The College Application Process for Parents October 2012

1. The College Application Process for ParentsOctober 2012

2. Basics of Senior Year • Work hard! Strive to do your best work! • Be sure you are meeting course and credit requirements for graduation. • Check your transcript for accuracy, sign, and return to guidance. • Be aware of deadlines. Deadlines are DEADLINES! • Make an appointment to see your counselor if you have not yet done so. • Stay informed: • Announcements, newsletters, bulletin boards, Naviance • This is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!

3. Top Factors in College Admissions Other Important Factors • Grade in college preparatory courses • Admissions test scores • Overall grade point average • Essay • Teacher/Counselor Recommendations

4. Factors Unrelated to Academic Achievement • Extracurricular activities • Community service • Work experience • Relation to alumni • Race/ethnicity • Key “tip” factor: Demonstrated interest in attending specific college

5. Options with Focused Process • Physical Therapy, Nursing • Music and Art • Military academies and ROTC nomination, evaluation and qualification Athletics: NCAA Eligibility * Central Clearinghouse to certify athletes for Division I & Division II participation: https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/ * NCAA eligibility has no bearing on your admission to a particular institution

6. Hopedale’s Application Process Forms and instructions online and in your packet • USE the “College Application Process” handout • Teacher recommendation process • Student/Parent Questionnaire & Activity Resume • School Report Form/Counselor Rec. • Filing options: • Hard copy college application • Online college application on college website • Common Application: Online,Supplements and Required Forms, Update in Naviance

7. Letters of Recommendation • Counselors Use: • Academic record • Senior Questionnaire in Naviance • Resume in Naviance • Personal reflection regarding student • Teachers Use: • Academic record from classes • Reflection from personal history with student in the classroom and other extra-curricular activities.

8. Application Basics Transcript Release Form – request in Naviance two weeks before you want transcripts sent out. You will need to request transcripts for each school ($3 per transcript request). Packet sent from Guidance includes: • Transcript • School Profile • School Report Form • Counselor Recommendation • Hard Copy Application, Essay and Application Fee if you are applying using hard copy.

9. Family Connection/Naviance • See colleges your child is applying to. • Application deadlines for each college. • Application type for each college(Common App., Online, mailed). • If your child requested their transcript and if it has been sent. • Status of submission of materials (School Profile, Transcript, School Report Form, Counselor Recommendations). • Graph for each college to compare where your child stands against other Hopedale HS applicants. • Link to each college’s website.

10. Family Connection/Naviance

11. Sending Test Scores: SAT/ACT • Colleges require scores come from these agencies to be considered official. Guidance will NOT send your scores. • This should be done as soon as schools are decided upon. • Scores can be requested online at www.collegeboard.org or at www.act.org.

12. IEP/504 Students • Every student has the individual right to disclose to the college their disability. Some factors that the student should consider when making the decision to disclose include: • Would you like to apply for admission into a LD program at college? • Did you have your foreign language graduation requirement waived in HS? • Are you applying to Massachusetts State Colleges (see above)? • Review “Navigating the Post-Secondary Education Search Process” and “What to Ask on a College Visit for the LD student” information found on the guidance website • “Release of Information Regarding Support Services” Form Must be completed if you would like your IEP/504 information sent to colleges.

13. Scholarships • Check Naviance often for updated scholarships list (The “Scholarship Match” tool will match your child with scholarships they qualify for. • Check with local businesses and companies to see if they offer scholarships. • Online scholarship finders (Fastweb- www.fastweb.com) • STAY INFORMED

14. Senior Timeline September • College Application Seminar with Guidance • Continue to narrow list of colleges and gather applications • Continue to visit colleges • Call to schedule visits and/or interviews • Meet with your counselor • Complete Senior Questionnaire and Activity Resume if not completed • Request teacher recommendations (see process handout) • Chart deadlines, application and financial aid deadlines • Begin drafts of essays • Register for SAT Reasoning and/or SAT Subject Tests and/or ACT Standardized Test Dates: October 1st , November 5th, December 3rd– SAT October 22nd, December 10th – ACT

15. October • Continue visits to colleges and visits to college websites. • Appointments with counselors continue. Make sure you see your counselor ASAP if you are applying Early Action or Early Decision. • Make list of schools and required application details-online, hard copy or common application. If using Common Application, check for necessary supplements. • Request teacher recommendations. Make sure teachers have any required teacher evaluation forms! • Request SAT or ACT scores to be sent to colleges -www.collegeboard.com - www.actstudent.org • Work on essays. • Start Scholarship search (Naviance, Internet) • Mini College Fair: October 25th Scholarships Available now!! • Prudential Spirit of Community Award – November 1st

16. October/ November • Begin filling out applications. • Watch deadlines carefully. Transcript and school packet requests to Guidance at least two weeks in advance. • Financial Aid: Verify each colleges requirements/ deadlines for financial aid forms/information File CSS Profile if required by colleges Attend MEFA Financial Aid Night with your parents on Wednesday, October 10th. Note: FAFSA cannot be submitted until January 1.

17. What Can You Do To Help? • USE NAVIANCE to check on status of applications and scholarship information/availability. • Check the GUIDANCE WEBSITE FOR UPDATES! Newsletter will be on the main Guidance webpage. • Follow us on Twitter for more information - @hhsguidancedept • Complete the Endicott Survey. Provides HJSHS with sense of viewed areas of strengths and weakness from parents; part of NEASC evaluation. www.endicottresearchcenter.net