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CLEMENTS High

School

College Planning Guide

2013-2014

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contact Information ............................................................................................................ 3

Important Dates .................................................................................................................. 4

Junior Checklist ................................................................................................................... 5

Senior Checklist ................................................................................................................... 6

Athletes ............................................................................................................................... 8

College Planning for Students with Special Needs ............................................................. 9

Guide to College Testing ................................................................................................... 10

Choosing a College ............................................................................................................ 13

Discover Your Path/ Major Misconceptions ..................................................................... 16

Types of Admission Decisions ........................................................................................... 17

College Application Process .............................................................................................. 19

Frequently Asked Questions- How Many Applications? Facebook? ................................ 20

Steps to a Great College Essay .......................................................................................... 21

Letters of Recommendation ............................................................................................. 24

Admission Checklist .......................................................................................................... 25

The Campus Visit ............................................................................................................... 27

The Campus Interview ...................................................................................................... 28

Job Training ....................................................................................................................... 30

Accepted, Now What? ...................................................................................................... 31

Financial Aid ...................................................................................................................... 33

Helpful Websites ............................................................................................................... 33

Popular Schools Sat/Act Requirements ............................................................................ 35

Timeline for Admissions .................................................................................................... 38

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PRINCIPAL David Yaffie

David.Yaffie@FortBendISD.com 281-634-2150

Administrative Team

A- C Associate Principal

Karin Grisdale 281-634-2174

D- GR Global Studies Academy

Assistant Principal Ethan Crowell

281-634-2154

GS- MAN Assistant Principal

Lorri Hubert 281-634-2164

MAO- SAT Assistant Principal

Phil Morgante 281-634-2158

SAU- Z Assistant Principal

Molly Perkins 281-634-2167

Global Studies Academy Academy Coordinator

Anne Beckman 281-634-2230

Counselors

A- DEM Adrienne Luney 281-634-2157

DEN- JAC Lead Counselor

Felicia Doyle 281-634-2166

JAH- MOH Pauletta Klemstein 281-634-2256

MOI- SHU Ted Liu 281-634-2262

SI- Z Anuradha Nigam 281-634-2163

Global Studies Academy Jeffrey Faust 281-634-2156

CCR Advisor Shelby Nilsen 281-634-3106

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Important Dates

11th/ 12th Grade Parent Night Monday, September 16 at 6pm ACT Test Saturday, September 21 at 8am SAT Test Saturday, October 5 at 8am FBISD College Fair (Kempner HS) Tuesday, October 1 at 6pm FBISD College Fair (Hightower HS) Thursday, October 3 at 6pm Financial Aid/ Scholarship Parent Meeting Monday, October 21 at 6pm PSAT Wednesday, October 16 at 8am ACT Test Saturday, October 26 at 8am SAT Test Saturday, November 2 at 8am College Now/ AP/ Career Certifications in High School Parent Meeting Monday, November 18 at 6pm SAT Test Saturday, December 7 at 8am ACT Test Saturday, December 14 at 8am First date that FAFSA can be filed Tuesday, January 14, 2014 9th and 10 grade Parent night Thursday, January 17 at 6pm SAT Test Saturday, January 25 at 8am ACT Test Saturday, February 8 at 8am National College Fair (Reliant Park) Thursday, February 13 at 9:30am

and 6pm ACT Test Saturday, April 13 at 8am SAT Test Saturday, March 8 at 8am AP testing weeks 1 and 2 May 5 – 16, 8am and 4pm SAT Test Saturday, June 7 at 8am ACT Test Saturday, June 14 at 8am Where do I sign up for the SAT/ ACT test? SAT http://www.collegeboard.org/ ACT http://www.actstudent.org/ How do I get a waiver for the SAT/ ACT? If you are on free or reduced lunch, you can see Mrs. Nilsen in the CCR Center during lunch or after school to pick up the waiver form. If you need to apply for free/reduced lunch see Angela West in the counselors office.

College Paperwork Request Deadlines 2013-2014

Application Deadline Must be in by: November 1st October 11th November 15th October 25th December 1st November 1st January 1st November 29th January 15th December 13th

*College scholarships will also require a three-week notice*

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Junior Year Checklist & Calendar

Your junior year is the year to explore the possibilities ahead of you - whether those possibilities include college or a career. Now is the time to ask questions about your future, shadow a job, visit colleges, and take interest survey in the CCR Center. It's important to maintain good grades. Keep in touch with your guidance counselor about your grades and course selection. Fall Semester

Begin studying for the SAT/ ACT. Do the questions of the day on each website, follow SAT/ ACT on Twitter, pick up practice booklet in CCR Center, work on free practice tests online.

Take the FBISD SAT Prep class in October January

Take the SAT/ ACT for the first time. See how you do and continue to retake until you are satisfied with your scores.

March & April

Make a list of five to seven colleges that interest you and schedule a visit. Create a spreadsheet in Excel. When the visits dates are published be sure to update your spreadsheet. For a sample spreadsheet click here: College Interest List Spreadsheet

Attend CHS Junior/ Senior Parent College Planning Night on September 17, 2013 at 6 p.m.

Meet with your guidance counselor for a junior year credit check. This meeting will involve reviewing your credits as well as discussing post high school plans.

Sign up for AP testing if needed.

May & June Registration deadline ACT and SAT testing

o SAT: Testing Date- June 7th Registration Deadline- May 9th. Register online at http://sat.collegeboard.org/register

o ACT: Testing Date-June 14th Registration Deadline- May 9th. Register online at www.actstudent.org

AP exams will be held from May 5-16, 2014. Consider people to ask for college recommendations—teachers and/or counselors. Keep an updated copy of your resume. You will need your resume when requesting

recommendation letters from your counselor and teachers. If you travel this spring or summer, consider scheduling a college visit. Athletes----Register on www.eligibilitycenter.org if you plan to compete in a Division I or

Division II sport.

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Senior Year Checklist & Calendar

This year is filled with admission applications, scholarship essays, and financial aid information. Throughout your senior year, continue to build your resume by achieving academic success as well as participating in extracurricular activities. Colleges are very interested in well-rounded students. July-August

Visit college campuses during your summer vacation. Narrow your college list to 5-7 colleges. Compare costs of each school via their web

sites. Mark your calendar with registration, admissions, and financial aid deadlines and fees. Register for the ACT or SAT if needed. Work on college admission application essays.

September

Keep an updated copy of your resume. Your counselor and teachers will require a letter of recommendation.

Begin preparing college applications. Follow instructions and pay close attention to deadlines!

Meet with admissions representatives who are visiting. On the CCR Center website you will find the list of colleges visiting and you will be able to sign up to see the representative. Many times the admissions counselor visiting CHS will be the first person to review your college application.

If you need to retake your ACT or SAT register for the test. If a letter of recommendation is required by your college meet with your teacher and

guidance counselor for assistance. Give a minimum of three weeks advance notice. Fill out Senior brag sheet

October & November

Continue preparing your college applications and complete transcript request forms. Finalize admission applications. A financial aid seminar will be held on Thursday, October 15th at 6pm. Many colleges have December 1st scholarship deadlines. Investigate the scholarship

opportunities offered by the colleges you are applying to and check all due dates. Note: Many times you have to be admitted to the college to be considered for scholarships.

