College Applications

Carla Deckelmann

Haynes Professional School Counselor

College Adviser

www.haynesacademyguidance.com

JPPSS College Fair at Grace King High School

October 3, 2013

What are colleges looking for?Rigor, Rigor, Rigor

• Scores on standardized tests. • A slightly lower GPA in academically rigorous courses (honors and

advanced placement) is preferred to a higher GPA in basic studies.• A high school curriculum that challenges the student • Passionate involvement in extracurricular activities, demonstrating

leadership and initiative quality of involvement always supersedes quantity of activities. Being part of an academic honor society is a plus!

• Community service--school and community• Letters of recommendation—teacher, counselor, coach, religious• Essays—go to www.haynesacademyguidance “College Planning” tab• Work or out of school experiences (including summer activities)• Anything special that makes the student stand out from the rest of the

applicants.  This includes honors, awards, evidence of unusual talent or experience, or anything else that makes the student unique. Overall, colleges are seeking students who will be active contributing members of the student body. Not just bright students who only attend class!

College Resume’Will aid in completing the application

• Go to www.haynesacademyguidance.com for a sample on the College Planning tab under “College Resume & Essay” tab

• Beginning with 9th grade and adding each year to:• Education• Leadership• Employment• Community Service• Special Skills

College Requirements(They vary so do your homework and work hard to meet those requirements for

admissions by fall of Senior year and keep them until officially admitted in spring of Senior year!)

(Some require out-of-state fees!)

Louisiana State University

• Incoming freshman must have at least a 3.0 academic GPA calculated from academic core courses.

• Students must also have completed at least 19 units of college-preparatory courses—TOPS Core

• Applicants must have a minimum of SAT score (critical reading and math) of 1030 or at least a composite ACT score of 22.

University of New Orleans

• Minimum score of 19 Math in the ACT (460 SAT) and

• Minimum score of 18 English in the ACT (450 SAT)

• And• ACT composite score of 23 or

greater (SAT 1060) orHigh school core GPA of 2.5 or greater

College Requirements and Stats

Rice University

• Early Decision –

• Applicants = 1298

• Admitted = 322

• Admission Rate = 25%

• Regular Decision Applicants – 14,117

• Admitted = 2,261

• Admission Rate = 16%

Loyola University

• ACT Score 24-29

• SAT

• Critical Reading = 570-670

• Math = 540-650

• Interview required

Basic Steps for Applying to College ORGANIZATION IS THE KEY!

Research is also the key!

• DEADLINES, DEADLINES, DEADLINES, DEADLINESThe single most important aspect of admissions

applications and scholarships• Common Application www.commonapp.org

apply to multiple colleges using one applicationLA Schools: Dillard, Centenary, Loyola, UNO, Xavier

• Go to college’s “perspective student” or “admissions” tabApply directly on line. College may direct you to let your counselor

know your Pin no. to submit records and letter of recommendation through www.sendedu.org

• Scholarship deadline vs. application deadlines varyExample: Tulane: Nov. 15 vs. Jan. 15

• Scholarship apps may be separate or part of original appExample: UL Lafayette (separate); UNO (original);

Tulane (separate)

The BIG ?: Affordability

Opportunity Vanderbilt: Affordability and Access63% of all undergraduates receive some form of financial assistance

2012/13 Average financial aid package $43,794 (Award Letter issued in Spring)Estimated cost of attendance, 2013/14 (calculator found on college website)

Tuition $41,928Housing 9,208Meals 4,886Books and Supplies 1,370Activities Fee/Rec Center 1,050Personal Expenses 2,670Travel Allowance, Near & Far VariesFirst-Year Experience Fee 690New Student Transcript Fee 30Estimated Total $61,832(Out of State Fees and International Student Fees may be extra)

Financial Aid

• FAFSA—Federal Assistance for Financial Student Aid will open on January 1, 2014. Families may NOW begin to set up an account on line and begin collecting personal financial data and add it to you online account. Go to:

www.fafsa.ed.gov www.studentaid.ed.gov

• NEVER USE .COM—IT IS NOT A FREE SERVICE!!

• FAFSA is where TOPS money is applied for—applying only through the TOPS application without applying to FAFSA, leaves one out if financial short fall of federal and state monies

• CSS Profile—Is required by some colleges www.collegeboard.org

• To find info on financial, go to individual college websites, “Financial Aid” and “Scholarship” tabs at www.haynesacademyguidance.com

• Financial aid information to be continued in November 2013 at an additional presentation

Making the Right College ChoiceRep Networking and Campus VisitsStart the Process Early—9th Grade!

• College campus visits narrow down to 3 by late winter and visit them: Decision by 5/1

• Contact the college representative personally on their campus, on our campus (lunch visits), emails, by phone

Haynes campus visits are posted on bulletin board, announced, on Haynes Academy Guidance web site and Haynes web site calendar

• Mini College CampSouthern Association of College Counselors will hold a FREE workshop

on the Loyola University campus on September 28, 2013, from 8 am until 12:45 pm. Register at www.sacac.org/page/minicamps. Topics include college search and application process, scholarships and financial aid process, standardized test options.

• College FairsNACAC Fair October 1 from 9-12 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the New Orleans

Convention Center. Same huge fair as last year sponsored by National Association for College Admission Counseling.

What College is right for you?Have options—apply to 3 to 5

Use these forms to research colleges: College Contact Tracking Log and College Comparison Log found on the “Forms” tab at

www.haynesacademyguidance.com

• Reach for the Stars Schools– -these are the colleges you really want to attend but you have

reservations due to cost, distance, or criteria to be accepted.• Target (Bulls eye) Schools

– -these are the colleges that you pretty much know you can get into and don’t have worries about cost, distance, criteria, etc. and you do want to attend.

• Safety (No Sweat) Schools– -these are the colleges that you can get accepted with your eyes

closed and hands tied behind your back.

ACT/SAT• ACT www.act.com

Recognized by most colleges but do your research • SAT www.collegeboard.org

Recognized by many private and Ivy League collegesBrown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, 

Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Yale University

– Jr. and Sr. students on free/reduced lunch may take the SAT/ACT two times each for free during the two years.

– You MUST reapply to the lunch program each year.– Request a copy of your test questions and answers: Dec, April & June

testing for $19– To qualify for TOPS, last test dates SAT is March and ACT is April– Check out this site:

http://www.mcsk12.net/schools/cordova.hs/site/documents/act.resources.pdf

TOPS AwardsLast test dates to qualify March (SAT) & April (ACT)

• Opportunity Award Requirement

– Core GPA 2.50

– 20 ACT or 940 SAT (Reading & Math)

– Core GPA 3.00

– 23 ACT or 1050 SAT (Reading & Math)

• Honors Award Requirements + $800

– Core GPA 3.00

– 27 ACT or 1210 SAT (Reading & Math)

Counseling Department Website

www.haynesacademyguidance.com

– Go directly and bookmark or place on your desktop

– Also linked from Haynes web page under “Mrs. Deckelmann’s Wiki”

– Active college web site links, scholarships, financial aid, resources

Cool ToolsLouisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOFSA)

Where TOPS lives!www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student AidPrepare for College, Types of Aid, Apply to TOPS, Who gets aid, apply for aid, repay your

loanswww.fafsa.ed.gov (do not use “.com”—not free!)

Fast Webwww.fastweb.com

Cappexwww.cappex.com

The High Five Scholarship Sitewww.highfivescholarships.com

Cool Resources

Excellent, comprehensive, college & career, scholarship resource sites:

https://louisianaconnect.org

www.bigfuture.org

www.nacanet.org/StepByStep