Class of 2015 Junior College Planning

1. Class of 2015Junior College Planning South Lakes High School May 14, 2014

2. Introduction Heather Thomas School Counselor Hart-Lan Madiha Jamil School Counselor Mol-Ram Karen Burke Career Center Specialist

3. Webinar Process • This session is being recorded and will be posted to the SLHS website. • Participate in the session by responding to polls and providing feedback to the moderator. • Raise your hand when you have a question or a comment. • If you have questions please type them in the space provided, only moderators will have audio. • Use Chat to send text messages to other participants and the moderator during the session. • Remember that running other applications on your computer can slow your connection to the session.

4. What students can be doing now! • Make a final push during fourth quarter to maintain/earn strong grades. Maintain good attendance in classes. • Sign up for the SAT and/or ACT test. • Consider planning college visits over the summer. • Begin Counselor Recommendation Packet (See below). • Build Resume/Activity Sheet. • Begin asking teachers for letters of recommendations (two teacher recommendations are commonly required). • Continue compiling list of prospective colleges and become aware of their application deadlines. • If applicable, begin Military Service Academy and ROTC scholarship applications. • If you may be a recruited athlete, begin NCAA Eligibility Center process.

5. Types of College Admission • Early Action: Earlier college application deadline, usually in the fall. If accepted can still entertain other admission offers. • Early Decision: Earlier college application deadline. If accepted it is BINDING! • Regular Decision: One application deadline, decisions rendered in March/April. • Rolling Admission: Applications start date then decisions rendered as applications received. • Note that some schools have an earlier deadline if students would like to be considered for any school-based scholarships.

6. College Planning Timeline College Application deadlines typically range from Late October/November through February/March. SENIOR Orientation Sept. 9th(Tentative Date) SENIOR Parent Night Sept. 11th(Tentative Date) - Enjoy your summer - Explore Colleges - Build your Resume - Consider work or volunteer service SAT Test June 7th @ SLHS SAT Test Oct. 11h @ SLHS ACT Test Oct. 25th @SLHS SAT Test Nov. 8th ACT Test Dec. 13th@SLHS MAY / JUNE / JULY-AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER / NOV. / DEC. Counselor Recommendation Packet Due Sept 26 SAT Test Dec. 6th @ SLHS ACT Test June 14th @ SLHS Submit Transcript Packet beginning Oct. 10 (Deadlines vary depending on College App. Deadline) JUNIOR College Planning Meeting May 14th College Applications become available ONLINE in August!

7. Counselor Recommendation Packet – Due September 26th!Located on Family Connection • In order to request a counselor recommendation, the following components must be submitted to your counselor by 9/26. 1. Personal and Parent/Guardian Questionnaire Save this form to your computer and then input data. Save data and either email it to your counselor or print it out and submit in person. a) Transcript Release Form This form only needs to be turned in one time and MUST be signed before your transcripts can be sent to schools. 2. Teacher Comment Form (Save this form to your computer and input basic data, either email this form to the teacher or print and give to the selected 3 teachers) – Please note this is NOT the same as a teacher recommendation letter. 3. Activities List/Resume – Created by you (Use resume builder on Family connection if needed) Students should format an additional resume/activity sheet to send to colleges, if necessary.

8. Steps to access Senior Forms Go to Blackboard Click on Family Connection Click on document library (right side) Click on “Students-College Planning”

9. Steps to access Senior Forms

10. Remember: Family Connection is accessed through your Blackboard 24/7 Account. SAT Test Dates ACT Test Dates SAT: June 7, 2014 • Registration Deadline: May 9, 2014 • LATE Registration Deadline: May 28, 2014 • Register @ http://actstudent.org Late Fees Apply. ACT: June 14, 2014 • Registration Deadline: May 9, 2014 • LATE Registration Deadline: May 23, 2014 • Register @ http://actstudent.org Late Fees Apply.

11. College Application Tips from Current Seniors • Don't freak out about applying to colleges. Really think about where you realistically want to go and could go before you apply to 800 schools. • Start applications early! It is important to keep a schedule with due dates. • Make sure you know all the parts included in applying to college before the year starts, it will make life a lot easier once you start your applications. Do as much as you can before school starts. • Make decisions based on what is best for you. If you are true to your interests you will end up the happiest, and you will thrive in those areas. • Take school seriously and apply to college even if you think you won't get in. Take advantage of every opportunity. • Visit a lot of colleges and universities and know your plans before hitting senior year. • Get to know your counselors because you will have questions about the college application process. • Believe in yourself and move forward confidently. You will get through the year! Trust the process, everything works out in the end. • Don’t compare yourself to others because it usually ends up with bad feelings. Just do what you can do and be happy with it.

12. Resources http://www.quad2quad.com/ - College Visits – Available as an App http://fairtest.org/university/optional (College list - Don’t weigh SAT/ACT test for admission) http://www.fastweb.com/ (Scholarships in addition to those on Family Connection) http://sat.collegeboard.org/home?navid=gh-sat SAT information and registration http://www.actstudent.org/ ACT information and registration