COLLEGE COUNSELING 2005

1. COLLEGE COUNSELING 2005 We promise we’re not trying to scare you….

2. CONTACTS • Nancy Beane – girls college counselor; nancybeane@westminster.net; 404-609-6248 • Dr. Wade Boggs – boys college counselor; wadeboggs@westminster.net; 404-609-6274 • Donna Burbank – applications guru and administrative assistant donnaburbank@westminster.net; 404-609-6242 • Kimbrell Teegarden – scholarships and financial aid; • Lasley Gober – senior year advisor; lasleygober@westminster.net; 404-609-6250 • Dave Drake – senior year advisor; daviddrake@westminster.net; 404-609-6432 • Dr. George Lamplugh – senior year advisor; georgelamplugh@westminster.net; 404-609-6231 • Kristin Domescik – Registrar; kristind@westminster.net; 404-609-6386 **Go to our website OFTEN for regular announcements, updates and important college information

3. Whom to contact… • To change your scheduled conference with Mrs. Beane or Dr. Boggs, see or call Mrs. Donna Burbank at (404) 609-6242 • For questions about financial aid and scholarships or to set up an appointment, Email Mrs. Teegarden For transcripts that must be signed by the Registrar, call or go see Mrs. Kristin Domescik in the School Registrar’s Office; 404-609-6386

4. Important Dates • September 14 – Westminster office deadline for application materials with October 15th deadline • September 19 - College Day; from 1:15 to 4:00 in Turner Gym • September 21 – Westminster office deadline for materials due with early decision applications • November 4 – Westminster office deadline for application materials with January deadlines on or before January 10th • January 1 – FAFSA submission begins • January 4 – Westminster office deadline for application materials with January deadlines after the 10th and February deadlines • May 1 – Deadline for response to colleges

5. Choosing Schools Your decision of colleges to which you will apply will depend on many considerations: • Academic goals, ability, achievement • Characteristics of the campus as a community (social life, student organizations) • Geographical location • Size • Your impressions based on your visit, conversation with official school representatives • Cost

6. To how many schools do I apply? We generally recommend that students apply to five to six, although this number will vary with each student

7. Sending your SAT scores • Early September – when you fill out a registration form for your senior SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject Tests, you will list the code numbers of the colleges to which you wish to send your scores • If, however, you don’t take either SAT during your senior fall, you will go online to www.collegeboard.com and follow the prompts to send your scores. • They will send all of your scores (not just your highest), but usually colleges look only at the highest scores. • You’ll also list Westminster’s CEEB (College Entrance Examination Board) number, which is 110256 • Also, write down Westminster’s address and main phone number somewhere where you’ll have easy access to them for your college applications: 1424 West Paces Ferry Road Atlanta, GA 30327; 404-355-8673

8. Early Action and Early Decision Applications • If you are not ready to make a final decision, but have narrowed down your selections, you may consider applying under one of these early plans used by various institutions • It is your responsibility to check the particular school’s policies about whether or not you may apply to more than one early action school (Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, for example, have single choice early action, meaning that you can only apply to one of them EA; Georgetown, Boston College and Tulane, however, allow you to apply to more than one EA school) • If you are certain of where you want to go, you should think seriously about applying early decision unless certain factors (financial or otherwise) keep you from doing so

9. More on EA and ED applications • If you do early applications, you must also prepare other applications at the same time in the event that you are not admitted early decision. (Many times you will not find out being deferred or rejected from an Early application school in enough time to rush applications to other schools; therefore, it is crucial that you prepare other applications ahead of time.) • Be aware that you may have a better chance of admissions to certain schools if you apply early rather than waiting for regular decision consideration

10. Applications and Cover Sheets • You are responsible for obtaining all college applications, most of which can now be downloaded from the Internet • Take note of application requirements: hand-written in black ink or typed • Allow plenty of time to write and revise your essays, using the Writing Center as a resource • Once the entire application is finished, turn in to the College Counseling Center all parts clipped together with the cover sheet (except teacher recommendations) and 9” x 12” envelope • Cover sheets and 9” x 12” envelopes are required even if you submit online • List teachers writing recommendations on each cover sheet • Cover sheets can be found online (under “[PRINT FORMAT]”) and in the CCC

11. Applications and Cover Sheets • Provide the CCC with two books of 20 stamps each – we will not send your applications without stamps • We recommend that you keep a College Applications/Materials folder of some kind to contain and keep track of all application copies, correspondence, important dates for submission, list of all colleges receiving your score reports, the score reports themselves, test admission tickets, etc • It is YOUR responsibility to make copies of your applications before bringing them to the College Counseling Center. If you submit electronically, be sure to print the application before submitting • Be sure to download the application first and save it to your computer until you are ready to submit it. Be sure to print it before submitting just in case something happens to the online submission. • URGENT: take special care to keep all these materials on file

12. A word about CCC application deadlines • Turn in all applications to the College Counseling Office no later than the office deadlines • Please make note of these deadlines NOW • Respect the time and effort of those who are trying to help you with the college application process • There are no guarantees that late submissions will be processed on time

13. Teacher Recommendations • All requests for recommendations should be made as early as possible to respect your teachers’ schedules and to ensure on-time delivery of your letters to the CCC office • You’ll want to ask teachers who know you and your work well, preferably from your Junior Year • You should feel comfortable asking your teachers if they feel comfortable writing you a good recommendation. If not, ask another teacher • Ask your teachers to send their signed letters of recommendation to the CCC

14. Teacher Recommendations • When you ask someone to recommend you, give him or her 2 things: • money No! Just Kidding!! • What you should ACTUALLY give these teachers: • the teacher recommendation form from the website (with the date when the application is due to us in the CCC, NOT the date that the application is due to the college) • the college’s recommendation form filled out with all information required of you • Be sure to check the box waiving your rights to see the letter to ensure confidentiality

15. College Decisions Colleges base their admission decisions on the following criteria: • High school grades; rigor of courses; SAT I and/or ACT scores • The school’s stature and reputation • Extracurricular activities, leadership, evidence of talent, good citizenship • Teacher letters of recommendation • Application for admission, essays, interviews • Alumni and other connections can help, but by no means ensure acceptance

16. A note about interviews… *Be sure to take advantage of personal interviews if they are offered – sometimes direct contact with the applicant can be a deciding factor in admissions decisions * Show an interest - have questions prepared for the interviewers * For those interested in interview preparation, sign up with Ms. Leach for mock interviews in October *Send thank you notes to the interviewers afterwards

17. Things to think about… • Why did you choose this college? • How will contribute to this particular community? • What is your biggest strength and weakness? • What is something significant you’d like us to know about you? • What are you hoping to get out of your college experience? • Do you have any questions for us?

18. A word about brag sheets • You can now download brag sheets from our website: (www.westminster.net/collegecounseling) • However, if you make changes to your brag sheets, you MUST come to the College Counseling Center to make those changes to our hard copy of your brag sheet • We use your brag sheets for a number of things, include scholarship nominations, which makes it critical that we have your up-to-date information

19. When you’re accepted… • Early Decision: withdraw all other applications • Early Action: withdraw all applications no longer in consideration • Regular Decision: notify other colleges of your decision • Thank your teachers, senior advisors and college counselors!

20. Financial Aid and Scholarships • See the Financial Aid 101 Power Point Presentation on the website • Email Mrs. Teegarden • Office Location: College Counseling Center

21. For even MORE information www.westminster.net/collegecounseling for: • college counseling updates, scholarship information, important dates, FAQs • weekly announcements • information from your class officers about upcoming events