Preparing for College - The Application Process

Preparing for College - Preparing for College - The Application ProcessThe Application Process

Upper Merion Area High SchoolGuidance Department

May 16, 2012

AgendaAgenda

Words of WisdomThe College SearchScholarships and the Reality of College

CostsParent TipsNext StepsNut and BoltsOther

What information do college What information do college admission officers review?admission officers review?•Strength of high school curriculum taken•Grades / Overall GPA•Class rank•Admission Test Score•Essay•Teacher and counselor recommendations•Student’s demonstrated interest•Personal accomplishments•Personality characteristics•Courses in progress Junior and Senior year

About College Admission TestsAbout College Admission Tests• ACT–Consists of four tests: English, Math, Reading,

Science, and Writing–Writing component is optional–Top composite score is 36

• SAT–Consists of three tests: Verbal, Math, Writing–Each test is scored on a scale of 200-800

• SAT II–Twenty different subject tests–Check individual school to see if any are required for admission

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Part 1 – Demographic InformationPart 2 – Academics, Activities, Major, Employment,

ResumePart 3 – EssaysPart 4 – Recommendations/EvaluationsPart 5 – Payment/FeesOther – Portfolio’s, CD’s, Financial Forms, Audition

information, Graded Papers, Supplemental Forms****Be Aware of Deadlines, Admission Type

(Regular, Rolling, EA, ED 1, ED 2, Open), Tests Required, Interviews, etc…

Paperwork and ProcessPaperwork and Process

What forms do I need to be aware of?

◦Purple Signature Acknowledgement Form◦Teacher/Guidance Counselor Recommendations◦Transcript Request Form◦College Application Components & Policies◦Financial Aid Forms ◦Rejection, Wait-List and Acceptance Letters◦Other

Signature Acknowledgement FormSignature Acknowledgement Form(Purple Form)(Purple Form)

This form outlines the timeline and process the Guidance Office will follow in regards to sending out high school transcripts and supporting documentation.

This form, when completed, allows students to submit request individual transcripts without authorization by their parents.

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Students must complete the Request for Teacher/Counselor Recommendation Form and submit the original to Mr. Enters.

Students must personally ask the teacher they would like to receive a letter from and provide them with the necessary forms or links to complete.

Students must give the teacher ample time to complete the evaluation.

Teachers will submit the completed evaluation to Mr. Enters for inclusion in their transcript package.

Evaluations are confidential! Teacher’s may choose to share their letters with students on their own but student’s cannot see the letters once they are submitted to the Guidance Office.

Limit the number of letters requested to no more than 4.

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The transcript request form is required to be submitted for every college that a student applies to.

More details are preferred. Be accurate when requesting what needs to be sent. (letters, forms, resume’s, portfolios, articles, headshots, etc…)

Forms should be submitted to Mr. Enters or Mrs. Berman in the HUB in a timely fashion and include any supplemental forms or information that the student wants sent to each school.

Students must allow for a 15 working- day period. Be aware of application deadlines and plan accordingly.

Transcript Request Forms are available in the HUB and online at the Guidance Website.

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Institutional FormsCSS/Financial Aid ProfileFAFSA - http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/Financial Aid PackageScholarship OffersAthletic Scholarships/Letter of IntentScholarship Applications – School based and

external

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The Thin Envelope – Letter SizeThe Bit Thicker Envelope – Letter SizeThe Thick Envelope – 8 ½ by 11 sizeThe Notification by Email – your child is

crying or smiling bigger than you’ve ever seen when you get home experience

The Wrong Letter“Let Me See It In Writing!!”

OtherOther

• 1st Quarter/Mid-Year/3rd MP Grade requests• Departmental Acceptances• Apply to Program/Specific Colleges of the

University• Auditions/Portfolio Review, Writing Samples• Interviews• NCAA Clearinghouse – Division 1 and 2• Conditional Acceptances – Special Programs,

Summer/Spring Offers, etc…• The Un-Expected!!

Next Steps for JuniorsNext Steps for JuniorsIn School Stay focused on academics Meet with your school counselor Stay involved in school activities Do not lighten your academic load for senior year

Standardized Testing Prepare for and register for ACT / SAT tests (minimum two

times this year) Register for AP tests as appropriate

College Process Explore colleges on the Web Visit colleges if you can Meet with college admissions representatives that visit

Upper Merion Attend college fairs Draw up your list of potential colleges to which you will

apply Complete Applications – Meet Deadlines, Apply Early

Accessing College InformationAccessing College Informationcollegeboard.com – SAT information and college search programEducationplanner.org – College search program powered by College BoardCappex.com - College search made simple. Your first stop to kick-start your college and scholarship searchactstudent.org - Information about the ACT testnacacnet.org - National Association for College Admission Counseling. Offers national college fair information and articles about the college process

Scholarship ResourcesScholarship ResourcesFastweb.com - Private scholarshipsfafsa.ed.gov - Free Application for Federal

Student AidStudentaid.ed.gov - The federal

government’s website about paying for college MeritAid.com - $11 billion in merit

scholarshipsCappex.com - Scholarship matchingfinaid.org - Free student resource for learning

about all types of financial aid

When you have questions When you have questions along the wayalong the way

Upper Merion Area High School Counseling Department

 Patricia Brower (A-D)pbrower@umasd.org 610-205-3840Kim Jackson (E-K) kjackson@umasd.org 610-205-3841Lauryn Roth (L-Ra) lroth@umasd.org 610-205-3870Deborah Greenstein (Re-Z) dgreenstein@umasd.org

610-205-3873Erik Enters (College) eenters@umasd.org 610-205-3839 Elaine Berman (Guidance Technician) 610-205-3821Diane Coxe (Guidance Clerk/HUB) 610-205-3899