College Planning Advisory

1. College Planning Advisory Aug.-Sept. 2014 Ms. Gung

2. Agenda • Welcome and Logistics • April Gung: College Application Process and Parent Support • Ann Massa(TN Achieves): TN Promise program • 5 minute break • Sam Mullins(TSAC): Financial aid process • Evaluations • Off-Campus Lunch Forms

3. Ms. Gung’s Contact Info April Gung, Senior Counselor E-mail: april.gung@mnps.org Phone: 615-291-6600, ext. 307 Website: http://teacherweb.com/TN/NSA/SchoolCounseling Official Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 7:45am – 3:15 pm

4. Quick updates • Transcript reviews: Aug. 20th • College Admissions Panel: Sept. 5th • Dual Enrollment classes started Aug. 25th • No progress reports or report cards • Need a B or higher in class to keep DE grant for Spring classes • Senior Questionnaire due Fri., Sept. 12 • Seniors NOT in Capstone class can join this Tues./Weds. for resume workshop • Upcoming events in Senior Newsletter • College Application Week: October 1-2nd • Senior pictures • Prestige appointments at NSA on Nov. 21 • Questions: angela.venable@mnps.org

5. Off Campus Lunch Forms • Only for students with official senior status • Three forms to be signed in front of school official or notarized • One for permission to participate • One for permission to ride with others • One for permission to drive with others in car • Separate form for students who don’t plan to do it. • Last year it did not start until 2nd quarter and until we had at least 90% of them returned. • Tables set up for signing in the cafeteria

6. How to Research • College fairs/information sessions • College Board Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org • Colleges That Change Lives: www.ctcl.org • SREB Academic Common Market • Individual college websites • Admissions page • Financial aid/scholarships page • Academic/arts department page

7. Organize Your Research • College Comparison Chart • Part I: Researching general “fit” of schools to whittle down your list to 3-5 schools to which you’ll apply • Part II: Organizing admissions/scholarship/event deadlines to apply • Part III: Scholarships

8. 2 free waivers from Ms. Gung if student qualifies for free/reduced lunch Register at www.actstudent.org. October test date is the last set of scores many schools with December 1 deadlines will accept ACT Reminder

9. ACT Considerations • Colleges will honor highest composite • Few colleges super score • Reasons to retake it: • College admissions/scholarship eligibility • Earn a 19 on Reading/English subsections (and Math if student isn’t taking Bridge Math this year) in order to avoid college remedial classes • Need the ACT with Writing for colleges that require it • Earn higher score on section related to specialized majors (e.g. engineering, math, science, architecture) • ACT Prep • Resources on school counseling website • ACT vs. SAT

10. Types of Colleges & Degrees • Community College (2-year) • Associate Transfer Degrees (A.A.; A.S.) – need to look at TN Transfer Pathways (www.tntransferpathway.org) • Career & Technical Degrees (A.A.S.) • 4-Year Colleges & Universities • B.A. vs. B.S. vs. BFA • Public vs. Private • Conservatory model • Liberal Arts Colleges • Art Schools • Technical Schools

11. Match, Reach, Safety • Safety: • Automatic admission • Your scores are significantly above average • Financial vs. academic safety schools • Reach: • Your scores are lower than the average applicant • Highly competitive schools with low acceptance rates • Match: • Your scores are in the average range of applicants • Offers a good “fit” • Not sure which one a certain school is for you? • College Board Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org

12. Types of Admission Deadlines • Regular Admission • Most common. Usually hear back in April • Early Decision • Contractually bound! • Higher acceptance rates • Early Action • Higher acceptance rates • Can apply to more than one • Single Choice Early Action • Can only apply to one but may apply to others during Regular Decision • Must indicate your deadline option on application if school offers multiple choices

13. Types of Admission Deadlines (cont.) • Rolling Admission • Apps are reviewed as they come in. • Hear back about 4-6 weeks after applying but spots may fill up • “Priority” Deadlines • After this date acceptances are offered if there’s room; merit-based scholarships are less likely

14. Admissions Process • Automatic admissions • Community colleges • Technical Schools • 4-year public schools with guaranteed admissions criteria based on your ACT/GPA • Conditional admissions • 4-year public schools for which you do NOT meet their guaranteed admissions criteria – will ask for additional materials • Holistic Review • Private colleges

15. “College Application Breakdown” Handout • Where to apply: • Common Application website • Individual college website • Apply BEFORE sending fee waiver, transcript, etc • Receipt vs. postmark deadline • Fee Waivers • Free/Reduced Lunch • Availability differs by school • Process differs by school • Transcript Requests from NSA (inc. ACT scores & senior schedule): http://teacherweb.com/TN/NSA/SchoolCounseling/apt17.aspx • ACT Scores • Test Optional Schools