Visit your top college choices. Talk with students and faculty.

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December Remember if your college application deadline is January 15, you need to submit your

transcript request by December 2nd due to the holiday vacation. Finalize admission applications. Urge your parents to file their taxes as soon as possible after January 1 so you can

submit your FAFSA. Apply for outside funding or scholarships. Check the CCR Center website scholarship

page. January, February & March

Complete your online FAFSA application. If you have not received your Student Aid Report within four weeks after submitting your FAFSA, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 or check the status on www.fafsa.ed.gov. KEEP COPIES OF ALL FAFSA FORMS YOU SUBMIT.

Watch your housing deposit deadlines! Large universities fill up quickly! If your college requires your mid-year grades, fill out the necessary paperwork for the

Registrar. Register for AP (Advanced Placement) exams in the beginning of March.

April, May, June & July

Watch your email for financial aid packages. Compare the financial aid awards you receive. Compare the amount of grants received to the amount of loans received. Do not just look at the 'bottom line' figure.

Check with your college of choice about the details of signing financial aid award letters.

Make your final decision and send in a deposit by the deadline. (May 1 is usually the deadline)

Notify the other schools' admissions offices that you will not be attending. Watch for important deadlines at your college of choice (housing, orientation sign up

etc…) Take Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. Complete the Senior Survey. This provides data for future students at CHS.

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Athletes

The NCAA Eligibility Center provides information about the registration process for college-bound student-athletes. The website is www.eligibilitycenter.org. The Eligibility Center website will give you information about NCAA, its athletics divisions, its sports and other information. HOW DO STUDENTS REGISTER WITH THE CLEARINGHOUSE? Students can register online at the NCAA Clearinghouse website. They will have to enter personal information, answers questions about their athletic participation, and pay a registration fee. The website will then prompt them to have their high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores sent to the clearinghouse.

**Athletes need to register by end of Junior year**

Senior Grades Count!

SENIORITIS HAS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE CAN BE WITHDRAWN

According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s State of College Admission report, 21% of colleges reported they revoked offers of admission in 2008. They cited a drop in final grades (65%) as the number one reason for retraction, followed by disciplinary issues (35%) and falsification of application information (29%). Public colleges were more likely to revoke admission due to final grades, whereas private colleges were more likely to revoke offers of admission for disciplinary reasons.

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College and Career Planning for Students with Special Needs Accommodations for College Entrance Tests: Students with special needs, who might need extended time, tests on tape, larger print, oral tests and/or distraction-free environments, must go through a special registration process. Students requesting a non-standardized version of the ACT or SAT tests must complete special registration forms which require written documentation regarding the student’s disability and signatures of school staff, as well as the general registration form. Non-standardized testing requires the approval from ACT and SAT testing agencies. Students requesting accommodations on these college entrance tests must register via the mail prior to the initial registration deadline. Extended time is the only accommodation available on national test dates. Other accommodations require special testing dates. For more information visit ACT - www.act.org/aap/disab/ SAT - www.collegeboard.com/ssd/student/index/html Note to Parents –If your student has an IEP, please contact your child’s monitoring teacher regarding the testing accommodations. THIS PAPERWORK DOES NOT CARRY OVER TO THE ACT TESTS ADMINISTERED ON NATIONAL TEST DATES…you will be required to complete additional paperwork. Self Advocacy: The best gift we can give our students with special needs is to teach them the skills to advocate for themselves. Once a student leaves high school, the jurisdiction of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) ends – where the school identifies students and provides them appropriate services - and the responsibility shifts to the student to obtain services and accommodations in college classes. Helpful Websites Scholarships: http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/education/scholarships Asperger's Disorder: http://researchautism.org/news/otherevents/Scholarship.asp www.ldonline.org/questions/college www.aspfi.org/college---Asperger Foundation College Guide www.ahead.org--- Association of Higher Education and Disability www.ncld.org--- National Center for Learning Disabled www.chadd.org---Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder www.nichcy.org--- National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities www.acb.org---American Council of the Blind www.winthrop.edu/clddefault.html ---The Council for Learning Disabilities

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A Guide to College Testing PSAT/ NMSQT (www.collegeboard.com) Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a practice test used to assist students in preparing for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (the SAT). The PSAT is administered to pre-registered 11th grade students on a nationally-set test date. Colleges do not see a student’s PSAT/NMSQT score. A student who does well on this exam and who meets other academic performance criteria may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program. ACT ( www.actstudent.org) This is a college admission test published by American College Testing and is designed to measure a student’s academic achievement through English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning and Writing subtests. Most colleges will accept either the ACT or the SAT. The ACT is usually taken during the second semester of junior year, although it can be taken senior year in the fall as well. Test dates are posted online at www.actstudent.org SAT Reasoning Test (www.collegeboard.com) The Scholastic Aptitude Test is a college admission test which measures critical thinking and problem solving in Reading, Math and Writing. Most colleges will accept either the ACT or the SAT. The SAT is usually taken during second semester of junior year, but may also be taken during the first semester of senior year. SAT II Subject Tests (www.collegeboard.com) The SAT Subject tests are achievement tests designed to measure knowledge a student has already acquired. They are offered in areas of study including literature, history, math, science, and foreign language. Some highly selective schools require students to take one or more SAT II Subject tests when they apply for admission. SAT subject tests may be used for admission or for placement purposes. Students who anticipate the need for Subject tests should take these as they complete the final course in the subject area while it is still fresh in their minds.

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ACT Tips & Strategies

1. Carefully read the instructions on the cover of the test booklet. 2. Read the directions for each test carefully. 3. Read each question carefully. 4. Pace yourself—don't spend too much time on a single passage or question. 5. Pay attention to the announcement of five minutes remaining on each test. 6. Use a soft lead No. 2 pencil with a good eraser. Do not use a mechanical pencil or ink pen; if

you do, your answer document cannot be scored accurately. 7. Answer the easy questions first, then go back and answer the more difficult ones if you

have time remaining on that test. 8. On difficult questions, eliminate as many incorrect answers as you can, then make an

educated guess among those remaining. 9. Answer every question. Your scores on the multiple-choice tests are based on the number

of questions you answer correctly. There is no penalty for guessing. 10. If you complete a test before time is called, recheck your work on that test. 11. Mark your answers properly. Erase any mark completely and cleanly without smudging. 12. Do not mark or alter any ovals on a test or continue writing the essay after time has been

called. If you do, you will be dismissed and your answer document will not be scored. - "Tips for Taking the ACT." The ACT. ACT, Inc., n.d. Web. 6 Aug 2013.

<http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/tips/>. Petersons Review Do not leave any questions unanswered… even if you are running out of time…fill in the circles English--Look for the four most common types of errors—errors in relationship between verb and subject, pronoun errors, sentence structure errors, verbosity and incorrect use of idioms. Math--As soon as you find the right answer, move on, there are no ―degrees of rightness‖ to be considered. The questions focus on mathematical reasoning, not your ability to perform calculations. As you work through the multiple-choice questions, you’ll be given reference information (formulas and facts), but you’ll need to know how to use them.

