Senior College Groups

Fall 2010

Objectives:

• Students will become aware of college search options, and the process of the college application.

• Students will gain more information about college visits, essays, interviews, and recommendation letters

• Students will become aware of opportunities for financial aid, including types of aid and how to apply.

Get Thinking About College

1. Talk with older siblings/ friends

2. College websites

3. Bridges or other online searches1. Visit www.bridges.com

2. Enter Site ID: 10000675

3. Enter password: owls

(case sensitive)

4. Visit campus (or many)

5. College fairs

• Bridges• Word of mouth• Helpful websites

– College Board– Princeton Review– Peterson’s

• College Fair– Baltimore National College Fair on 10/18-

10/19 at Convention Center• Visiting campus (more on this later…)

Ways to research colleges…

SAT & ACT information• Dates to know

– SAT • Nov. 6 (late registration by 10/22)• Dec. 4• Jan. 22 (especially for SAT II)

– ACT• Dec. 11

– ASVAB • Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery

• Spring administration (sign up in Counseling Office)

A Little Q & A

Q: What’s the best way to get familiar with a college?

A: VISIT THE CAMPUS!

Reminders about campus visits• Open Houses

• Include family when possible

• Individual visits– Be sure to make arrangements ahead of time

for individual tours, overnights, or class visits

• You’re allowed 2 school days for visits!

• Schedule an interview??

Question: Interviews can help you when you’re a borderline

student. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Letting the college get to know you on a more personal level can enhance how you might look on paper!

Question: Wear your best clothes for an interview. Gentlemen- a shirt

and tie Ladies- your nicest dress… True or False?Answer: Trick question!

This can be kind of tricky. The goal is to be yourself in your interview. Of course if you like to dress up, go right ahead! But, if you feel uncomfortable in “fancy” clothes you won’t be able to portray the “real” you. Look presentable, but make sure you can feel confident and comfortable!

Wait… I can visit college campus on a school day?!

Question: How do I go on a campus visit on a school day?

Answer: Have a parent write a note and get it approved by an administrator a few days ahead. It will be counted

as a day in school!

Applications- what is involved?

• Paper/ Online application/ Common Application

• Transcript• Letters of recommendation• Essay• Test scores• Counselor form (secondary school report)• How many?

Application Process• Complete paper or online application, including

essay if required. Send in yourself.• Bring the counselor page and college address to

Mrs. Seeley. Fill out a transcript request form. First 3 transcripts are free ($1.00 each after that). Allow TWO weeks for processing. Official transcripts can only be mailed by the school.

• Be sure to have a completed credential sheet on file. No sheets = No recommendations! Make an appointment to see me about rec. letter.

• Have teachers send letters of recommendation directly to the college. Provide a copy of the credential sheet and a stamped, pre-addressed envelope for each recommendation.

Types of Admission

• Early Decision

• Early Action

• Open Admission

• Rolling Admission

• Regular Admission

Early Decision

• This type of admission is a BINDING CONTRACT!

• This means that if you are accepted to the college, you are bound by law to attend and you promise to withdraw all other applications to other schools.

• Only apply “Early Decision” if you are 100% POSITIVE that you will go to this school if you get in – money will not be an issue, it is your dream school and you will be there no matter what!

Early Action

• This type of admission lets you find out early if you were accepted to the college but you are not required to attend if you get in!

Open Admission

• This type of admission has no particular deadline. You can just show up to the college and tell them that you would like to enroll there. It is open to everyone!

• An example of Open Admission is Carroll Community College

Rolling Admission

• A rolling admissions process means that applications are accepted and decisions are made and mailed out throughout the year.

• Typically, the college will continue to accept applicants until the freshman class has been filled up.

• An example of this type of admission is seen at Stevenson University

Regular Admission

• This type of admission is your standard admission – there is a set deadline to have your applications in by, and everyone finds out around the same time if they have been accepted or not.

College Essay

• Be yourself

• Be creative

• Captivate your audience

• Stress the positive

• Revise and proofread

• Don’t preach

• Ask for feedback

Some Take Home Facts

To request a transcript I must…

Get a form from Mrs. Seeley’s desk, fill it out, and give to Mrs. Seeley.

Credential sheets help my counselor and teachers write letters of recommendation.

Therefore I should:

Take my time and think about what makes me stand out.

True or False? All pieces of your application should be mailed in together.

FALSE!Colleges do not need to have everything mailed in

at the same time. You just need to make sure you get your application and essay in on time.

Usually teachers will send in their recommendation letters separately, and counselors will send their recommendation letters in with the student’s transcript and secondary school report (also known as the Counselor’s page).

It will arrive separately, but then will be filed together by the college!

True or False?Colleges will ONLY accept your SAT/ACT scores from the official

testing companies.

It depends!This will vary based on each college’s preference. It

would be best to contact Admissions to find out which they would prefer. Sometimes they may just like to see

the test scores on the student’s transcript.

How many colleges should I apply to?

There is no “right” answer for this question. It varies from student to student. Traditionally, students have been encouraged to apply to three colleges: their dream school, their safety school, and a school that they would feel content going to.

But, application fees can make applying expensive. So we recommend that students do what they feel is best for them – but please just remember, not to put “all your eggs in one basket”!

How will I pay for college???

What’s the Plan?Things Students Can Do To Help

Pay for College:

1. Using money that’s been saved for their education

2. Applying for grants or scholarships

3. Applying for financial aid

Finding the Money• Where does Financial Aid come from

– Colleges– Government– Private organizations

• Types of aid– Need-based aid– Merit-based aid

• In the form of – Gifts: Scholarships & Grants– College loans– Part-time campus jobs (work study)

What is Financial Need?• The federal government uses a formula to

help estimate what your family can pay for your college education.

• Takes family income and assets, family size, number of household members in college, age of parents, and special circumstances into account.

• You send this information to the colleges and the government on certain forms and they calculate your Expected Family Contribution.

Three Financial Need ExamplesCommunity College

Public University

Selective Private College

Cost at a Given School

$ 6,000 $ 16,000 $ 26,000

- Expected Family Contribution

- 6,000 - 6,000 - 6,000

Financial Need $ 0 $ 10,000 $ 20,000

What Else Determines Aid

• Academic credentials

• Personal credentials

• Talent and Skills: Art, Music and Sports

Q: When should I apply for financial aid?

A: After January 1

What You Need To Do• Research each college’s financial aid stats

and scholarship offerings• Read the school counseling newsletter• Attend Financial Aid Workshops • Use the internet• Read financial aid books• Apply for aid

– Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)• Mail between Jan. 1 and March 1, 2011

– CSS Profile– Institutional Form from each college

Scholarship Scams• Many scams encourage you to send them

money up front, but provide little or nothing in exchange.

• Usually victims write off the expense, thinking that they simply didn’t win the scholarship.

• Types– Scholarships for Profit, Advance-Fee Loan,

Scholarship Prize, Guaranteed Scholarship Search Service, Investment Required for Federal Loans, and Free Seminar

Your counselors are here to help!

Good luck in this process!