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Class of 2012. College Application Process. Creating Your College List The College Application Student’s Responsibilities School’s Responsibilities Process for Requesting Letters of Recommendation & Transcripts Why use Naviance ?. Today’s Agenda. College & university websites
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Class of 2012 College Application Process
Creating Your College List • The College Application • Student’s Responsibilities • School’s Responsibilities • Process for Requesting Letters of Recommendation & Transcripts • Why use Naviance? Today’s Agenda
College & university websites • College Fair – Sept 24th @ Stone Bridge HS • College visits to the Career Center • College Open Houses scheduled in local area • Visit the college campus • Discuss college options & costs with your parents Your College List: Research
Location • Size • Career goals • Academic majors • Financial aid • H.S. course requirements and recommendations • Academic profile of • admitted students • Student life • Diversity of student body • Appearance of facilities • Athletic programs • Extracurricular interests • Study abroad programs • ROTC • Dorms/residence halls • Available support services • The “feel” of campus • Cost (don’t rule out private • or out-of-state colleges) Your College List: Finding the Right “Fit”
Post-secondary education opens doors • Post-secondary education gives you options • Post-secondary education can help you make a difference • Post-secondary education creates earning power Life After High School: Why Plan?
Median Earnings by Level of Education (2007): • High School Dropout: $25,000/year • High School Diploma: $33,00/year • Associate Degree (2-Year/Community College): $41,000/year • Bachelor’s Degree (4-Year): $56,000/year • Advanced Degree (masters, professional, doctoral): $75,000/year Life After High School: Why Plan?
Trade-schools/Apprenticeships • Many “trades” have more earning potential than careers that require a 4-year degree • Military • Enlisting in the military and earning a college degree are not mutually exclusive • Enlisting in the military can help pay for college • Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is available at many colleges • Recruiters can provide more information Options for Life After High School
College • Associates Degree: 2-year degree (typically earned at a community college or a junior college) • Bachelor’s Degree: 4-year degree • Master’s Degree: Typically 2 additional years after earning a bachelors • Doctoral Degrees & Professional Degrees: PHD, JD, MD, DC Options for Life After High School
Community College • Students can earn an Associates Degree, or, students can complete the first year or two of a Bachelors Degree • Make sure the community college knows what your goals are! • If you plan to transfer after a year or two, do your homework! Options for Life After High School
Benefits of community college • NOVA is one of the best community colleges in the country • Relatively inexpensive • Close to home • A “small step” into higher education • Usually “open” admissions Options for Life After High School
While you are in high school, the Pathway Program provides… • Early placement testing and priority fall registration • Participation in selected social, athletic and cultural events at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and George Mason University (Mason) • Individual meetings with Pathway counselors to prepare for college transition, including major and career selection and financial planning • Workshops on college transition issues, including the application process, placement test preparation and applying for financial aid and scholarships NOVA Pathways Program
While you are at NOVA, the Pathway Program provides… • Designated program counselors to guide you through your college career, including course, major and career planning and financial aid • Assistance with transferring to a four-year college or university • Academic and personal enrichment workshops conducted by NOVA counselors • Continued participation in designated Mason social, athletic and cultural events • Opportunity in your second year to enroll in classes at Mason while completing your NOVA degree • Opportunity, if qualified, to apply early for junior year admission to Mason Pathways Cont.
How many colleges should I apply to? We encourage you to apply to 5-7 colleges to allow yourself several options.
Reach Schools: • Reach School = colleges & universities whose admitted students may have a higher average GPA and SAT score • Don’t be afraid to apply to schools that may be a stretch. • You never know what they are looking for when they select their freshman class. • Consider applying to 1-2 reach schools. • You will not know if they will accept you unless you apply! Your College List
Target Schools: • Target School= colleges & universities whose admitted students’ average GPA & SAT are comparable to yours • You should feel comfortable with these, knowing that you have a good chance of getting accepted • Consider applying to at least 2 target schools Your College List
Safety/Backup Schools: • Safety Schools = colleges & universities whose admitted students’ average GPA & SAT score are significantly lower than yours • Great confidence that you will be accepted – almost guaranteed acceptance • Ask yourself – Would you go here if it was the only college you were accepted to? • Consider applying to at least 1 safety school Your College List
Components of a College Application Student’s Responsibilities: • Complete application (on college website) • Sending Test Scores: SAT and/or ACT tests • Requesting Letters of Recommendation & Transcripts • Submitting Supplemental Information to Colleges Guidance’s Responsibilities: • Transcript • Secondary School Report • Counselor Letter of Recommendation
College Application Apply Online!!! • Visit each college’s website for specific instructions on how to access the application • Remember your log-in information – keep it in a safe place for future reference • Make sure your e-mail address is appropriate • Encouraged to develop a e-mail for all college/scholarship info • Be sure to complete supplemental information for each college (see application requirements) • Common Application – www.commonapp.org • CHECKLIST – review form
College Application Follow Instructions & Proofread! • Complete all required sections • Carefully follow all instructions • Proofread before you submit Application Fee • Must be paid before the deadline or it’s considered incomplete • See us if you need an application fee waiver
College Application Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines! • Best to check individual college admission websites for the deadline • Must submit college applications before the deadline • Highly recommended to submit applications early, so that you have time to verify that the college has received all components of the application • Deadline for scholarships may be earlier than the admissions deadline– Check each school for this information!!!