Reading--Use the three-stage method—(previewing, reading, and reviewing) focus on the big idea in each passage, not the small details. Look for connections among ideas in each passage. Science--Use the three-stage method—(previewing, reading and reviewing) In data passages, focus on what is being measured, relationships among variables, and trends in data. Don’t be confused by irrelevant information. Writing--Essays are scored holistically, which means that the final score is based on an overall impression. Organize your ideas into a standard essay format. A well-organized essay consists of 4-5 paragraphs, including an introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion.

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SAT Tips & Strategies

1. Learn the section directions now. Use the time saved during the test to work on questions. 2. Answer easy questions first. Mark skipped questions in your exam book so you can quickly

return to them later. 3. Guess...if you can eliminate at least one choice. 4. You can write in the test book: cross out wrong answers; do scratch work. 5. Take care when filling in the answer grid for the student-produced response questions. 6. Avoid stray marks on the answer sheet. A machine scores your test and can't distinguish

between a correct answer and a careless doodle. 7. Easy questions usually precede hard ones. 8. Mark only one answer per question. 9. Skip any question if you haven't the faintest idea about the answer. You don't lose points. 10. Understand the scoring! You get a point for a right answer. You lose a fractional point for a

wrong answer. There is no deduction for omitted answers, or for wrong answers in the math section's student-produced response questions.

11. Keep checking that you are placing your answer in the correct section and number on the answer sheet.

12. Don't spend too much time on any one question. You should spend only seconds on the easiest questions, and hesitate to spend more than 1-2 minutes on even the hardest ones.

13. Practice, practice, practice! 14. Remember that the SAT consists of a series of small, timed, mini-tests. Keep track of the

time you're allotted for each one and how much time remains. 15. Bring a watch to the test center. You can't be guaranteed that there'll be a working clock

there. 16. Don't change an answer unless you're sure you made an error. 17. Read the words in the question carefully. Be sure to answer the question asked and not the

question you recall from a practice test. 18. Know the Question Types to Expect on the SAT I: * 19 sentence completion * 40 reading

comprehension * 35 math multiple-choices * 10 student-produced responses

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Choosing a College –Some Things to Consider

I. Types of Colleges Four Year School

Universities –institutions made up of several colleges each of which may have different admission and graduation requirements. Universities offer a broad range of majors and degrees. Liberal Arts Colleges---offer degrees in non-technical areas. Usually these schools require more diverse program of study for graduation. Specialized Colleges---schools offering a narrow program of studies, usually focused on technical education or fine arts.

Two Year Schools Community Colleges or Junior Colleges –offer associate degree programs. Most curriculums are very broad in scope, offering career and non-credit courses as well as courses that are equivalent to the first two years of a four year college. Vocational / Technical Schools –specialized schools that offer specific programs and do not require study in areas outside the program of interest.

II. College Locations City –offer accessibility to a broad range of cultural, employment, and recreational opportunities. Suburban—suburban schools offer the best of both worlds. They are found within a well developed town, offering students access to jobs, recreation facilities. Rural –small town schools usually offer a wide variety of out-of-class activities on campus. Campus is the central focus.

III. Admission Selectivity

Open –all high school graduates accepted, to limit of capacity

Liberal –accept many freshman with ~ C+ GPA or higher

Traditional –accepts freshman with ~ B average GPA or higher

Selective –majority of accepted freshman with ~B+ / A- average GPA—honors and AP courses

Highly Selective –majority of accepted freshman with ~A / A+ GPA—majority honors and AP courses

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Typical Test Score Averages Admission Selectivity SAT Score Critical Reading ACT Composite Averages

M Math + Writing Highly Selective SAT 1820-2390 ACT 27-36 Selective SAT 1590-1820 ACT 23-27 Traditional SAT 1410-1530 ACT 20-22 Liberal SAT 1290-1410 ACT 18-20 Open SAT Below 1290 ACT Below 18 *On average, students who score lower on ACT/SAT may need a higher GPA to meet a school’s particular admission selectivity IV. Misconceptions about Costs

Net Price Calculators We do comparison shopping for almost everything – electronics, cars, and airfare—why not college? The federal government requires all colleges to have net price calculators, or NPCs, on their websites. The calculators are meant to provide a reliable estimate of how much it will cost to attend a particular college, based on a family's financial circumstances. Instead of looking at college prices at the last minute after you've been accepted to a school you could start comparison-shopping early during your college search and avoid the worry. Tuition/Room and Board The cost of a college education varies from about $11,000 to over $50,000 per year. Cost should not be a prime factor in considering colleges but rather should be seen from the view point of out of pocket expense (i.e. financial aid package). However, cost may be the critical factor when making the final decision to enroll. Find out what the actual cost to you will be before deciding you cannot go to an “expensive” school. In-State vs. Out-of-State Costs Do not be fooled by the ―in-state schools are less expensive syndrome. This is not always true. Private schools charge the same tuition for in state and out-of-state students. Private colleges’ scholarship programs can even the playing field when it comes to cost. Also, merit based scholarships for out-of-state colleges may make the college less expensive. Transportation Costs Yearly, the money spent for trips between home and college often includes more than plane, train, or bus fares.

V. College Size

Large Schools (typically) a. Enrollment usually over 10,000 students b. Typically large class sizes for general education classes in first two years c. More diverse curriculum and more options in specialized study areas d. Greater variety of extracurricular activities and organizations Mid-Sized Schools (typically) a. Enrollment is 3,000 to 10,000 students b. More personalized approach than larger school c. More options than small schools

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Small Schools (typically) a. Enrollment generally below 3,000 students b. Smaller classes throughout the four years of college c. Greater chance for participation in athletics and leadership positions

VI. “Atmosphere” It is very important to visit the campus. The student should eat in the cafeteria, tour the residence halls, walk through the campus and get a sense of whether or not they could be comfortable at the campus. It will be their home away from home for four years. VII. Academic Options

Major Course of Study – Does the college offer programs that will allow you entry into the career of your choice? Does the college offer your major or area of concentration? Faculty – Is there opportunity to work with several professors in your major, or will you be fortunate (or unfortunate) enough work with only one or two professors? What is the student to faculty ratio? Who teaches freshman and sophomore classes, professors or graduate assistants? Are the professors available to see students? Do most instructors have their doctorate? Study Abroad – Will there be the opportunity to study abroad? When do a majority of the students attend a study abroad program? Where are the locations of your program? What is the cost to participate in the program? Will you be able to graduate on time if you travel abroad? Internships – Is there an opportunity to explore a career in your major area of interest? Are internships paid or unpaid? Do students typically become employed by the company/ persons with whom they have completed an internship? Job Placement – Does the university or college assist the student with the resume, interview and job search process? Ask about the percentage of students who have employment six months after graduation.

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Discover Your Career Path

Interest Inventories

Holland Code Career Test Discover the best jobs for you with the powerful system of Holland career codes. This free test will identify your strongest career interest among six occupational themes: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional (a.k.a. RIASEC). Realistic - Building, fixing, working outdoors Investigative - Researching, thinking, experimenting Artistic - Creating, designing, expressing Social - Helping, teaching, encouraging Enterprising - Leading, selling, persuading Conventional - Organizing, categorizing, recording

Read more: http://www.truity.com/test/holland-code-career-test#ixzz2bDHC2BbJ

Live Career LiveCareer's report reveals the real you - your interests, your work preferences and your work personality. Your report includes: A graph of your Basic Interest Scores An interpretation of your highest and lowest career interests RIASEC workplace fit analysis - find out which work environment suits you best Your top 5 job categories that have your greatest potential for success highlighted Access to over 900 O*NET job descriptions Information on your best fitting educational options Your report will identify which careers you should avoid and which ones are right for you. Learn about your career interests so that you can pursue a satisfying career and life plan! ACT Career Planning Choosing a career is a big decision. But you don't have to sweat it—planning for your future is not

something you do once. It's a continuous process. ACT has several options to assist you in the research process.

http://www.actstudent.org/career/ https://www.actprofile.org/login

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Major Misconceptions

What’s the connection between Degree & Career?

