Senior Things

Senior Timeline•College Application Period begins

Fall of Senior Year ▫3–6 Schools▫College Visits

•Re-Take ACT?•Financial Aid (FAFSA) – After Jan 1•Final Decision - May of Senior Year

Post-High School Planning▫Community College▫4 Year College or University▫Technical or Vocational School ▫Armed Forces▫Work Field

College Selection

•“Fit” – One Size Does Not Fit All

•Published Rankings or “Best” lists are not important if you do not value the criteria they are using to rank.

Think of It Like a Research Assignment or

Buying a New Pair of Shoes – Shop Around

College Selection•Match Between

▫ Academic Record = Admission Requirements

▫ Academic Interests = Degree Programs Available

▫ Personality = Campus Culture▫ Long-term Goals = Placement Record

•Identify Your Personal Priorities▫ Public or Private▫ Large or Small▫ In-State or Out-of-State▫ Religious Affiliation?▫ Varsity Athletic Teams?

Research•College Navigator or

CollegeBoard.org

College Navigator – Admission Stats

College Navigator – Retention / Grad Rates

Affordability?

But Tuition Can Be Misleading…

Hints for College Visits• Make an appointment (Fridays?) through

the college’s admissions office

• Get a pre-arranged absence

• Ask the tour guide questions▫What do students enjoy the most/least?▫Is there adequate parking?▫Are there optional paths within my

major?▫What is the average debt at

graduation?

Hints for College Visits• Make Comparisons

College 1 College 2 College 3 College 4

Major Offered

Housing Options

% accepted

Heartland College•Approximately 40% of PTHS

seniors go to Heartland each year.

•Open enrollment with placement testing

•Both Associates and Associates in Applied Science degrees

•Some programs (healthcare field) have competitive admissions

Additional (Optional ACT Dates)

**Online Registration and Payment is Required at www.actstudent.org

Offered at PTHS

Scholarships / Financial Aid

• Do not let cost be the most important factor in selecting colleges at this time

• Attend the Financial Aid night in October• File Free Application for Federal Student

Aid (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ NOT .com!)• Research both Need Based and Merit

Based Scholarships Fastweb.com – National Scholarships Guidance Office Website – For Local Scholarships Visit the Colleges’ Financial Aid page to

determine their scholarships procedures

• Use Financial Aid Estimator on findaid.org and/or on individual college sites.

3 Things Seniors Could Work on Tonight

• College Applications

• Setting Up College Visits

• Scholarships