Jamesville – DeWitt HS Counseling Center

Senior Parent NightFall 2015

Tonight’s Agenda

•Introduction•Applications & Transcripts

•Strategies•The Process•Financial Aid

Introduction

•The good news…The hardest work is (should be) done

•Sending your child off to college

•Finding the right “fit”

The Key Players…

•Student •Parent•School Counselor•Teachers•College Admission Officers•College Financial Aid Officers

Application Procedures

•Regular Decision• Notification Date

•Rolling Decision• In and Out

•Early Decision• Binding Application

•Early Action• Not binding

•“Restricted” Early Action

Have a strategy

•Plan A - “Reaches”•Plan B - “Good Matches”

• mid 50%

•Plan C - “Safeties”

“The Right Fit”•Size•Location•Academic Rigor•Style & Philosophy

~ liberal arts, technology, business, arts

•Cost/Finances•Extras

~ athletics, music, drama, etc

Will I Be Admitted?

GPA

• Community College open• 2 year residential 75-83 • Less competitive 4 year 78-84• Moderately selective 85-90

Will I Be Admitted?

GPA• Highly selective 89-93• Most selective 93+• Ivy League

& other elite schools ?

Transcripts•Complete academic record•School Profile•SAT/ACT scores on transcript *need to be sent through testing agency to be official

•Weighted/Unweighted overall averages

Useful Web Sites• www.collegeboard.com• www.commonapp.org• www.connection.naviance.com/jdhs• www.collegeresults.org• www.usnews.com• www.collegedata.com• www.collegescorecard.ed.gov• www.fafsa.ed.gov

Other Considerations

•Flexibility•Unpredictability

Dear Counselor,

• Strengths• Weaknesses• Things that impacted

performance & life• Special talents• Anything you think I should

keep in mind as I write the counselor’s letter of recommendation

Visit Colleges

•COLLEGE WEBSITES!•Open Houses/Information

Sessions•SUNY Open House Dates•College Visit & Interview

Questions•College Representative Visits

How to apply?

• COMMON APPLICATION

www.commonapp.org•Over 600 schools (includes most SUNY)

•Essay (650 word limit)

•School Specific Essays (watch for these)

•Teachers & Counselors send electronically - NAVIANCE

Application Checklist

•Organize Applications•Finalize Activity Sheet•Personal Statements/Essays

More to do…

•Follow-up with Teacher Recommendations

•Send Official SAT/ACT Scores to Colleges

Application Process

•Application Processing Form

•One for EACH school

•Submit at least 10 school days prior to deadline

Remember…

Communication Communication

+ Contact+ Contact

A Successful ProcessA Successful Process

Financial Aid

Paying for College

•FAFSA application•Estimated Family Contribution

•PROFILE application•Comparing Costs & Packages

Scholarships

•Newsletter - Counseling Center Webpage

•Community Resources•Newspaper•May need HS Transcript

- Add’l Scholarship Processing Form

Useful Resources

•FAFSA.ED.GOV•FINAID.ORG - free estimator•FASTWEB.COM – scholarships

•Eastside College Night • 7 Oct @ ESM ~ 6:30-8 pm

•Financial Aid Night ~ 6 Jan 2016

AdditionalQuestions?

Thank you for coming!

Best of luck this year!