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 the new partnership between BCC and Rowan University

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! • Don’t rule out a school because of cost alone • 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 Number of years housing is guaranteed Percentage 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 during the winter/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. Making Your College Decision • May 1st- Commitment Day • How to handle being wait-listed • Financial Aid Packages • Selection of courses- why 15 credits a semester is the “magic number”

13. 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 $185 billion dollars in grants and scholarships available • New Jersey is also an excellent source for scholarships and loans- www.hesaa.org

14. How To Minimize College Debt • Total College Debt over 1.2 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:

15. Minimizing Student Debt 1. Save before going to college 2. Apply for scholarships 3. Apply for federal and state 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 7. Earn college credits while in high school

16. FAFSA Get started on applying for financial aid by: • Going to https://fafsa.gov • Student and parent/ guardian apply for a FSA ID (no longer a pin) • Parents of seniors- download the 2016-2017 FAFSA on the web worksheet- file after 1/1/16 • Use the FAFSA4caster on the FAFSA website- get an estimate of how much financial aid your student may be eligible to receive • Every family who completes a FAFSA will receive financial aid

17. RCBC CAP Program • Partnership between BTHS and Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) • Professors at RCBC review the curriculum of BTHS courses to see if they meet the college standards • Students pay a $150 fee per 3-4 credit course • Request a transcript from RCBC when applying to college • Twenty nine BTHS courses currently approved

18. Redesigned SAT • Administered Beginning in March, 2016 • Aligned with the Common Core • More closely reflects what is taught in the classroom • Essay will be optional • No penalty for guessing • Free personalized practice through Khan Academy • collegereadiness.collegeboard.org

19. 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 • HS Counseling Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/BTHS-Guidance-Department/1444570725800887?ref=bookmarks

20. Seniors Need to Complete By December 2015 • 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

21. Students who wish to compete inCollege Athletics (Division I or II) • Register with NCAA Eligibility Center (www.eligibilitycenter.org) • Dec. 10th- Recruiting Realities workshop at BTHS • 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

22. JUNIORS – Things to Do • Take the Redesigned PSAT in October (October 14th at BTHS). BOE is paying for all juniors to take the test this year • Take the SAT or ACT one or two times between December and June. The Redesigned SAT will be offered in March, 2016. • 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 • Begin to visit colleges • Check the Scholarship and Open House information • Complete the FAFSA4caster at https://fafsa.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 • Request a fee waiver for the SAT if on free/reduced lunch

23. SOPHOMORES & FRESHMEN Things to do • Take a challenging curriculum and excel in your coursework • Sophomores-consider registering to take the PSAT on October 14th at BTHS ($15 registration for sophomores) • 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 • Complete the FAFSA4caster at https://fafsa.gov to get an estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid • Meet with your Counselor often

24. UPCOMING EVENTS • October 14th- PSAT and Redesigned SAT at BTHS • October 29th- National Performing and Visual Arts College Fair in Philadelphia • November 8th- National College Fair in Philadelphia- for both fairs register at: www.nacacnet.org/ncfstudent • December 5th - SAT and SAT Subject Test at BTHS • January – FAFSA Workshop – date TBD • Winter- Grade 9/10 parent workshop- date TBD

25. Are You – Or Would You Like to be an NJ STAR? Students in the top 15% of their class at the beginning or end of your senior year may qualify you as an NJ STAR!! • Qualifies you to attend RCBC 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

26. Welcome Ms. ZanebGhanem, Assistant Director of Enrollment Services- Rowan College at Burlington County

27. Thank You For Attending Please remain seated the Back to School Program will begin momentarily