The College Application Process September 21, 2011

1. The College Application ProcessSeptember 21, 2011

2. GPA &Transcript • Academic growth, strength of program, grades -Senior course selection - Mid-year Grades • New weighting policy • GPA is computed for all high school courses through the Junior year • LVHS does not rank • Be sure to review transcripts

3. SAT/ACTTO REGISTER & SEND SCORES • WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.COM • WWW.ACT.ORG *Be aware that students are responsible for sending SAT/ACT scores

4. SAT Dates Test Date: Registration Deadline: October 1, 2011 Late Registration (9/21) November 5, 2011 October 7, 2011 *December 3, 2011 November 8, 2011 Check SAT Schedule to verify SAT Subject Test dates *LVHS is not a testing site for the December 3rd exam. Scores via web are available about 3 weeks after test date

5. SAT Score Choice • Students can send scores by test date for the SAT and individual tests for the Subject Tests • Score Choice is optional but must be selected when sending scores to colleges • Super Score • Some colleges may require that all scores be submitted. Check individual college websites for specific policies regarding score choice. • If you are utilizing Score Choice please take that into consideration when completing applications.

6. ACT dates Test Date: Registration Deadline: *October 22, 2011 Late Reg. Sept. 17th - 30th *December 10, 2011 November 4, 2011 * LVHS is NOT a testing location for these dates.

7. School Codes • High School CEEB Code: 332 882 Test Center Codes: • SAT Code: 33-562 • ACT Code: 20006

8. Testing for Students with Accommodations Please contact M.J. Mulstay, Special Testing Coordinator, if you have questions or concerns

9. College Visits • Make an appointment with admissions • What to do on your visit: • Meet with representatives • Take a campus tour • Speak with the students on campus • Eat in the dining hall – taste the food! • Check-out the surrounding community • Pick up the school newspaper

10. COLLEGE FAIRS & INFO SESSIONS • Locust Valley High School will be hosting mini-college fairs and individual college visits in Guidance • Local College Info Sessions- Please check college websites • Nassau Counselors’ Association College Expo Sunday September 25, 2011 12:00-3:00pm SUNY Old Westbury • NACAC- National College Fair Sunday, October 2, 201111:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Nassau Coliseum • For more information refer to handouts and Guidance webpage • Weekly Email Updates through Naviance

11. College Essay…there may be more than one! • Represents student • Answers question • Engaging • Presentation counts • Be original and be yourself • Revise and proofread • Seek feedback

12. Letters of Recommendation • Two teacher letters from 11th grade core academic courses • Be sure to provide teacher with LV Teacher Rec Form • Be sure to follow-up with teachers asked last year • Counselor letter • Supplementary letters (ie. Science Research, Athletics, Art, Music) • Provide teacher a list of colleges with deadlines. • Thank you note

13. Resume • Leadership • Accomplishments • Honors and Awards • Extracurricular activities • Clubs, Sports • Community Service • Out of school activities • Summer programs & Internships • Work experience ***Activities should be included on the application and resume can be uploaded to the Common Application under the “Additional Information” Section. ***Please submit an updated resume to your counselor as soon as possible. Keep counselor informed of updates.

14. Interviews/Auditions • May be required for specific programs or specific schools • Alumni interviews • Informational • Relax and be yourself • Be prepared • Research your school - Ask questions - Bring resume - Dress appropriately - Arrive on time *Be aware of deadlines for interview sign-up.

15. Start Applying!

16. Narrowing Down Your List • “target” schools • “reach” schools • “likely” schools Your goal is to find a good match for you!

17. Application Deadlines • Early Decision/Early Decision 2 • Early Action/Single Choice/Restricted • Regular Admission • Rolling Admission • Priority Deadlines

18. Naviance: FamilyConnection • To sign up go to: www.connection.naviance.com/locustvalley or link is also available on the guidance webpage • If you haven’t registered please see your counselor • When registering include an email address that you use regularly as your username. Email blasts will be sent regarding college visits, scholarship information and deadlines to you. • Please make sure you have an appropriate email address.

