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PCH College Series JUNIOR COLLEGE PLANNING NIGHT
PCH College SeriesJUNIOR COLLEGE PLANNING NIGHT
Journey to College
1. Research
2. Plan
3. Prepare
4. Execute
5. Evaluate
6. Decide
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
RESEARCH
Do some self-reflection
Explore your options
Visit college campuses
Meet with admissions representatives
Talk with current or former graduates about their experiences
Really learn about the schools you are considering
Admission requirements, acceptance rates, majors/programs offered, retention and graduation rates, culture of the student body, research opportunities, location, size, etc.
Finding the Right “Fit”…
Academic Fit
Class sizes, tutoring/learning resources, too competitive or not challenging enough
In what type of environment do you learn best? How do you advocate for yourself as
a learner? Do you prefer to blend into the crowd, or be noticed by your
teachers/peers?
Social Fit
Aside from academics, what do you need to be available to ensure you are also
happy and engaged at your campus?
Financial Fit
Do you have a budget for college? How much can realistically be contributed “out-
of-pocket”? Are you willing to take out loans and incur debt for your undergrad?
Your Final List
Ultimately try to narrow your list to around 6-8 schools by the end of this summer
Your final list should have a range of options
Safe
Reasonable
Reach
If you are applying to a school, you should be happy to attend that school!
How should you choose
colleges to apply to?
Stephanie Balmer, Dean of AdmissionsDickinson College
Video
Defining “Reach”…
These are the top choices, but ones that are less likely to accept the student. This may be because the student's qualifications match or fall slightly short of the college's average, and the competition for the limited places in the freshman class is intense. Students should have one or two colleges in this category.
Academic Reach
Financial Reach
Statistical Reach
Acceptance
Rates at Highly
Selective Schools
College/University 2016
Stanford University 4.7%
Harvard University 5.2%
Columbia University 6.0%
Yale University 6.3%
Princeton University 6.5%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 7.8%
University of Chicago 7.9%
Brown University 9.0%
University of Pennsylvania 9.4%
Duke University 10.4%
Vanderbilt University 10.4%
Dartmouth College 10.6%
Northwestern University 10.7%
Swarthmore College 12.5%
Cornell University 13.9%
University of California – Berkeley 14.8%
Georgetown University 16.4%
University of Southern California 16.5%
University of Notre Dame 18.3%
Strategy - - Diversify!
“Where are you going to college?”
There are hundreds of fantastic schools aside from “name brand” schools
Reduce mass volume of applications from PCH at one school by finding
schools that not as many are NOT applying to!
“I am applying to school X because my friends are”…
2017 - - 22 seniors applied to Wash U; 14 to Vanderbilt; 12 to Northwestern; 7 to
Stanford
PLAN
Get organized! What does each college on your final list need from you? By when?
Dates & Deadlines
Required testing
Essays
Resume
Recommendation letters
Portfolios, auditions, interviews
Application Types
College Specific
Mizzou, MO State, KU, UMD, UT Austin, UIUC, UC system
Common Application (CA)– nearly 700 members
Wash U, Indiana, Truman, Tulane, Vanderbilt, Michigan, Kentucky, SLU
Coalition Application – around 90 members
Univ of Florida
Multiple options available at many schools - - critical that students
indicate their application type in Family Connection!
Application Options
Rolling – not being compared against other applicants; decision usually made within two weeks; watch for Priority (PRI) deadlines!
Mizzou, MO State, Alabama, KU, STLCC
Early Action (EA) – all apps submitted by date (Oct/Nov) are reviewed together; committee selects based upon applicant pool; decision released on specific date (usually before or during winter break)
UW-Madison, UC-Boulder, GA Tech, U Michigan, Tulane, U Chicago
Early Decision (ED) – same process as EA, however student & parent also sign a contract that if they are admitted, they will attend and will withdraw all other applications
Wash U, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Tulane, U Chicago
Regular Decision (RD) – same as EA, but timeline is much later
Will be an option for all schools offering EA and/or ED application options
Strategy - - Early Decision
Students show the highest level of interest when they apply ED – this could result in greater success
Wash U
42% ED acceptance rate
17% RD acceptance rate
Some colleges are admitting up to 50% of their freshman classes out of the ED pool
Many families cannot (and/or should not) make this commitment
Many colleges do not offer an ED application option
Guaranteed Admissions
Guaranteed
Admission requirements are published
If you meet/exceed requirements, you are admitted
NO GUESSING!