16. “College Application Breakdown” Handout (cont.) • General college info requested on applications: Click on “College/Scholarship Applications 101” on school counseling website • Decile rankings from Ms. Gung • Recommendation Letter Request form • Auditions • Interviews • Honors Colleges

17. NCAA • Must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse ASAP • Send transcripts

18. When to Apply • TN College Cheat Sheet • Early is better – early does NOT mean Early Decision/Action. • Goal date: November 1st to be eligible for scholarships; December 1st for everyone else • Do not necessarily need to wait to apply for updated test scores • Apply BEFORE sending transcript, fee waiver, etc.

19. “TN College Cheat Sheet” • See handout

20. What Are Colleges with a Holistic Review Admissions Policy Looking For? • Demonstrated interest • grades (GPA) and class rank • challenging coursework, particularly junior and senior year • leadership (captain, president, founder) • essay(s) • SAT/ACT scores • letters of recommendation • work experience • special talents and interests • strengths and achievements • extracurricular activities • Minority status: race/ethnicity, SES, geographic location, gender in certain fields • major you have chosen • service to your community • interview (if applicable) • goals beyond college

21. FAFSA4Caster • Practice FAFSA • Helps you determine how much federal aid you • https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1

22. “Types of Financial Aid for College” Handout • Financial aid vs. scholarships • FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid • CSS Profile • Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC): State grants • TN Promise • Tuition savings programs • “No Loan” Schools • Outside scholarships

23. State Aid • TN Promise – see flyer • TN Lottery Scholarships – see pamphlet • Final unweighted GPA on MNPS transcript is used • ACT in June 2015 is final opportunity to reach required ACT scores • Retake standard academic courses in which student has earned D or F to help get to GPA requirement

24. Scholarships • College need-based scholarships • Often more available from private schools, particularly competitive no-loan schools • College merit-based scholarships • More frequent at public 4-year schools • Competitive • You may be eligible for many but they’re NOT automatic • Eligibility vs. automatic • Automatic • Eligibility criteria that opens the door to be considered (like job application) • Audition • See examples of scholarship eligibility for a few schools on “University Scholarship List”.

25. Scholarships (cont.) • Sources: • College financial aid/scholarship websites • College department websites: music, theatre, etc. • College Honors College website • Senior Newsletters from Ms. Gung • “Scholarships” tab of NSA School Counseling website • Application process • Varies by school – some use admissions application; some require additional scholarship application and FAFSA

26. TN Promise • Important notes: • Last dollar scholarship AFTER Pell grant, Hope Scholarship, and TN Student Assistance Award (TSAA); any scholarships earned on top of these can be used for housing, cost of living expenses, books • GPA requirement in college is a 2.0. GPA requirement to maintain Hope Scholarship for all 4 years is a 3.0. MUST AIM FOR HIGHEST GPA REQUIRED. • Ask NSCC about potential book scholarships for 2015-16 • Can be used for Volunteer Bridge Program with UTK and Pellissippi Community College • MUST get familiar with TN Transfer Pathways if planning to transfer to 4-year school. • Look at transfer scholarships for 4-year schools to see what is available for university based scholarships. • Get ACT of 19 or higher on English/Reading/Math or take Compass test before year • Big Question: Should I apply if I plan to attend a 4-year school?

27. Parent Role in College Process • Main point: this is a stressful time period! • Sit down and ask: • What are your goals? What do you want from the college experience? • What is your plan for tackling all of the tasks in this process and how can I support you? • When do you want me to be involved and when not? • What are you most scared/excited about? • What do you think you should do about ___? • Really listen before offering advice. • Support them but do not do it for them. Let them lead the way. • Student independence and voice • Developing self-efficacy, work ethic, organization, planning, and problem solving skills necessary for college when they are on their own.

28. Parent Role in College Process • Be reflective about your expectations and values and how the may or may not match your student’s. • Give guidance when needed but the student must do the work: • applications, • contacting admissions reps, • following up with Ms. Winfrey about transcripts, • requesting recommendation letters, etc.

29. Parent Role in College Process (cont.) • Support ideas: • Help them plan 2 college visit days • Point them in the direction of resources. • Go with them to MNPS College Fair, NACAC Performing & Visual Arts Fair, and info sessions • Have conversation NOW about how much you can afford to help them with in college • Help them do the FAFSA4Caster • Set aside $10/week for books/fees starting NOW. • Help with organization & time management – family calendar of important dates, weekly 30 minute check-in, weekly work time, etc. • Help with research on logistics – deadlines, audition dates, etc.

30. Questions?