The College Process

1. The College Process Preparing for the Next Step

2. Assessing where you are now? • What have you done? • What do you need to do? • Check off where you are in the process. • Identified schools I like. • Visited Schools. • Narrowed my list. • Taken the SAT’s. • Signed up for a prep class for SAT or ACT. • Talked to my teachers about letters of rec. • Handed in my waiver of rights form. • Everyone must start NOW

3. Criteria that Colleges Use for Admission • GPA • SAT/ACT • Class Rank • Course Selection • Strength of Schedule • Letters of Recommendation • Essays • Special talents or unique qualities

4. Types of Schools • Highly Competitive • Ivy League Schools and Top Schools in country • Average SAT above 2100 and GPA 3.8 • Most Competitive • Second Tier Schools; still very competitive • Average SAT scores above 1950 and GPA above a 3.5 • Competitive • Average SAT scores above 1650 and GPA above 3.2 • Less Competitive • Average SAT scores around 1400 and GPA 2.7-3.0

5. University of Maryland, College Park 25,500 applications for a class of 3,975 Average SAT: 1250-1400 (CR and Math) GPA: 4.05 weighted http://www.admissions.umd.edu/admissions/counselor/freshmanprofile.asp Towson University 15704 applicants and 8900 students were admitted Average SAT: 1560-1770 on all three parts (middle 50%) Average GPA: 3.53 http://wwwnew.towson.edu/ir/stats.asp Stevenson University Average SAT: 1380-1710 (middle 50%) ACT average: 22 GPA: 3.3 unweighted LOCALCOLLEGE PROFILESAS REPORTED FOR CLASS OF 2011

6. LOCAL COLLEGE PROFILES • Salisbury University • Approximately 8,000 applications received and 4,000 students were admitted • Average GPA: 3.7 • Average SAT: 1720 • Frostburg University • 5,000 applicants with a 58% admission rate • Average SAT: 1010 on verbal and math (SAT preferred school) • Average GPA: 3.2 • UMBC • 8,000 applicants received in 2011 and anticipate admitting 60% of applicants • Average SAT: 1200 (CR and math) or 1800 on all three parts • Average ACT: 27 • Average GPA: 3.6

7. WHAT CRITERIA STUDENTS USE • Size • Location • Distance from home • Location of campus (suburb, city, rural) • Academic programs • Special programs • Cost • Reputation • Dorms, food, culture of campus • Extra Curricular Activities i.e. athletics, theater, music, art *Refer to hand out and circle top 5 most important criteria.

8. Visit, Visit, Visit!!! • Take a tour • Talk to students on campus • Watch an athletic event or academic event • Talk to admissions counselors • ASK YOURSELF: HOW DO I FIT INTO THIS CAMPUS?

9. Making a List • 1-2 Reach Schools • Longshot for admission; your academics are below admission averages • 3-5 50/50 Schools • Good candidate; your academics are exactly within admission averages • 1-2 Safe Schools • Strong candidate; your academics are above admission averages Be sure to have safe schools academically and financially on your list!

10. TEST PREP • SAT and/or ACT • Assess scores from PSAT or spring SAT. • Study on your own. Go to the library and get a test prep book or buy one from a bookstore. • Seek out tutoring. • Use websites from collegeboard.com.

11. SAT A reasoning test assessing general ability. 10 Sections: Three critical reading, three math, three writing, one experimental. Length of Test: Three hours and 45 minutes Penalty for Wrong answers: Yes Scoring Method: 200-800 per section with 2400 the highest possible score. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACT AND SAT ACT • An achievement test based largely on what students have learned in their classes. • Four Sections: One English, one math, one reading, one science reasoning, one optional writing section, one experimental. • Length of test: Two hours and 55 minutes, plus an additional 30 minutes for writing. • Penalty for wrong answers: NO • Scoring Method: 1-36 for each subject, which is averaged for the highest possible score of 36.

