Junior Parent Night

1. Junior Parent Night College Planning Overview

2. HHS Guidance CounselorsMrs. Tracy Encarnacao, District Director of Guidance • Mr. Bruce Powers • A - Castillo • Mrs. Heather Brunner • Castro - Des • Mrs. Susan Beaudoin • Dev - Her • Mrs. Bonnie Levine • Hey – McC • Mrs. Jami Dion • McG – Pare • Mrs. Melinda Cripps • Park - Rom • Mr. Andy Alsup • Ros - Z • Ms. Stacey O’Brien • Early College

3. Agenda • Roadmap to College • College Search Process • What’s in an Application? • Standardized Testing • Naviance • Financial Aid Overview

4. Roadmap to College • Be proactive! • Plan your route to college now! • Work a bit each month to help prepare for a smooth senior year

5. March/April • Attend HHS college fair • March 13th- HHS Gymnasium - 6:30-8pm • Register for SAT or ACT • Develop a preliminary list of colleges • Visit college campuses • Meet with guidance counselor • If considering Div. I or II athletics, register with NCAA Eligibility Center (www.eligibilitycenter.org)

6. May • Attend a local college fair • May 1st- 6-8:30pm- Boston National College Fair • May 29th- 6:30-8:30pm- NEACAC Regional College Fair at Merrimack College • Don’t let your grades slip! This is the last full year of grades that colleges will see! • Think about which teachers you would want to write you a letter of recommendation • Take SAT or ACT • Continue visiting college campuses

7. June • Take SAT/ACT or SAT Subject Tests • Meet with your guidance counselor to confirm that graduation requirements are all set • Think about the criteria that are important to you as you consider colleges • Get comfortable using Naviance • Search for meaningful summer job or volunteer opportunities

8. Summer Months • Analyze SAT/ACT scores and plan for future testing • Create a list of schools with varying admissions competiveness as well as financially safe options • Continue to visit schools • Develop a resume • Create Common App account • Apply for FAFSA PIN • Work on college essay

9. Fall Timeline • Sign up to meet with college reps • Meet with guidance counselor to review final college list and plan for deadlines • Attend Senior Parent Night • Follow up with teachers writing your letters of recommendation • Complete college essays and review them with an English teacher • Familiarize yourself with college admission deadlines

10. The College Search Process

11. Begin at the Beginning… • There is a path for everyone. Know your options! • Do your research- don’t rush the process • Do some self-reflection- what are strengths, weaknesses, values, interests? • Develop specific criteria for colleges • Utilize an online college search tool to help create that preliminary list of colleges • College Board- www.collegeboard.org • Naviance- http://connection.naviance.com/haverhill

12. Big Future (CollegeBoard)/College Search (Naviance)

13. What are the options for college? How much training & education am I willing to get to achieve my career & life goals? 2-year Technical School or Community College 4-year University or College

14. 2-Year Technical & Community Colleges • Affordable • Transfer Options / MA Transfer Program • Licensure/Certification

15. 2-Year Admissions Requirements • High School Diploma • Completion of the Accu-placer exam

16. Community Colleges of MA • Provide well-rounded college experience • Campuses offer many of the same clubs and activities as 4-yr colleges • Many colleges have intercollegiate or club athletic teams • Smaller class sizes • MA Transfer

17. 4-Year Colleges and Universities There are over 2,000 4-year colleges and universities in the country. Decide the factors that are important to you to help narrow down a list of schools that are a good match.

18. Location • Far away or close to home? • Urban vs. suburban vs. rural • Be sure to factor in the cost of travel if you plan to go far away

19. Size/Enrollment • Weigh the pros & cons of a small school vs. large university • Do you want to be a big fish in a small pond? • Do you want to blend in with the crowd in a lecture hall of 250+ students?

20. Programs of Study • Not all schools have every academic major • Undecided? Be sure to look at schools that have all of your potential areas of interest!

21. Selectivity/Admission Requirements • Be realistic • Where do you stack up in comparison to admission requirements at a particular school? • What factors are important for admission? • What percentage of students are accepted each year? • Make sure your schools fall into one of three categories: • Reach • 50/50 • Probable

22. Cost The investment of college is expensive. When finalizing your list of colleges; be sure to include schools which are “financially safe”.

23. What’s In an Application?

24. Parts of the Application • Application • Essay • SAT/ACT scores • High school transcript • Letters of recommendation • Interview (depends on the school) • Application fee

25. What are Colleges Looking For? • Classes taken & quality of courses • GPA • Involvement • Standardized test scores • Essay/Letters of recommendation

26. College Applications • 2 main types of applications • Common Application • College-specific Application

27. Common Application • www.commonapp.org • Accepted by over 500 colleges and universities • One general application & essay • Helps student organize all aspects of their applications • Many schools require a supplemental form- know what your school’s requirements are! • Letters of recommendation and transcripts are sent by Guidance Counselors through Naviance

28. College-Specific Applications • Can apply online or via paper application • Most colleges have copies of application available on their website

29. The Essay • Choose topic wisely • Keep focus on you • Common Application for Fall 2015 is available in August- start planning before senior year!

30. Letters of Recommendation • Ask teacher by May/June • What to consider: • Core academic subject • Teacher who can speak to your strengths as a student • Areas of weakness

31. Types of Deadlines • Early Action • Early Decision • Regular Decision • Rolling Admission • Open Enrollment

32. Selective Programs • Certain majors are more selective than others • Nursing, fine/performing arts, music • Additional materials may be required for admission • Portfolio • Auditions • Early admission deadlines • Know your requirements!!!

33. Standardized Testing

34. Standardized Tests • SAT Reasoning Test • SAT Subject Tests • ACT

35. Upcoming SAT Dates SAT is offered at Haverhill $51- SAT Reasoning $24.50 + $13 for each test- SAT Subject Tests SAT is also available in October, November, and December. Visit www.collegeboard.org for updated information!

36. http://sat.collegeboard.org

37. Upcoming ACT Dates $52.50 with writing section Visit www.actstudent.org for updated information!

38. www.actstudent.org

39. Naviance • Manage and track all aspects of the admissions process. • Delivers all of the supporting documents for college applications • Provides valuable insight into the college admissions process with college search, scatter grams, scholarship information and college application statistics

40. Take A Career Interest Survey

41. Research Career Options

42. Perform a College SearchChoose the criteria you are looking for in your ideal college

43. Research Schools

44. How do you Stack Up?

45. Keep Track of Schools You Are Considering

46. Financial Aid The financial aid process may seem overwhelming, but you are not alone!!!

47. Two Types of Financial Aid • Merit-Based Aid • Awarded for academic, athletic, artistic talents • Need-Based Aid • Based upon financial need • Determined by standard methodology

48. Sources of Aid • Federal • State • College/University awards • Scholarships

49. Financial Aid Forms • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) • Required by all colleges • CSS PROFILE • Required by some colleges • Fee associated with application • Institutional Forms • Specific to some colleges in lieu of PROFILE

50. FAFSA www.fafsa.ed.gov