Gateway Guidance

The College Search and Application Process

We are EVERYWHERE!!

• Good communication between home and school will be crucial!

• Join our email groups• Join us on Facebook• View our website at

www.gatewayhs.com, click on the Guidance link

It is important for students to know

themselves!• Values• Ambitions• Achievements• Academic Strengths• Interests• Standout Talents

Your college choice needs to match your needs! - MY ROADS

Did you know there are 3700 colleges in

the US?• Community Colleges

(Associates Degree)• Two Year Private

Colleges (Associates Degree)

• NJ State Colleges/Universities

• Other State Colleges/Universities– PA, DE, MD, NC, VA, etc

• HBCU• Liberal Arts Schools• Major Prestige College

and Universities & Ivy League Schools

• Progressive Colleges• Specialized

Institutions(art, music, culinary arts, technology, etc.)

How does the junior year process begin?

• In September students were asked to take their interest inventory results from 10th grade and explore careers and majors using MY ROADS

• Attend GCPCA College Fair in October 12, 2011 at GCC and various college visitations at Gateway.

• In December students were asked to start thinking about athletics, standardized testing, and PSAT results.

• In February students were asked to plan senior year courses based on potential college major.

Springtime now what?

• Now is when juniors should be taking the ACT/SAT at least one time before June

• Visit colleges - let us know you get the days• Further discussion with counselor on

intentions occurs during scheduling• Attend college fairs (Riverwinds trip 3/24)• Upon return to school in senior year we

would like students to have a reach school, a safety school, and 2 good fit schools where minimum requirements can be met

Decision Factors ????

• Size of school• Location• Distance from home• Activities/Athletics• Public/Private• Coed/Single sex• Entrance

requirements• Facilities

• Entrance difficulty• Reputation of school• Faculty/Class size• Majors available• Commitment to

major by school• Services• Cost• Campus personality

Collegeboard

• Go to Collegeboard website http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/adv_typeofschool.jsp

• College Matchmaker• Parent and Student sections

Papers to begin to gather in junior

year…..• Sign transcript release form

• Register for SAT/ACT• Secure letters of

recommendation (send thank you notes)

• Update personal activities/athletics/ employment resume

• Utilize CollegeBoard’s website to explore colleges…take the college matchmaker

• Contact your counselor with questions

What do colleges look for in

applicants?• Primary factors

(according to Collegeboard) are: rigor of high school courses, academic performance, test scores

• Additional factors include: extracurricular activities, essays, letters of recommendation, demonstrated interest

Standardized Testing

SAT IReasoning TestCritical Reading,Math, and Writing

ACTAcademic Achievement Test

Math, English,Science, and Reading

SAT IISubject Specific(Utilized for most

competitive colleges)

Standardized Tests for4 Year College

SAT vs. ACT• SAT

– 3 sections (Critical Reading, Math, Writing)

– 3 hr. 45 min– Scores 200-800 – Penalty wrong

answers– Essay graded as

whole

• ACT– 4 sections (English,

Math, Reading, Science) - writing optional section

– 3 to 3.5 hr.– Scores 1-36– Essay graded by rubric– May be option if SAT

scores are lower than desired

SAT and ACT Accommodations

• Any student needing accommodations (extended time, computer, etc.) to testing must apply to the testing company for approval. Formal documentation will need to be submitted - (doctor information, CST testing)

• Applications must be completed and submitted prior to the deadlines.

• Requests can take 7-8 weeks during busier testing times.

• Testing accommodations for the PSAT, SAT, or ACT must be approved prior to the test or else there will not be any modifications given within the testing centers.

2 Year Colleges• Paper application preferred (GCC) • SAT/ACT not required for admission but may

be used for placement. Will have placement testing before scheduling classes.

• Selective programs have different applications/processes

• No recommendations needed, unless stated• Gloucester County College—On-site in January• Accuplacer testing prep available at

collegeboard

GCC On-Site

• Through a partnership with GCC, Gateway offers this service to our students who plan to enroll at GCC the following fall

• 2 sessions with GCC: – Informational meeting for seniors. On-Site

applications distributed. Questions answered.– Major group appointments with GCC

representative. Applications must be turned in prior to this date. Placement testing discussed.

4 Year College and University

Applications• Paper applications still possible for some schools

• On-line application (most frequently used)• Common Application (also on the rise)• Be aware of “supplements” to the

Common Application• May be able to utilize fee waivers for

application fee.• Know the tricks…fee waivers or not

Know the requirements of

your school…..• IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO RESEARCH THEIR SCHOOLS’ REQUIREMENTS!

