North Babylon High School Guidance Department

1. North Babylon High School Guidance Department Class of 2009 College Information Night “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” - William Jennings Bryan

2. Guidance Counselors • Mrs. Kristin Loeffler A – Cg • Mrs. Lucy Savarese Ch-Fz • Mrs. Milagros McCauley Ga-Kh ELL • Ms. Dana Kulynych Ki-Mz (Mrs. Jessica Babino) • Mrs. Kelley Bowman Na-Sb Alt. School • Mrs. Mary Krimitsos Sc-Z

3. Choosing a college that’s right for you! • Things to consider: • variety of programs offered • admissions requirements • tuition and fees • location (home/away, city/suburb/rural) • size (overall campus size, faculty/student ratio) • type of school (public/private) • athletics (types of sports, NCAA division) • extra-curricular activities and social life • professional accreditation • freshman retention rate • internships/job placement

4. What colleges consider(Order of importance will vary by school.) • Transcripts • Course Selections • GPA - Academic Grades • Tests – SAT I, SAT II and ACT • Extracurricular Activities – Activity Sheet due to your counselor no later than June 2nd ! • Teacher Recommendations - You should begin requesting recommendations this year. - Your counselor will write you a recommendation as well. You must return the “Student Profile” by June 2nd! • The College Essay • The Interview • Class rank

5. Importance of College Visits • Provides an opportunity to discuss the admissions criteria with the professionals • Great opportunity to tour campus and observe the atmosphere • Ask questions • Meet informally with students • Visit while school is in session to truly “get the feel” of the campus • Try to sit in on a class, and/or shadow a student • Check out dormitories if you are planning to go away

6. College Admissions Testing • SAT – Scholastic Aptitude Test • ~ A measure of critical thinking skills and assesses • how well you analyze and solve problems. • Scores between 600 and 2400 • 3.75 Hours – 9 Sections • 3 Math • 3 Critical Reading • 1 Experimental • 2 Writing Skills • Sentence Completions and Critical Reading • Multiple Choice • Algebra I , Algebra II , & Basic Geometry • Writing Component

7. College Admissions Testing SAT II – Subject Exams • Required by some competitive colleges • Should be taken upon completion of course of study ACT – American College Testing • Measures academic achievement in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning

8. Testing Accommodations • Students with a 504 accommodation or an IEP are eligible for accommodations on their SAT/ACT. • Students must obtain the eligibility form from the Guidance Office. A 504 accommodation or IEP at NBHS does not automatically guarantee accommodations on the SAT/ACT. • The eligibility form must be submitted to your guidance counselor prior to the registration due date. • The appropriate testing service for students with disabilities will review and approve the accommodations.

9. Admissions Programs • Early Decision • Binding Agreement • Student applies to their first-choice college early in the fall usually by Nov.1st. • Accepted students are notified by early December. • Students that are not accepted may be deferred for admission later in the senior year. • Early Action • Non-Binding Agreement • Similar application / notification timetable as Early Decision • Accepted candidates have until May 1st to accept or decline the offer of admission. • Applicants that are denied admission outright are not automatically deferred for later consideration. • Regular Admissions - Please be mindful of specific application deadlines. • Rolling Admissions - College applications are accepted until enrollment is met. Students must notify their counselor as early as possible if they are applying for Early Decision or Early Action.

10. NCAA • The NCAA Eligibility Center (formerly the NCAA Clearinghouse) standardizes the initial eligibility requirements for all prospective Division I and Division II student athletes based upon: - high school “core curriculum” - grade-point average - SAT / ACT scores • Student athletes should be working closely with their high school coaches, and working on promoting themselves to colleges and universities. *** NEW WEBSITE*** Please visit https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter or the Guidance Department for the 2008-2009 NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.

11. The Timeline For College Admission Grade 11 Spring: - Take the SAT/ACT - Visit colleges and attend college fairs - Meet with your counselor to discuss your plans - Ask teachers for letters of recommendation - Submit “Activity Sheet” and “Student Profile” no later than June 2nd Summer: - Continue visiting colleges - Request applications from schools - Narrow down your list of colleges Grade 12 Fall: - Submit completed applications by mid-November - Early Decision/Early Action applications due by mid-October - Take the SAT/ACT again, or SAT II’s if required - Check for scholarship information in the Guidance Office

12. The Application Packet • Will include: • Application • Fees • Transcript • Activity Sheet • 1st Quarter Grades • College Essays • Courses in Progress • Recommendation Letters • School Profile

13. Important Dates • April 8th : Mini College Fair – 7 pm, NBHS cafeteria • April 12th: ACT (registration deadline – March 7th; late registration – March 21) • May 13th: Western Suffolk Counselors Association College Fair 2008 @ Huntington Hilton – parent/student session 6:00 – 8:30 • June 2nd: Student Profile and Activity Sheet due to your guidance counselor • June 7th: SAT (registration deadline – May 6th)

14. Use the computer to help your college search • Please visit the “Guidance Info” link for a comprehensive list of online resources, updates, and downloads at: www.northbabylonschools.net

15. Best wishes for a successful and rewarding senior year!