Montgomery High School Guidance
presents . . .
May 22, 2012
MHS Guidance MHS Guidance DepartmentDepartment Mrs. ApelMrs. Apel ext 6168ext 6168 Mr. GlockMr. Glock ext 6164ext 6164 Ms. RitsonMs. Ritson ext 6172ext 6172 Ms. HamptonMs. Hampton ext 6165ext 6165 Ms. PinoMs. Pino ext 6167ext 6167 Ms. MusialMs. Musial ext 6166ext 6166 Ms. WatsonMs. Watson ext 6163ext 6163
The College Scoop:The College Scoop:What Parents Should KnowWhat Parents Should Know
Key pointers from your Key pointers from your guidance department on guidance department on navigating an often trying navigating an often trying time in the process...time in the process...
Stay CalmStay Calm
Teenagers can sometimes sense Teenagers can sometimes sense a parent’s anxieties a parent’s anxieties
Teenagers can often sense a Teenagers can often sense a parent’s favorite schoolparent’s favorite school
Teenagers can also sense Teenagers can also sense whether or not this is whether or not this is theirtheir choice choice
Know where to find Know where to find informationinformation
On the Family Connection website!On the Family Connection website!
In the high school guidance officeIn the high school guidance office
Your child’s counselor (e-mail is quick)Your child’s counselor (e-mail is quick)
From asking your son/daughter about From asking your son/daughter about what is on the morning announcements!what is on the morning announcements!
Spell out your guidelinesSpell out your guidelines CostCost
Location (distance and Location (distance and cost of travel)cost of travel)
Atmosphere (party Atmosphere (party school?)school?)
Stress/difficulty levelStress/difficulty level
Get Organized!Get Organized!
Use Family Use Family ConnectionConnection
Make a list of Make a list of “things to do” “things to do”
Negotiating “the List” of Negotiating “the List” of Prospective CollegesProspective Colleges
Continue to gather infoContinue to gather info
Know college admissions requirementsKnow college admissions requirements
Self-assess: Do I meet college Self-assess: Do I meet college requirements?requirements?
List should contain a balanced range of List should contain a balanced range of “reaches” “targets” and “safeties”“reaches” “targets” and “safeties”
Finish upFinish upAdmissions TestingAdmissions Testing
Know what tests you need to take…SAT , Know what tests you need to take…SAT , Subject Tests, ACTSubject Tests, ACT
Applying early? Applying early? – Finish required testing – Finish required testing – follow college follow college
guidelinesguidelines Subject Tests required? Subject Tests required? SendSend SAT and ACT scores to the colleges you SAT and ACT scores to the colleges you
will apply to after all testing is completed. will apply to after all testing is completed.
Scores are sent directly from Scores are sent directly from Collegeboard or ACTCollegeboard or ACT
Get On the Road…Get On the Road…
Visits are the most Visits are the most important part of your important part of your college searchcollege search
Eliminate Eliminate misperceptionsmisperceptions
Learn what you didn’t Learn what you didn’t know!know!
Interview, if offered!Interview, if offered!
Assist with college visitationsAssist with college visitations
Most young people need a Most young people need a little push to get them started little push to get them started on visits to campuses. If on visits to campuses. If they seem reluctant, they seem reluctant, encourage them just to take encourage them just to take a drive.a drive.
Gather MaterialsGather Materials
Things Your Counselor Needs …Things Your Counselor Needs …– ““Student Brag sheet” and “Parent Point of Student Brag sheet” and “Parent Point of
View” done in Naviance so your counselor can View” done in Naviance so your counselor can write your recommendation.write your recommendation.
Get an unofficial copy of your Get an unofficial copy of your transcript for reference – you’ll need transcript for reference – you’ll need it for Rutgers SRAR!it for Rutgers SRAR!
Review Application MaterialsReview Application Materials
LookLook at the apps! at the apps!
Know what each app requires Know what each app requires you to send (special deadlines, you to send (special deadlines, honorshonorsprograms etc.)programs etc.)
Don’t get surprised!Don’t get surprised!
Looking Ahead to the Fall…Looking Ahead to the Fall…
What are pink cards?What are pink cards?– They let your counselorThey let your counselor
know that you intend to know that you intend to apply to a schoolapply to a school
– Basically, they signal toBasically, they signal toyour counselor to sendyour counselor to sendtranscript, school profiletranscript, school profileand recommendationand recommendation
What’s Coming?What’s Coming?