SAT and/or ACT required for admission to most 4-year colleges & universities • Encouraged to take by November • SAT Subject Tests: • Why take the tests • Some colleges require or recommend that you take SAT Subject Tests. In addition, you can enhance your application, demonstrate knowledge you’ve gained outside the classroom, and potentially place out of introductory courses. • Upcoming test dates: SAT: Register at www.collegeboard.com October 1st – late registration (fee applies) by September 21st November 5th – register by October 7th ACT: Register at www.actstudent.org October 22nd – register by September 16th December 10th – register by November 4th Standardized Tests
You must send your official score reports to each colleges directly from College Board or ACT • Select score report recipients when you register online (4 free) • Must pay a fee per score report if you request to send to college after you take the test • Send to NCAA (9999) if you want to play NCAA sports in college Standardized Tests
Your chance to “speak” to the admissions committee • Lets them know you’re more than a number • It’s worth your time, thought, & energy • See it as an opportunity! • Be sure to address the specific question/prompt if a college provides one College Essays & Personal Statements
Check with each college to see if teacher letters are required or recommended • Think carefully about who you ask: • Try to select a core academic teacher who knows you well and who can write a strong letter of recommendation • Consider asking a coach, sponsor, or another teacher who may know you in a different context • Ask early – at least 2-3 week prior notice • Write a thank you note to the teacher once the letter is sent & inform them of whether you were accepted Teacher Letters of Recommendation
List of colleges to which you’re applying & the deadlines • Any school-specific or Common App forms that the teacher needs to complete along with his/her letter • Any documents the teacher requests, such as your resume and/or personal statement • Envelopes (addressed & stamped if appropriate) • Instructions on how each letter needs to be submitted to the college…. What should I give to teachers?
Student Name Street Address City, State Zip College Name Office of Undergraduate AdmissionStreet Address and/or Box City, State Zip Option 1: Teacher Mails Letter Directly to College
Many colleges ask students to list the teacher’s name and e-mail address when the student completes the online application • Inform teacher how to submit letter online • Will they receive an e-mail from the college or Common App with specific instructions? Option 2:Teacher Submits Letter Online
Provide teacher with an envelope for each college with the name of the college & your name printed on the front • Ask teacher to seal envelope & sign across the seal • Collect sealed letters from teacher • Attach letter to each pink transcript request form when you give it to Guidance Office • Teacher letters of recommendation must be attached to pink transcript release formif you want it mailed with your transcript Option 3:Teacher’s Letter Mailed with Transcript from Guidance Office
Guidance sends your official transcript to each college: • At the time you apply (to all colleges you request) • Mid-year sent with 1st semester grades (to all colleges – no need to submit another transcript request – we automatically send) • At the end of the year – final transcript is sent to the college you plan to attend Official Transcript
PINKFORM PINKFORM
Print legibly • Be specific! • Do not use abbreviations for the college name • List the city/state in which the college is located • List the specific deadline (ASAP and “Rolling” are NOT acceptable deadlines – exact dates please!) • Check off which documents you want us to send • Attach teacher letter(s) of recommendation if you want the letter(s) sent with your transcript • Student & parent must sign each request form • Pay $3 for each transcript request (cash or check made payable to Woodgrove High School) PINK Transcript Request Form
Must be submitted to Guidance for each college to which you would like your transcript sent at least 3 weeks priorto the college application deadline. PINK Transcript Request Form
Minimum of 3 weeks notice • Students will submit a Student/Parent Insight Sheet • Counselor letter will be mailed with your Transcript and Secondary School Report (SSR) • Be sure to check off that you would like a Counselor Letter of Recommendation on your pink transcript request form. If you don’t check that you want a counselor letter sent, we will not send it. CounselorLetter of Recommendation
College Application Process Student Applies to College Student Submits Pink Form to Guidance Student Submits Supplemental Information Student Requests Letters of Recommendation Student Sends SAT and/or ACT Scores to Colleges Ms. Holland Prints Transcript Provide Teacher With Deadlines, Instructions, Cover Letter Resume, & Envelopes Student Submits Required Financial & Residency Information Counselor Completes SSR & LOR Teacher Mails To College, Submits Online, or Gives to Student to Submit with Pink Form Student Completes & Submits Essays, Portfolios, Auditions, etc. Ms. Holland Mails Transcript & Updates Naviance
Update your e-mail address so that you receive important college & scholarship info • Create a resume/Activity Profile – template provided to students • Sign up for college visits during open lunch (print out confirmation as your pass) • Scholarship searches • Check status of transcript requests
Why? • Updates on colleges visiting WHS • Information on scholarships, honors, recognitions, special programs (some with short notice) • COLLEGES USE E-MAIL AS THEIR PRIMARY FORM OF COMMUNICATION WITH YOU RE: YOUR APPLICATION! CheckYour E-mail Frequently!
Breathe! • Develop an action plan & timeline to meet your goals and the deadlines • Don’t procrastinate! • Seek assistance and be proactive. We are here to help! Overwhelmed? Still confused?
Complete applications one at a time • One by Halloween • One by Thanksgiving • The rest by Winter Break • Use the checklist provided! • Pay attention to deadlines! • HAVE FUN! Some Advice