19. *New* Application Procedure Create an account with the common application at https://www.commonapp.org. Please create this account even if you are not applying to any colleges on the common application. Complete the FERPA Privacy Notice Agreement in the “Colleges I’m Applying to” section of your Naviance: Family Connection account. Counselors will be unable to submit transcripts electronically unless this is complete. List all the schools you will be applying to under the “Colleges I am Applying To” tab of your Naviance: Family Connection account. Please make sure you list all the schools you will apply to even if they are not on the common application. Please make an appointment with your counselor to hand in Transcript and Records Release Forms. Submission of this form DOES NOT MEAN your application has been submitted. You are still responsible for submitting your actual application electronically. Please be aware of deadlines: Allow 10 days for the school records to be sent Make an appointment (at least 2 weeks prior to deadlines) ** Plan ahead DO NOT wait until the last minute.

20. Guidance Office will send… Official transcripts Teacher letters of recommendation with teacher evaluation forms. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure these forms have been submitted to teachers. Students must confirm with Ms. Morley that teacher letters are on file. Secondary school report with counselor recommendation School profile

21. Deadline Dates • Plan ahead- there is a minimum of 10 schools days to process your application once a records release form is received. Schedule an appointment to hand in your records release form to counselor. • Be aware of deadlines for portfolios/auditions. • Also be aware of scholarship deadlines. Our goal is for all students to apply by Friday, December 2nd.

22. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) • Division I & II college-bound athletes should register with NCAA www.ncaaclearinghouse.org • Submit forms online and hand in records release form to Guidance • Be in touch with HS & college coaches Join us for NCAA night on Thursday October 13th, 2011

23. Financial Aid Workshop on Tuesday, November 15th, 2011FAFSA: File after January 1st of Senior year at www.fafsa.ed.govCSS Profile: This form applies to some colleges; please check with colleges for details and deadline; available on www.collegeboard.com- New York State Higher Education Services Corporation www.HESC.com Financing your education

24. Merit BasedAcademic DepartmentsTalentAthleticOutside SCHOLARSHIPS

25. Scholarship Websites • www.fastweb.com • www.collegeboard.com • www.scholarships.com • Scholarship Newsletter will be coming out in October and every month thereafter. Updated scholarship information will be posted on our webpage and Naviance. • Please be aware of deadlines and materials needed for scholarship applications. A records release form may be needed to complete application.

26. Senior Checklist ___1. Be sure to update college list on Naviance/Family Connection. Make sure you add the schools you will be applying to under the “Schools I am applying to” Tab. If you haven’t registered please see your counselor. ____2.Create an account with the common application even if you are not using this application for college. You MUST sign the FERPA Privacy Notice Agreement once you register. Please write down your username and password and keep it in a safe place. ____3.Send official scores for SAT and/or ACT to colleges. www.collegeboard.com www.act.org Most colleges do not want you to rush the scores. Check the college websites. ____4.Attend meetings with college representatives in the Guidance office. Make sure that your classroom teacher signs the college visitation pass before you come. You should also visit colleges and attend college fairs or local college information sessions. ____5.Update activities resume. Keep counselor informed of all updates. ____6.College essays: do not procrastinate. Speak to your English teacher for help editing and revising your essay. LVHS

27. ____7. Applications: begin with schools that have rolling admissions, keep deadlines in mind. ____8.Speak to your teachers about your letters of recommendations. Give your teachers a teacher evaluation form; only one form per teacher is necessary. Forms are available in Guidance and on the LVCSD website. Teachers will drop off letters of recommendation in Guidance. ____9. Give teachers a list of colleges and deadlines. Check with Ms. Morley in Guidance to see if your letters are on file ____10.Schedule an appointment with your counselor to complete a records release form for EACH individual school you are applying. All forms should be submitted at least 10 days before the due date. Do not leave these forms with the secretaries in Guidance. PARENTS MUST SIGN THIS FORM. ____11. Find out which financial aid forms and/or scholarship forms are required by each college and complete them in a timely fashion. The FAFSA cannot be completed until January 1st, 2012. ____12. Keep your grades strong- senior grades count and are sent to the colleges! ____13. Check the Locust Valley HS website for new information and scholarship opportunities on a regular basis. ____14.MEET WITH YOUR COUNSELOR- YOU ARE NOT ALONE!