College Jump Start Night

1. College Jump StartNight Shawnee High School May 5, 2016

2. Purpose of Presentation • Review the college process. • Discuss transcripts, standardized testing, college visits, Naviance, and letters of recommendation. • Learn about the college admission process from college admissions representatives.

3. GPA/Rank • Students will receive their Rank and GPA in homeroom in September. • Unweighted is on a 4.0 scale • Weighted is on a 6.0 scale • Transcript reflects weighted & unweighted GPA & Rank

5. Standardized Tests • SAT’s-www.collegeboard.org (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 Shawnee High School & colleges of your choice-Free when you register, but fee later • You must send Standardized Test scores to colleges directly from the testing agency: College Board (SAT’s)- www.collegeboard.org ACT- www.actstudent.org

7. Test Dates SAT’s- at Cherokee HS June 4, 2016 (deadline 5/11) January 21, 2017 October 1, 2016 March 11, 2017 November 5, 2016 May 6, 2017 December 3, 2016 June 3, 2017 ACT’s June 11,2016 (Seneca -deadline 5/6) February 11, 2017 September 10, 2016 April 8, 2017 October 22, 2016 (Seneca) June 10, 2017 December 10, 2016

8. College Visits/Interview Visits • Take campus tour • Visit library, cafeteria, dorms • Talk with students • 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). Interview • This is a good way for schools to know YOU and not what is on paper. • Be able to state why you are interested in that particular school.

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

10. Family Connection Powered by NAVIANCE • 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/shawneehs Username: StudentID#@lrstudents.org Password: StudentID#

13. 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. • 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 fill out all required forms electronically. • If you have any outside letters, you will need to send them on your own.

15. Brag Sheets • Students & Parents must fill out brag sheets in Naviance: Student Brag Sheet-for Counselors Parent Brag Sheet-for Counselors Student Brag Sheet-for Teachers • Brag sheets can be found on Naviance: • Click on About Me • On Left, Surveys to Take • Student Brag Sheet, Parent Brag Sheet, Student Brag Sheet for Teachers • Answer questions for each and click Update

17. Ways to Apply • School Application • 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 • Coalition Application (new for Fall)- www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org ** If a college accepts the Common Application & also has its own online or VIP/Priority application, you MUST apply using the Common Application for us to be able to send electronic documents**

18. 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.

19. RCBC Spring Ahead Program • Fall-Attend BCC informational meeting at Shawnee & fill out free application- https://www.bcc.edu/forms/adm • January-Transcript request form due to Counseling Center • February-RCBC placement tests at Shawnee. 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 RCBC to register for classes (Must have applied, sent transcript & taken placement test in order to attend)

20. Military ASVAB-Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (Military entrance exam) • Each branch has required entrance score • ASVAB administered in September at Shawnee

21. 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://eligibilitycenter.org • Send official test scores from College Board/ACT to NCAA • Send high school transcript to NCAA-submit a transcript request form to the Registrar.

22. College Fair RCBC –Mount Laurel Campus Thursday, May 12th 6-8 pm Briggs Road Center Suite 120 For more information, visit: rcbc.edu/collegefair

23. College AthleteInformation Night Seneca High School Monday, May 9th 6:30 pm A panel of collegiate coaches and administrators will be assembled to address major aspects of the possibilities of continuing a sport at the collegiate level.

24. Summer Programs College Essay Writing July 11-14 @ Lenape July 18-21 @ Lenape July 25-28 @ Lenape Time- 9 am-12 pm Tuition-$85 SAT Prep July 11-14 @ Lenape July 25-28 @ Lenape Time: 8:30 am-12:30 pm Tuition-$110 Register by June 6th at: http://www.lrhsd.org/Summer

25. Things to do...NOW!! • Research & visit colleges • Take standardized testing • Naviance-research colleges/SAT practice tests/career search • Register with NCAA Eligibility Center • Ask teachers for recommendation letters (2) and request through Naviance • Fill out brag sheets in Naviance • Course changes by August 1st

26. Things to do...in September • Counselor will meet with seniors to review college application process • Sign up in Counseling Center for college visits-listed on counseling website & daily announcements • Know where you plan to apply • Submit parental release of academic records • Fill out required Naviance information for college applications • Finish standardized testing • APPLY-**pay attention to deadlines** • Early action/decision deadlines are October and early November • Rutgers-early action deadline of November 1st; Regular decision deadline of December 1st

27. Counseling Center Events Senior Parent College Application Night September 2016 Shawnee Auditorium Financial Aid Night October 2016 Shawnee Auditorium Visit the counseling center’s website: http://www.lrhsd.org/shacounseling

28. Counselor Contact Information CounselorLast NamesPhoneEmail Mrs. Michelle Scheffer A-B x4416 mscheffer@lrhsd.org Mr. Kevin Looney C-D x4408 klooney@lrhsd.org Mr. Gary Hill E-Ha x4419 ghill@lrhsd.org Mrs. Janae Zechman He-Man x4411 jzechman@lrhsd.org Ms. Julie McGrory Mar-Pi x4417 jmcgrory@lrhsd.org Mr. Darren Welsh Pl-So x4451 dwelsh@lrhsd.org Mrs. Erin O’Neill Sp-Z x4402 erinoneill@lrhsd.org Mrs. Heidi Krihak SAC x4413 hkrihak@lrhsd.org Shawnee-609-654-7544 @ShaHSCounseling

29. College Panel • RCBC-Jeannine Baumgartner: Guaranteed Admission Program/Transfer Agreements • The College of New Jersey-Kaitlin West: Standardized Testing, New vs. Old SAT • Drexel University-Mary Catalfano: Academic Performance, Choosing a Major (Declared vs. Undeclared) • George Washington University-Danielle Toglia: Recommendation Letters, College Essay & Activities • Rowan University-Allison Wedell: Financial Aid, Public vs. Private Schools, In-State vs. Out-of-State Schools • Saint Joseph’s University-Kate Murphy: Social Media, New Trends in College Admissions • Rutgers University-Brittany McCall: Different Ways to Apply, Self-Report Transcripts • West Chester University-Erin Fadden: Choosing a College Wisely