College Planning 101

1. When is the next ACT test? How do I apply? What college is best for me? When are applications due? College Planning 101 Where do I find Scholarships? How do I request a transcript? Huntley High SchoolSenior Parent College NightSeptember ??, 2013

2. Confused about college preparation???? WE ARE HERE TO HELP!

3. Quick Review…. • Select the Colleges you plan to apply for • Take or re-take the ACT • Fill out applications and/or Sign up for Common App • Request your transcripts from the Student Services POD A-K or L-Z • Ask for Letters of Recommendation • Find out if any other application documents are needed • Search for Scholarships • Select a college • Apply for Financial Aid (if necessary)

4. Preliminary Procedures How do I do that…. Utilize Career Cruising for help with college and career decisions,www.careercruising.com, Username: Huntley, Password: careers Make sure the colleges meet your needs AND you meet their requirements Keep track of application deadlines APPLY EARLY! The later you apply, the less chance you have to be admitted, get housing, qualify for scholarships, etc. Be sure to submit your application 3 weeks before the college’s application deadline Narrow your college choices to a manageable number, typically 3-7. Be sure to balance your selections between schools you are certain of admission and others you are reasonably sure of admission.

5. Select the Colleges you plan to apply for • Take or re-take the ACT • Fill out applications OR Sign up for Common App • Request your transcripts from the Student Services POD A-K or L-Z • Ask for Letters of Recommendation • Find out if any other application documents are needed • Search for Scholarships • Select a college • Apply for Financial Aid (if necessary)

6. Re-taking the ACT in 2013 Test Dates October 26th December 14th Registration Deadline September 27th November 8th Late Registration September 28-October 11 November 9-November 22 *Sign up at www.actstudent.org

7. Select the Colleges you plan to apply for • Take or re-take the ACT • Fill out applications OR Sign up for Common App • Request your transcripts from the Student Services POD A-K or L-Z • Ask for Letters of Recommendation • Find out if any other application documents are needed • Search for Scholarships • Select a college • Apply for Financial Aid (if necessary)

8. Applications Personal Record: This section is filled out by the student. Information is requested about family history, work, areas of study, references, etc. Some applications require a personal statement. School Record: Your transcript contains courses, grades, rank in class, GPA, test results and date of graduation. This document must be mailed directly from HHS to the college. Fill out a transcript request for this document to be mailed. Turn in the form to the A-K POD or L-Z POD with $3 if it is being mailed. Letter of Recommendation(s) Applications vary, but most have two sections plus a letter of recommendation(s)

9. With Applications MAKE SURE…. The information is correct Check for spelling errors Your handwriting is legible (if doing a paper application) Use a professional email address Allow yourself time to write and re-write a personal statement or essay Allow teachers/counselors time to write letters of recommendation Know how much the application fee is Keep track of application deadline dates Keep track of submitted applications by making copies and note the dates they were mailed ACTUALLY TURN IN THE APPLICATION AND BE ON TIME!

10. What is Common Application? The Common Application is an organization that provides assistance in the application process. Students and school officials may submit to any of our over 500 members. Membership is open to colleges and universities that promote access by evaluating students using a holistic selection process. www.commonapp.org

11. Why use Common App? • Ease of filling out 1 application for multiple schools • Submit an email address that Common App will use to contact a teacher or counselor for their letter of recommendation • These letters of recommendation can be submitted online • Many schools now require Common App to streamline applications • However….be aware not every college is using Common App so do your research!

12. Breakdown of the Application Process Common app applications Other On-line applications Fill out and submit the application! Print out information for the counselor and/or teacher and give it to them immediately Request Transcripts and provide $3 and an address Counselor/teacher completes his/her portion and mails to the college with transcript • Fill out and submit the application! • Submit emails for letters of recommendation • Meet with the teacher or counselor to discuss the letter of recommendation • Request Transcripts • Counselor/teacher completes his/her portion and submits the documents online

13. Select the Colleges you plan to apply for • Take or re-take the ACT • Fill out applications OR Sign up for Common App • Request your transcripts from the Student Services POD A-K or L-Z • Ask for Letters of Recommendation • Find out if any other application documents are needed • Search for Scholarships • Select a college • Apply for Financial Aid (if necessary)

14. Scholarships Where do I start? Make the best use of your time, and maximize the chances of being chosen as a scholarship recipient. Studying these criteria limiting your actual applications to those scholarships you feel you have the best chance of receiving. There are many scholarships available, each being unique, with differing qualification criteria, requirements, monetary value, due date, etc. Where can I find scholarship information? The bulletin board outside the College and Career Office HHS website –on the College/Career Readiness section: For an extensive listing of hundreds of other scholarship opportunities, visit www.fastweb.com

