Senior Parent College Application Night

1. Senior Parent College Application Night Seneca High School September 22, 2011

2. Purpose of Senior Parent Night • Assist you with the college application process. • Discuss application procedures, transcript requests, letters of recommendation, standardized testing, Naviance and the new online process.

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. 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.*

5. 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.

6. Top Factors for College 1.Grades in College Prep Courses – Grades in AP, honors, or level 2 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 Grade Point Average – Calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number attempted • Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling

7. 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.

8. University of Delaware recommends: The University expects all applicants to have completed strong college prep course work: Subject Years 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 18 20-22

9. 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 (ACT with writing) • 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-CEEB-311474 & colleges of your choice • NCAA contenders must send scores to NCAA Clearinghouse: 9999 • You must send Standardized Test scores to colleges directly from the testing agency: College Board (SAT’s) www.collegeboard.com ACT- www.actstudent.org • 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 October 1, 2011 January 28, 2012 November 5, 2011 March 10, 2012 December 3, 2011 May 5, 2012 June 2, 2012 ACT’s September 10, 2011 February 11, 2012 October 22, 2011 (Seneca)April 14, 2012 December 10, 2011 June 9, 2012 (Seneca)

13. BCC CAP COURSES • If your child has taken any course as a CAP course you will need to request a transcript directly from BCC (it will not show as CAP on your HS transcript). • http://www.bcc.edu/PDFFiles/Forms/(online)TranscriptRequestForm1209.pdf • October 26-BCC CAP registration @ Seneca

14. Seneca is going GREEN…With the College Application Process • Online applications • Online teacher recommendation letters • Electronic submission of transcripts and letters

15. Teacher Recommendations • Ask two teachers politely in person. Give teachers at least two weeks notice. • Put teacher recommendation request in Naviance 1. Click on Colleges 2. Click on Colleges I’m Applying To 3.Click Add/Cancel Requests 4. Select teacher’s name from drop down bar 5. Click Update Requests • Check Naviance to see when letters have been completed. You will not be permitted to see the letter. • When teachers write you a letter, they will also fill out the common application teacher form electronically. **Teacher letters should be completed when you are requesting transcripts** • Counselors will automatically write a letter and fill out common application/counselor form electronically. You do not have to ask your counselor to write a letter.

16. Ways to Apply • Online • Go to the individual college website. • You will create a username and password. • Fill out the entire application online. • Common Application- www.commonapp.org • You will create a username and password. • Fill out once for multiple schools • Some schools have supplemental forms as well ** If a college accepts the Common Application & also has its own online application, you MUST apply using the Common Application for us to be able to send electronic documents**

17. Application and Transcript Process • Complete the application online using the college’s website or Common App website. • Submit a Transcript Request Form (attached) to Mrs. Fusco in the Counseling Center. Please allow up to two weeks. *You need a Transcript Request Form for each college.* • The Counselor will electronically submit all required documentation. We MUST have parental release of academic records on file or the transcript will not be sent (attached) Students should check Naviance to ensure that teacher letters are completed.

20. Rutgers The Rutgers application process is unique • Apply online on Rutgers website (State ID # is on transcript) • Self report your grades on Rutgers website Rutgers does not want a high school transcript or recommendation letters. If you plan to attend, you will send a final transcript in June.

21. DEADLINES Please leave at least 2 weeks for the transcript request to be processed. • Deadlines approach quickly • Check individual college websites to verify deadlines We CANNOT honor same day requests for transcripts

22. Mid-Year & Final Transcripts • We do NOT automatically send mid-year or final grades. • Mid-year grades-Students must submit a mid year grade request form to Mrs. Fusco in the Counseling Center. • In June– Students MUST submit final transcript request form to Mrs. Fusco in the Counseling Center so the final transcript can be sent to the school he/she is going to attend.

23. 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-submit transcript request form

24. 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 Counseling Center • February-BCC placement tests at Seneca. Exempt if scored 540 in Critical Reading and/or 530 in Math on SAT’s or ACT Reading-23 and/or Math-20 (Must have applied and sent transcript by January in order to take test) • May-Trip to BCC to register for classes (Must have applied, sent transcript & taken placement test in order to attend)

25. 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 Nov 15th at Seneca-sign up in Counseling Center

26. Trade Schools Schools that recent Seneca graduates have attended: Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Lincoln Tech BCIT Rizzieri PB Cosmetology *Must submit transcript request form*

27. Things to do….NOW • Submit parental release of academic records • Counselor will meet with you to review college application process • Know where you plan to apply • Ask teachers for recommendation letters (2) and request through Naviance • Finish standardized testing • APPLY-**pay attention to deadlines** • Early action/decision deadlines are October and early November • Most applications should be completed by December 1st

28. Scholarships • Mrs. Grace McCloskey – Chairperson • gmccloskey@lrhsd.org • Check the Scholarship eboard & Naviance weekly: www.gmccloskey.seneca.site.eboard.com https://connection.naviance.com/senecahs Complete local scholarship packet (distributed in homeroom in January)

29. FINANCIAL AID • Visit Financial Aid website-www.fafsa.ed.gov to request a password • Complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online after January 1st • Check college deadlines for FAFSA • NJ Stars must apply for financial aid Financial Aid Night January 5, 2012 7:00 PM Auditorium

30. Upcoming Counseling Center Events • October 13 @ 5:30 pm-Open Counseling Center Bring questions about college applications, general questions.. • November 3 @ 7 pm- Naviance Learn about this new and exciting program

31. Seneca News • Visit the counseling center’s website: http://www.lrhsd.org/sencounseling • Each month the Seneca eNewsletter is emailed:www.lrhsd.org/enewssubscribe

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

33. Counselor Contact Information CounselorLast NamesPhoneEmail Mr. Sam Maira A-Coo x6687 smaira@lrhsd.org Mrs. Mary Sabo Cop-Gou x6679 msabo@lrhsd.org Mr. Dave Lafferty Gr-Ki x6686 dlafferty@lrhsd.org Ms. Michelle Torrence Kl-Or x6673 mtorrence@lrhsd.org Mrs. Erica Maira Os-Sn x6685 emaira@lrhsd.org Ms. Sue Johnson So-Z x6656 sjohnson@lrhsd.org Seneca-609-268-4600

34. Thanks for coming!!See you at Graduation!!!