12. TYPES OF ADMISSION • Early Decision-- Early deadline, early response, BINDING • Early Action– Early deadline, early response, NON-BINDING • Priority Deadline- Students apply by an earlier deadline, and receive priority over students who do not meet the deadline. Decisions are also made earlier • Rolling Admission– Students are accepted/denied as applications are received. • Regular Admission– Apply by regular deadline (usu. Jan 15) and hear a response by April 1

13. Types of Admission Decisions • Admit: You are admitted to the school for the fall semester. • Wait Listed: You are put on a waiting list and notified after May 1st of a decision based on the schools enrollment. • Deferral: You are not accepted or rejected, rather deferred to a later time for a decision. This often occurs during early action or early decision deadlines. • Spring Admit: You are admitted for the spring. Often students are permitted to take restricted courses at the University during the fall semester. • Conditional Admit: You attend a summer program or a local junior college and show success and then are admitted to the school. More and more schools are opting for this. • Rejection: You are not admitted to the University.

14. THE TRANSCRIPT PROCESS

15. How does the process work? There are FOUR Parts to the College Application Process. 1.) You complete the application to each college online. 2.) You have your SAT/ACT scores sent to each college. 3.) You complete the RED FOLDERS for Student Services. 4.) You complete the GREEN FOLDERSfor your teacher recommendations.

16. The Reservoir High Transcript Process • Step 1: Complete Howard County Waiver Form • Step 2: Turn Form into the Registrar in Student Services • Step 3: Once the Waiver is received, the registrar will give you two Green Folders and one Red Folder • Step 4: Complete all the requirements in the Green and Red Folders and submit them to the applicable parties by the required deadline

17. The Green Folders In each Green Folder, the following must be included/completed: • Letter to Teacher (a sample is enclosed to help you) • Student Input Form 1 per folder/teacher • A copy of your academic resume • Any forms required to be completed by the teacher for Colleges to which you applying (You can find these forms on each college website) • Include addressed & stamped envelopes for each College Submit Completed Green Folder to the requested teachers (1 folder to each teacher). This must be turned into your teacher at least 30 school daysbefore your earliest college deadline

18. The Red Folders • In each Red Folder, the following must be included/completed: • A Transcript Request Form completed and signed by both the child and parent or guardian. • Counselor Input Form • Academic resume • Parent questionnaire • Any Secondary School Report Forms/Counselor Forms (found on college websites & with paper applications) • Envelopes addressed to each college to be used to mail Counselor recommendations and the secondary school report.

19. The Red Folders • You bring the completed Red Folder to the Registrar (Mrs. Mandile or Mrs. Procido) with $4 per college. *The folder is due at least 20 school days before your child’s earliest college deadline • The registrar will send you a pass when your sealedtranscripts are ready. You should come to Student Services to pick them up and mail them to the colleges. (Do not open transcript envelopes!) • You should listen to the announcements or check the Student Services website for information on when to bring Mid-year (January) and Final transcript (May) requests to Registrar which are sent at no charge.

20. Due Dates • The sheet included in the left side of each folder is a Due Date sheet which will help you keep track of when you need to turn in your red/green folder in order to meet your college deadlines

21. Forms Included in the Red Folder

26. SUMMERTIME IS FOR… • Visiting Colleges • Studying for SAT’s and ACT’s • Completing information for red and green folders • Starting college essays • Starting college applications • And if you have time • Relaxing • Enjoying your friends • Vacationing

27. THOUGHTS FROM MS SNYDER’S COLLEGE COUNSELING BOOT CAMP CONFERENCE • It is imperative to find the balance between a rigorous schedule and being successful. Colleges want to see that you have challenged yourself across curriculums and maintained success. • Use multiple resources when researching colleges. Cross reference different websites and utilize print publications. • Even if you don’t think you want to apply to HCC, apply to HCC by February so you can be considered for scholarships and Honors programs. It is important to keep all your options open! • Admissions counselors caution families from using the term “safety school” as the entrance requirements become more demanding. • There is no such thing as the “perfect college.” There are over 3000 colleges and with effort and guidance you can find multiple colleges where you will be happy and successful. • Be realistic when you are creating your list of schools and be sure to include an appropriate range of schools and an appropriate number.

28. USEUL COLLEGE WEBSITES • www.nacacnet.org • www.collegeportraits.org • www.unigo.com • www.collegeboard.com • www.finaid.org • www.fafsa.ed.gov

29. QUESTIONS? Visit Reservoir Student Services Website for up to date information about college, forms, scholarship information, and more. http://teacherweb.com/MD/ReservoirHighSchool/StudentServices/index.html