• Review of general admission requirements, student transcript,

college testing, college factors, building a college list, Naviance and a time to get questions answered

Important Factors in Admission Decision

• HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT!!!• Grades and Rigor are the most important factors • Senior year courses should reflect ability and interests

• STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES• Review requirements on Naviance or on school’s webpage

• YOU- WHO ARE YOU AS A PERSON!?• Essay(s), Interviews (if required/recommended), Letters of Rec, Resume

• APPLICATION• Completed and submitted online

11th Grade Milestones• Fall/Spring• Register Online for Entrance Exams (SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests)• Familiarize Yourself with Naviance and College Websites• Search for Colleges & Research GOOD FIT Schools• Develop Preliminary List of Schools• Build Your Resume• Visit Colleges (Great time- Spring Break!)• Course Selection (strategically select senior courses)• Request Letters of Recommendation from Teachers (spring)• DI/DII Potential Athletes- Register with NCAA Clearinghouse

• Spring/Summer• Finalize List of Schools (6-10)• Work on College Essays and Begin completing Applications• Investigate/Enroll in Summer Programs

Taking Entrance Exams (SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests)

• When?• First exam sometime between January-March • Refer to Naviance for the test dates and locations

• Register for these Exams Online• SAT & Subject Test Registration: www.collegeboard.com • ACT Registration: www.actstudent.org

• Does my school require Subject Tests?• View link to determine the answer: www.compassprep.com

• Some Schools do NOT require test scores• Test optional schools: www.fairtest.org/optional

The College Search• Goal – Develop Preliminary List of Schools This Year

• Identify Good Fit Characteristics• size, location, major, activities, strength of program, learning env., etc.

• Use College Search Sites to Narrow List

• VISIT Colleges (small, big, city, rural)

• Selection Process (foundational, target, reach)

• Narrow List! (subjective and objective research)

VISIT COLLEGES• Great time to visit- SPRING BREAK!• See school when students are on campus- ask questions~

• Sign up for a tour with the admissions office by calling the school in advance. Some schools offer online registration.

• Bring a Notebook!• Jot down your likes and dislikes as SOON as you leave campus• Your impressions of a school are important and will help you to

determine good fit and factors of importance

Build Your Resume• Include activities, jobs and volunteer hours that you have

been involved with since the beginning of 9th grade

• Use appropriate grammar (you are not texting!!!)

• Take on leadership roles and stay involved

• Consider a summer program that is related to your career goals or that is on a college campus of interest

• Example resumes available in Naviance

Letters of Recommendation• Ask 2 Teachers to write you a letter

• When to ask!? When you return from Spring Break !

• Ask Major Subject Teachers• Math, English, Science, Social Studies• Consider the major you might pursue in college

• Follow up by providing a teacher request form!• Available in the counseling office this spring• Forms also may be printed from Naviance (in the document library)

Say THANK YOU!

Potential DI/DII Athletes• REGISTER with the NCAA at: ncaa.org/Eligibility Center • Send transcript to NCAA after junior year & after graduation

• Review NCAA core-course requirements

• Send your test scores (SAT &/or ACT) to the NCAA• Enter the code 9999 when you register to take the exam

• Familiarize yourself with College Athletic Sites:• njcaa.org/-The National Junior College Athletic Association • naia.org/ - The NAIA is another collegiate athletic association

Application Process• ED/EA/Rolling• ED- binding, EA- nonbinding, Rolling- no deadline

• Common Application (review)

• Send SAT/ACT Scores Online

• School Packet• Supporting documents sent from your Guidance Office• Includes Transcript, Secondary School Report (data sheet), Counselor

Letter of Rec, School Profile, Teacher(s) Letters’ of Rec• Must be requested 15 days before materials need to be at college

Acceptances and Decisions • When!?• Rolling Schools- response within 2-3 weeks• Early Action/Early Decision- response before winter break• Regular Decision- response before April 1st

• How• Most Schools post application decisions online• Many Schools mail a decision in the mail

• National Decision Day!• Students must commit to a school by May 1st, anytime before• Some colleges do not guarantee housing if you wait until 5/1• Consider your financial aid package with decisions (next slide)

Financial Aid• FAFSA• Free Application for federal student Aid • Apply for a pin and then complete application soon after Jan. 1st (12th) • Complete online: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

• CSS Profile• Required by many private colleges and universities to determine your

eligibility for non-government financial aid, such as the institution's own grants, loans and scholarships

• Can be completed in the fall (12th)• Completed online: https://profileonline.collegeboard.org/prf/index.jsp

• Local Scholarships• Fastweb

Questions & Handouts (online)