Fall College Information Night for Seniors and Parents

1. Fall College Information Night for Seniors and Parents Tuscarora High School Guidance Department

2. College Information Night • Counselors met with seniors during advisory and were given information needed for the college application process • Every senior will meet with his/her counselor individually • Many of the documents and worksheets discussed tonight are online • THS Guidance >>> “Senior Planning”

3. The College Selection Process • Ideally, students should begin their senior year with three or more colleges in mind • There are many college search tools available • Family Connection college search function – every senior has an account • CollegeBoard website • You Can Go (ycg.org) • The THS Career Center • Your child’s counselor & career specialist

4. The College Selection Process • College testing • SAT Reasoning Test (admissions) • ACT (admissions) • SAT Subject Tests (typically for placement) • Register now!!! The Loudoun test sites fill up quickly

5. The College Selection Process • College representative visits to THS • There is no substitute for a campus visit as a way to assess a school • Use a worksheet to record your experiences, what you like/dislike, contacts you make, etc.

6. The College Selection Process - Summary • Use college search programs to help select colleges • Use available resources to further narrow your search • Visit colleges! • Take the college entrance exams (SAT and/or ACT)

7. Naviance/Family Connections • Keep track of the process – Build a resume, complete on-line surveys, and manage timelines and deadlines for making decisions about colleges and careers • Research colleges – Compare GPA, SAT scores, and other statistics • Sign up for college visits – Find out which colleges are visiting our school and sign up to attend those sessions

8. Tuscarora High School Scheduled College Visits

9. The Application Process –The Magnificent Seven • Application • Essay • Self-Assessment & Parent Response • Secondary School Report • Test Scores • Transcript • Letter of Recommendation

10. The Application • Most applications are submitted electronically over the internet • Print and review before submitting it! • Seniors are responsible for completing and submitting their own applications (not mom & dad!) • Seniors should make copies of all applications they submit • Many colleges use the “Common Application”

11. The Application • Seniors are responsible for being aware of application deadlines • Regular Admission – traditional deadline • Early Decision – binding • Early Action – non-binding • Rolling Admission – applications accepted based on space availability until the institution is “full”

12. The Essay • Not all colleges require an essay • Most essays are submitted electronically along with the application • Seniors should make sure they are understand the essay topic • Seniors are advised to print out and review (with help!) their essays before sending them

13. The Essay • English teachers are more than happy to help students with essays; some teachers incorporate this into their curriculum • Seniors should save all essays because they may be modified and reused – but be careful • Essay resources –THS library, THS Career Center, public library, book store, internet

14. The Transcript • Seniors must submit a Transcript Release Form signed by a parent. Forms can be obtained in guidance • Seniors must submit the form in person to the secretary • We ask that seniors submit transcript requests a minimum of three weeks before the college application deadline • We track the process date and send date – posted on Family Connection

15. The Transcript • We include a school profile with every transcript • Transcript requests must be made before December 1stin order to be sent before winter break • All LCPS student’s are charged $3.00 per transcript • Please only request transcripts to be sent to colleges you are actually applying to • There are no costs for mid-year and end-of-year transcripts

16. Letters of Recommendation • Counselor Letter • If a senior needs a letter of recommendation from the counselor, he/she can request it when he/she requests the transcript • Every senior has been provided with a Senior Information Packet to be turned into the counselor • The Senior Information Packet is posted online

17. Letters of Recommendation • Teacher Letter: • If a letter of recommendation is requested from a teacher, the senior should make the request directly to the teacher and provide the teacher with a postage-paid envelope addressed to the college • Think about who you are asking… they may need more time!

18. Letters of Recommendation • Seniors should allow counselors and teachers a minimum of three weeks to write a letter • Please only request letters to be sent to schools you are actually applying to • If you send more letters than the college requests, you can’t control which ones they choose to read

19. Test Scores • Seniors are responsible for determining the tests needed for the colleges they are applying to • SAT Reasoning Test (typically for determining admissions) • ACT (typically for determining admissions) • SAT Subject Tests (typically used for placement) • Seniors are responsible for having their test scores sent to the colleges they are applying to • Requests are made directly through the CollegeBoard or ACT; THS nor LCPS send test scores • Seniors can request their scores be sent when they take the tests; or they can have their scores sent after the test date by contacting the CollegeBoard or ACT

20. Secondary School Report (SSR) • Secondary School Reports will be completed by the counselor with every Transcript Request Form! • SSR Form includes: • GPA • Class rank • Highest GPA in class • Strength of Curriculum

21. The Application Process - Summary • Senior submits application electronically to the college • Senior submits the essay electronically to the college (if there is one) • Senior has test scores sent directly to the college by the SAT (CollegeBoard) or the ACT • Senior meets with counselor directly to request a transcript by submitting a Transcript Release Form • Seniors may request letter of recommendation (if needed)

22. Communication • Students and parents can log onto Family Connection to view transcript send dates • We automatically send mid-year transcripts to the colleges our students apply to (no cost) • Final transcripts are sent to the colleges our students plan to attend (no cost) • The infamous “we didn’t get your transcript” postcard or email

23. Some Advice • Traditional advice – Pick three to six colleges: • “Reach” schools • “Middle of the road” schools • “Safety” schools • Balancing “Going for it!” with “Being realistic” • Apply to colleges that are a “good fit” • Look at GPAs, test scores, high school courses, admission rates

24. Tips for Parents • Be Realistic • Look for the right fit • Let your child take ownership of this process • Stay on top of deadlines (counselor & college) • Join your child for campus visits • Communicate – it is a family decision

25. Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program • Designed for students who: • Are interested in obtaining a bachelor’s (4 year/college) degree • May need assistance with the process and • Are interested in starting at NOVA and transferring to George Mason or another 4 year college/university • Will graduate no later than August of that year • Have a strong desire for academic success • No minimum GPA is required to apply

26. Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program • Pathway Benefits in High School • Individual meetings with Pathway counselors in the high schools (meet about college transition issues, major/career planning, etc.) • Workshops on the application process • Preparation for placement tests • Assistance with financial planning – including help with applying for financial aid, scholarships and NOVA payment plan • Early placement testing and priority course registration

27. Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program • Pathway benefits at NOVA • Continued academic and career counseling by a Pathway counselor • Pathway Counselor now also at GMU • Guaranteed admission agreements between NOVA and VA State institutions; special Pathway agreement with George Mason Univ. with necessary GPA and NOVA AA/AS degree • Special Pathway sections of your college success skills course • Regular academic and social activities and early access to activities and athletic events at GMU

28. Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program • Important points: • Applying for and participating in the Pathway program does not bind you to NOVA – you can still apply/go to a 4 year school • Pathway students can transfer to ANY 4 year school, does not have to be GMU • You can still go to NOVA and take advantage of the GAAs without being a Pathway student • NOVA application and the Pathway application are different

29. Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program • What do I do now? • Obtain and fill out a Pathway application • Return the application to your guidance counselor by November 18th, 2011 • Acceptance decisions will be mailed out prior to winter break • See Mrs. Schumann or your counselor with questions – I will be at your school every other week starting the end of October

30. QUESTIONS