Lakeside High SchoolLakeside High School

College Application College Application

ProcessProcess

Fall 2010Fall 2010

ExpectationsExpectationsWe expect all of you to apply to a post-high We expect all of you to apply to a post-high

school program.school program. MilitaryMilitary: High school diploma or GED: High school diploma or GED Community CollegeCommunity College: High school : High school

diploma or GED; AA or AS; placement diploma or GED; AA or AS; placement teststests

Tech ProgramTech Program: requirements vary; : requirements vary; need to contact particular programneed to contact particular program

4 Year College4 Year College: High school diploma; : High school diploma; above and beyond high school above and beyond high school graduation requirements (e.g., 2+ years graduation requirements (e.g., 2+ years world language, 3+ years math, 3+ world language, 3+ years math, 3+ years science); SAT/ACTyears science); SAT/ACT

Standardized TestsStandardized Tests

SAT Reasoning/ACTSAT Reasoning/ACT – either one or both are – either one or both are accepted by most schools.accepted by most schools.

SAT Subject TestsSAT Subject Tests - required by some - required by some universities. universities.

It is It is YOUR responsibilityYOUR responsibility to know which tests to know which tests you need to take and to register for the exams.you need to take and to register for the exams.

Register online:Register online: SAT – www.collegeboard.com SAT – www.collegeboard.com ; ;

ACT - www.actstudent.org ACT - www.actstudent.org Have your scores sent directly to the Have your scores sent directly to the

colleges.colleges.

SAT Test Dates & SAT Test Dates & DeadlinesDeadlines

Test DateTest Date Registration Registration DeadlineDeadline

October 9October 9 September 10 September 10

November 6November 6 October 8October 8

December 4December 4 November 5November 5

January 22January 22 December December 2323

ACT Test Dates & ACT Test Dates & DeadlinesDeadlines

Test DateTest Date Registration DeadlineRegistration Deadline

October 23October 23 September 17September 17

December 11December 11 November 5November 5

February 12February 12 January 7January 7

Note:Note: Although the ACT Writing section Although the ACT Writing section is optional, we recommend you take it. is optional, we recommend you take it.

Finding College Info . . .Finding College Info . . .

www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org www.projectopportunity.netwww.projectopportunity.net Western Undergraduate Exchange: Western Undergraduate Exchange:

www.wiche.edu www.wiche.edu www.wois.orgwww.wois.org (SiteKey gws332 click (SiteKey gws332 click

a state)a state)

Application InfoApplication Info Online Applications Online Applications – used by – used by

most colleges. Make sure to print most colleges. Make sure to print off all additional forms required.off all additional forms required.

Common ApplicationCommon Application – 414 – 414 member schools (mostly private, member schools (mostly private, some public); remember to some public); remember to complete the required Supplement! complete the required Supplement! www.commonapp.org www.commonapp.org

Know whether your schools are:Know whether your schools are: • Early ActionEarly Action – Not legally binding – Not legally binding• Early DecisionEarly Decision – Legally binding – Legally binding• Early Action, Single ChoiceEarly Action, Single Choice (Restrictive)– Non binding, (Restrictive)– Non binding, BUT you agree not to apply to any BUT you agree not to apply to any other earlyother early action school. action school.

Application Info, cont . . . Application Info, cont . . .

NCAA Clearinghouse/Student NCAA Clearinghouse/Student AthletesAthletes (ncaaclearinghouse.net) – (ncaaclearinghouse.net) – Talk Talk to your coach & Mrs. Powers in the Student to your coach & Mrs. Powers in the Student Office. Office.

You are responsible to know and You are responsible to know and meet all your application deadlines.meet all your application deadlines. Many Application Deadlines are earlier Many Application Deadlines are earlier than last year. than last year.

Plan to have Plan to have all your applications all your applications completed by Thanksgiving. completed by Thanksgiving.

The EssayThe Essay

Remember the 3 P’s:Remember the 3 P’s: PersonalityPersonality – What makes you – What makes you

unique?unique? PridePride – What have you done that’s – What have you done that’s

special? special? Personal StoryPersonal Story – Tell your story. If – Tell your story. If

you have experienced difficulties, you have experienced difficulties, tell how you’ve faced and overcome tell how you’ve faced and overcome them. them.

TipsTips Your email addressYour email address - make sure it is - make sure it is

appropriate and check the account regularly.appropriate and check the account regularly. Create an email accountCreate an email account specifically for specifically for

colleges/scholarships – hotmail, gmail, etc. colleges/scholarships – hotmail, gmail, etc. Use your legal nameUse your legal name – on all your – on all your

applications.applications. Visit the schoolsVisit the schools – if you can – if not, online! – if you can – if not, online! Eighth semester gradesEighth semester grades – do count! – do count! Keep a calendarKeep a calendar – with all your deadlines. – with all your deadlines. Keep copiesKeep copies – of all application materials – of all application materials

and communications. and communications. This is YOUR application – complete it This is YOUR application – complete it

yourself. yourself.

Financial AidFinancial Aid FAFSA (FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov) – FREE) – FREE PIN for FAFSA (PIN for FAFSA (www.pin.ed.govwww.pin.ed.gov) – get ) – get

PIN nowPIN now Cannot submit FAFSA until January 1Cannot submit FAFSA until January 1stst; ;

best to submit by February 1best to submit by February 1stst

CSS Profile – required by some colleges. CSS Profile – required by some colleges. Get through www.collegeboard.com Get through www.collegeboard.com

College Goal Sunday – Winter 2010 College Goal Sunday – Winter 2010 Sunday, January 23rd at SFCC in one of Sunday, January 23rd at SFCC in one of their computer labs their computer labs

Scholarship SearchesScholarship Searches Be aware of scams!Be aware of scams! Individual Colleges – have their Individual Colleges – have their

own list of scholarships. own list of scholarships. www.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.com www.wiredscholar.comwww.wiredscholar.com www.brokescholar.comwww.brokescholar.com www.finaid.orgwww.finaid.org www.meritaid.comwww.meritaid.com Community resourcesCommunity resources EmployersEmployers www.thewashboard.orgwww.thewashboard.org

Remember . . . Remember . . .

You still need to graduate from You still need to graduate from high school! high school!

Need at least 28 credits, Need at least 28 credits, complete Culminating Project, complete Culminating Project, High School and Beyond Plan, High School and Beyond Plan, pass HSPE (or state approved pass HSPE (or state approved alternative).alternative).

An offer of admission and/or An offer of admission and/or scholarship CAN be rescinded. scholarship CAN be rescinded.

Finish strong!Finish strong!