Pink cards are due Pink cards are due At leastAt least 15 SCHOOL days 15 SCHOOL days before application deadline.before application deadline.
This past year, all pink cards for schools with This past year, all pink cards for schools with Jan. 1st deadlines were due to Guidance on Jan. 1st deadlines were due to Guidance on Dec. 3Dec. 3rdrd. .
Ask teachers to send teacher Ask teachers to send teacher recommendations recommendations well in advancewell in advance of of deadlines. Ask when to ask for recs…deadlines. Ask when to ask for recs…
Teachers sometimes send materials Teachers sometimes send materials separately from guidance materials – and separately from guidance materials – and that’s OK!!!that’s OK!!!
Complete your Complete your ApplicationsApplications
OnlineOnline Essays are Essays are criticalcritical!! Save a copySave a copy Get this done Get this done
early!!!!!!!!!!early!!!!!!!!!! Last Second Apps
are dangerous! Beware of the
crashing website
Acing the EssayAcing the EssayThe Art of Selling Yourself through your essay…The Art of Selling Yourself through your essay…
Make sure your authentic voice comes through – loudly and persuasively.
There is really no trick – It’s digging deep and trying to figure out what makes you interesting.
Colleges are looking for thoughtful, earnest presentations that shows solid interests and critical thinking.
Acing the EssayAcing the EssayThe Art of Selling Yourself through your essay…The Art of Selling Yourself through your essay…
Brainstorm with family/friends on what to write about.- What matters to you?- How do you spend your free time?
Show, don’t tell. Use examples and anecdotes.
Be polite (but not too humble).
Ask someone to read your essay, and say, “Does it sound like me?”It should!!!
Encourage your child to not wait to the last minute to do the essay. Mastering the art of selling yourself takes practice and time.
Jekyll and Hyde?????Jekyll and Hyde????? Appropriate email address and
voicemail greeting?
Great summer pictures on Facebook?
Will your child show photos to mom and dad?
Advice: Many admissions staffers (fairly recent graduates themselves) check out social networking sites. Keep it clean and professional.
Emergency!! The Emergency!! The College Didn’t Get My College Didn’t Get My Stuff!!Stuff!!
Relax! Things take time!
Check on-line: Naviance Succeed/Family Connection
Have your child contact individual college
Find Financial AidFind Financial Aid
Attend MTSD Attend MTSD Financial Aid Workshop – in Financial Aid Workshop – in DecemberDecember
Complete the Complete the FAFSAFAFSA as soon as possible after as soon as possible after Jan.1Jan.1stst to qualify for need-based aid to qualify for need-based aid (www.fafsa.ed.gov) (www.fafsa.ed.gov)
Investigate merit aid programs at your collegesInvestigate merit aid programs at your colleges Complete college financial aid formsComplete college financial aid forms Watch for the Montgomery Township Watch for the Montgomery Township
““United Scholarship Applications”United Scholarship Applications” Check Guidance Website for local scholarshipsCheck Guidance Website for local scholarships
MORE FINANCIAL AID WEBSITES MORE FINANCIAL AID WEBSITES
The financial aid on the InternetThe financial aid on the Internet– www.finaid.orgwww.finaid.org
Federal Student Aid HomepageFederal Student Aid Homepage– www.studentaid.ed.govwww.studentaid.ed.gov
Education tax incentives (IRS)Education tax incentives (IRS)– www.irs.gov/publications/p970www.irs.gov/publications/p970
NJ Higher Education Student Assistance NJ Higher Education Student Assistance AuthorityAuthority– www.hesaa.orgwww.hesaa.org
Have a Great Senior Year!Have a Great Senior Year!
Stick with your academic program!Stick with your academic program! Get your best grades.Get your best grades. Mid-year grades might be requested by Mid-year grades might be requested by
colleges!colleges! Let your counselor know about awards or Let your counselor know about awards or
honors you receive…..to share with your honors you receive…..to share with your prospective colleges!prospective colleges!
Keep guidance informed about the Keep guidance informed about the outcome of your application process.outcome of your application process.
Thank those who helped you reach your Thank those who helped you reach your goals!goals!
Last, but not leastLast, but not least......
You WILL Survive!
Thanks for joining Thanks for joining us!us!