• EXAMPLE: Rutgers - On-line only (no paper applications available)

• December 1st is the preferred deadline for scholarship consideration and housing

• No transcripts or recommendation letters required.

• SRAR–Student Reported Academic Record• Request “unofficial copy” of transcript from your

counselor.

Using the Common Application

• www.commonapp.org - ONE form for multiple schools.

• Transcripts submitted electronically.• Remember to “invite” guidance counselor and

teachers to submit necessary information.• Use correct & professional e-mail addresses• Forms needed:

– Teacher Evaluation– Secondary School Report– Mid-Year Report

Applying EARLY???

• EARLY DECISION- Binding agreement school and student. Upon notification of acceptance, student is required to withdraw pending applications.

• EARLY ACTION-Early notification of admission’s decision. This action is non-non-bindingbinding for both parties.

Processing the college application

• Contact CollegeBoard to send official scores to the college.

• Review, complete, and proof read the application and essay.

• Organize appropriate supporting materials such as resumes, essays, recommendations,and check/money order.

• Submit a request to the guidance counselor to send supporting documents to the college AFTER application submitted.

• Contact the college to track the application and documents!

DUAL CREDIT • If a student is enrolled in the following courses, then they are eligible to

receive college credits for those courses IF they adhere to the rules set forth by the community college sponsoring their class. If the student does this, they will be considered a dual student of both Gateway and the community college.

• AP BIOLOGY AP CALCULUS AP CHEMISTRY• AP ENGLISH IV AP US I AND II AP ART• FRENCH III-V GERMAN III-V SPANISH III-V• CCC courses include: all level 3 and 4 of world languages

• Fill out application in October and pay the small fee.• Receive a “B” or better in that class.• After he/she has graduated, ask for a transcript from the sponsoring college

(GCC or CCC).• The OTHER way to receive Dual Credit is to take an AP class and then the

appropriate AP test in May. They must have a certain score to receive college credit - dependent upon the college.

SCHOLARSHIPS 101

• College-based Scholarships - check with the institution’s financial aid office. ** You should direct all questions and concerns to the financial aid office of a specific college. **

• Community-based Scholarships -Investigate employers, churches, local businesses and organizations.

• Scholarship Newsletter—senior bulletin lists information.

Scholarships….cont.

• Web Searches:– Fastweb.com - Private scholarships

– fafsa.ed.gov - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

– Studentaid.ed.gov - The federal government’s website about paying for college

– MeritAid.com - $11 billion in merit scholarships

– Cappex.com - Scholarship matching

– finaid.org - Free student resource for learning about all types of financial aid

Financial Aid

• Financial Aid Night held in January of each year at Gateway. Information will be discussed on the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and timelines, among others.

• If a student receives free/reduced lunch, he/she should research EOF/EOP programs within NJ

• SAT/ACT fee waivers for testing and application fees may also be an option

NCAA Eligibility NCAA Eligibility CenterCenter

• Student athletes may want to complete the Clearinghouse Form during summer between Junior and Senior year. (Required for Division I and II) $60 application

• http://eligibilitycenter.org• Notify Guidance so transcripts can

be forwarded.

Use the Gator staff to your advantage!

• At the start of your senior year be aware!

• The Guidance Office has a bulletin board of all staff and their alumni institutions

• There are several staff members who are more than interested in assisting with college essays . . . . Just ask the guidance staff for direction

Senior Year

• Make a plan…..– Applications– SAT/ACT/SATII– College Visits- 2nd round– Scholarships– Financial Aid– Websites– Resources– Keep grades up all year (colleges can

rescind acceptances)

Gateway’s Application Process

• Make sure recommendation letters are sent to counselor to be kept on file

• FULLY COMPLETE applications including the fees AND the essays

• Fill out the request on your guidance counselor’s door to send all your supporting documentation

• We HIGHLY recommend Thanksgiving as a deadline to submit applications

Sent By Guidance After Receiving Written Request(Remember to give 2 weeks notice)

1. Transcripts2. Letters of

Recommendation3. Activities 4. Current Schedule5. School Profile

Hearing from Colleges…..

• Regular Decision (April 1)• Rolling Admission (reviewed as

received)• Early Decision (early application &

commitment)• Early Action (early application &

no commitment)

AND REMEMBER….

• The Guidance Department is here to answer any questions or concerns.

• Best Advice = Assist your student(s) and don’t do it yourself! Just keep in mind who is going to college and who needs to be there for support and guidance.

THANK YOU! QUESTIONS?