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 BCC

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 % 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 $150 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

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 • Download the 2014-2015 FAFSA on the web worksheet

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

17. Seniors Need to Complete By December 2013 • 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 19th at BTHS) Register in the Counseling Office- $20 fee • 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

20. SOPHOMORES & FRESHMEN Things to do • Take a challenging curriculum and excel in your coursework • 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 • Consider taking the PSAT on October 19th if you are taking or have completed Geometry • 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. UPCOMING EVENTS • October 10th-Naviance Family Connection Workshop- 6 PM (before evening conferences) • October 19th- PSAT@BTHS- 8:00AM • November 10th- National College Fair in Philadelphia • December 7th - SAT and SAT Subject Test at BTHS • January – FAFSA Workshop – date TBD

22. Are You – Or Would You Like to be an NJ STAR? Students in the top 15% of their class at the beginning of 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

23. Welcome Ms. Kristy Loringer Admissions Officer Burlington County College