Guaranteed
Holistic Review
Holistic Review
Only publish the average academic profile of current freshman class
No “formula” to gain admissions
Student file includes more than transcript and test scores
Resume, essay(s), special talents, demonstrated interest, recommendation
letters
Additional factors are often very subjective in nature
All schools on the Common App will do a holistic review!
Dates & Deadlines
Rolling – ongoing; check "priority" deadlines
Early Action and Early Decision – October/November
Regular – January/February
FAFSA – opens October 1
Decisions – know all options by early April
Commit by May 1
Family Connection
Utilize for research
Ensure that ALL schools you are thinking about/wanting to research are
listed in your account
Next year - - this is where you will request recommendation letters and
transcripts
PREPARE
The hardest part is getting started
The more you can conquer before August 16, the better!
Use your checklist and deadlines to create priorities
Do NOT procrastinate
Common Application
www.commonapp.org
Create account NOW (if any of your schools accept)
Work on essay and organizing all of your materials
Preview requirements for each college
Will rollover to 2018-19 application season on AUGUST 1
Transcripts
Cumulative Weighted GPA
6 semesters of coursework
Access unofficial in IC
Authorization to Release Records
All transcript requests entered in Family Connection
Self-reporting (KU, UIUC, UC system)
Only want FINAL transcript
Test Scores
What does your testing calendar look like?
ACT (with or without writing)
SAT (with or without essay)
SAT Subject Tests
Official from agency - - request WELL before application deadlines!
Official from PCH - - if accepted, we can include ALL scores only
"Test Optional“ – fairtest.org (900+ schools)
Teacher Recommendation Letters
Core Teachers
Current perspective (junior/senior year)
Confidentiality
Give 3-4 weeks notice
CA Teacher Evaluation - form required for EVERY single CA teacher recommendation
Teachers will meet COLLEGE deadline - - it might not match YOUR deadline
Need
them?
Counselor Recommendation Letters
May request from Mrs. Prange OR your alpha-assigned counselor (Dr. Flagg, Ms.
Lange, Mr. Hussmann or Mrs. Greenwood) - - who knows you the best!
Require “Counselor Recommendation Survey” to be completed in Family
Connection - - not on our “list” until this has been completed - - will open for summer
Give 3-4 weeks notice
CA School Report - - form required for EVERY single CA submission
CA Counselor Recommendation - - form required by SOME CA schools; may include a full written evaluation, or not (communicate with counselor about whether you
want the full letter, or just the form!)
Resume
May be allowed to upload; otherwise you will enter information directly into application
Purpose is for college to gain a global perspective of everything you balance outside of the classroom
How do you spend your time?
Common App Activities (up to 10)
Activity type, Position/Leadership description and organization name, Describe the activity (including what
you accomplished and any recognition you received), Participation grade levels, Timing of participation,
Hours spent per week, Weeks spent per year, Intention to participate in a similar activity in college
Common App Honors (up to 5)
If you have received any honors related to your academic achievements beginning with the ninth grade,
please indicate number of honors. If you received more than five, please add the five most important to
you
ZeeMee
A free service that gives you the ability
through images and video to document
your story, showcase yourself for college
admissions and connect with other
students based on passions and interests.
Over 180 (and growing) colleges and
universities have a place to link your
ZeeMee directly in their application,
including Wash U!
Essays
Answer specific prompts within specific word limitations
Potential topics include:
YOU!
Allow them to learn more about the applicant – your personality, your passions, your character
Become a human - - not just pages of data and facts!
