CLASS OF 2018

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE

Mrs. C. Nolan & Ms. L. Vacca SCHOOL COUNSELORS

Role of the Counselor in this Process

College and Career Guidance/Exploration

Educate students to use Naviance as a tool

Assist students with questions/concerns

Provide resources

We will work with you, but we will not do for you

Naviance

Naviance drives the college process college planning and career assessment tools

The liaison between colleges and your counselor

Parents: Email Mr. Bucci for access Go to PCTI website

Click on Technology

Under Parents, click on Naviance

Click the link to log in and register

Students: Go to PCTI website Click on Technology

Under Students, click on Naviance

Log in with ID number and PCTI password

Testing for College

PSAT

Identify areas of strength and weakness

October of Sophomore/Junior year

SAT

At PCTI: August, October, May (Date contingent on place in Math sequence)

Recommended: May and/or June/August of junior year

Take 3 times maximum

ACT

At PCTI: October, December, February, June

Recommended: Take twice

Student sends scores directly to schools they are applying to

No passing score on the SAT – tests for academic readiness

Fee Waivers

Cost of SAT: $57 w/essay

Cost of ACT: $58.50 w/essay

Who qualifies for a fee waiver?

Students who receive free or reduced lunch

Lunch form MUST be filled out online or submitted to the

Business Office

SAT fee waiver = 4 college application fee waivers

College application fees can range from $25 - $100+

Test Prep

College Board

www.collegeboard.org

SAT question of the day app

PSAT results

Sample tests

Khan Academy

partners with College Board to provide free SAT prep

Full SAT tests & practice tutorials

What To Bring On Test Day:

PRINTED admission ticket

Photo ID

Tech ID, Driver’s License

current passport

Two No. 2 pencils

Acceptable calculator (see College Board/ACT for guidelines)

No Admission Ticket, No ID – NO ADMITTANCE!!!

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

School Counseling Trips

Look out for emails/sign up information

Create a List in Naviance

Add schools to “colleges I’m thinking about”

Limit number of schools applying to (3 TO 5)

You Wouldn’t Buy a Car You Haven’t Seen

Need to visit schools

Campus life?

Facilities?

What vibe do you get?

Commute?

College Campus Visits

Register online

Ask the right questions

Be a critical consumer

Open house vs. Campus tour vs. Shadowing a student

What Are Colleges Looking At?

GPA

SAT scores

Rigor of courses

Character - essay,

recommendations, interviews

(if required)

Leadership

Activities – sports, clubs, etc.

Community Service

Continuity and Commitment

Essay Tips

Do NOT wait until September to write your essay!

Spell check it!

Clear & Concise

Should be personal and passionate

Have at least 2 people read your essay!

Teacher, counselor, parent, friend, etc.

Do not ask your teachers or counselors to read them in

September!

The only opportunity colleges have to hear your voice

What Do I Need

To Complete An Application?

Student’s personal information

Parent information

Transcript

SAT/ACT scores

Activity information

Volunteer hours

Work information

DEADLINES

Courtesy

10 School Days

Deadlines are not

Discussable, not

Debatable and not

Negotiable!

An emergency on your

part does not constitute

an emergency on mine!

Planning Ahead

Create a List of Colleges - “Colleges I’m Thinking About”

Choose appropriate colleges based on their criteria and yours

Limit

Transcript Release Form

Counselor Recommendation Form

No form, no letter.

Most schools require a counselor letter/report

Letters of recommendation

Choose teachers wisely (Academic)

Financial Aid

FAFSA FREE application for federal student aid

NEVER pay anyone to fill this out!!

www.fafsa.ed.gov

Submit FAFSA online after October 1st

Use 2016’s tax returns Parent who claims the student

Student (if they file)

Applications first, then FAFSA You have to indicate what colleges you are applying to

Always put a NJ school first

Scholarship Sources

Naviance

Counseling Department Twitter Page - @pcti_Counseling

The Internet (www.fastweb.com)

Workplace

Community/Religious Organizations

Extra Curricular Activities

Post-Secondary Schools

Local, State & Federal Agencies

PCTI

PCTI Education Foundation

PCTVEA

PTSO

Self Advocacy

This is not a passive process

Responsible for each and every step

Research, READ, COMPREHEND

They need to understand what they are doing

And why they are doing it

Presentation is important

in-person

physical materials

grammar, punctuation

Show colleges their interest level

What Do I Do Now?

This process can seem overwhelming

Planning is crucial

Be proactive

Research

Ask questions

Use counselor as a resource

Abide by counselor and college deadlines

Getting into college – the responsibility is on the student!

College Boot Camp

August 2nd or 3rd

8:30-2:00

Topics:

Common App

Essay writing

College admissions officer

Lunch provided

Sign up via Google Doc coming soon

Stay Connected!

PCTI Website

School Counseling Page

Quicklinks

School Counseling Twitter Page

@pcti_Counseling

ZeeMee

https://www.zeemee.com/samples

RAISE.ME

https://vimeo.com/188042522

http://help.raise.me/article/35-micro-scholarships

Questions?