Senior Presentation 2012-2013

1. Senior Presentation2012-2013 Choosing and Applying for College College Entrance Exams Scholarship/Financial Aid Search

2. Step One: Choosing a College

3. 58 Community Colleges16 UNC Public Universities36 Private Universities

4. Determine the type of college that best fits you • Small or large • Private or public • Commuter or residential • Liberal arts or technical • 2 year or 4 year • Think about the environment and class size with which you are most comfortable

5. More professors & courses, more money for specialized equipment/books Most offer master’s and doctorate programs, but undergrad courses may be taught by graduate assistants Class size: 25-500 More cultural events and greater variety of activities Fewer professors and variety Faculty more involved with teaching undergrads, greater chance of developing personal relationships with faulty members Class size: 6-100 Fewer activities, but you may have more opportunities for leadership roles Large versus Small colleges

6. Decide How Far From Home You are Willing to Travel • Is it important to be able to get home on a regular basis or only once or twice per year? • Can you afford to fly to and from college? • Do you like a warmer climate, the mountains, the beach, or the piedmont? • Must you live in a large city or do you prefer smaller communities (location, location, location)

7. Alamance Community College Forsyth Technical Community College Guilford Technical Community College Randolph Community College $212 per 3 credit hours, for 8 classes Yearly tuition $1,696 $69.00 per 3 credit hour for 8 classes $1,656 yearly $69.00 per 3 credit hour for 8 classes $1,656 yearly $69.00 per 3 credit hour for 8 classes $1,656 yearly Community College

8. College Transfer • All UNC Universities • Most Private Universities • CFNC.org will list in October which classes transfer to each university on the student transfer navigator • www.nccommunitycolleges.edu • Transfer Agreement

9. Institution Number of Students Tuition/Room & Board Appalachian State 17,344 $10,589 East Carolina 21,663 $12,769 NC A&T 9,151 $12,630 NC State 34,767 $20,644 UNC Asheville 3,595 $14,536 UNC Chapel Hill 28,916 $22,340 UNC Charlotte 25,000 $22,004 UNCG 14,714 $19,474 UNC Pembroke 6,251 $16,562 UNC Wilmington 11,770 $17,467 Western Carolina 9,352 $18,722 Winston-Salem St. 6,163 $16,200

10. Institution Number of Students Tuition/Room & Board Belmont Abbey College 1,734 $38,322 Campbell 4,421 $30,500 Davidson 1,743 $49,723 Duke 15,427 $56,056 Elon 5,225 $34,710 Greensboro 1,264 $34,700 Guilford College 2,833 $45,083 High Point 4,205 $39,800 Lenoir Rhyne 1,837 $39,494 Mars Hill 1,175 $32,826 St. Andrews Presb. 600 $32,050 Wake Forest 7,351 $58,260 Wingate 2,531 $33,165

11. Consider your academic and extracurricular interests • Do you know what major you want to study? (Many students do not – so don’t panic) • Is it important to you to play a specific sport, be involved in a theatre group, write for a college yearbook?

12. Have an Honest Discussion with Your Parents • Are your expectations the same? • How much money will each of you be expecting to contribute to your education

13. Sports Participation and the NCAA Clearinghouse • If you are planning to play a sport in college, you MUST register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. You should do this online (search NCAA Clearinghouse Online) and you must pay with a credit card debit. • Cost : $65.00 • You must request to have your transcript sent

14. Research, Research, Research • Attend college fairs (October 2nd Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion and October 8th at RHS) • Do internet and college catalog research • Talk to friends, alumni, counselors, neighbors, etc. • Develop a list of colleges that meet your criteria • Narrow the list down to 3-6

15. Schedule College Visits and Interviews • Several weeks in advance contact colleges to make appointments to visit or attend an open house program • Schedule a tour and visit with all appropriate offices – admissions, financial aid, special academic service, coaches, academic departments, etc. • You are allowed 2 college visits per year. Pick up form from Mrs. Hays a few days before your planned visit.

