Senior College Night

1. Senior College Night WHAT EVERY SENIOR PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW!!

2. Resources for Seniors • Counselors • Career Center Director • Registrar • College Admissions Representatives and Financial Aid Personnel

3. Counselors • Assist with college information and applications • Serve as resources for information on essays, personal statements, scholarships & financial aid • Write recommendations as needed • Act as a sounding board for parents and students

4. College and Career Centerwith Mrs. Frank • Assists with computer searches. • Distributes scholarship information and applications • Coordinates College Representative visits • Updates Scholarship bulletin • Provides college books and materials to view • Updated information of college visits on Twitter

5. RegistrarMrs. Galis • Updates transcripts, test scores, class rank, & GPA • Approves transcripts requests for college applications and scholarships • Prepares official graduation roster

6. College Admission Representatives • Advocate for potential students if good match • Information on majors, housing, costs, and student life at their college • Admission requirements/scholarship opportunities • College visit information

7. Important Web Resources • Career Cruising • Resume and Portfolio • College representative visits • Scholarship Information • Career and College Information • Log-in: • (user name) LP-student ID • (password) Computer log-in password

8. Types of Admissions

9. Applications • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online

10. OnlineApplications • You can print a paper copy for practice but complete/send it online • Use personal PIN number • Follow progress of application • Easier to complete and read • Application Fee (credit card, check or fee wavier request) • Make a copy of application before sending

11. Main Application Sections • All applications • Personal Record: Name/address, family information; areas of academic interest; activities; work experience; etc • School Record: Transcript which includes the following: course work, grades ,GPA, class rank, test scores • Date of Graduation

12. Special Application Sections • Personal Statement: • Chance for college to get to know you and what your passions are • Chance for you to explain any inconsistencies in transcript

13. Special Application Sections (cont’d) • Essays and/or short answers • Follow directions • Stick to the topic • Check for grammar and spelling errors • Proofread! Proofread! Proofread! • Sets you apart from other applicants • Way to assess communication and writing skills

14. Recommendations • Optional • May enhance chance of admission • Could explain special talents, circumstances, learning styles, needs • No more than 2 recommendations • Required • Essential part of evaluation of candidates for admissions and scholarships • May be used to differentiate strong candidates for limited opportunities such as scholarships

15. Teacher Recommendations • Use recent teachers who know you best and give them 2-3 weeks to complete it • Follow application guidelines • Offer resume or personal information to help teacher • Provide envelope with stamp for mailing • Write thank-you note

16. Counselor Recommendations • Meet with counselor to discuss recommendations • Provide counselor with StudentInformation Sheet and/or Resume • Parent Questionnaire is optional • Allow 2-3 weeks for recommendation to be completed

17. Importance of Deadlines • Prioritize your applications by due dates • Note: scholarship deadlines may be different from application deadlines • Watch postmarked by vs. received by • Apply early: Some programs may fill up before deadlines • Meeting deadlines may make a difference for admissions and scholarships • Stay organized with folders, check lists, post-its

18. Applying for Housing • Procedures vary per school • Some housing applications are included with general application • Others are sent out with acceptance letters • Most schools require freshmen to live on campus • Apply Early • Some housing fills up/not always guaranteed to freshmen • You have more choices early on • Downside:Deposits are typically non-refundable

19. College Visits • Plan to visit colleges on final list • Visit on LP school holidays if possible • Call ahead and try to schedule an overnight stay and classroom visits • Attend open-house programs • PACK A CAMERA and TAKE LOTS OF NOTES.

20. Universal Reply Date • MAY 1stis the date by which a student must tell the admissions office that she/he is planning on attending that school • Students should NOT accept admissions to more than one school because it creates problems for the school as well as wait-listed students

21. College Testing:To Retake or Not Retake • Retake The ACT for following reasons: • To improve your chances for admission • To increase scholarship opportunities • To meet NCAA requirements • Do NOT wait for new test scores to apply to colleges • Score range 1-36 • Register by mail or on-line at www.act.org

22. Scholarship Information • Check scholarship bulletin on Lake Park’s homepage www.lphs.org • College and Career Center • Scholarship Bulletin next to CCC desk • Scholarship books are available • Web Resources: • www.fastweb.com • www.collegeanswer.com • www.collegezone.com • Become familiar with available scholarships at individual colleges

23. Senioritis: The Signs • Loss of motivation to study • Exhaustion from workload • Loss of sleep trying to juggle school, work, home, friends • Part-time job taking precedence • Non-participation in sports/activities • Fights with friends and parents • Confusion over status as teenager/adult

24. Senioritis:Survival Techniques • Set goals and work toward them • Encourage your students to maintain their college prep course load; remember the competition in college • Help students stay involved in school and community • Show your students how to balance school, work, home and social life

25. Important Dates for You and Your Family • Saturday, September 28th – College Fair at Navy Pier, 11 AM to 3 PM • Tuesday, October 22nd - College Fair at COD 6:30-8:30 PM • ACT, Oct 26th, registration deadline 9/16 ***ACT required for graduation*** • Wednesday, November 13th - Paying for College Night, 7 PM at WCAuditorium

26. Financial Aid Information Paying for College Night Wednesday, November 13 at 7:00 PM • Presentation by expert financial aid officer • Updates on financial aid • Tips to make it easier to apply for federal aid

27. Financial Aid Information • All schools require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which is available on-line in December • File the FAFSA between January 1 and February 15 at www.fafsa.gov • (NOT, www.fafsa.com) • Families can complete an estimator now to determine eligibility for federal aid at www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov • In addition to the FAFSA, many private universities require the CSS Profile www.collegeboard.org

28. Top College Application Mistakes • Misspellings and grammatical errors (or wrong college name) • Applying online, but forgetting to hit submit • Forgotten signatures • Listing extra-curricular activities that aren’t (video games are not) or listing activities that you haven’t done

29. Top Application Mistakes (cont’d) • Writing illegibly • Inappropriate email address like, greatlegs@hotmail.com • Not checking your email for updates. • Letting Mom or Dad complete the application • Not submitting required materials

30. Counselor Assignments: • Eliza Freedman, Seniors A-Dr • efreedman@lphs.org 630-295-5344 • Patrice Lovelace, Seniors Du-I • plovelace@lphs.org 630-295-5343 • Mike Mucha, Seniors J-Mo • mmucha@lphs.org 630-295-5346 • Melisa Williams-Rivera, Seniors Mu-Sa • mwilliamsrivera@lphs.org 630-295-5349 • Mike Sakiewicz, Seniors Sc-Z • msakiewicz@lphs.org 630-295-5345

31. Q & A: What Questions Do You Have For Us?