The College Admissions Process

1. The College Admissions Process

2. Objectives • To learn how to maximize your student’s chance of finding the “right” college • To learn how to access financial aid resources • To find out what your student can do now to prepare for college, no matter what their grade level • To learn about all of the programs available through Rutgers University

3. Decision Factors • Size of school • Location • Distance from home • Activities/Athletics • Public/Private • Entrance requirements • Cost of attendance • Average financial aid award • Reputation of School • Majors available • Campus personality

4. How Many Schools To Apply To • No “right” number • “Diversify” your applications • “Safe” schools • “Match” schools • “Reach” schools • Be sure to adhere to deadlines • When requesting transcripts allow at least 10 working days before the due date

5. Naviance • Students can manage their applications through the Family Connection area of Naviance • Complete the Common App., request transcripts and teacher recommendations • Register for the SAT or ACT, FAFSA, and the NCAA Clearinghouse • http://connection.naviance.com/burlingtontwn

6. Benefits to Going on a Campus Tour or Interview • Indicates your level of interest • Allows you to get beyond the statistics • Puts a “face” onto the college • Gives the college an opportunity to get to know you on a more personal level

7. Average GPA/Class Rank? Average SAT/ACT scores? Other tests required? Cost of attendance/average financial aid package (grants, loans, work study)? Average class size for major Number of years housing is guaranteed Percentage of students who return after 1 year? Graduate in 4 years (6 years)? Do professors teach freshmen/undergrads? Adjunct or full-time? Campus social life? Career placement services available? “Top 10 Questions” to Ask on a College Visit

8. How Colleges Evaluate Candidates: • Course selection- level of rigor through all four years of high school • Grades/GPA • Rank in Class • SAT scores • Take the SAT in the spring of your junior year and the fall of your senior year- www.collegeboard.com • Check schools for SAT Subject Test requirements • Review for the SAT or take an SAT prep course. Scores will improve with practice (BTHS offers an evening SAT Prep Course three times during the year at a great rate!) Link on the HS Counseling webpage • ACT scores • Accepted by virtually every college in the US in place of SAT • Tests what you have learned, not your aptitude • www.act.org

9. Evaluation Continued • SAT Subject Tests • Required by some colleges: math, science, etc. • Leadership Positions • Activities- Quality not Quantity • Sports • Clubs & High School activities • Community/church activities • Volunteer community service activities • Part-time jobs

10. Evaluation Continued • Essay • Recommendations • ask for letters of recommendation from two teachers early in the fall • Supply a résumé • remember to thank them and let them know where you have been accepted • Interview (if offered by the college) • Your preparation and planning

11. Hearing From the Colleges • Regular Decision (April 1) • Rolling Admission (reviewed as received) • Early Decision (early application & commitment) • Early Action (early application & no commitment)

12. Financial Aid Sources • Three types of financial awards: 1. Scholarships and Grants 2. Loans 3. Work-study • Primary Source of Financial Aid is the Federal Government- over $185 billion dollars in grants and scholarships available • New Jersey is also an excellent source for scholarships and loans- www.hesaa.org

13. How To Minimize College Debt • Total College Debt over 1 Trillion Dollars • Average Student Debt around $30,000 Mark Kantrowicz, a financial aid expert who has been interviewed on NPR and in US News, recommends the following tips for minimizing student debt:

14. Minimizing Student Debt 1. Save before going to college 2. Apply for scholarships 3. Apply for federal loans before applying for private loans- they’re cheaper 4. Think hard about your major- if your starting salary after graduation will not match what you borrowed, consider a less expensive college 5. Double major in a more lucrative field 6. Pay interest on loans while you’re in school 7. Earn college credits while in high school

15. FAFSA Get started on applying for financial aid by: • Going to www.fafsa.ed.gov • Student and parent/ guardian apply for a pin number • Parents of seniors- download the 2015-2016 FAFSA on the web worksheet- file after 1/1/15 • Use the FAFSA4caster on the FAFSA website- get an estimate of how much financial aid your student may be eligible to receive

16. Where To Go From Here www.burltwpsch.org Go to schools – click on the High School then click on Guidance On the guidance page, scroll down to find the following • Testing Information- PSAT, SAT, ACT, and ASVAB • Financial Aid Information- links to sites that will explain how to pay for college, the types of scholarships that are available, scholarship search engines, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid • Check the BTHS Scholarship Bulletin http://www.connection.naviance.com/burlingtontwn • College Information- complete a college search, find out what college may be the right match for you, check out college rankings and take virtual campus tours • Complete a scholarship search • Follow the Action Plan that has been set up for each grade level • HS Counseling Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/BTHS-Guidance-Department/1444570725800887?ref=bookmarks

17. Seniors Need to Complete By December 2014 • Complete applications • Monitor your applications in Naviance • Check to see if the schools you are applying to accept the Common Application www.commonapp.org • Take the SAT or ACT by December • Take the SAT Subject Test if required by college • Check the Scholarship Bulletin regularly and apply for any scholarships that you are eligible for • Register for a scholarship search on a web engine such as Fastwebwww.fastweb.com

18. Students who wish to compete inCollege Athletics (Division I or II) • Register with NCAA Eligibility Center (www.eligibilitycenter.org) • The eligibility center is responsible for certifying all college-bound student-athletes wanting to compete in NCAA college athletics. This is done in two ways: • Academic Certification & Amateur Certification • Do you meet the eligibility requirements • Have you kept your amateur status?

19. JUNIORS – Things to Do • Take the PSAT in October (October 15th at BTHS). BOE is paying for all juniors to take the test this year • Take the SAT or ACT one or two times between December and June • Go to your Naviance account and complete the junior activities and junior action plan • Use Naviance, other websites and college guidebooks to begin college search • Check the Scholarship and Open House information • Complete the FAFSA4caster at www.fafsa.ed.gov to get an estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid • Register for a scholarship search on a web engine such as Fastweb (www.fastweb.com) • Meet with your Counselor often • Request a fee waiver for the SAT if on free/reduced lunch

20. SOPHOMORES & FRESHMEN Things to do • Take a challenging curriculum and excel in your coursework • Register to take a free practice test on the Redesigned SAT on October 15th at BTHS • Go to your Naviance account and complete your responsibilities and follow your action plan • Begin to familiarize yourself with colleges, careers and scholarship opportunities through the various websites • Complete the FAFSA4caster at www.fafsa.ed.gov to get an estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid • Meet with your Counselor often

21. Redesigned SAT • Will be launched in the Spring of 2016 • Redesigned PSAT beginning in the Fall of 2015 • New test will be aligned to the Common Core • Essay will be optional • deliveringopportunity.org

22. UPCOMING EVENTS • October 15th- PSAT and Redesigned SAT at BTHS • October 26th- National College Fair in Philadelphia-register at: www.nacacnet.org/ncfstudent • December 6th - SAT and SAT Subject Test at BTHS • January 8th– FAFSA Workshop in the PAC- 6:30 pm registration, program begins at 7 pm

23. Are You – Or Would You Like to be an NJ STAR? Students in the top 15% of their class at the beginning or end of your senior year may qualify you as an NJ STAR!! • Qualifies you to attend BCC tuition-free for up to 5 semesters. Program is dependent on state funding • Go to www.hesaa.org, click on the Students/Parents link, then click on the Scholarship link

24. Welcome Ms. Brittany McCall Admissions Counselor Rutgers University

25. Thank You For Attending Please remain seated the Back to School Program will begin momentarily