16. Be Prepared For Your Visit • Learn all you can about the college and compile a list of questions to ask college representatives/tour guides • Take an unofficial transcript, list of extracurricular activities, and test score with you to help determine your eligibility • Be sure to notice the community as well as the college campus • Tour residence halls, sit in on a class, eat in the school cafeteria, take a tour and ask students about their experiences on campus • Think how you feel on campus. Did you feel comfortable; do you fit in?

17. Step Two: Applying to College

18. Applying to College Send applications to MORE than one college Send application to 4 year institutions early if possible – January 15th is the last date that many colleges accept applications. Community colleges and smaller private colleges will accept applications on into the spring and sometimes through the summer.

19. College Applications: Three Ways to Apply • www.CFNC.org • Individual College or University Applications • The Common Application • It is a very long and detailed application. It is good for out of state applications and for select colleges/universities. Make sure if using this application you check with the college to make sure they are accepting this as their application

20. CFNC.org • Every student and parent should have an account • Applications available for ALL NC community colleges, and for 4 year college/universities • Advantage: can apply to multiple colleges without retyping demographic information and they are able to send transcripts electronically by using transcript manager

23. Application Fees • 2 year college applications are free • 4 year college applications cost $25 - $75 each • Fee waivers available if you are receiving free/reduced lunch

24. Letters of Recommendation, Resumes, Essays • Only submit additional information if the college/university requires it • If letters of recommendation are required pick someone who will write good things about you, a teacher, your pastor, your employer • If essay required or personal statement make sure it is proof read, and spelling and grammar are correct

25. Resume’ Tips • Include headings such as Work Experience, Community/Volunteer Activities, School/Extracurricular Activities, Summer Experiences, Travel Experiences, Honors/Awards, and or Hobbies • Explain your activities with a short statement • EXAMPLE: • County Calendar Committee- 11th grade • -committee members were selected by the superintendent and consisted of parents, teachers, and students; we devised the school calendar for the 2008-2009 school year

26. Regular vs. Rolling Admissions • Regular Admissions – apply to college with specific deadline, you receive an acceptance letter around April 1st, and you make a decision regarding that school by a deadline (submitting a room deposit) • Rolling Admissions – college admissions counselors look at applications as they come in and send out their decisions usually 2-4 weeks after receiving the application

27. Early Decision vs. Early Action • Early Decision – is BINDING - your student applies to their top rated choice and by applying under early decision you make a commitment that if the college/university accepts you that you will be attending that school. Reneging on your agreement after being offered admission could result in other schools refusing to accept you and your financial aid could be frozen • Early Action – is NOT Binding – your student is required to submit an application usually by November 1st or November 15th , notification of acceptance/denial comes around early January. You have the right to wait to respond back to the school regarding their decision by May 1st. This allows time for you to compare decisions before making a decision.

28. Free College Application Week • November 12th – 16th • Want everyone who is applying to college to attend RHS’s free college application day on Wednesday 11/14 • 2 waivers for UNC school • Private School Waivers

29. Step Three: College Entrance Exams

30. SAT • Why do you need this test? • Need this test if you are planning on attending a 4 year college next fall • According to the SAT it was created to widen access to higher education, “because courses and grading standards vary widely from school to school, scores on the SAT along with other criteria, like GPA, help colleges predict a student’s ability to succeed in college”. • SAT is scored out of a possible 2400 points, 800 per section – math, reading, essay • Reading and Math generally the main scores looked at but the essay is greatly considered

33. SAT • Register for the SAT by going to www.collegeboard.com • If registering on-line will need credit card • If registering by mail applications are in guidance, will need to send check or money order • Cost is $50.00 as long as registered by the deadline • Late fee additional $27.00, Standby testing fee additional $44.00