Major Myth 1: A liberal arts degree doesn’t give you a viable career option. The intellectual skills you develop while studying the liberal arts apply to a wide range of jobs, so you’ll have many options for a long and varied career. Just ask entrepreneur Martha Stewart, who studied history, or best-selling author J.K. Rolling, who majored in French Major Myth 2: When picking a major, students should base their choice on money. Happy still trumps wealthy on the scale of human goals. Base your choice on something more than “hot” market trends and rumors of big dollars—the economy is anything but predictable Major Myth 3: There is a perfect field for everyone. The priorities of a college freshman can differ drastically from those of a college grad, so don’t worry if your “dream degree” doesn’t appear right away. Be open minded and you’ll find your way. Major Myth 4: Unless you took undergrad courses in medicine, law, engineering, or business, those fields are out of reach. Actually, an increasing number of graduate programs don’t have pre-requisites. Grad schools look more for skill in broad academic areas such as writing, research, and critical thinking. Major Myth 5: A bachelor’s degree is your best bet for success. Many in-demand jobs such as nurses, engineering technicians, and paralegals require an associate degree. You can get an associate degree in half the time it takes to get a bachelor’s degree. Focus first on what you want to do, then find out what level of education you need to land your dream job.

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Types of Admission Decisions

The college admission process has its own language-- rolling admission, early decision, early action and wait listed. Some of the most frequently mentioned practices include the following: Early Decision=BINDING This plan allows a student to apply between October and mid-January (generally) for an early determination of admissibility. If accepted, the student is obligated to attend. The student may submit other applications during this period, but only one can be early decision. If accepted through the early decision program, the student must withdraw all other applications. Early Action/Notification= NON-BINDING These plans invite early application but they are non-binding agreements to attend the college. Please read your college application carefully to understand the guidelines of Early Action programs. Single-Choice Early Action Like early action, single-choice early action is also non-binding; however, these colleges and universities preclude you from applying to other schools during the early application process. Notable single-choice early action programs include Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale. Specific terms and conditions may vary between these programs so make sure to read the fine print of each school’s application. Deferred Decision The college determines that more information is needed to make a final decision. Often the decision is delayed until seventh semester grades and/or new test scores are received.

Regular Admission You submit an application by a specified date and receive a decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time. You may apply to other schools without restriction. Rolling Admissions The college or university will notify the student as soon as the complete application has been processed (usually in four to six weeks). It is to the student’s advantage to apply early. Wait Listed With higher numbers of applications, many colleges now have wait lists (the “highly selective” colleges have done this for years). Being “wait listed” is not an offer of admission to a college. If you are wait listed, it means that you are admissible provided there is room, but do not count on it! The number of students that are wait listed is up to the individual college and varies from year to year. Some colleges wait list many students and only admit a few from that list. If wait listed, always make other plans! They are expected to notify you of the resolution of your wait list status no later than August 1st. Deferred Admission This plan permits a student, once accepted, to postpone admission for one year to pursue other plans.

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College Application Process Applications

We encourage students to apply online.

Please read over the requirements for each college. Many require you to submit a recommendation form. Make special note of the deadlines!

Application fee waivers The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) provides a form to be completed by students with the help of their high school counselor. Suggested annual family income guidelines for this waiver are from about $29,900 to about $46,000, depending on family size. However, income is not the only determining factor in application fee waivers; many are based on the counselor's personal knowledge of family circumstances. See your counselor for more information. *Fee waivers can be attained from Mrs. Schrock in the counselor’s office. The Common Application The Common Application, (Commonapp.org) is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an admission application that students may submit to over 456 colleges. Many of these colleges have supplements required to complete the application. Teacher and counselor recommendation forms are required. Essay The Common Application requires an essay. Over the summer you can get a head start on the 250 – 500 word essay. Essays can be written on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below.

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.

Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

Topic of your choice.

Parents in the College Center may review and assist as well. NOTE: Your Common Application essay should be the same for all colleges. Do not customize it in any way for individual colleges. Colleges that want customized essay responses will ask for them on a supplement form.

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Frequently Asked Questions How many applications are enough? Ideally, 5-7---apply to a reach school, a couple target schools, and an academic and financial safety college.

Reach School: Your credentials may meet or are below the published admission standards for the school. Note: All ―highly selective schools should be considered a reach school for every student.

Target School: Your credentials are in the range of the published admission standards for the school.

Safety School (Academic Safety): Your credentials definitely meet or exceed the published admission standards for the school.

Financial Safety: In addition to being an academic safety, this school meets your financial situation.

What is a personal statement and when should I include it? A personal statement is an opportunity to explain anything that is not otherwise addressed in the application. It may be used to explain a fluctuation in grades due to an illness, a life altering experience, or any other significant event that would enhance your application. What about my Facebook? Is it ok for an admission counselor to see my page? College admissions officials, keenly aware that their target audience grows more tech-savvy with every passing year, appear to be getting the hang of social media such as Twitter and Facebook. According to Kaplan, 82% of the 386 admissions officers surveyed indicated that their respective schools used Facebook, "to recruit prospective students." Facebook is clearly the most targeted social platform in that regard; only 56% of those surveyed indicated that their schools used Twitter or YouTube as well. An important privacy feature that is less used is the “Friends List” which allows you to lump together a group of your Facebook friends and limit what they can see. By Mary Beth Marklein, (USA TODAY) What about emailing my admissions counselor? Use standard and proper English: Never, ever, ever use text message abbreviations! In text messaging, abbreviations are standard, but it's not uncommon to make the disastrous mistake of using the same language in a formal email.

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Steps to a Great College Essay College Essay Tips from the University of Michigan The biggest tip is to read and answer the question asked. You’d be amazed how many essays we receive that don’t relate at all to the question we were asking! 1. There is no “right” answer. Don’t think you know what we want to hear. Whatever you

have to say about the topic is of interest to us. 2. Be authentic. We want to hear your voice in your response – the experiences, opinions and

values that have shaped you. Feel free to write what you are passionate about so we can get to know you.

3. Be proactive! Each year, we talk to students who have everything ready but their essays. If they could just get them finished, their application would be complete. Get started on your essays soon, and don’t spend months agonizing them. We don’t read through them with a red pen in hand!

4. Avoid re-writing your accomplishments in paragraph form. You’ve already given us that information in your application.

5. Re-use essays (or portions of essays) when possible, especially when applying to a lot of schools. However, make sure to re-read before hitting the submit button or mailing them in! The worst possible way to finish your essay is to say, ” And I just can’t wait to be a Spartan!” This happens. Seriously.

6. Use mature professional writing skills. Avoid contractions, slang, and “you.” If you have questions, talk to your English teacher.

