The Mechanics of the College Application Process

1. The Mechanics of the College Application Process Brett Levine-Director of Guidance Sarah Mazak, Counselor 9-12-2012

2. MHS Guidance Department • Director: Brett Levine • Counselors: Sarah Mazak, Nancy O’Brien, Joe Giugliano, and Phyllis Levy • Support Staff:, Carolyn White • Intern: Misty Lynes

3. Tonight’s Program • 60-75 Minutes • Posted on MHS Guidance Web site. • Practical Information. • Reinforce information presented in summer mailing and Jr. parent night. • Students will get a condensed version of this presentation next week. (Sr. group guidance during common lunch)

4. Agenda • Guidance Facts and Figures • In School College Visits • Admissions Cycle • Application Process • Scholarships • Key Reminders • FC Demonstration • Closing Thoughts

5. Where the Class of 2012 Applied • 15 Rowan, Scranton, Vermont • 17 Loyola • 26 Delaware • 29 Rutgers • 32 CCM *

6. Top schools Where Students Matriculated: Class of 2012 • 3 @ Drew, Lafayette, Ramapo, Fairfield, Suffolk, Loyola, U of MD, VPI • 4 @ Colgate, University of Delaware • 5 @ Kean, Rutgers • 29 @ CCM

7. Upcoming Events (For Seniors and/or their parents) • Senior conferences (Starting next week) • Senior group guidance (9/20, 9/21) • College Fair @ CCM (9/23) • Financial Aid Night (1/9) • CCM Admissions Processing Day/Field Trip (2 days in April) • In School College Visits (on-going)

8. In School College Visits • Sign up on Family Connections • Student is responsible for getting permission from teacher (prior), and making up work. (30 minutes) • Code of conduct • Person visiting is often the application reader. • (Off campus visit-Get a note from college)

9. Admissions Cycle

10. Application types (a sample, there are many more) • Early Decision. • Early Action. • Regular Decision. • Rolling Admission.

11. Decisions • Accept • Accepted for Spring term • Reject • Deferred: (EA or ED) • Supplemental Information • Waitlisted (Notified Mid May-August) • Supplemental Information

12. Making the Final Decision • May 1st-Deposit date • Can only deposit to one college. (exception, wait list) • Navigating the wait list. • Courtesy to notify non-attending colleges where you are going. • Let guidance know of all decisions. • Guidance will automatically send final transcript to matriculating college.

13. How parents can supportthrough the process • Make sure student schedules Sr. Conference • Remind: important Dates • Remind: College visits • Keep ‘em on track. • Keep us in the loop. • Honest conversations with students about $$

14. Nuts and Bolts • How things get done • What students send • What we (guidance/teachers send)

15. WHAT THE STUDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SENDING… • Application/Application Fee • Essays/Personal Statements • Supplemental Materials (Portfolio, graded papers, letters of recommendation from non-faculty member, Early Decision Agreement, anything else the college wants that we don’t send. • SAT/ACT scores • NCAA Info

16. What Madison High School Sends.. • Transcript w/ GPA, senior yr schedule, class rank (optional). Any change in schedule, an updated transcript will be sent. • High School profile • Secondary school report form/ counselor recommendation. • Mid year grades and final transcripts. (1st MP report card optional) • Teacher recommendations (often two). (Demonstration)

17. HOW WILL WE (MHS) SEND MATERIALS? • Electronically (EDOCS)

18. What we need to do this? • Transcript Request form (Key Points, let’s take a look) • I have registered with common application • I have completed the FERPA consent on Family Connection. • Colleges I’m thinking about in FC and CA. • ICONS • Common lunch is the only time to submit this form. • Kids need to know application method.

19. Steps for teacher recommendations • Ask teacher • Submit request via family connections. • Provide teacher with any information they want. • Provide them w/ envelope if college does not receive materials electronically (rare) • Check to see if college received it. • On FC, On Common app, on college account.

20. IMPORTANT TAKE AWAYS • ICONS • Remember to register for Common Application (Commonapp.Org) • Remember to fill out FERPA on FC • Remember on-line teacher letters of recommendation.

21. Prepare a manila envelope for each college • your child is applying to:THAT DOES NOT ACCEPT ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS (RARE) • Put three stamps on each envelope • Write Madison High School’s return address • On a manila envelope, write the name and address of • the college Madison High School170 Ridgedale AvenueMadison, NJ 07940

22. SCHOLARSHIPS • Posted on Family Connections. • Different categories: National, State, Local, College. • College merit scholarships are usually not posted on FC. (Exception: WUSL, Davidson, UVA, Emory) • Let us know of any scholarships awarded. (Including college merit awards) • Be neat, type them up. • Apply apply apply. • Similar procedure as college application (envelope, transcript request form). • Student should write thank you note.

23. Quick Family Connections Demonstration

24. Please Keep In Mind… • Responsible for sending SAT/ACT scores. Not sent by HS. • OK for colleges to receive things in stages. • 10 Day Rule • Overlap between us sending it out and colleges recording it. • Rutgers. Self reporting • Transcript request during common lunch only. • Check FC for status • Responsible for registering for selective service • Responsible for registering for NCAA Eligibility Center

25. Final Thoughts • Guidance has resources on non-college options. • Clean up digital dirt (i.e.. Face book, My Space) • Use Scattergrams on Family Connections. • Colleges review final transcripts and can rescind admissions decisions. • We are here to help!