34. SAT Test Dates • November 3rd – register by October 4th • December 1st – register by Nov. 1st • January 26th – register by Dec. 28th • March 9th – register by Feb. 8th • May 4th – register by April 5th • June 1st – register by May 2nd

35. SAT Subject Tests • Students who are planning on attending extremely selective colleges should look at the college’s website to determine if SAT Subject Tests are required. • Cost is $23 • SAT Subject Tests are also used for placement at NCSU and UNC. If directed to do so by the college, you may need to take them in the spring, after you have completed your last math course

36. ACT and ACT Plus Writing • Why do you need this test? • Need this test if you are planning on attending a 4 year college next fall • ACT contains multiple choice tests in four areas: English, Math, Reading and Science • Each of these tests contain questions that offer four or five answer choices • Tests knowledge gained in classes taken in high school • Scored out of 36 points • “Good” Composite Score 22 – 36

38. ACT and ACT Plus Writing • Register for the ACT by going to: www.actstudent.org • Registering online will need a credit card • Cost is $50 with the writing component, without writing $35 • Late fee $22

39. ACT and ACT Plus Writing Test Dates • October 27th – register by Sept. 21st • December 8th – register by Nov. 2nd • February 9th – register by Jan. 11th • (March 6th testing all juniors at RHS) • April 13th – register by March 8th • June 8th – register by May 3rd

40. You should take the SAT/ACT as a senior, even if you already have an acceptable score because: • Senior scores tend to be higher than junior ones, usually by 50 -100 points • If you are trying to get into a selective college or if you are planning to apply for merit scholarships a higher score makes you more competitive.

41. Fee Waivers • Fee Waivers are available to students for the SAT and ACT. You should qualify if you are on free or reduced lunch. If you have questions about this please see Mrs. Hays individually. Fee waivers also apply to NCAA Clearinghouse, AP fees and application fees for up to two colleges

42. Step Four: Paying for College, Scholarships and Grants

43. Financial Aid • FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid • Parent and student will each need PIN # • Apply for PIN# www.pin.ed.gov, can apply for this now • Same PIN# is used for both parents and student while the student is in college • Apply after January 1st of the year you will be entering college • FAFSA will need to be completed on line www.fafsa.ed.gov • Deadline to file for FAFSA. The sooner the better. March 1st – 15th is the recommended deadline for the majority of the schools • Financial Aid Night at RCC on November 11th and at Wheatmore on January 22nd

45. Tools and Calculators • Colleges and Universities are now required by law to have a financial aid estimator on their web sites • CFNC also has estimators to help you look at what you may have to pay for college

46. Scholarships and Grants • Scholarships and Grants are money that DOES NOT have to be repaid • Each scholarship/grant program is run independently based upon the rules established by the program • Colleges/Universities offer their own scholarships/grants need to visit the individual school’s web sites to view what they have to offer • Most scholarship/grants that colleges offer are merit based • These may require separate applications or the admissions office at the college may forward your application, check with the individual colleges to see what applies

47. Federal Grants • By completing the FAFSA, you will be considered for both state and federal grants and scholarship programs: • Federal Pell Grant Program • Federal Supplement Educational Opportunity Grant Program • Federal Work Study

48. FAFSA Day • Saturday February 23, 2013 • Locations include: RCC, DCCC, GTCC • You will need to bring: • 2012 W2 forms • SS# of both parent and student • 1040 forms • FAFSA PIN # • Will take about 45 minutes to an hour to complete • Register after October 15th by calling 1-919-843-2201 or registering online at CFNC.org

49. Scholarships • Millions of dollars available • Searches: • Senior lowdown given out on a monthly basis, includes local and national scholarships • Internet searches • Your employer may offer scholarship opportunities • Athletic Scholarships • Military Scholarships

50. Scholarships • Applications need to be filled out completely, typed if able to be • If handwritten needs to be completed in INK • PROOF READ, PROOF READ, PROOF READ • Check for spelling and grammar