7. Avoid funny fonts, big margins, large font size, etc... We were once in school too, and we know all the tricks of the trade for making things appear longer than they really are! Work with a standard font (such as Times) and a standard size (such as 12).

8. Explain any abbreviations. Sure, we know the obvious ones (NHS, anyone?), but talking about the B.O.B. award that you won for participating in the F.D.R. may not make sense to someone who doesn’t go to your high school.

9. If making an argument, back it up with consistent facts. Have an opinion about global warming? Affirmative action? Think that capital punishment is evil? Why? Your argument should be supported by facts, not the opinions of others.

10. Use spell-check and proofread your essay. Please have at least 2 people read your essay to check for major errors. Bonus if you use people who don’t have a vested interest in your college education.

11. Plagiarism is academic fraud and will cause your application to be thrown out of consideration. You know those great websites that will write your essays for you? We know about them too. Aah, the power of Google...

12. Pick one topic and stay with it. You don’t have a lot of room to discuss a variety of different topics, so strive for depth on one subject versus breadth.

13. Make sure your essay can stand alone. Avoid saying something along the lines of, “As I stated earlier in my application...” Please re-write the topic at the top of the essay so we can quickly identify what you’re writing about. You get a gold star for putting your name and 8-digit U of M ID number on top of the essay pages as well.

22

14. Be careful with humor. It can be tough to pull off in writing and remember – you don’t necessarily know your audience. Your essay will be read by a number of different people from a wide array of ages and backgrounds.

15. Tell us what is unique about you. Why would you stand out among our 20,000+ applicants? Is there something different about your personal experiences? Your response should provide us with an opportunity to get to know you on a more personal level, beyond your GPA, test scores, and curriculum.

16. Use recent examples. It’s always best to focus on issues that occurred while you were in high school, since we’re only reviewing your high school performance when determining if you’ll be admitted. If something happened when you were younger that has significantly affected you, talk about it, but then put the focus on how this event has affected you in recent years.

17. Watch your tone. There’s a big difference in focusing your essay on “U of M needs me as a student because...” versus “please please please admit me!”

18. Don’t make excuses. If you’ve had a poor or inconsistent grade performance due to unusual or stressful circumstances, feel free to share that information with us; it can be useful. Don’t strain credibility by making up false excuses. Be honest – we’ll respect that.

19. Be truthful, but make sure you’re comfortable with your potential audience. Students often feel compelled to share extremely personal and even traumatic experiences in their responses – health issues, death of a family member, abuse, etc. We will absolutely keep your information confidential; however, if you decide to reveal something deeply personal, be aware that a number of people will potentially be reading your essay.

20. Tell us why we’re great. Talk about campus programs you’ve attended. Tell us why you’re a great fit. Remember that athletics can be a reason, but should not be the only reason you want to come to!

Essay fright? Skip clichéd topics, be creative by Lee Biere, an independent college adviser based in Charlotte, NC Lots of high school seniors find themselves sitting across from an empty computer screen wondering just how to write an application essay that is memorable. Most fail. That’s because they are writing either what they think a college admissions representative wants to read or they don’t understand the objective of the essay. Common cliché topics that students choose to write about:

Sports Victory – how our team won the big game in the last few seconds because of my commitment, drive and focus.

Miss America – how performing community service has taught me the importance of helping others and achieving world peace.

Grandma – how she overcame so many obstacles.

The 3 D’s – how I endured the hardship of divorce, drugs or death.

Sense of Entitlement – how my travel and numerous enrichment experiences have broadened my horizons.

Value of Life – how the death of a pet inspired introspection.

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The Resume – how my entire life from preschool until today has prepared me for life at your college campus.

Laundry list of character traits – how my commitment, leadership, eagerness, determination and discipline make me a great applicant.

*Rather than setting students apart in a positive way, these “been-there-done-that” topics end up, in a worst-case scenario, damaging the application or, in the best case, not helping very much at all. Here are some essay rules that should help get the creative juices flowing:

Brainstorm with family and friends – ask them “what makes me different from my friends and siblings?”

Think of a story – a funny, quirky conversation, a special gift you received.

Keep the scale manageable – don’t try to tell your life’s story, better to focus instead on a simple moment in time.

Grab them with your lead – after reading your introductory sentence, you want someone to think “Wow, this is going to be an interesting essay, I’d like to meet this student.”

Be concise – keep the essay moving and vary the sentence structure to avoid monotony.

Use humor- but only if it works for your topic and it speaks to your personality.

Let the readers get to know you- what makes you tick. Reveal the inner you and you’ll be certain that no one else has written the same essay.

Proof your work- Bad grammar and mechanics can hurt you. Write a draft. Let it sit for a day or two, revisit and edit and then pass it along to someone who knows you well who you feel is a strong writer. Incorporate his or her comments and redraft the essay. Proof again.

24

Letters of Recommendation How to stand out from the crowd… Many college applications request one or more recommendations from teachers or counselors. If the colleges that you are applying to require them, use these guidelines: Whom Should I Ask? Often colleges request letters of recommendation from an academic teacher (sometimes a specific discipline) and/or your counselor. It is best to ask a teacher whom you have had in class for at least a full semester, if possible, and who taught you during junior or senior year. Colleges want current perspectives, from someone who knows you well. It’s even better if you get a recommendation from a teacher who has also been involved with you outside the classroom, but unless a college specifically requests it, don’t use a coach or someone who can’t speak to your academic achievements and potential. When Should I Ask? Make sure to give your recommendation writers at least three weeks before letters are due to write and send your recommendations. Many teachers like to have the summer to write recommendations, so if you know that you will be applying to a school that requires recommendations, especially if you are applying under early action or early decision plans, you may want to ask teachers before the end of junior year. Talk to your counselor and teachers, don’t just email them. Complete your resume and share the resume with your teacher and counselor. Remind them of your accomplishments and let them in on your future plans. The best letters include specific examples and stories rather than vague praise. Students must turn in a resume if requesting a letter of recommendation from their counselor. Don’t be shy. Teachers and counselors are often happy to help you, as long as you respect their time constraints. Provide teachers and counselor with deadlines for each recommendation that you are requesting, especially noting the earliest deadline. On the application form, waive your right to view recommendation letters. This gives more credibility to the recommendation in the eyes of the college. Follow up with your recommendation writers a week or so prior to the deadline to ensure recommendations have been mailed or to see if they need additional information from you. *Write thank you notes to your recommendation writers, and later tell them where you’ve decided to go to college.

Source: www.collegeboard.com

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College Admissions

College Admissions Checklist

College #1

College #2

College #3

College #4

College #5

Application Deadline

Scholarship Deadline

Essay complete/Supplement information complete

Submitted online

Recommendation

Contacted counselor and/or teacher regarding letter of recommendation

Recommendation sent

Sent thank you note

Transcripts

Transcripts sent

Midyear Transcripts sent

Final transcripts sent to school you plan to attend

Financial Aid

Financial Aid Form complete and submitted

Housing Deposit

26

SAMPLES OF EMAILS

Thank You for Your Visit

Date

Director of Admissions

College or University

Street Address

City, State, Zip

Dear ________:

Thank you for spending time with me when I visited your

campus. I especially appreciated your arranging for me to see

(name of activity or interest).