Your decision to apply to that specific college
Have you really done your research? Do NOT be generic or tell them about their rankings!
Why is this school a good fit for you? How will you maximize your opportunities to engage in the community?
Your decision to pursue that particular major
What experience and exposure have you had in this field?
Why is this degree a good fit for you?
How should you present
yourself in an essay?
Jeff Brenzel, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Yale University
Video
Common App 2018-19 Essay Prompts
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
UIUC 2017 Essay Prompt
Explain your interest in the major you selected and describe
how you have recently explored or developed this interest
inside and/or outside the classroom. You may also explain
how this major relates to your future career goals.
Michigan 2017 Supplemental Essays
Essay #1 (Required for all applicants. Approximately 250 words.)
Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among
other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race,
ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you
belong, and describe that community and your place within it.
Essay #2 (Required for all applicants. 500 words maximum.)
Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College
or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you
are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your
interests?
Sample PCH Family Spreadsheet
Interviews
Required versus Recommended
An interview is a chance for you to meet with someone who represents
the college.
It's a great way to show your interest in the college and to show what
you're all about.
Why are you interested in this school?
What will you bring to their campus community?
Special Talents
Athletes
NCAA Div 1 or 2 – register with the eligibility center NOW
Send official ACT scores to NCAA
Communicate with Mrs. Prange – do you know your core GPA and sum ACT?
Download the Guide for College-Bound Student-Athletes from the PCH
Counseling site
Visual & Performing Arts
Portfolios – online, ie. “Slideroom” or through “Portfolio Days”
Auditions – live or previously recorded
Deadlines may vary significantly from regular admissions process
Supplemental material – even for non-majors
EXECUTE
Submit all required and recommended materials by the deadline
Nov 1 deadline = by 11:59 pm (not always CT) on Nov 1 - - - NOT ADVISED!
Allow time to confirm receipt
Testing agencies have delivery schedules – they are not submitted on demand!
Students are responsible for submitting application, application fees (unless on FRL), test scores,
supplemental materials, and requesting recommendation letters (3-4 weeks in advance) and
transcripts (at least 3 schools days in advance)
Mrs. Prange is responsible for ensuring properly requested transcripts, recommendation letters, and
supporting forms are submitted by established deadline
Deadlines may fall on weekends or during winter break – plan accordingly!
Not
Connected
Waiting…
Admission Decisions
Students receive decisions based upon the application option they used
Rolling – usually with 2 weeks of applying
Oct/Nov EA and ED – usually before/during winter break
Jan/Feb RD or ED – usually by the end of March
Admit, Deny, Defer, Waitlist
Prepare for celebrations AND disappointments
If your list has the solid range of options, and you would be thrilled to attend each of the schools to which you applied, the devastating denial to a reach school isn’t as painful…
EVALUTE
After you have received all admission decisions and financial aid
packages, it’s time to decide which option makes the most sense
Remember…
Academically
Socially
Financially
DECIDE
May 1 = National College Decision Day
Enrollment deposits Housing Freshman Orientation
Send final transcript from PCH to your selected college in May
Send dual credit transcripts from UMSL, MO State, etc to selected college
in June
Financing College
FAFSA – opens October 1
Free tool
use 4caster tool NOW to determine your potential EFC
Create your student & parent FSA ID now
CSS Profile
Has a fee to apply
Required by many selective private schools
PCH Financial Aid Night
September
Fafsa.ed.gov
Financing College
Scholarship Searching
Ongoing
A+ Scholarship Opportunity
Two years tuition covered at MO community colleges
6 credit hours the summer after graduation
Insurance policy
Taking out Loans
Consider potential income
Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis guidelines
Handouts
Colleges Meeting Financial Need
Northwestern University Aid Package Examples
Also available
The Missouri Source (several copies available – also online)
NCAA Eligibility
Questions?
I’ll stick around a few, but personal circumstances are often best
discussed in scheduled appointments
Interested in scheduling an appointment with me?
Call Ms. Reynolds at 314-415-7915
Happy to answer questions via email, as well
