+

The College Application ProcessSeptember 25, 2014 6-7pm

+Introductions

Julie H. Case, Guidance Counselor (A-K)

Meghan Wasiak, Guidance Counselor (L-Z)

Jeanene Iglesias, Guidance Secretary

+Agenda

The College List

Applying to College

Application Timeline

GRHS Application Procedure

Creating the College List

Guidebook, Page 13

+Creating the College List: How Do I Match Up?

SAT Scores UMass Amherst

+Creating the College List: How Do I Match Up?

GPA UMass Amherst

+MA State Colleges/Universities Minimum Admission Requirements English - 4 courses

Math - 3 courses (Alg I, Geometry, Alg II)

Science - 3 courses (2 labs)

Social Science - 2 courses (including U.S. History)

Foreign Language - 2 courses (single language)

Electives - 2 courses

Minimum GPA - 3.0 (sliding scale)

SAT/ACT Score

Private University Requirements May Vary…always check with admission department or college website**

Guidebook, Page 5

+2 Year/Community College

HCC, STCC, BCC, GCC

Guarantees community college students who are enrolled in approved joint admissions programs and who graduate with a 2.5 or higher GPA admission to UMass and all MA State Colleges, except Mass Art.

Private Colleges

Instant Admissions @ Gateway

An additional benefit for students enrolled in the Joint Admissions Program.

Students who earn an associate degree from community college with a 3.0 GPA or higher will receive a 33% tuition waiver.

Joint Admissions Program Tuition Advantage Program

Guidebook, Page 6

+College Visits The BEST way to get to know a school…

Take a campus tour.

Speak with an admissions counselor.

Ask about financial aid opportunities.

Sit in on a class of interest.

Read the student newspaper.

Talk to students and faculty.

Guidebook, Page 16

+Applying to College

Common Application, Online Application, Paper Application

College Essay

Letters of Recommendation

Transcript & Report Card

Admissions Tests

+College Essay, Common Application

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.)

Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?

Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Guidebook, Page 24

+

This is your chance to give admission counselors something more than what they see on your transcript

Be honest and be yourself

Personalize your essay (use examples)

Use your own voice

Respond to the question being asked

Don’t repeat what is already listed on your application

English IV: Working on Common App Essay

AP English: Working on Personal Statement

College Essay, Tips

Guidebook, Page 23

+Recommendations Teacher Recommendations

Ask teachers who know you and who would be willing to recommend you highly

Ask nicely and give them plenty of notice Science major? Ask science teacher! Math major? Ask math

teacher!

Counselor Recommendation Many schools require a counselor recommendation You have to invite your counselor through Common

Application

Different schools will vary with the amount of recommendations they require & who they want them from Invite & Assign through Common Application

Guidebook, Page 25

+Transcript: Grades, GPA, Class Rank

+Standardized Testing: SAT Students are responsible for sending official SAT scores to

colleges through www.collegeboard.org

You get 4 free score reports if you specify schools when you register (or up to 9 days after) If you are taking the SAT in October or November make sure you choose the schools!

You can order additional score reports to be sent to schools for $11.25 per school

Score Choice: a free option to allow you to choose which scores are sent to colleges. Admission Counselors will “Super Score”

All scores will be automatically sent to the schools if you do not choose score choice

Remember: It takes about 3 weeks for scores to be sent to colleges, so plan accordingly!

Guidebook, Page 17

+Standardized Testing: ACT

Students are responsible for sending official ACT scores to colleges through www.actstudent.org

You get 4 free score reports if you specify the schools you want them sent to up to the Tuesday after the test is taken

Additional score reports are $12 per school

Guidebook, Page 17

+Admission Policies Regular Application Deadline - established deadline for

all applicants; have until May 1 to make a decision

Early Decision (ED) - apply early to one school; must enroll if accepted

Early Action (EA) - apply early to school(s); have until May 1 to make a decision

Rolling Admission - applications are considered as they are received

Open Admission - accepts all high school graduates

Guidebook, Page 14

+GRHS Guidance Department’s Recommendations for Regular Admission

Guidebook, Page 9-10

+GRHS Application Procedure

What are the steps to getting it all done?

+Transcript Release Form

Needs to be filled out for EVERY school you are applying to, EVEN common application schools

Common App Schools: Can use one form for all schools

Protocol

Guidebook, Page 22

+Common Application

Transcript Release Form

To be assigned as a counselor/recommender

Activity Sheet

Visit www.commonapp.org

College Search Tab: Add colleges to your list and access important/specific information about each school

Common App Tab: This is the application that will be going out to every school. Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, Writing

Submitting your Common App: Fee, Application, Specific Questions ALL submitted at once. Writing Supplement after.

Guidance Needs…You Need To…

+Paper/Online Application (NOT Common App)

Visit college admissions website to access paper or online application

All supporting documents will be sent through the guidance office Application (if paper) Transcript Essay Fee (if not paid online) Recommendations School Profile

+Paper/Online Application Cont’d

Fill out transcript release form

Gather all supporting documents

Provide your guidance counselor with a 9x12 envelope and 3 stamps, we will send packet to college from the guidance office

+IMPORTANT

It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to see that deadlines are met and materials are identified and ready to be sent by the guidance office

We will meet all of our deadlines, but we need to be told by YOU when they are

+Financial Aid: A Quick Overview FAFSA

Federal form that determines EFC (expected family contribution) based on income and assets

Everyone should fill out FREE

CSS/Financial Aid Profile Financial form www.collegeboard.org required by some colleges (mostly

private) $25

Merit-Based Aid Scholarships awarded based on achievement Research scholarships on college websites!

Need-Based Aid Grants and/or loans based on family income

Work-Study

Guidebook, Page 29-30

+Financial Aid: Quick Overview Cont’d Never rule out a school because of cost alone

Net Price vs. Sticker Price College websites are required to have a net price calculator that

can help determine/estimate what a family will be paying

Private Schools vs. Public Schools Sometimes can come out to cost about the same

FAFSA filing Jan. 1 You can create a “pin” and start reviewing information at

www.fafsa.ed.gov and use the “FAFSA 4caster”, a financial aid calculator to get an estimate of your financial aid eligibility

Financial Aid Workshop presented by MEFA, Monday, November 24 6-7pm

Guidebook, Page 29-30

2.3-4.0 American International College

4.4 Colgate University

3.1 Culinary Institute of America

3.8 Emerson College

2.2-3.3 Johnson State College

3.3 Lasell College

2.9 Lesley University

2.5 Lynchburg College

4.4 MassArt

3.3 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

3.5 Mass Maritime, Engineering

4.4 Middlebury College

3.0 Plymouth State University

3.1 Salem State University

4.5 Smith College

3.3-3.8 The Elms, Nursing

4.3 UMass Amherst

3.8 UMass Amherst, Engineering

3.8 University of New Hampshire

2.9-3.5 Westfield State

3.2 Worcester State

4.4 WPI, Chemical Engineering

+Handouts

College Planning Guidebook

Student Activity Sheet

Common Application Worksheet

College Visit Binder

+Stop, Look, & Listen

Guidance bulletin board/calendar downstairs

Flyers

Announcements

Guidance Website

Facebook

Auto-dialers

Scholarship Binder