NASHUA HIGH SOUTH

1. NASHUA HIGH SOUTH Senior Parent Information Night September 21, 2011

2. Topics to be covered • Creating a College List • College Searches • Sample Requirements • What Do Colleges Look at? • Application Deadlines • Completing College Applications • Common Application • Student Responsibilities • Counselor Responsibilities • Upcoming Events • FAQ’s

3. Creating a College List • Explore List of Schools using the equation of 2 + 2 + 2 • Research 2 or more safety schools including a financial safety • Research 2 or more target schools • Research 2 or more reach schools

4. College Searches • www.access.bridges.com • User ID - 0034778 • Password – apple • Additional websites: • www.collegeboard.com • www.petersons.com • www.usnews.com • www.college.gov • www.fairtest.org

5. Sample Requirements • For a Nashua High School South Diploma: • English – 4 credits • Social Studies- 3 credits (World Studies, Blueprints, US History) • Math – 3 credits (Including Algebra 1) • Science – 2 credit ( Biological and Physical Science) • Physical Education – 1 credit • Health- 0.5 credit • Computer – 0.5 credit • Art -0.5 credit • Electives- 12.5 credits

6. Sample Requirements Cont’d University of Nashua New Hampshire Community College -English – 4 years -High School Diploma or GED -Mathematics – 4 years -No SAT required -Science (lab) – 4 years -Rolling Admissions -Social Studies – 3 years -Foreign Language – 3 years *Some exceptions for Nursing or other -SAT Critical Reading 500 – 610 special programs -SAT Math 510 – 620 *Placement tests may be required upon -2.8 GPA admission -Early Action and Regular Decision Deadline *For NHTI – SAT’s are recommended for more competitive programs

7. What Do Colleges Look At? • Full academic transcript • Senior year schedule • Extracurricular activities – affiliated with school and community • Personal essay • Letters of recommendations • Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT) • Free SAT prep help available at South for Math and English- check your Guidance Office for the schedules

8. Application Deadlines • Early Decision – binding agreement • Early Action – non binding agreement • Generally the application dates for Early Decision and Early Action begin by November 1st and vary between schools • Regular Decision- deadlines typically starting in January • Rolling Admission – no set deadline, but the earlier the better *Please keep in mind your guidance office asks to have your transcript requests 4 weeks prior to college deadlines*

9. Completing College Applications When applying to college: • Obtain paper applications or apply online • Apply through the Common Application – many schools are now using this tool • Make sure to check for additional school forms to be given to counselor and teacher • Be aware of all deadlines- admission and financial aid

10. Common Application • www.commonapp.org • Allows you to use 1 application for many schools • List of participating schools online • There is a Secondary School Report form • (guidance counselor completes ) • Check to make sure if the college requires a MID-YEAR REPORT and let your counselor know • Check for other supplemental forms and deadlines • List of application deadlines are online

11. Common Application • CHANGES FROM PRIOR YEARS • Teachers and counselors must be “invited” by the student to provide necessary information • Items sent online from your guidance counselor: Transcript Updated grades Schedule Profile Counselor Recommendation • NOT ALL SCHOOLS USE THE COMMON APP If a school is not on Commonapp.org , all information must be mailed (including teacher recommendations )

12. Student Responsibilities • Sending application • Payment for application to college • Resume (optional) • Essay • SAT, ACT, or TOEFL scores sent to Colleges • Financial Aid and Scholarship • Acquiring teacher recommendations • Requesting transcript • Supplemental Forms

13. Requesting Transcripts • Transcript request form available in Guidance offices or online • Must have 1 filled out completely per school you are applying to • $3 processing fee per transcript - cash or check made out to Nashua High School South • Student must present any additional forms from college (School report form etc…)

14. Requesting Transcripts (Cont’d) • Students must bring the transcript request to their counselor - in person • Transcript request must be signed by a parent- unless the student is 18 years old • Transcript request and other paperwork are required to be in Guidance 4 weeks prior to the deadline *be aware of holidays and school vacations*

15. Counselor Responsibilities • Sending transcript (transform if appropriate, for transfer student) • Sending senior schedule • Counselor recommendation (if requested) • School report form (when provided by student) • Nashua High School South School profile • Mid year report (if needed) • Final transcript

16. What is sent with your transcript? • An official copy of your transcript • A copy of your senior schedule • A counselor recommendation (if requested) • Any supplemental forms provided to counselor • A NHSS school profile

17. Teacher Recommendations • Check with each college (most colleges recommend two teacher recommendations) • Junior or senior year teachers preferred • Teacher recommendation forms and student profile forms in the guidance office (purple and pink sheets) • Follow procedure and please be mindful of deadlines • If the teacher needs to mail in recommendation, the student should provide them with a stamped and addressed envelope • Send a Thank-you note to the teacher

18. Frequentlyasked questions • Where can I find scholarships? Online: - www.Fastweb.com - www.Bridges.com - www.nhheaf.org - www.nashua.edu – Follow to South and Guidance Upper C Guidance - announcements every Monday Parent/Guardian work – ask HR departments • When can I see my guidance counselor? Senior Group Meetings and by appointment • What is FAFSA and NHHEAF? • When do I apply for financial aid?

19. Upcoming Events • Nashua Regional College Fair – NHSS • Monday , November 7, 6:30-8:30 PM • NEACAC College Fair - Southern NH University • October 3rd, 7:00-9:00pm • Financial Aid Information Night – NHSS • December 7th, 6:00-7:30PM • College Admissions Representatives at NHSS – • sign up in A1003

20. Guidance Counselors • Nancy Duffy – A-B duffyn@nashua.edu • Jessica Brox – C-Dolbroxj@nashua.edu • Doreen Rinas – Dom-Gonrinasd@nashua.edu • Diane Barbour – Goo-Lam barbourd@nashua.edu • Linda Sellner –Lan-Mi sellnerl@nashua.edu • Lori Coutu – Mo-P coutul@nashua.edu • Nicole LeClaire – Q-Small leclairen@nashua.edu • Jean Bennett – Smith-Z bennettj@nashua.edu • Jodi Callinan- Outreach Counselor callinanj@nashua.edu