Lewis and Clark High School Post High School/ College Application Process Fall 2014

1. Lewis and Clark High SchoolPost High School/ College Application ProcessFall 2014

2. Overview • Potential Paths – Education Requirements • College/Career Search Resources • Testing Requirements • SAT/ACT – Dates & Deadlines • Applications – General info, Essays, Holistic Review • Student Office – Application Process & Tips • Financial Aid – Resources & Info • Scholarship Search • Upcoming Events

3. Potential Paths – Education RequirementsSpokane Public Schools expects ALL seniors to apply to a post-high school program. • Military:High School Diploma • Technical Program:Requirements vary; need to contact particular program • Community College:High school diploma or GED; earn an AA or AS; Asset/Compass placement tests required • 4 Year College:High school diploma; above and beyond high school graduation requirements (e.g., 2+ years world language, 3+ years math, 3+ years science, math and/or science class senior year); SAT/ACT

4. College/Career Search Resources • Naviance– Family Connection (on LCTigers.com Homepage) • User Name: Student ID, Password: tigers (all lower case) • College & Career Center – Rm. 105 • LC Senior Newsletter • www.LCTigers.com– Counseling, College & Career • www.careeronestop.org– Career, College & Technical School Search • www.careersinthemilitary.com– All Branches, Career Opportunities • www.collegeboard.org– College, SAT Testing info • www.actstudent.org– College, Testing info • www.mappingyourfuture.org– Career, College, Financial Info • www.projectopportunity.net– Washington St. Private College Info • www.princetonreview.com–College Search, Test Prep • www.petersons.com– College Search • www.wiche.edu– Western region undergraduate exchange (WUE)

5. Testing Requirements • SAT Reasoning/ACT– either one or both are accepted by most colleges. SAT Subject Tests are required by some colleges. Scores must be sent directly to the colleges. To Register:SAT – www.collegeboard.org ACT – www.actstudent.org • ASVAB – Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery – Testing at LC – Oct. 15th – Sign up NOW in the Career Center! • ASSET, COMPASS, Math Placement Tests – Check Community College requirements. It is YOUR responsibility to determine which tests you need to REGISTER for and to TAKEby the deadlines.

6. SAT Test Dates & Deadlines Test DateRegistration Deadline October 11* September 12 (LATE Fee until 9/30 ) November 8* October 9 December 6* November6 January 24 December 29 *Test administered at LC.

7. ACT Test Dates & Deadlines Test DateRegistration Deadline October 25 September 19 December 13 November 7 February 7 January 9 Note: Although the ACT Writing section is optional, we recommend you take it.

8. Applications – General Info • Almost ALL College Applications are online • Common Application– 500 member colleges, 47 states, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Switzerland. & MORE! Remember to complete the required Supplements!www.commonapp.org • Common Black College App:32 member colleges, mostly southern states, one $35 application fee. www.eduinconline.com • Application Deadlines: • Regular – Final due date, rolling admissions common • Early Action – Not legally binding • Early Action, Single Choice (Restrictive)– Non binding, • BUT you agree not to apply to any other early • action school. • Early Decision – Legally binding

9. Additional Application Info • NCAA Clearinghouse/Student Athletes(ncaaclearinghouse.net) – Talk to your coach & Mrs. Poland in the Main Office. • YOU are responsible for researching and meeting your application deadlines. • YOUR GOAL is to complete the application process before Thanksgiving break.

10. Application Essays Weave in the 4 P’s in your responses: • Personality –What characteristics make you uniqueor stand out from the crowd? • Pride – What is something you’ve accomplished or feel especially proud of? • Personal Story– Tell your story. If you have experienced difficulties or personal challenges, share how you dealt with them and what you learned through the process. • Proofread for Quality – Ask a teacher, counselor or adult to proofread and give feedback.

11. Holistic Review PhilosophyWhat do colleges look for in a potential student? GPA Curriculum Choices Test Scores Activities Essays Recommendations Fit with current student population, specific majors.

12. Student Office Application Process Requests for Transcripts – allow minimum 24 Hours. Requests for Letters of Recommendations – allow a MINIMUM of TWO WEEKSfor processing. • Transcript Request Form (Pink) – College only requires student’s H.S. transcript. • Letter of Recommendation AND Transcript Request Form (Blue) – College requires transcript AND Letters of Recommendation. • Post-High School Application Checklist (Yellow) • Autobiography Guide/Resume Sheet (Purple) – A guide to create a Bio & Resume to include with Letter of Recommendation & Transcript Request. All forms available in the Student Office & on www.lctigers.com

13. Student Office Process 1.) Turn in all completed forms and requests IN PERSON to Mrs. VanHalderonor Mrs. Oranen in the Student Office 2.) Pick up Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation in the RED BOX titled “College Transcripts” YOU are responsible for MAILING all Transcripts and Letters of Recommendations that are NOT sent electronically.

14. Counselor’s Tips • Create an email account - specifically for colleges/scholarships – hotmail, gmail, etc. and check it regularly! • Email Address – make sure it is appropriate….. • Use your legal name– on all your applications. • Visit the schools – if you can – if not, online! • Eighth semester grades – do count! • Keep a calendar – with all your deadlines. • Keep copies – of all application materials and communications…just in case. • This is YOUR application – complete it yourself.

15. Financial Aid Private Institutions FAFSA

16. Financial Aid – Resources/Info • FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) – FREE Application for Financial Student Aid (NOT fafsa.com) • PIN # for FAFSA (www.pin.ed.gov) – get PIN now • Cannot submit FAFSA application – until January 1st • Best to submit by February 1st (Estimate earnings now, verify later) • CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE – Required by some schools. Application for nonfederal financial aid for 400 colleges & scholarship programs. (http://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile) • Free FAFSA Filing and Information Workshop at LC – Thursday, January 8, 6:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

17. Scholarship Search • Be aware of scams! • Career Center – Room 105 • Senior Newsletter • Individual Colleges – have their own list of scholarships. • Community resources, foundations • Employers • Scholarship Search Sites – examples: • www.thewashboard.org • www.fastweb.com • www.zinch.com • www.blackexcel.org • www.finaid.org • www.meritaid.com

18. Upcoming Events • School-Day College Fair for Students – College Representatives will be visiting LC all Day on Wednesday, October 1. Students will attend with their individual classes. • National College Fair– Wednesday, November 5th Spokane Convention Center, 9 a.m.-12 noon, 6-8 p.m. • Ongoing College Visitations– Career Center, Announcements in bulletin, on website under College & Career, and in the Senior Newsletter. • Online College Fairs – www.collegeweeklive.com Free access to 450 colleges.

19. Remember . . . • You still need to GRADUATE from high school! • Need at least 22 credits, complete High School and Beyond Plan, pass HSPE & EOC (or state approved alternative). • An offer of admission and/or scholarship CAN be rescinded. • Finish strong!

20. REMEMBER:Where can I find this information plus more?www.lctigers.com,LC Counseling Center andthe Career Center (Room 105) It Takes a Little More to be a Tiger – FINISH STRONG SENIORS!