Senior Year

1. Senior Year With Less Drama

2. Things to do NOW to make senior year less stressful

3. Act I Take the SAT or ACT SAT: June 7 Register by May 9 ACT: June 14 Register by May 9

4. Test of critical thinking, reasoning, and writing skills Three subsections: Critical Reading, Math, Writing 200-800 points for each section 3 hours, 45 minutes $51.00 www.collegeboard.org Redesigned SAT Spring 2016 Test of higher order thinking skills and classroom achievement Four required subsections: English, Math, Reading, and Science; optional Writing section 1-36 points for each section 3 hours; optional Writing section requires an additional 30 minutes $36.50 or $52.50 with optional Writing section www.act.org SAT ACT

5. Which test is better for me? SAT ACT Math is one fourth of your score Science questions No penalty for wrong answers (answer every question) More concrete • Math is one third of your score • No science questions • Penalty for wrong answers (don’t guess wildly) • More conceptual

6. Should I report all of my scores?Janice Finney, Director of Admissions, Florida State University “…at least for the state universities, reporting all their scores can only help them. FSU takes the highest subscores to create their composite/total score. In addition, we only look at the score that gets them in.”

7. Act IIReview Transcript/Correct Errors Most Common Errors: Repeated courses Courses taken at other schools Attendance failures

8. Act IIIBuild Your Resume • Senior Information Form Available in the guidance office and on the Guidance website • https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers/careers/how-to-create-your-resume • http://www.cappex.com/media/whatSetsYouApart.pdf

9. Admissions staff evaluate extracurriculars to guage what contribution the student might make at the university.

10. Evidence of extracurricular activities is important to the admission process, and depth of involvement is more impressive than breadth. • Focus on a limited number of interests. • Document long-term involvement with organizations. • Highlight activities related to a major or career goal. • Show leadership skills and ability. Source: College Board

11. Colleges value diversity and initiative: • Do you play the bagpipe? • Are you a family caregiver? • Are you a “Rock Paper Scissors” champion? • Have you investigated your family history? • Did you witness Hurricane Katrina? • Have you overcome a life obstacle? • Have you lived in another country?

12. Act IVTwo Letters of RecommendationHave you formed a personal relationship with a teacher or other adult? • Share your Senior Information Form or resume • Discuss important strengths to emphasize • Give at least two weeks notice

13. ACT V Complete Your Community Service Hours Bright Futures Scholarship Program: Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship 30 Hours Florida Medallion Scholarship 75 Hours Florida Academic Scholarship 100 Hours

14. Community Service Must meet a school or community need Is there a benefit that goes beyond the benefit to my organization? http://www.volunteerleon.org/YouthCorps/

15. Document Your Community Service Forms are available: In the Guidance Office On the Guidance Website: http://www2.leon.leon.k12.fl.us/heinzk/guid/Community%20Service/Forms/AllItems.aspx Forms are turned in to your guidance counselor.

18. ACT VIWrite Your Admissions Essay Comments from Admissions Counselors: • Don’t waste space in your essay on information available from other parts of your application. • Write so we can hear your unique voice. • Make your essay engaging and memorable. • Write in the active voice. • Ask for help!

19. Keep a personal journal • Meaningful activities lead to meaningful essays • Edit, edit, edit

20. ACT VIINarrow College Choices One or two safe choices Several moderate choices One or two reach choices

21. Personal Aspects of Your College Search You are not just searching for a college. You are searching for a new home. • College Size • Class Size • Majors • Geographic Area • Extracurricular Activities • Cost • Campus Diversity • Personal Needs

22. Not as obvious: • What student organizations are on campus? • What meal options are available? • What is the college’s retention rate? • What percentage of students graduate in four years? • What kind of career planning services are available? • How easy is it to switch majors? • Are the library, computer labs, etc. up-to-date? • What is the average increase in tuition and other costs in recent years? • What is the college philosophy for distributing financial aid? • What are the safety statistics for the college? Source: www.fastweb.com

23. Peter Van Buskirk, AuthorThe Admission Game “The ‘best’ college is the one that values that student.”

24. What factors affect admissions decisions? School Achievement Test Scores Essay Recommendation Activities

25. Useful Websites www.cappex.com “What are my chances?” calculator http://hscounselorweek.com/ Current trends in admissions www.TheAdmissionGame.com Inside college admissions

26. + Points Rigorous courses Courses beyond requirements Strong Senior year schedule Extra-curricular activities Top 10% First Generation Student Parent is alum .5 for Honors or Dual Enrollment 1.0 for Advanced Placement - Points No challenging courses Required courses only Slack Senior year schedule Weak in Foreign Language Inconsistent Grades No extra-curricular activities Admissions Decisions

27. Evaluating Your Transcript • How has the student grown each year? • What did the student do when they were not required to do anything?

29. Apply to your colleges as early as possible. The admission standards for incoming freshmen rise significantly as the freshman class begins to fill up so you have a better chance of acceptance if you get your application in early.

30. Colleges are rated on: • Rejection Rate (Low acceptance rate) • Yield The percentage of students offered admission who enroll “Colleges game the system to accept a lower percentage of applicants, and only accept those likely to choose the school.”Richard Baehr, Political Correspondent, The American Thinker

31. Demonstrated Interest • Visit the college. • Ask, “Who is the admissions counselor assigned to my area?” • Respond to inquiries. • Cultivate a relationship with a professor or coach. • Demonstrated knowledge is even better!

