Junior Parent Night

1. Junior Parent Night Seneca High School May 14, 2014

2. Purpose of Presentation • To review the college process. • Discuss Naviance, standardized testing, college visits, applications, transcripts, and letters or recommendation. • Review trade schools and military options.

3. How many schools should I apply to? • Reach 1-2 • Good Match 2-3 • Safe 1-2 • Think about major, location, size, setting (rural/urban/suburban), extracurricular activities. • Realistic evaluation of each college’s admission requirements (grades, standardized test scores, required high school courses).

4. Types of College Admissions • Early decision is a contract between you and the college. You can only apply to 1 school early decision. If you are accepted, you MUST attend. BINDING contract! • Early action is more flexible. You do not have to commit to the college if you are accepted.You can apply to multiple schools.NON-BINDING contract! • Rolling Admission-Applications are evaluated as they are received. • Regular Decision- decisions are made once ALL applications have been received by deadline. **Pay attention to deadlines**

5. Top Factors for College • Grades in College Prep Courses – Grades in AP, honors, or Accelerated courses 2. Strength of Curriculum – Both the amount of course work you complete in high school and the quality of those courses 3. Admission Test Scores – Scores on either the SAT or ACT (most schools accept both interchangeably) 4. High School GPA Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling

6. From Rowan’s Website…. • High School PreparationYou must have completed a minimum of 16 college-preparatory units in high school. Your high school curriculum should include (at minimum) the following: 4 units - English2 units - Laboratory Science*3 units -College Prep Mathematics* (Algebra I and II, and Geometry)2 units - Social Studies5 units - Additional work in at least two of the following: History, Languages (minimum 2 units in one language), Mathematics, Science or English. • *Engineering applicants should have 3 units of laboratory science including physics and chemistry and 4 units of college prep. math including pre-calculus. Calculus is strongly recommended.

7. University of Delaware recommends: The University expects all applicants to have completed strong college prep course work: SubjectYears RequiredYears Recommended English 4 4 Math 3 4 Science 3 (2 must include lab) 4 (3 must include lab) History 4 4 Foreign Language 2 of same 4 of same Academic Electives 2 units 2 units Total 1820-22

8. GPA/Rank • All seniors will receive their Rank and GPA in homeroom in September. • Unweighted is on a 4.0 scale • Weighted is on a 6.0 scale • Top 15% weighted rank = NJ Star • Transcript reflects weighted & unweighted GPA & Rank

11. Standardized Tests • SAT’s-www.collegeboard.com (SAT Reasoning Test) • ACT’s-www.actstudent.org • SAT Subject Tests are specific one hour content area tests used by a small percentage of colleges. Be sure to confirm if the colleges to which you are applying require these tests and plan accordingly. • Send scores to Seneca High School-311474 & colleges of your choice –Free when you register, but fee later • NCAA contenders must send scores to NCAA Eligibility Ctr: 9999 • Colleges want official scores which are sent directly from College Board. • AP scores must be sent directly from College Board. • We recommend that students take SAT’s twice junior year and once senior year.

12. Test Dates SAT’s- at Cherokee HS June 7, 2014 January 24, 2015 October 11,2014 March14, 2015 November 8,2014 May 2, 2015 June 6, 2015 ACT’s June 14th , 2014 (Seneca) December 13, 2014 September13, 2014 February 7, 2015 October 25, 2014(Seneca) April 18, 2015 June 13, 2015

13. Teacher Recommendations • Ask 2 teachers. • Ask early and politely in person. • Give at least 2 weeks notice. • Follow up through Naviance (available in the Fall) • Teachers will submit letters directly to the counselor through Naviance. Students will not see the letter. • Students should write thank you notes-the teachers do the letters on their own time!

14. College Visits/Interview Visits • Take campus tour • Visit library, cafeteria, dorms • Talk with students The Interview • This is a good way for schools to know YOU and not what is on paper. • Be yourself- there are no right/wrong answers. • Be able to state why you are interested in that particular school. * College visits/interviews are excused with a letter from the college on school letterhead.*

15. Ways to Apply • Online • Go to the individual college website to begin the application. You will create a username and password. • Fill out the online application. Seniors will be given their class rank and GPA in homeroom. • Gather additional required items-letters, essays, personal statement, etc. Upload appropriate items. • Print out a copy of the application and make copies of all supporting materials-just in case! • Common Application- www.commonapp.org • Fill out once for multiple schools • Complete secondary school report, teacher recommendation form through Naviance • Some schools have supplemental forms as well

16. BCC Spring Ahead Program • December-Attend BCC informational meeting at Seneca & fill out free application- https://www.bcc.edu/forms/adm • January-Transcript request form due to registrar • February-BCC placement tests at Seneca. Exempt if scored 540 in Critical Reading and/or 530 in Math on SAT; 23 Reading and/or 20 in Math on the ACT (Must have applied and sent transcript by January in order to take test) • May-Trip to BCC to register for classes (Must have completed application & placement test in order to attend)

17. Trade Schools Schools that recent Seneca graduates have attended: Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Lincoln Tech BCIT Rizzieri PB Cosmetology

18. Military Branches • Marines- www.marines.com • Army- www.army.mil • Navy- www.navy.com • Air Force- www.af.mil ASVAB-Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (Military entrance exam) • Each branch has required entrance score • ASVAB administered in November at Seneca

19. College Athletics Students who are planning to play in a Division I, II, sport need to complete the following: 1. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center: http://eligbilitycenter.org • Send official test scores from College Board/ACT to NCAA • Send high school transcript to NCAA at end of junior year

20. Family Connection Powered byNAVIANCE • Create a resume • Personality/learning style inventories • Explore careers/career profiler • Search colleges/scattergrams • Full length SAT practice tests • Apply for scholarships • Track applications and transcripts http://connection.naviance.com/senecahs Username: StudentID#@lrstudents.org Password: Student ID#

21. College Essay Writing Workshophosted by Kaplan • June 2nd @ 6 pm • Seneca Media Center • Online registration available at: http://tinyurl.com/k9asu7q This is a perfect time to get a jumpstart on your college essay writing for applications due in the fall.

22. Things to do….NOW!! • Visit colleges • Take standardized testing • Naviance-research colleges/resume builder/personality inventory/career search • Sign up for Essay Writing Workshop • Register with NCAA

23. Things to do….in September • Counselor will meet with you to review college application process • Know where you plan to apply • Fill out required Naviance information for college applications • Ask teachers for recommendation letters (2) • Finish standardized testing • APPLY-**pay attention to deadlines** • Early action/decision deadlines are October and early November • Rutgers-early action deadline of November 1st; Regular decision deadline of December 1st • Most applications should be completed by December 1st

24. Senior Parent College Application Night September 2014 Seneca Auditorium CounselorLast NamesPhoneEmail Mr. Sam Maira A-Dek x6687 smaira@lrhsd.org Mrs. Mary Sabo Del-Hof x6679 msabo@lrhsd.org Mr. Dave Lafferty Hog-Mc x6686 dlafferty@lrhsd.org Mrs. Erica Maira Me-Se x6685 emaira@lrhsd.org Ms. Sue Johnson Sh-Z x6656 sjohnson@lrhsd.org