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Begin your college journey with guidance on searching and selecting colleges, tracking deadlines, and seeking scholarships. Develop self-awareness, build your college list, and explore academic and extracurricular factors for admissions success.
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Junior Kickoff to College: Beginning the College Selection and Admissions Process MLHS School Counseling Department
Naviance A comprehensive tool that can be used to help students and parents through college and career planning • Conduct a college search and compare colleges • Review Game Plan and completed career surveys • Track deadlines and submission of documents • Schedule visits with college representatives at MLHS • Search for scholarships • Invite teachers to upload recommendations • Receive communications from School Counseling Department • Complete brag sheet and activities sheet
Self-Awareness • Who are you? Time for thoughtful reflection and self-analysis. • Think about your strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, preferences, etc... • Consider your personal priorities in a school- size, social vibe, academic programs, cost, sports, prestige, political vibe, distance from home, diversity, extracurricular life, surrounding area etc… • Parents can be helpful with this part of the process. Dinner table discussion, but not every night! • Once you know what you want, then you may set out to find the colleges/universities that best match your interests and goals. • Develop List through Naviance using the College Search criteria
During the College Search Process • Maintain contact with your counselor • Gather information from colleges and current students • Visit colleges (demonstrate interest) • Keep an open mind • Recognize admissions standards vary from year to year • Use good judgment when listening to the opinions of others
Building Your College List • Make sure every school on your list is a “first choice” school • Know why you are applying to each • Be realistic about academic requirements • Think outside the box
College Campus Visits • Register (online or phone) • Information sessions, campus tours, open houses, etc. • Talk to other students on campus • Look at facilities, surroundings, professors, dining hall and students • Hang out in town • Pick up the school newspaper • Keep notes on the visit and specific requirements and take pictures
Evaluating an Applicant Academic Factors • Transcript: • High School Grades • Three-year GPA • Rigor of program and senior year course selection • Rank (MLHS does not rank) • 1st quarter senior grades (often required for early applicants, but not automatically sent) • Standardized Test Scores • SAT/ACT scores (if required) • Subject test scores (if required) • Test optional/flexible colleges: www.fairtest.org • Note- Your name on your transcript must match your name on your application and test scores. Use your legal name.
Evaluating an Applicant Personal Factors • College essay • Recommendations (consider your brag sheets) • Demographics • Demonstrated interest • Extracurricular activities • Honors and awards • Community service • Interview (not all schools offer them) • Legacy • Supplements • Special talents (art, athletics, music, theater, auditions)
Brag Sheet for Teachers • Students must complete a separate brag sheet for their teachers who will be writing letters of recommendation • This Word document can be downloaded from the MLHS Counseling website under College Resources & Forms
MLHS School Profile • Every school has a Profile that is updated each year • Contains the school’s statistical data and other information • Features past performance as a benchmark • Colleges compare the strength of a student’s transcript to the strength of the offerings, to peers, and to the pool of applicants • MLHS’ Profile is a strong statement about our school, our students, and our community
High School Transcript • Courses taken and final grades earned in grades 9-11 with annual and cumulative GPA. Includes senior year courses as well. • Midyear Report shows Q1 and Q2grades. • This report is submitted to colleges in February. • MLHS GPA is calculated using all classes except PE, Audit, and Pass/Fail classes • MLHS GPA is weighted on 4.0 scale
Standardized Testing • PSAT results became available in December and are a valuable study guide • SAT and SAT Subject Tests www.collegeboard.org • ACT with or without writing www.actstudent.org • AP scores are used for class placement or credit only at most colleges. Recently, some colleges use AP scores as the “test flexible” submission in place of SAT or ACT • Please note: Students are responsible for knowing the specific requirements for each of their schools
Student Athletes and the NCAA • NCAA Regulations Division I Schools Division II Schools Division III Schools • Cumulative GPA • Blue Transcript Request Form • NCAA’s Cumulative GPA and test scores • Register/File with NCAA in June of junior year • NCAA Information Night- February 1 at 7pm
Financing Your Education • Family discussions about the role of finances in college selection • Families can begin applying for need-based financial aid in October 2018 • FAFSA www.fafsa.ed.gov • Some private colleges also require the CSS Profile www.collegeboard.org • Merit-based aid available as well • Scholarship search engines • Fastweb.com, collegeboard.org • Attend Financial Aid Night during fall of senior year
What is Expected of Students • Take ownership of college process • Complete and submit applications, brag sheet, transcript request forms (due 3 weeks before your first deadline), essays, etc. • Arrange to have official test scores sent directly to colleges at collegeboard.org and actstudent.org • Provide teachers with self-evaluation forms several weeks in advance of application deadline • Proofread your college essays and have them reviewed by counselor and/or an English teacher • Meet ALL deadlines
What is Expected of Parents • Support and encourage your child, offering advice and guidance where appropriate • Be aware of your own preferences or biases regarding college choices • Be open to new ideas and suggestions on colleges to consider • Support an ethical approach to the admissions process • Be realistic • Your children are expected to complete their own applications
What is Expected of Counselors • Offer students suggestions and guidance about colleges based on the information they provide and preferences they express • Help students create a balanced and realistic list of colleges they would be happy to attend • Write a counselor recommendation and submit supporting application documents • Meet all deadlines (as long as students have met counselor/guidance office deadlines)
Next Steps • Schedule Junior College Planning Meeting • Jan. 15- Feb.9 or Mid-March through May • Review contents of Junior Packet • Consider timing for campus visits • Develop a standardized testing plan • Consider who you want to ask to write a letter of recommendation • Recommend 2, but can vary based on college requirements • Keep your grades up and begin thinking about next year’s course selection • Complete Brag Sheet and Activities Sheet in Naviance
Additional Resources • Ms. Green – College and Career Counselor • Individual student appointments available after initial college planning meeting with counselor • College and Career Bulletin • Naviance • Recommended Readings • College Unranked, Colleges That Change Lives, Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be, Looking Beyond the Ivies: Finding a College That’s Right For You. • Trusted Guides • The Fiske Guide, The Insider’s Guide, The Best 381 Colleges
Additional Resources School Counseling Department Telephone: 973-334-8580 Fax: 973-316-0815 CEEB Code: 310855 Mrs. Giurlando: mgiurlando@mlschools.org Mrs. Grasso: mgrasso@mlschools.org Mrs. Lewandowski: llewandowski@mlschools.org Mrs. Sullivan: bsullivan@mlschools.org Mr. Wolfelsperger: dwolfelsperger@mlschools.org Ms. Green: rgreen@mlschools.org Ms. Stalter: lstalter@mlschools.org