The visit increased my interest in (name of college or

university), I am excited about the opportunity to attend

(name of college or university). Once again, thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Signature

Your Street Address

City, State, Zip

Telephone

Withdrawal of Application Email

Date

Director of Admissions

College or University

Street Address

City, State, Zip

Dear ________:

I was pleased to be accepted as a student at (college or

university). However, after much consideration, I have

decided to attend another school. Please know that this

decision was very difficult.

Please withdraw my application and accept my thanks for

your help and consideration.

Sincerely yours,

Signature

Your Street Address

City, State, Zip

Telephone

Email Regarding a Schedule Change

Date

Director of Admissions

College or University

Street Address

City, State, Zip

Dear ________:

In order to update my application, I am writing to inform you

that I am dropping (name of class) from my current/next

semester schedule. I decided on this change in order to keep

up with (my workload, preparation for AP exams etc.). I have

already completed the (name of subject) credits needed for

high school graduation and college admission.

Sincerely yours,

Signature

Name

Your Street Address

City, State, Zip

Telephone

Deferred or Wait List Status

Date

Director of Admissions

College or University

Street Address

City, State, Zip

Dear ________:

I was disappointed to have been deferred under your (Early

Action/Early Decision) plan and hope that in the spring you

will be able to act favorably on my application. I realize that

if accepted, I am no longer committed to attend; however, I

want you to know that (name of college) is still my first

choice, and I will attend if accepted. (Update with new

honors, activities, graded paper, recent grades, additional

recommendations, etc.)

Thank you for your consideration on my behalf.

Sincerely yours,

Signature

Name

Your Street Address

City, State, Zip

Telephone

27

Campus Visits There is no substitute for seeing a college yourself! There are many ways to find out about a college, from online sites, to brochures, to college fairs. But there is no substitute for seeing the campus yourself. Check on college websites for Junior or Senior Visit Days and Open Houses. Individual visits can also be arranged. Make your reservations early. Large university open houses fill up quickly! Before you go:

Call the Admission Office in advance, tell them the date you’d like to visit, and the time of day you expect to arrive. Many colleges also offer online campus registration for visit days.

Inquire about scheduling an interview, attending an information session, visiting classes, and talking with faculty.

If you want to stay overnight in a residence hall, ask if they can make arrangements.

Research the college using the college’s website.

Make a list of questions that you want answered. While you are on campus:

Take a tour of the campus and talk to as many students as possible.

Sit in on a class. Are the students prepared for class? Do students participate?

Visit the athletic facilities. Is the facility open to all students or only to athletes?

Have a meal in the cafeteria.

Pick up copies of the college newspaper and magazine. Questions to ask other students on campus:

What do you like most about the college? Least? If you could change something, what would it be?

Do many students go home on the weekends? Is it possible to study in your dorm?

Can you have cars on campus? Is it hard to find a job on campus?

What percentage of the student body participates in Greek life?

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The College Interview The importance of a campus or alumni interview varies from college to college. The key is to be prepared. An interview may be required by highly competitive schools. The interview may cover information not found in your application-and it’s the chance for you to ask questions.

“20 Questions” from Dr. Katherine Cohen, “The Today Show”

1. Why do you want to go to college? 2. Why do you want to come to X college? (Be sure to answer this question for each school at which you plan to interview.) 3. How do you make a difference in your high school community? 4. What was your most challenging course in high school? Why? 5. Which authors, books, or articles have had a profound effect on you? 6. What would you change about your high school if you could? What do you enjoy about it? 7. How have you changed or grown through high school? 8. What things do you do well and find most satisfying? What are your strengths and talents? 9. Which weaknesses would you like to improve? 10. Are you satisfied with your accomplishments so far? 11. How do you respond to academic competition and pressure? 12. How would you describe your family? 13. What was the biggest obstacle you have faced so far in your life and how did you get through it? 14. What three adjectives would your best friend use to describe you? Why? 15. What do you plan to study in college? Why? 16. What do you like to do for fun? 17. What do you hope to do with your college education after graduation? 18. What makes you unique? 19. In this week’s news, which issue(s) have you been most concerned about? 20. Do you have any heroes or heroines? Who are they and why do you admire them? College Interview Tips:

Be on time for your appointment. Arrive 5-10 minutes ahead of your scheduled interview. “I got lost,” is no excuse.

Even if you are told to dress casual, wear dress pants and a shirt with a collar. Remember, no jeans, t-shirts, skimpy tops or sweatshirts.

Be well prepared. Research the college prior to your interview. Be prepared to ask questions based on what you read.

Be positive. Answer questions to the best of your knowledge and ability. Do not be afraid to admit you don't know something.

Be ready to talk about yourself. Know your test scores and latest grades. Offer information on what courses you selected, your participation in extracurricular activities, your goals, your interests, and your career objectives. Avoid one-word responses.

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Bring your updated, edited and proofread resume.

Don’t stretch the truth. It is always good to be honest about the things you do.

Be relaxed. Interviews are meant to be informative for both parties.

Turn off the cell phone. (Not just on vibrate, or leave it in the car)

After the interview… Follow up with a handwritten note thanking the interviewer for his or her time. Mention what you enjoyed about your visit/interview.

30

On-the-Job Training

What is an Apprentice? An apprentice is an employed worker in training. Apprenticeship involves on-the-job training and technical instruction in many different trades. The goal of training is to master the practical and theoretical aspects of the work required in a skilled trade, and to graduate to journeyman status. Depending on the trade, an apprenticeship lasts from one to six years. A Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship is issued when the apprentice completes the training. Apprentices train in every major industry. Some of the apprentice occupations include carpenter, cook, machinist, sheet metal worker, drywall finisher, and electrician. For more information please contact: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training 211 South Court Street Room 150 Rockford, IL 61101 Phone: 815 987-4253 Apprenticeship Local 150 Operating Engineers 19800 West Arsenal Road Wilmington, IL 60481-8256 Phone: 815-722-3201 http://www.asiplocal150.org Bridge, Structural & Reinforcing Iron Workers Local Union No. 1 7740 Industrial Drive Forest Park, IL 60130 Phone: 708-366-8181 http://www.iwlocal1.com Chicago and Northeast Illinois District Council of Carpenters 12 E. Erie Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: 312-787-3076 http://www.carpentersunion.org Chicago Area Painting & Decorating Joint Apprenticeship and Training 1101 N. Taft Ave. Berkeley, IL 60163 Phone: 708-449-5212 http://www.jatc-dftc.org/ Carpenter Local 1889 28600 Bella Vista Parkway, Suite 2150 Warrenville, IL 60555 Phone: 630-821-7932

E-mail: local1889@carpentersunion.org Chicago Roofers Joint Apprenticeship & Training Program 7045 Joliet Road Indian Head Park, Illinois 60525 Phone: 708-246-4488 http://www.chicagoroofers.com Communications Joint Apprenticeship & TRNG Trust *Education center for IBEW Local Union 1346201 W. 115th Street Alsip, IL 60803 Phone: 708-389-1340 http://www.ejatt.com Great Lakes Area Boiler-Makers Apprenticeship Program 5666 West 95th Street Oak Lawn, IL 60453 Phone: 708-636-6656 E-mail: glabap@glabap.com IBEW Local Union 134 600 West Washington Boulevard Chicago, IL 60661 Phone: 312-454-1340 http://www.ibew.org Sprinkler Fitters Local Union 281 Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee 11900 South Laramie Ave Alsip, IL 60803 Phone: 708-597-1800 http://www.sprinklerfitterchicago.org

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GOT INTO COLLEGE!

