Welcome to JUNIOR PARENT NIGHT

1. Welcome to JUNIOR PARENT NIGHT

2. Overview • Post Secondary Planning • Options • Admissions • Testing • Application Process • Family Connection • Special Area Admissions • Art, Music, Theater, Dance, Architecture • NCAA Eligibility • Students with Disabilities • Financial Aid/Scholarships • Break Out Sessions

3. POST SECONDARY PLANNING

4. Post Secondary Options • Employment • Trade / Technical School • Military (enlisted or ROTC) • Career College • College/Universities • 2 year college • 4 year college • Military Academies

5. Admissions Requirements

6. Admissions Selectivity • Most Selective • Rank in top 10% of class • 650-800 per section SAT, 29+ ACT, SAT Subject tests (may be required) • Mostly AP courses, very rigorous schedule • Examples: TCNJ, NYU, Harvard, Duke, Princeton • Highly Selective • Rank in top 20% of class • 620-650 per section SAT, 27+ ACT, SAT Subject Tests (may be required) • Mostly AP/H courses, rigorous schedule • Examples: Rutgers, Stevens Institute, U. of Delaware

7. Admissions Selectivity • Very Selective • Rank in top 35-50% • 570-620 per section SAT, 24-26 ACT • Honors, 3+ yrs. World Language, Calculus or Precalculus, 3+ years of lab science (bio/chem/physics), some rigor in schedule • Examples: NJIT, Ramapo, Rowan • Selective • Rank in top 50-65% in class • 500-570 per section SAT, 21-23 ACT • 2+ years World Language, Algebra 2 and above, 2+ lab sciences (bio/chem), solid college prep schedule • Examples: Kean, Rider, William Paterson

8. College Testing SAT • 2400 possible points • each section scored 200-800 points • Math, Reading, Writing • Registration is completed online: www.collegeboard.com • Link to register as well as information/test dates is on the WMHS Guidance website ACT • 36 highest score • each section scored 1-36 • Math, Science, Reading, English • Writing portion is strongly recommended • Registration is completed on-line: www.actstudent.org • Link to register as well as information/test dates is on the WMHS Guidance website

9. College Testing SAT Subject Tests • Required for some schools/majors • 1 hour multiple choice test in a given subject • Can take 1-3 tests during a scheduled SAT Administration • Best time to take the test: June of the year you completed the course • Examples: US History, Chemistry, Physics, World History, Spanish, French • Link to register as well as information/test dates is on the WMHS Guidance website

10. Upcoming Testing Dates SAT • May 3, 2014 (given at WMTHS) • Registration Deadline: April 4 • June 7, 2014 • Registration Deadline: May 9 • Oct. 11, 2014 (given at WMTHS) ACT • April 12, 2014 • Late registration deadline: March 21 • June 14, 2014 • Registration Deadline: May 9 • Dec. 13, 2014 (given at WMTHS) *possibly adding a date in Oct. 2014*

11. CEEB CODE 311593

12. APPLICATION PROCESS

13. Application Process: Jr/Sr. Folder Complete Your Junior/Senior Folder Includes • “Authorization of Release of Records” • Activity Resume • Counselor Questionnaire • Parent Brag Sheet THESE SHOULD BE DONE NOW – do not wait until senior year to take care of these forms. • Complete the FERPA Agreement on Common Application (done in senior year)

14. Application Process: Applications Obtain the Application • Common Application • College Website • College Admissions Office • College Open House If you can use the Common Application – you should use the Common Application

15. Applications: Parts • Parts of an Application: • Student Information • Secondary School Information • Letters of Recommendation • Essay • Application Fee • Application Supplements on Common Application

16. Applications: Student Info • Student information • Personal information (applicant information) • Demographics • Future plans • Family Information • Education • Academic information • Activities • Signature

17. Applications: Secondary School Info • Secondary School Information • Counselor name, phone number, email • Transcript • Report cards • CA Secondary School Report • Other Secondary School Report

18. Applications: Rec. Letters • Recommendation Letters • Ask early – late junior or early senior year • Ask teachers in a timely manner (minimum 3 week notice) • Minimum of two letters– should be academic in nature but one could be from a coach/employer/advisor • Teachers also complete teacher forms • Make sure after asking in person to request teacher letter via Family Connection

19. Applications: Essay & Fee • Essay • Read the prompt carefully and with attention to detail • Answer the full question • Have your essay reviewed by a teacher • Spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting count • Fee • Application fees are usually paid online via credit cards • Fee waivers are available for students who qualify • Failure to pay the fee will delay the processing of the application

20. Applications: Sending Can be sent in 1 of 3 ways • Online - application sent by you, WMTHS sends secondary school information – electronic or by mail • WMTHS sends everything including a paper application completed by the student • Participate in On-Site Decision Day (selected colleges) Official SAT/ACT scores must be sent directly from the testing website. WMHS does not send/fax test scores because of score-choice or college policy. Failure to send your SAT/ACT scores will delay your application processing.

