Navigating Your Student's Senior Year: A Comprehensive Guide to College Preparation

1. Welcome to NBC Senior Parent Night • What to expect during your student’s senior year.

2. September • Meet with counselor as soon as you can to discuss your plans. Check transcript to make sure you have all the credits you need for your choice of school. • Take the SAT? Check and see if the college requires it. Possibly the ACT. • Start narrowing down the list of colleges for applications. What schools should I apply to? • Get applications online, download if you want to send it by mail. Make sure you download all of it. • Finalize “brag sheet”

3. College Searches • www.collegeboard.com • www.careercruising.com • www.princetonreview.com • College websites • Come down to guidance and look at the college books for information and website.

4. October • October 1: Beginning date to complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. • October 2: SAT reg. deadline for 11/3 test • October 9: College Fair at BCC (Pemberton Campus – PE Building) • Work on and complete applications (Ask teachers, parents, and friends to read first drafts). • Create a file for each of your college choices, and keep it organized. Consider a master calendar of deadlines. • Have standardized test scores sent to your list of colleges. • Begin working on scholarship applications. • Stay FOCUSED!!

5. October cont… • Request letters of recommendation • Complete early decision or early action applications according to deadlines (Check at www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-applications/104.html to make sure you understand your rights and obligations). • Attend local or regional college fairs and financial aid fairs with your parents. • File NCAA Clearinghouse application for Division I and II sports. All test scores and HS transcripts must be sent directly to the Clearinghouse. Test scores on transcripts will not be accepted.

6. Submitting Applications • For each application, you must submit a Transcript Release Form (TRF). Also indicate which teachers are writing you a letter of recommendation. Have the teacher submit letter to your counselor and she will make copies as needed. On website, click on High School, counseling, then forms. Print TRF. • Apply early. Be aware of rolling admissions. • Don’t assume anything. Even if you match the college’s profile, certain departments have capacities. • Consider visits, overnight stays and interviews when possible at your top college choices. • www.collegesupplement.com

7. Submitting Applications cont. • Be aware of deadlines!!! • Do not wait until the deadline to mail (it may not get there in time) • Many colleges have a deadline of March 1 • Rutgers: December 1 • Harvard: January 1 • CHECK WITH COLLEGE!!!

8. Submitting Applications cont. • Begin brainstorming ideas for your college essays • NEW….. • If you are submitting a paper application: • Enclose application • Check for application fee • Essay if required • Any other required materials • Mail in brown envelope to Admissions Office of the college with return address & proper postage • Give counselor TRF with names of teachers whom you have asked for letters of recommendation (No more than three) • Counseling office will mail transcript and letters to college

9. Letters of Recommendation • Complete the Student Descriptive Questionnaire that you can find on our website: www.nburlington.com Click on High School, then Counseling Services, then forms. Print form and give to teacher.

10. November • 11/3: SAT & SAT II at Northern (CEEB Code 310-252) • Follow up with teacher recommendations • Send thank you notes to teachers completing a recommendation • Mid-November: Start submitting applications. Keep in mind college deadlines.

11. December • Continue submitting applications, watch deadlines. • Parents: Start organizing financial information for FAFSA – January is fast approaching. • Apply for pin at www.pin.ed.gov before completing FAFSA • Continue search for scholarships

12. December Cont. • A lot of scholarship deadlines are approaching. Talk with your counselor to be sure you don’t miss any you are qualified for. • If you have been following this timeline, you should be right on track; enjoy the holidays. If you are behind, this can be a great time to catch up. It is not too late to apply to many schools and the federal financial aid program. Take time over your winter break to complete applications and any required essays.

13. Searching for scholarships • Scholarship newsletter each month in HR –information on scholarships that come to us. • Google or other search engine to look for scholarships • www.fastweb.com for scholarships • Read bulletin board outside counseling office • Check with organizations and workplaces that your parents belong to or work.

14. Financial Aid: Apply early. Apply right • You and your family should save this year’s pay stubs to estimate income on aid forms that you’ll file. • Men 18 or older must register for the selective service to receive federal financial aid.

15. January • Jan 1, 2008: First day to submit FAFSA (Submit early for maximum aid) Encourage parents to complete federal income tax returns early this year. This information will be collected on the FAFSA to determine your financial aid eligibility. • Contact the admissions office at any schools to which you submitted regular-decision applications to make sure these schools have everything they need from you.

16. February • Did any of the schools you applied to request your transcript showing first semester senior grades? If so, have you requested they be sent yet? • Paper FAFSA Student Aid reports within four weeks. Electronic reports- expect results within 3-5 days. (EFC – expected family contribution) • Complete scholarship applications

17. March • March 1: Deadline for many applications • Contact financial aid office at the schools to which you have applied –check on appropriate application materials • Colleges will be sending out “offers” in the form of an Award letter with 2-3 weeks given to respond.

18. April • From those schools that accept you, compare your acceptance letters and your financial aid and scholarship offers. • Evaluate your options and make your acceptance choice. Find out what deposits you will be required to make to ensure your place in the freshman class. • When you decide, notify the school by letter of your commitment, submitting any required deposit check. • Try and have this done before the senior trip so that you can enjoy DISNEY WORLD.

19. May • Many schools require the acceptance notification letter by May 1st. Housing deposits may be due on this date too. Check with the college. • Take the Advanced Placement exams for any AP subjects you’ve taken in HS • If you were placed on a waiting list for a particular school, and you decided to wait for an opening, contact that school and let them know you are still interested.

20. June • Enjoy the Prom • Final Exams • Senior Awards • Graduation • Cheers and sometimes tears! • Contact Guidance Office to have final transcripts sent to the school you will be attending.

21. July/August • During the summer before your freshman year, you should participate in any summer orientation program for incoming freshmen and make any necessary arrangements for any medical exams or health insurance coverage if you have not previously done so. • Register for classes at your college • Prepare for your new adventure • Start packing……

22. QUESTIONS??? • Take time and plan. • This can be an emotional time. • AS A REVIEW: 4 main steps to take: • Register for the appropriate tests • Submit your applications for admission • Compare acceptance offers from schools • And finally, after you’ve accepted a school’s final offer, have your HS send your final transcript to that school.