SENIOR CLASS MEETING: POST-SECONDARY PLANNINGSeptember 16, 2015

Counselor Advice

Yes, soon, you will be making a leap into your future. You can do it. Always strive to:

Make informed choices Engage with the process Use your resources well Remain calm and organized Not a life or death decision

Helpful Resources

Counselors Loretta Collins: A-D Herb Crowell: E-La Amy Webster/John Pemberton: Le-Ra Teresa Savage: Re-Z Danielle Seifert/Eman Abdullahi: CCC

Coordinators

Educational Talent Search (Tues & Wed) Upward Bound (Mon & Wed after school) College Admission Offices! College Rep Visits at Washburn:

Sign up on Naviance (visit schedule) Pass will be sent by Danielle/Eman

MPS Graduation RequirementsCourse Credits Make-up

English 4 credits (4 years) After school credit make-up starts soon. Complete form in counseling office.

Social Studies 4 credits (4 years)

Math 3 credits (3 years)

Science 3 credits (3 years)

Health 1 credit (1 year)

PE 1 credit (1 year)

Fine Arts 1 credit (1 year)

Total Credits 21.5 credits

Take ACT or Accuplacer

My Life Plan Complete all Assignments

Next Steps…Pick Your Path

Military Gap Year

Service – Americorps Travel

Apprenticeship/Work College/University

2 year or 4 year? Public or Private?

Senior Year Timeline

Fall: Applications 9/17 College Application Night for families 10/5 Senior Status letters sent home 10/21-22 National College Fair @ Convention Center 10/24 ACT (register by 9/18) 11/10 MNACC College Fair @ Washburn 11/19 Scholarship and Financial Aid Night

Winter: Scholarships/Financial Aid 12/12 ACT (register by 11/6) 12/15 U of M application deadline 1/28 FAFSA Night 2/1 Washburn Scholarship Applications distributed 3/1 Application Decisions 3/1 FAFSA “Deadline”

Spring: Graduation 4/8 Graduation Status letters sent home 4/15 Financial Aid packages 5/1 Make Final Decisions 6/2 Graduation 4:30pm

Roles

Student Project Manager Naviance (Managing Tool)

Parent Supporting conversations Reality check Balance between independence/dependence

Counselor/Coordinator Answer questions Provide resources Reality check Write letters if needed; send transcripts and forms

Have a balance of “Reach,” “Possible” and “Likely” schools

College: Determining Your List

Determining Good Schools

A good school is one that is a good fit for you

What is a good fit? A school where you will be happy, engaged, grow and meet your needs (educational, personal social and financial)

Using Your Numbers: Your Profile

Factors in your “Profile” G.P.A. Class Rank ACT or SAT Test Scores

Rigor of Courses Activities/ Unusual Talent

Comparing Your Profile

Likely – realistic Your profile is SIGNIFICANTLY stronger than the typical

freshman 60-90% chance of admission

Possible – selective Your profile is similar to the typical freshman 30-60% chance of admission

Reach – more selective Your profile is not as strong as the typical freshman less than 30% chance of admission

Use of Scattergrams

General Application Tips

Professional Appropriate grammar, punctuation Spell/Grammar check No texting! Professional e-mail address

Your application (not Mom’s!) Honesty & Integrity Read the Directions Answer the questions Meet Deadlines

Applications/Deadlines

All applications should be done on-line Options

The Common Application Institutional Application

Know your deadlines Rolling Admissions Regular Deadline Early Action/Priority Deadline Early Decision

Naviance: Tracking Tool

Teacher Letter of Recommendation

Check applications carefully to see if you need one (Kevin or your counselor can help you with this)

Request 2-4 weeks prior to when you need them

Write a thank you note to teacher

Weekly Senior Advisory Meetings The Common App Writing a Good Essay The University of Minnesota Scholarships Understanding Your Financial Aid

Package Applying for Financial Aid 2 Year Community and Technical

Colleges The Minnesota State College and

University System

Senior Advisory

Get pass from Advisory Teacher Presentation in the CCC Presentations will rotate through mid-

February Presentations will 10-15 minutes.

Remaining time can be used on college, scholarship, or financial aid applications.

First session- September 23rd- “The Common App”

Engage!Step 1Pre-application appt. with counselor or CCC if necessary (20 minutes?)Step 2 Develop Potential College ListStep 3 Determine Requirements & Complete Application(s)Step 4 Request test scores sent from ACT/SATStep 5 Initial application meeting (15-30 minutes)

Add schools to which you are applying to Naviance Transcripts, requests for fee waivers, profile, permission to

send data form, student ratings forms all sent. Don’t need college’s form.

Report to counselor who is writing recommendation (if required). Must fill out “Recommendation Form” on Naviance. 2 weeks notice minimum!

Matching Common App with Naviance (if required) $2 per transcript

Step 6 Interview Meeting, if necessary (40-45 minutes) Counselor Interview must be at least two weeks prior to

deadline.Step 7 Follow-up with your Counselor either in person or over e-mail to either add schools to your list or if you have other questions.Remember! All pieces of the app don’t have to be sent at the same

time!