15. October --Coca-Cola Scholars --Prudential Spirit of Community Award --Wendy’s High School Heisman Award November --Herff Jones Principal’s Leadership Award --VFW “Voice of Democracy” --Comcast Leaders & Achievers --Hispanic Heritage Foundation December --AXA Achievement January --Sam Walton Community February --Burger King Scholars --Tall Clubs International --Phi Delta Kappa --Huntley Rotary Club Vocational --KFC Scholars March --AMVETS --Illinois Special Education Tuition Waiver --Lillian E. Glover --SAMMY (Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Yr) --Women’s Club of Wonder Lake --Pamela Althoff General Assembly April --McHenry County Women in Management --Jack Franks General Assembly --Good Shepherd Hospital Auxiliary --Environmental Defenders of McHenry County --McHenry County Retired Teachers Association --McHenry County Sheriff’s Dept. Foundation --Park National Bank --Bill Pellant Memorial May --BP Community --Centegra Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary --McHenry County Republican Women’s Club --Roger DeBoer --Huntley Rotary Club Service Above Self --P.E.O. International --Megan Humbertson Memorial --Countryside Garden Club • Open and specific to Huntley • -American Legion Scholarship • -District 158 Foundation Scholarships • -Huntley Rotary Club Scholarship • -Dr. Edward F. Wilt, Jr. McHenry County • -Civil War Roundtable Scholarship • -American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship • -HHS Athletic Boosters Scholarship • -HHS Fine Arts Boosters Scholarship • -Huntley Education Association Scholarship • -Jeremy Hooper Memorial Scholarship • -HHS Dean’s Scholarship • -HHS Student Council Scholarship • -Kishwaukee Trail Chapter, DAR Good Citizen Award Scholarship • -Kishwaukee Trail Chapter, DAR Good Citizen Essay • Scholarship (Huntley Winner) • -Kishwaukee Trail Chapter, DAR Good Citizen • Memorial Scholarship – 1 • -Kishwaukee Trail Chapter, DAR Illinois State • -HHS Business Department Scholarship • -Jennifer Kearns Memorial Scholarship • -Huntley Veterinary Scholarship • -Landmark Contractors Scholarship • -Barney Manning Scholarship • -Schaffenegger Memorial Scholarship List of Scholarships!

16. Select the Colleges you plan to apply for • Take or re-take the ACT • Fill out applications OR Sign up for Common App • Search for Scholarships • Request your transcripts from the Student Services POD A-K or L-Z • Ask for Letters of Recommendation • Find out if any other application documents are needed • Select a college • Apply for Financial Aid (if necessary)

17. What do colleges look for? The list of items they look at includes: ACT Scores SAT Scores (for East Coast, West Coast or Highly Selective Colleges) GPA, Class Rank and Grades Senior Class Schedule & Grades Work Experience and Volunteering Sports and Extra Curricular Activities Additional application requirements such as letters of Rec and Personal Statements Documented Interest Supplemental Material such as video submissions (not typical) College are looking at ALL your information to get a pictures of the type of student you are and if you are an appropriate fit for their college.

18. What are YOU looking for in a college? Do ask yourself…. Is the final price within your budget? Are scholarships available? What is the housing like? Do you like the location? Have you visited the campus? Are you comfortable with the distance from home? Do not allow these to be a large influence… I want to go away with my boyfriend/girlfriend I just want to get out of the house I will go to the first school who accepts me The selection of a college has to be consensual. The college must accept you, but you must also be interested in attending!

19. Select the Colleges you plan to apply for • Take or re-take the ACT • Fill out applications OR Sign up for Common App • Search for Scholarships • Request your transcripts from the Student Services POD A-K or L-Z • Ask for Letters of Recommendation • Find out if any other application documents are needed • Select a college • Apply for Financial Aid (if necessary)

20. Financial Aid & FASFA Informational Meeting NOVEMBER 18th Huntley High SchoolPAC @ 6:30 pm We have an entire night planned for this!

21. Timeline to Follow This is a suggested timeline to aid in the application process September/October Decide where to apply Start applications Register for Common App Create Calendar for applications due dates Contact people for letters of recommendation Re-take ACT College Visits November/December Finish applications Ensure they are submitted Track the submission dates Keep copies of paper applications Scholarship searches December/January-Spring Select a college! Financial Aid/FAFSA Finalize documents with the college of choice

22. Yes, that was a ton of information Don’t worry because this Information will be posted On the Student Services Website!