Hosted by: Michelle Wells – School Counselor

9/11

Agenda1. College decision process2. Senioritis warning3. Early Action and Early Decision4. Regular and Rolling admissions5. SAT and ACT information6. Scholarships7. Senior application calendar8. The Common Application9. Student and Counselor responsibilities10.Application checklist11. Presentation Evaluation

The College Decision Process

1. Explore options

2. Gather information (consider academics, interests, clubs, sports, etc. of each school)

3. Select prospective schools (long list), visit if possible, make pro/con list to decide.

4. Decide which schools to apply to (short list).

5. Send COMPLETE applications by due date. Wait for responses…

6. Make the Final Decision and respond to schools.

Helpful Websites

www.cappex.com (college search website)

http://ecampustours.com/ (virtual tours of campuses)

www.youniversitytv.com (virtual tours of campuses, given by students)

www.princetonreview.com (college search website)

Important “Senioritis” Information

Offers of admission are ALWAYS “pending final transcript”

Course load could influence scholarship decisions and Honors programs.

Maintaining a strong senior year GPA is crucial.

Early Action vs. Early Decision

Early ActionApplication is usually due

in November, student hears back about acceptance before January. (only one EA school per student)

The decision is not binding.

Early Decision Student still applies early and

college replies before the end of the year but the agreement is binding. (only one ED school per student)

Applicants who are accepted from an Early Decision pool have signed an agreement in their applications promising to enroll at that school if accepted. Usually a deposit is due with the notice of acceptance.

Regular vs. Rolling Admissions

Regular Admission

Usually due between January 1st and February 15th.

Acceptances selected from total applicant pool, AFTER early decision and early action students have been selected.

Rolling Admission

Usually no deadline; the EARLIER THE BETTER!

Students accepted, wait listed, or rejected on first-come, first-served basis.

SAT, ACT, & ASVAB Testing Information

Test dates and registration forms can be found online:

www.collegeboard.com (SAT) www.act.org (ACT) www.asvabprogram.com (ASVAB)

Colonial Beach School Code: 470577

SAT vs. ACT: 10 differencesSAT

1. Ambiguous questions2. Multiple choice & fill in

blank3. Vocabulary heavy4. Guessing penalty5. No science6. Algebra & Geometry7. 25 minute essay8. 10 separate sections9. Section scores more

important than overall score

10. Experimental section*

ACT1. Straightforward questions2. Multiple choice3. Less vocabulary, more

grammar4. No guessing penalty5. Science section6. Algebra to Trigonometry7. Essay is optional8. Each subject is one

section9. Overall score more

important than sections10. No experimental section

Examples:

1. What is your view of the claim that something unsuccessful can still have some value?

2. Solve: 2x-60=120

1. In your view, should high schools become more tolerant of cheating?

2. What is the value of x when 2x-60=120?

a. x = 20b. x = 80c. x = 90d. x = 0

SAT and ACT Question of the DaySAT QOTD

Twitter: @SATQuestion Smartphones: SAT Question of

the Day App Website:

http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-question-of-the-day

Facebook: Many SAT practice question pages plus the official collegeboard facebook page

ACT QOTD

Twitter: @ACTStudent Website:

http://www.act.org/qotd/ Facebook: Many ACT

practice question pages plus the official ACT facebook page

Guide to the ACT: http://www.act.org/aap/pdf/Preparing-for-the-ACT.pdf

What’s a “good” score? Three parts: Critical Reading,

Mathematics, and Writing. The scores from each section

can range from 200 to 800, so the best possible total score is 2400.

The average score for each section is roughly 500, so the average total score is about 1500.

For the 1.65 million test-takers in the class of 2011, the mean scores were 497 critical reading, 514 math, and 489 reading.

Four parts: English Language, Reading, Mathematics, and Science. Each category receives a score between 1 and 36. Those four scores are then averaged to generate the composite score used by most colleges.

The writing section is scored on a 12-point scale. The average score is between 7 and 8.

The average composite score is roughly a 21. That is, about 50% of test-takers score below a 21.

$cholarshipsScholarship Websites

www.fastweb.com

www.scholarships.com

www.finaid.org/scholarships

Merit Based: based on achievements

Need Based: based on financial need

Contests: submissions

Awards: usually nominated

Grants: government awarded based on specific criteria

APPLY FOR EVERYTHING YOU CAN!!!!

Senior Application Calendar

September  Review each application process; BE MINDFUL OF ALL

DEADLINES!

Register for SAT, ACT, and/or ASVAB (December 10th). Maintain academic performance and activities participation. Complete Letter of Recommendation information forms. Draft long list – list of schools you’re interested in. Compare schools and finalize short list – the schools and

military institutions you will apply to. (make sure you have safety and reach schools)

Begin drafting personal statement or essay. Begin scholarship search.

Senior Application Calendar

October  

Individual planning appointment with Mrs. Wells. Request transcripts from counseling office. Begin asking teachers and other adults to write

recommendation letters. (provide information forms) Have teachers review personal statement. Maintain academic performance and activities

participation. Continue scholarship search.

Senior Application Calendar

November  Report ACT and SAT/SAT Subject Test scores to

colleges you are applying to (you can send to 5 colleges for free the day of the test, after the test there is an additional fee).

Send first quarter grades to colleges with Early Action and Early Decision programs.

If applying Early Action or Early Decision, contact school to make sure application is complete.

Register for a FAFSA Personal Identification Number (PIN) at www.fafsa.ed.gov

Senior Application Calendar

December 

Collect Recommendation Letters from teachers/adults; write follow-up thank you notes.

Submit applications before deadline; follow each college’s/university’s procedures.

Contact colleges to make sure all application materials have arrived.

Enjoy your break!

Senior Application Calendar

Spring Semester  Maintain academic performance.Continue with extra curricular activities.Continue scholarship search.Reply immediately to any correspondence from

schools.NATIONAL NOTIFICATION DATE: April 1st!! (watch

the mail! Come sign the acceptance poster!)NATIONAL STUDENT NOTIFICATION DATE: May

1st!

The Common Applicationhttps://www.commonapp.org/Login

The 2013 Essay Prompts http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/common-application-essay-prompts.htm

CNU The College of William and Mary Emory and Henry College Hampden-Sydney College Hollins University Marymount University Randolph College Randolph-Macon College Roanoke College Sweet Briar College University of Mary Washington University of Richmond UVA VCU

Counselor Responsibilities

Take standardized tests and submit scores to prospective institutions.

Ask teachers for letters of recommendation (at least 2 full weeks prior to due date).

Request transcript. Complete and submit

applications by due date. Apply for scholarships. Register with the NCAA to

play college sports.

oWrite letter of recommendation (if asked).

oFollow-up with student in individual meetings.

oAnswer questions from students and parents.

oHelp guide the student through the application process.

oSchedule college representative visits

Student Responsibilities

College Application Checklist

College ApplicationApplication FeesEssaysActivities List/ RésuméLetters of

recommendationSAT/ACT scoresHigh School Transcripts

Proof of residency (if applicable)

Immunization Records (if required)

NCAA forms (if applicable)

Thanks for coming!

If you have additional questions, please call 224-0040 to schedule a meeting.

I will be reviewing ALL seniors’ graduation requirements and progress individually in October.