Now what? Scholarships –Use this packet, the CCR Center website as well as general searches on the Internet to located information regarding scholarship services. Scams The Federal Trade Commission cautions students and their parents to be aware of scholarship scams. (http://ftc.gov/scholarshipscams) To avoid being a victim of fraud, here are some guidelines to follow:

Rely on opportunities offered by the government, universities and organizations that are familiar to the guidance counselors.

Don’t pay fees; don’t give a credit card number or bank account number.

Money back guarantees and other incentives are tip‐offs that it may a fraud.

Solicitations by mail or phone from nice sounding organizations are very risky. A few of the hook‐lines are “free seminar” “you’re a finalist” and “you can’t get this information elsewhere.”

Complete your college housing application and submit your room deposit sooner rather than later. Housing is limited, and not always guaranteed for freshmen. Large university housing fills up fast! Check the deposit refund policy. Complete financial aids forms online—go to the website: www.fafsa.edu.gov Do not use www.fafsa.com-- they will charge you to fill out the free financial aid application. Sign acceptance letter or notify college you will attend. Deadline for most colleges is May 1. Send in an enrollment deposit if required. Inform all other college and universities of your choice and asked to be removed from their enrollment list.* See sample letters on page 32. Inquire about or register for college placement exams. Register for college orientation.

32

Financial Aid

Do You Need Money for College?

CSS Profile (College Board College Scholarship Service) Several hundred private institutions utilize the CSS. The CSS uses the institutional methodology which differs from the calculation performed by the federal government. The CSS collects data and sends it directly to the college. (https://profileonline.collegeboard.com) What is the FAFSA? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, is an important form and the first step in the financial aid process. This is necessary to apply for federal student financial aid, such as the Pell Grant, student loans, and college work-study. The information can be found at www.fafsa.gov *Do not use www.FAFSA.com. It is not the government and they will ask for personal information and request money. How do I begin the process? Before you begin the FAFSA you should apply for a Federal Student Aid personal identification number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov. The PIN is a 4-digit number that is used in combination with your Social Security Number, name, and date of birth to identify you as someone who has the right to electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents. You and your parents will need to sign your FAFSA. The government cannot process your FAFSA until they receive your signature(s). Tip: You may use your PIN for the duration of your school experience and beyond. If you or your parents do not already have a PIN, we encourage you to apply for one. Why all the questions? The government enters your FAFSA responses into a formula (known as the Federal Methodology). The result is your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC. The EFC is a preliminary estimate that measures your family’s financial contribution. It is subtracted from the Cost of Attendance at the school(s) you plan to attend to determine your eligibility for federal student aid. How do I find out what my EFC is? FAFSA will send you a report, called a Student Aid Report (SAR) by e-mail or by postal mail depending on the addresses that they have on file for you. The SAR lists the information you reported on your FAFSA. How much aid do I get? Schools use your EFC to prepare a financial aid package (grants, loans, and/or work-study) to help you meet your financial need. Financial need is the difference between your EFC and your school’s cost of attendance (which can include living expenses). If you or your family has unusual circumstances that affect your financial situation, contact your college´s financial aid office. Reminder: Plan to attend BHS Financial Aid Night on November 8th at 6 p.m.

33

College Cash

Three things you need to know! Know the Deadlines Several hundred private institutions No matter how stupendous your grades, test scores, or athletic achievements may be, you won’t win scholarships if your applications are late. When applying to a college, check to see if there is a separate scholarship application and what the deadline is—then put a reminder in your calendar so you do not miss it *Note: Family Connection’s scholarship search allows you to sort by deadline, so you can see which applications you need to finish first. Know the real cost of college Look for the Net Price Calculator (NPC) on schools’ websites (colleges that participate in federal financial aid programs are required to have an NPC). Answer a few financial questions, and the NPC will give you these key numbers:

A median expected family contribution (EFC)

The average grant and scholarship aid the school awards to students like you.

The school’s “net price”—the difference between the total cost of attendance and the average aid award. This is the amount you will have to come up with for your freshman year; you can do this through a combination of cash, loans, and scholarships/grants.

Know when it is too good to be true If a scholarship offer promises you money for little or no work or asks you to pay a fee to receive an award, just walk away. Focus your hunt on scholarships from colleges and reputable charities/companies.

Helpful Websites

Application-Common Application -- www.commonapp.org Athletes-NCAA Clearinghouse-- www.eligibilitycenter.org College Search Colleges That Change Lives -- www.ctcl.org College Information--- www.collegedata.com College ranking, college profiles, etc-- www.stateuniversity.com College View -- www.collegeview.com Student/parents forum -- www.collegeconfidential.com Historically Black Colleges -- www.blackhighereducation.com Step-by-step instruction college planning-- www.KnowHow2GOIllinois.org Peterson’s Guide -- www.petersons.com Princeton Review -- www.princetonreview.com School profiles and applications-- www.collegenet.com

34

U.S. News & World Report-- www.usnews.com/ Virtual Tours-- www.campustours.com College Testing ACT-- www.actstudent.org SAT/College Board-- www.collegeboard.com Colleges that don’t require the ACT for admission-- www.fairtest.org Links to Financial Aid CSS Profile-- www.collegeboard.com FAFSA on the web-- www.fafsa.ed.gov Personal Identification Number required for FAFSA-- www.pin.gov Estimate of your Financial aid-- www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov Scholarships Fast Web Student Resource Network -- www.fastweb.com Scholarship information-- www.ScholarshipExperts.com Illinois Student Assistance Commission-- www.collegeillinois.com College Board-- www.collegeboard.com/student/pay Minority Scholarship Websites 200 Free minority scholarships-- www.blackexcel.org Black College Dollars-- www.blackcollegedollars.org Hispanic Scholarship Fund-- www.hsf.net Hispanic Scholarships-- www.latinocollegedollars.org National Urban League-- www.nul.org/scholarships.html Career Resources & Interest Surveys Mapping Your Future-- http://mappingyourfuture.org Occupational Outlook Handbook-- www.bls.gov/oco Favorite college search websites A roomful of college consultants were asked to list their favorite college search websites. Their responses offer insight into what the "pros" use to develop college lists and advise students. (Examiner.com) College Navigator: http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator College Navigator is a free consumer tool designed to help students, parents, counselors, and others gather data about nearly 7000 colleges and universities located in every corner of the country. Unigo: www.unigo.com/ With searchable reviews, videos, and photos from over 15,000 college students, Unigo offers an opportunity to learn about the several hundred colleges and universities covered by the site. YOUniversityTV: www.youniversitytv.com/ YOUniversityTV is rapidly becoming a favorite among counselors and colleges for the quality of the videos produced. College Portrait: http://www.collegeportraits.org/ A voluntary reporting system, College Portrait is sponsored by the Assoc. of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the American Assoc. of State Colleges and Universities. U.S. News and World Report: www.usnews.com A byproduct of the infamous US News and World Report ranking, the website not only provides

35

some of the statistical underpinnings used to rate and rank colleges but also makes a valuable source of useful information. U-CAN: www.ucan-network.org Another free data source, the U-CAN (University and College Accountability Network) search function includes 17 different variables covering student costs, tuition trends, admission and graduation rates, average student aid packages and much more.

