CLASS OF 2016
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE
Mrs. M. LoBue, Mrs. C. Nolan, Ms. L. Vacca SCHOOL COUNSELORS
The Role of the School Counselor
Monitor Academic Progress
Individual Counseling
College and Career Guidance/Exploration
Educate students to use Naviance as a tool in the exploration process
Assist families with questions/concerns
Provide resources
Naviance
Provides students with college planning and career assessment
tools
Parents: Go to PCTI website
Click on Parents
Click the link to log in and register
Students: Go to PCTI website
click on Students
Log in with ID number and PCTI password
Testing for College
PSAT – October
Sophomore and/or Junior Year
Identify areas of strength and weakness
SAT
At PCTI: October, December, January, May and June
Date should be contingent upon place in Math sequence
Recommended: May and/or June of junior year
Take 3 times maximum
Fee waivers – 2 (if eligible)
College app fee waivers – 4 (if eligible)
ACT
At PCTI: October and June
Scores must be sent by the student from College Board/ACT to the schools they are applying to
Test Prep
www.collegeboard.org
SAT question of the day
PSAT results
Sample tests
Khan Academy
partners with College Board to provide free SAT prep
Full SAT tests
Practice tutorials
Naviance – PrepMe
Diagnoses individual strengths
and weaknesses; creates a personalized study plan
Prep Me
Finding the Right College
Research
Naviance – SuperMatch college search
Visit college websites
Attend College Fairs
September – PCTI and William Paterson
April – National College Fair
Meadowlands Expo Center
Create a list in Naviance
Add schools to “colleges I’m thinking about”
Assessing Your College List
Geographical Preference
Size
Academic Interests
Costs
Diversity
Retention & Graduation Rates
High school course requirements
Admission Requirements – SAT, GPA, activities, community
service, etc.
Identify Reach, Target, and Safety schools
Admission Buzz Words
Early Action
Early Decision
Regular Decision
Rolling Admissions
Waitlist
Conditional Acceptance
Reply Date Agreement
DEADLINES
Courtesy
10 Days
Deadlines are not
Discussable, not
Debatable and not
Negotiable!
An emergency on your
part does not constitute
an emergency on mine!
Planning ahead
Common App
Begin application
Choose essay question
Limit number of colleges
Choose colleges that are appropriate based on their criteria and yours
Transcript release form
Found on Naviance – must be signed by parent and returned to counselor
Activity sheet
Must have coaches/advisors sign off on all sports and activities
Letters of recommendation
Choose teachers wisely
Ask them in person
Write a follow up thank you in Naviance
Fill out counselor recommendation form
Financial Aid
www.fafsa.ed.gov
Submit FAFSA online after
December 1st
Complete 2016 income tax as
soon as possible
Money is available on a first-
come, first-serve basis
Scholarship Sources
Naviance
The Internet (www.fastweb.com)
Workplace
Community/Religious Organizations
Extra Curricular Activities
Post-Secondary Schools
Local, State & Federal Agencies
PCTI – Ed Foundation, PCTVEA, PTSO
Reminders
Naviance, Naviance, Naviance!
Testing (PSAT, SAT, ACT)
Planning Ahead
Responsibility of the student
Deadlines
Questions