Countdown to College

1. Countdown to College Student Services Department Riverside Brookfield High School August 20, 2014

2. The Secrets of College Admission Mr. Jerry Pope National College Advisor – District 219

3. Important College Planning Information at RB • College Application Filing Process • Using Naviance to view application status • College Reps visits at RBHS • Financial Aid • Scholarships Opportunities

4. Application Filing Process • Completing the college application • Essays & personal statements • Letters of recommendation from counselors/teachers • Requesting ACT, SAT, & AP scores • Transcript requests • Putting the pieces together

5. Completing the Application • Online applications vs. paper applications • Resume of extra-curricular activities • Sports • Clubs/organizations • Leadership positions • Volunteer hours/service projects • Honors/awards • Check application deadlines • Early Decision (Binding Agreement) • Early Action • Priority Filing

6. College Essays • Students should start essays now. • Ask a counselor for direction and ideas. • Ask an English teacher for help. • Be sure to answer the essay question asked. • Avoid writing a “laundry list” of achievements. • Focus more on one or two experiences. • Proofread, proofread, proofread!

7. Letters of Recommendations • Counselor recommendations • Students must complete the 2 page double-sided “Senior Questionnaire” form. • Please give your counselor at least 2 weeks notice. • Teacher recommendations • Give teachers at least 2 weeks notice. • Ask teachers early – many of the same teachers get asked. • Provide teachers with a college list. • Remember to write a “thank you” note. • Junior year teachers are a good choice.

8. Requesting ACT, SAT & AP Scores • Students must request all tests scores from ACT or College Board. • No test scores are indicated on the transcripts. • Request tests scores as soon as possible. • ACT scores • www.actstudent.org • $12.00 per score per school, $16.00 per score for priority • SAT & AP scores • www.collegeboard.com • $15.00 per score per school

9. Requesting a Transcript • All transcripts are processed by Ms. Englehart, not the counselors. • A $5.oo fee was included on students’ fee statements. • Complete a request form for every college. • Forms are available in Student Services and on the Student Services webpage. • Parents must sign the request if the student is under 18. • Students must allow 10 school days for requests to be processed.

10. Putting the Pieces Together • Students should set up an appointment with their counselor after applications have been submitted. • Counselors will go through the transcript release forms with the student. • Most transcripts will be sent electronically to colleges through Naviance (e-Docs).

11. Student Services Website

12. View Status on Naviance

13. Still College Searching? • Future Focus College Fair at Triton College • September 23, 2014 at 7:00 – 9:00 • NACAC College Fair at Navy Pier, Chicago • September 27, 2014 at 11:00 – 3:00 • Visit college campuses. • Parent/Student Evening programs at various locations • Use Naviance for college searches. • Continue to talk with your counselor.

14. College Rep Visits at RBHS

15. Signing Up For College Reps

16. Financing Your Education • Must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) starting January 1, 2015 • FAFSA is used by the U.S Department of Education to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). • FAFSA is used by nearly all colleges to determine eligibility for federal, state, and college sponsored financial aid including grants, loans and work-study programs. • CSS (College Scholarship Service Profile) • Net Price Calculator

17. Net Price Calculator –Duke Example *The above example assumes a parental income of $85,000, savings of $30,000, and home equity of $100,000.

18. Financing Your Education Help • College Planning Tips for Seniors and their Parents • September 9, 2014 at 7:00-8:00 (Auditorium) • Financial Aid Planning Night at RBHS • November 20, 2014 at 7:00-8:30 (Auditorium) • “Don’t Pay the College Sticker Price” • January, 20, 2015 (Auditorium) • FAFSA Workshop at RBHS • February 2015 TBD (Library & Computer Labs)

19. National Scholarship Opportunities • General Scholarships • Located under College and Career Information on the Student Services homepage http://www.rbhs208.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?type=d&uREC_ID=248958&pREC_ID=572783 • Each scholarship varies in qualifications and application deadlines. • Updated weekly as scholarship information is received from the organizations offering the scholarship • Other resources for National Scholarships • FastWeb – www.fastweb.com • Student Scholarships– www.studentscholarships.org • Both sites allow the students to: • Search for local, state and national scholarships and grants • Identify scholarships based on your academics, community service activities, talents and interests

20. Local Scholarship Opportunities • Local Scholarships • Located under Local Scholarships on the Student Services homepage Available to Riverside Brookfield students only http://www.rbhs208.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?type=d&uREC_ID=248958&pREC_ID=572782 • Includes academic, athletic, and community service scholarships • Scholarship awards range from $500 to $3500. • Students can apply for and receive multiple scholarships. • Applications will be posted on the Student Services homepage in mid-February 2015. • Deadline for applications will be in mid-March 2015.

21. University Scholarships • Each college or university offers scholarships and grants directly to its admitted students. • Scholarships and grants do not need to be repaid. • Some scholarships are automatically awarded to the students based on their application information. • To receive most merit-based scholarships, the Undergraduate Application is all you need to complete to be considered. • Other university scholarships require an additional application that can be found on its website. • Each college/university will have different scholarship deadlines.

22. Best of luck on your college admissions journey!!! QUESTIONS? Be sure to like us on Facebook and Twitter and sign up for Remind 101.