Popular Colleges SAT/ACT scores

College/University

SAT Critical

Reading

(Mid 50%)

SAT

Math

(Mid

50%)

SAT

Writing

(Mid 50%)

ACT

Composite

(Mid 50%)

American University 580-700 570-670 580-680 25-30

Amherst College 670-770 660-760 670-760 29-34

Auburn University 520-620 550-650 520-620 23-28

Barnard College 640-740 610-700 650-750 28-31

Baylor University 540-650 560-660 530-630 23-28

Boston College 610-700 640-730 620-710 28-32

Boston University 580-670 600-690 590-680 25-30

Bowdoin College 650-760 650-750 660-750 29-33

Brandeis University 640-720 650-730 640-730 29-32

Brown University 650-760 670-780 660-770 28-33

Bryn Mawr College 620-730 580-680 620-710 27-31

Bucknell University 600-680 630-710 610-700 27-31

California Institute of Technology 700-760 770-800 690-770 33-35

Claremont McKenna College 630-740 660-750 N/A** N/A**

Colby College 640-720 640-710 630-710 28-31

Colgate University 630-730 640-730 N/A** 29-32

College of William and Mary 630-730 620-710 610-720 27-32

Colorado College 620-700 610-700 620-700 28-32

Columbia University 680-770 680-780 690-770 29-34

Connecticut College 600-700 600-690 620-710 25-30

Cornell University 630-730 670-770 N/A** 29-33

Dartmouth College 660-770 670-780 680-770 29-34

Davidson College 630-730 640-730 630-730 28-32

Duke University 660-760 680-780 660-760 29-34

Emory University 640-740 670-760 650-740 30-33

George Washington University 590-680 600-690 600-690 25-30

Georgetown University 650-740 660-750 N/A** 26-33

Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges 690-800 700-780 690-790 31-35

36

Haverford College 650-740 650-740 660-750 N/A**

Indiana University 510-620 530-640 N/A** 23-29

Johns Hopkins University 630-740 660-770 640-740 29-33

Lehigh University 590-680 640-720 N/A** N/A**

Lewis & Clark College 630-720 590-680 610-700 27-31

Loyola University 540-650 630-640 540-630 24-29

Massachusetts Institute of

Technology 660-760 720-800 660-750 31-34

Middlebury College 630-740 640-740 640-740 29-33

New York University (NYU) 620-720 630-720 620-720 28-31

Northwestern University 670-750 690-780 670-750 30-33

Ohio State University 540-650 590-680 540-640 25-30

Oberlin College 640-740 620-710 640-730 27-32

Pennsylvania State University 530-630 570-670 N/A** N/A**

Pomona College 700-780 690-780 680-770 30-34

Princeton University 690-790 700-790 690-780 31-34

Reed College 660-760 630-710 650-740 29-32

Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. 600-690 650-730 580-680 24-29

Rice University 650-750 670-780 640-750 30-34

Scripps College 640-730 620-710 650-730 28-32

Smith College 600-710 570-680 590-700 25-31

Stanford University 650-760 680-780 670-760 30-34

Swarthmore College 680-760 670-760 660-760 28-33

Syracuse University 520-620 550-650 530-630 23-28

Tufts University 670-750 670-750 670-760 30-33

Tulane University 630-720 620-700 640-720 29-32

United States Air Force Academy 600-680 620-700 560-660 25-29

United States Military Academy 560-670 590-680 N/A** 25-30

United States Naval Academy 560-670 600-700 N/A** N/A**

University of Arizona 480-600 500-620 N/A** 21-26

University of California, Berkeley 580-710 630-760 600-720 N/A**

University of California, Davis 500-630 550-670 510-640 22-28

University of California, Irvine 520-630 570-670 520-630 N/A**

University of California, Los

Angeles 570-680 600-730 580-700 25-31

University of California, San

Diego 540-660 600-710 560-670 24-30

University of California, Santa

Barbara 530-650 550-670 530-650 23-29

University of Chicago 670-770 660-760 N/A** 28-33

37

University of Colorado 520-630 540-650 N/A** 23-28

University of Connecticut 540-630 570-660 550-640 24-28

University of Florida 570-680 590-700 N/A** 25-30

University of Georgia 560-660 570-660 560-660 24-29

University of Illinois 530-660 650-750 N/A** 26-31

University of Iowa 510-650 560-680 N/A** 23-28

University of Maryland 570-680 600-700 N/A** N/A**

University of Massachusetts,

Amherst 510-620 540-640 N/A** N/A**

University of Michigan 580-690 640-740 590-700 27-31

University of Minnesota 530-670 580-710 N/A** 24-29

University of North Carolina 590-690 620-700 590-690 26-31

University of Notre Dame 650-740 670-760 N/A** 31-34

University of Oregon 490-610 500-610 N/A** N/A**

University of Pennsylvania 650-740 680-780 670-760 30-33

University of Pittsburgh 570-680 590-680 N/A** 25-30

University of Puget Sound 570-680 570-670 560-660 25-29

University of Rochester 600-700 620-730 590-700 27-31

University of Southern California 620-720 650-750 640-730 28-33

University of Texas 540-660 570-690 540-670 24-30

University of Virginia 600-710 620-730 610-720 27-32

University of Washington 530-650 570-680 530-640 24-29

University of Wisconsin 540-670 620-730 570-670 26-30

Vanderbilt University 650-740 680-760 650-730 30-33

Vassar College 670-750 650-720 660-720 29-33

Wake Forest University 610-690 630-710 N/A** 27-31

Washington University 680-760 700-780 N/A** 31-34

Wellesley College 640-740 630-730 650-740 28-32

Wesleyan University 640-740 660-740 650-740 30-32

Williams College 660-760 660-760 N/A** 29-33

Yale University 700-800 700-800 700-790 30-34

38

Timeline for College Admission

JUNIOR YEAR SENIOR YEAR Fall

Attend Junior Parent College Planning Night September 16, at 6pm

Take PSAT

Attend the FBISD College Fair October 1st (KHS) & 3rd (HHS), at 6pm

Keep up the good grades!

Prepare for SAT/ ACT

Fall Attend the FBISD College Fair October

1st (KHS) & 3rd (HHS), at 6pm

Complete college applications (be aware of DEADLINES)

Continue or begin college visits

Visit college representatives in CCR Center and during lunch

Attend CHS Financial Aid Night on October 21, at 6pm

ACT & SAT (retake if needed)

Winter Prepare for SAT/ACT

Winter Complete online financial aid forms

(Jan/Feb) Research Scholarship opportunities

Spring Conduct intensive college research

Add top college choices to spreadsheet

Attend college fairs

Visit college campuses

Take PSAT, ACT & SAT

Take SAT subject tests (if required)

Visit with college representatives in CCR Center and at lunch

Meet with counselors

AP testing Keep up the good grades!

Spring Make final decision on where you will

attend by MAY 1st Notify colleges of your decision to

attend or not attend for the fall Complete senior exit survey AP testing

Summer Continue visiting college campuses

Stay active and involved

Begin first draft of essay/personal statement

Create resume and request recommendations

Summer Prepare for college attendance Attend scheduled orientations