navigating college admissions
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Navigating College Admissions
Deer Park High SchoolParent Presentation
2011-2012
Deer Park High School Guidance Counselors
Kim Shafer last names A-K
Jan McNulty last names L-M
Student Responsibilities To research and to be personally
knowledgeable about all of the colleges to which you will apply.
You must complete all application materials on or before deadlines and be the sole author of your application.
You should seek the assistance of your counselor!
Perform well in college!
A Note to Parents and Students
Be Realistic About Your Profile
GPA Test results Curricular choices Your special talents
and needs
“Lay all your cards on the table” about:
College cost vs. Family income
Student achievement and progress at college
Expected student financial contributions
Final choices-A family decision
Post-Secondary Institutions Liberal Arts College
Wilmington, Xavier, College of Mt. St. Joseph University
O.S.U., Miami U, U.C., Xavier Technical/Community College
Cincinnati State, Sinclair, Raymond Walters Engineering or Technical Institute
Cincinnati State, ITT, DeVry Nursing School
Good Samaritan, U.C., Cincinnati State, N.K.U., Xavier Music, Drama, and Art
Cincinnati Art Academy, Cincinnati Art Institute, U.C. (CCM, DAAP)
What Admission Committees Review
The Objective• Curriculum choices• Standardized testing• Grade point average• Class rank
The Subjective• Time commitments outside of
class• Essays• Letters of recommendation• Special talent, legacy, diversity
(of ALL sorts)• Degree of interest
A Good Application Rigorous curriculum Broad range of extracurricular activities,
inside the high school and out Strong GPA Test Scores Essays Recommendations Interest
Building the College List
• Size of student body
• Geography• Social Life• Residential?• Reputation• Major• Athletics• Facilities• M/F Ratio• Study Abroad• Cost
• Class sizes• Student Activities• % of students
returning• Selectivity• Campus setting• Greek Life• Graduation rate• Who Teaches?• Dorm Life• Diversity
Admission Plans
•Regular Decision•Early Decision•Early Action•Rolling Admission•Wait List
Early Decision (ED) You apply early and make a contract with the college
that if accepted you WILL attend their school. Deadlines are usually October 15-December 1st. If accepted ED you must withdraw your other
applications. Be 100% SURE before you apply ED. Colleges improve their yield by accepting students ED,
and thus your chances of acceptance are higher at most ED schools.
Scholarship implications?
Early DecisionPositive Features
• Early response from admission committee• Smaller applicant pool• Demonstrates strong interest• Greater chance of gaining admission?• Less stress!
Negative Features• Eliminates options• BINDING• Tentative financial aid offer• Limits scholarship/aid opportunities• What high school senior is sure of anything?
Early Action (EA) Similar to Early Decision, but not binding. Deadlines tend to be from Oct. 15th to
December 1st. You should find your status between
December 1st and February 1st. Less of an admission advantage than ED.
Early Action• Gives students the benefits of early
notification without the obligations of early decision
• Students are free to apply to other schools and to compare financial aid offers
• SINGLE CHOICE EARLY ACTION requires students not to make other EA applications to schools
Rolling AdmissionsWhen you apply, your application is reviewedsoon and you will generally be notified of the
admission decision in 3-8 weeks. Apply early! October/November Your chances are improved early in the
admission cycle year with Rolling Admissions. Most (but not ALL) state schools use Rolling
Admissions.
Late Decision or the Wait ListYou have not been accepted or denied.
There may be room if they need you. Students respond to stay or not on the List If the student is still very interested, he/she
should express very clearly that they will attend if offered a spot from the wait list.
Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against wait list students.
• Complete a Financial Need Estimate www.fafsa4caster.edu.gov/
• IF you look like you WILL qualify for aid, don’t rule out private schools!
• IF you WILL NOT qualify for aid, but want to attend a smaller, private school apply to safe schools for scholarship money.
• Some out-of-state, State schools are as affordable as in-state, State schools!
• Consider State schools. Ohio has many different options.
MORE at the Financial Aid Meeting, January 2011
College Goal Sunday• Locations throughout Ohio• College Goal Sunday offers the opportunity to have
expert help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Financial aid professionals from Ohio colleges & universities will be available to walk you and your family through the financial aid process
• College Goal Sunday is brought to you by the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
Need Information for College Goal Sunday?Call Ohio’s College Access Information Hotline
1-877-I-ATTAIN (428-8246)Mon.-Fri. 10am-6pm
A Final Word about Cost
Please discuss cost as a family now, not
later!If cost is a major factor, design
your list to maximize your money.
Please attend the Financial Aid meeting:
January 2011 in theHigh School Media Center
College Applications
When applying on-line ALWAYS: Have someone you trust review your
application before you submit it. Print out the counselor form for Mrs. Shafer or
Ms. McNulty and bring to the counseling office
Remember to tell the counselors that you applied, the colleges do not.
Call the admission office to verify that your application was received.
The ApplicationThe application will include: On-line application form Essay? Teacher recommendation? Counselor Form and Transcript Test Scores (you may need to have these sent) Interview? Audition? Portfolio? Additional Materials?
Application Tips► Watch out for Deadlines, including
scholarship Deadlines.► Complete an Inventory of the application► START EARLY and make a schedule for
completion.► Don’t add too much extra information, but
some may be OK.► Be sure the application is 100% accurate
The Common ApplicationThe Common Application is a single college application good at over 450
colleges.► Students may complete on-line or type in to
web site and print out whenever you need it.www.commonapp.org
► Many schools still need an additional supplement completed as well.