32. Ten Stupid Ways to Ruin Your College Applicationfrom Jay Mathews, Washington Post Staff Writer Overdo the “expressed interest” in your favorite colleges. Don’t worry about your postings on social networking sites. Use the e-mail address you created in the fifth grade: imsupersexy@gmail.com. Let fire with the wild jokes and exaggerations in your interview. Load up your application with as many activities as you can think of and don't mention anything that makes you look bad. Use your essay to expand upon how great your grades, scores and activities are. Wear a t-shirt for a rival university or talk on your cell phone during the college tour. Let your parents work harder than you to get you into college. Use text message abbreviations. Don’t proofread your application and don’t check to see if you changed the college name from your previous application.

33. 2013 Applications UFwww.ufl.edu/admissions Priority Deadline: November 1 After Nov. 1, acceptances on a “space-available” basis Self-reported Academic Record (SAR) Fee: $ 30 FSUhttp://admissions.fsu.edu/ Received by: Oct. 16 -- decision online by Dec. 16 Jan. 15 --- decision online by March 19 Fee: $ 30

34. FSU Admissions 2013 • Total Applicants 132 • Total Accepted 73 • Fall 57 • Summer 12 • Accepted to CARE 1 • Accepted for Spring 3

35. TCC2FSU The Golden Guarantee Guaranteed admission from TCC to FSU • Must meet transfer requirements • Specialized advisors • Participate in FSU or TCC activities • Limited access and restricted access programs may require an additional admissions process.

36. The Importance of your Senior Year UF Admissions Office: “Please be sure to remind your students that admissions offers are tentative until we receive the final high school transcript. We expect students to maintain the same level of rigor and success that was demonstrated prior to admission.”

37. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill “As we review applications, we pay close attention to the strength of each candidate’s course of study. Since our decisions are made conditionally upon the completion of the course schedule submitted by each applicant, a change may affect an individual admissions decision.”

38. $$$ Peter Van Buskirk, author The Admission Game “We’ll figure it out later won’t work! Compare this to buying a house without securing the financing.”

39. http://www.princetonreview.com/best-value-colleges.aspx Princeton Review’s lists of “Best Value” Colleges for 2014

40. The Davidson Trust The college now meets all of a student’s demonstrated financial need with grants and on-campus employment. Purpose: • Attract applicants from a wider range of economic backgrounds • Give graduates more freedom in their career choices. http://www.davidson.edu/about/distinctly-davidson/the-davidson-trust

41. Colleges that have developed financial aid policies that limit or eliminate student loans from financial aid packages: Amherst CollegeAppalachian State UniversityArizona State UniversityBowdoin CollegeBrown UniversityCalifornia Institute of TechnologyClaremont McKenna CollegeColby CollegeCollege of William and MaryColumbia UniversityConnecticut CollegeCornell UniversityDartmouth CollegeDavidson CollegeDuke UniversityEmory University Georgia Institute of TechnologyGrinnell CollegeHarvard University http://projectonstudentdebt.org/pc_institution.php

42. Cautions Credit Cards “We lose more students to credit card debt than academic failure.” Janice Finney, FSU Admissions Director

43. SCAMS The Federal Trade Commission has identified the following claims as warning signs that a scholarship offer may be a scam: • “The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.” • “You can’t get this information anywhere else.” • “I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship.” • “We’ll do all the work.” • “The scholarship application will cost money.”

44. Apply! Don’t assume you are eligible or ineligible. Eligibility may be based on multiple factors. For example, Federal aid is based on income as well as the cost of attending a particular post-secondary institution. • 2. Apply early! Apply while funds are still plentiful. • 3. If it becomes necessary to utilize student loans, think of this as an investment in yourself. • 4. Don’t overlook non-monetary sources of financial aid such as free housing offered through scholarship houses. Financial Aid Tips

45. Tips for Scholarship Hunting • Closely monitor your eligibility for Bright Futures Scholarships. https://ss.flvc.org/flvc/portal/Home_Page/My%20Records/myRecords.highSchoolStudents/Bright_Futures_Scholarship_Eligibility_Evaluation • Research the financial aid philosophy of the post-secondary institutions you are considering. • Don’t overlook lesser known colleges. • Showcase your talents. • Explore local opportunities. • Research your personal and family associations.

46. Useful Websites Search by keyword or category: www.findtuition.com www.collegenet.com/mach25 Guaranteed Scholarships: www.guaranteed-scholarships.com Control your scholarship search www.cappex.com/scholarships/index.jsp

47. Bright Futures Scholarship Program Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS) 2013: $103 per credit hour at a 4 year institution 2013: $63per credit hour at a 2 year institution Florida Medallion Scholars Award (FMS) 2013: $77 per credit hour at a 4 year institution 2013: $63per credit hour for Public Community College, Associate Degree 2013: $48 per credit hour for other 2 year institutions Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award (GSV) 2013: $77 per credit hour at a 4 year institution 2013: $48 per credit hour at a 2 year institution

48. FAS and FMS 4 English 4 Math (Algebra I and above) 3 Natural Science 3 Social Science 2 Foreign Language (in the same language) Plus up to 3 additional academic or AP fine arts credits Liberal Arts Math will NOT count Algebra 1A and 1B = 1 Math GSV 4 English 4 Math (must include Algebra I) 3 Natural Science 3 Social Science 1 Practical or Performing Art 1 HOPE Plus 3 Vocational Program credits in one vocational program Liberal Arts Math WILL count Algebra 1A and 1B = 2 Maths GPA Based on the Required CreditsGrades are weighted .25 per semester.

49. FAS 3.5 weighted GPA 1290SAT or 29 ACT 100 hours community service FMS 3.0 weighted GPA 1170SAT or 26ACT 75 hours community service

50. GSV • 3.0 weighted GPA on required credits • 3.5 GPA in 3 vocational credits in one vocational program • FPERT, SAT, or ACT score that places student at the college level Complete Information: www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org