21. Applications: Reminders • NO MATTER HOW YOU SEND IT, YOU MUST: • Have a signed “Authorization for Release of Records” on file and complete the FERPA statement on Family Connection • Fill out a transcript request form for each completed application • If mailing paper forms, you must provide ADDRESSED, 8.5 x 11, envelope and four stamps per application THERE IS A THREE (3) WEEK PROCESSING TIME FOR ALL APPLICATIONS – be mindful of deadlines

22. Family Connection

23. Family Connection: College Use College Planning – • “one stop shopping” – putting in prospective colleges gives links to information & directly to each college website • Open Houses • College Fairs • College Visits to our school • College comparison charts • College search tools College Application Process - • track transcript requests & submissions • track recommendation letters

24. Family Connection: Other/Access • Career Planning • Summer Programs • Scholarships • Resume Builder How do I access Family Connection? • Link on the WMHS website under the Guidance tab (or link under For Families) • First time users - register using a code provided by counselor • If you are a returning visitor you can sign in using your e-mail & password • Student & parent need own registration code and each must have their own email address

25. Family Connection – College Apps

26. Special Areas of Admission

27. Special Admissions • Areas of Special Admissions: • Art • Design • Fashion Design • Engineering (requirements may vary from school to school) • Architecture • Music/Theater/Dance (Above areas may require portfolios/auditions to be completed for additional information please visit: www.nacac.org,www.npda.org)

28. NCAA Eligibility • Athletes hoping to play Division I or II sports must register with the NCAA • Register by August 2014 • Register at the NCAA Eligibility Center website • NCAA Eligibility rules have changed significantly– handouts with specifics are available. • Athletes must work with BOTH their coach & counselor. You are admitted through the admission office – college coaches cannot & should not guarantee admission.

29. Students with Disabilities • Things to Consider • To Disclose or Not to Disclose • Must meet admission criteria for institution • Different levels of services • Differences between high school and college • Additional Resources: • Peterson’s Guide- College for Students with Learning Disabilities or ADD • College’s Office of Disabilities

30. Financial Aid & Scholarships

31. Financial Aid • FAFSA • Submit after January 1st of senior year • www.fafsa.ed.gov • CSS Profile • NJ Stars Program • Financial Aid Workshop- Dec. 2014 • FAFSA Sunday- Feb. 2015

32. Financial Aid: FAFSA • www.fafsa.ed.gov • Link on WMHS guidance website • Application is free – if asked to pay to submit – you are at the wrong address (ie: fafsa.org) • Everyone should file – FAFSA data is not only used for financial aid but also by scholarship organizations • Both parent & student need their own PIN

33. Financial Aid: NJ STARS • Eligibility Criteria • Graduate in the top 15% of your high school class • Submit the FAFSA • Submit a Passaic County Community College Application • Enroll for 12-18 college level credits per semester • Contact the Financial Aid Office at P.C.C. • Covers tuition only (not fees) • continued for up to five (5) semesters, as long as students maintain a 3.0 GPA • Once associates degree is completed, student may be eligible for NJ STARS II at a NJ public four year college

34. Financial Aid: Grants & Loans Grants = free money & do not have to be paid back Loans = money needs to be paid back – specifics vary dependent on the loan program • Federal Pell Grant – need-based • Federal Work Study Program • William D. Ford Direct loan – subsidized/unsubsidized • Federal PLUS loans • Federal PERKINS loan • For loans/grant/scholarship programs specific to NJ – go the HESAA website (Higher Education Student Assistance Authority) – link is on the WMHS Guidance website

35. Financial Aid: Scholarships • Where to find: • Internet Scholarship search services: Finaid, Fastweb, Scholarships.com • Employer based programs • Professional association programs (ie: PBA, NJACAC) • Local scholarship information - available late spring of senior year • Scholarship section in Family Connection • Scholarship search links on the WMHS Guidance website

36. Family Connection - Scholarships

37. Breakout Sessions • Mrs. Drucker – Room138 • Ms. Morris - Room 139 • Ms. Lambert- Room 142 • Mr. Heaney- Room 144