► Some schools which accept the Common Application: Miami U (OH), Denison, Wittenberg, University of Dayton, UK, University of Findlay, Xavier University, etc.
A Word about DEADLINES
• Applications must be turned in at least two weeks prior to any deadline.
• Work backwards from the due date to determine your timeline.
• Plan to complete and turn in all applications one month before deadline and definitely by Christmas.
• 95% of all deadlines are absolute! Colleges and definitely scholarships will not modify their deadline for you no matter how good your reason.
Recommendation LettersRecommendation letters can help
your application.Some general guidelines about
recommendations:• Ask someone who will write positively about you!• Ask someone to write about you who knows you
well!• Ask at least TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE for your
letter. Forms are available in the counseling office.• Put it all together neatly and ask nicely.• In most cases you can include an extra
recommendation letter, but do not include too many.
• Recommendation Letters are confidential between the writer and the college
Testing… ACT vs. SATACT
Score of 36 is perfect (National average is 21) 4 sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science) +
OPTIONAL writing section More common in the Mid-West and South Ohio State requires the writing portion! Free ACT prep at www.ACTstudent.org
SAT Score of 2400 is perfect (National average is 1500) 3 Sections (Math, Critical Reading {formerly verbal}, and
Writing More common on East and West Coast Free SAT prep at www.collegeboard.com
SAT Subject Tests/SAT 2’s
Three tests at one sitting, usually one Math, and two others of your choice
Few schools require, BUT these are generally the more SELECTIVE schools in the country
Often used for placement
ACT/SAT Continued…
ATTENTION SENIORS:If you have NOT yet completed an ACT or
an SAT, please do so ASAP!!
ATTENTION JUNIORS:We recommend you take your first ACT/SAT
in April of your junior yearSign up for the PSAT test given on Oct. 13th
ACT/SAT Continued… Most colleges will only accept scores directly from the testing
company If you coded in colleges on your original exam, they have already
been sent by the testing agency If you forgot to code colleges on your original exam, you must
contact the testing company to have your scores sent to the colleges
SAT: will send ALL of your test scores for $9.50 per school
ACT: will send ONE of your test scores for $9.00 per school
Deer Park High School’s testing code: 360-975 Scores will be sent to the high school if you code it (we need verification for some awards/scholarships)
PSAT PSAT (Practice SAT) Wednesday Oct. 12, 2011 Registration fee is $14.00
-Make checks payable to Deer Park High School Open to sophomores in honors English and to
ALL juniors Students register with Mrs. Hester in the main
office Space is limited to the first 50 students who sign
up Upon registration, students will receive a
practice PSAT
Essays• A good essay allows the reader to
see who you are and understand what you are!
• How do you write one?-Good essays contain certain
qualities:1. They are well developed in thought and
theme.2. They are grammatically correct.3. They display good vocabulary skills.4. They hold your attention and are read
easily.5. They reveal your personality, position,
passion, and ideals.
Essay Tips• There are no right and wrong answers!!• Answer the question which is asked.• Be well organized in the essay. Is there a beginning,
middle, end?• Support your main ideas with examples.• Avoid cliché topics: confessions, shock topics, vulgarity,
girlfriend/boyfriend, “the injury”, Iraq• Is it coherent? Does it flow and make sense?• Don’t try to cover too much, rather focus in on a
specific idea.• Proofread three times!!• Get a second and third opinion.• Make it your voice.• Do you have a story to tell?• Use wit and humor (just not too much).• When in doubt, keep it simple.• Show, don’t tell.
College-bound Student Athletes Do you want to play sports in college? Be realistic. Seniors: Register NOW for the NCAA
Clearinghouse for Division I & II prospects.
www.eligibilitycenter.org ACT/SAT scores must be sent directly to
the Clearinghouse (code 9999) Have strong grades your senior year. Get promises in writing.
College VisitsSimply the best way to learn about a college and its potential match.Tips: Make an appointment online or by phone with the individual college
-schedule a meeting with a college admissions counselor- request meetings for any special needs you may have
Notify Mrs. Miskimens prior to the visit & pick up college visit form-obtain signature from the college admissions counselor-returned the sign form to Mrs. Miskimens
During the visit:-Talk to students-Visit the program(s) of interest-Sit in on a class-Eat in the cafeteria-Read the student newspaper-Take a journal to record notes and your impressions of the school
Do an overnight visit at a couple of schools you are very serious about
Send a thank you note
Senior Timeline• September – Review, research your college
list. Begin your applications.• October/November- Finish testing. APPLY to
those colleges! Pay close attention to deadlines.
• October-April-Apply for scholarships. Pay close attention to deadlines.
• January- Apply for Financial Aid through FAFSA
• April 1-15- You should receive your decisions and financial information
• MAY 1ST! You must make YOUR final decision.
Admission Myths
I need to know my academic major before I can apply for admission.
The ACT or SAT results represent the most heavily weighted factor in selective admission.
Prospective students and parents have little control over the college selection process.
It’s better to have a highly developed, special talent than to be the ‘well rounded’ applicant.
College Fairs Go as a team with your son/daughter
Ask questions!
Be open-minded and look at a large variety of colleges
Thank You for attending tonight’s
presentation.
Any questions please contact Mrs. Shafer or Ms. McNulty
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