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The Steward School Class of 2016
Table of Contents
Page 1
LETTER TO STUDENTS 2
JUNIOR YEAR TIMETABLE 3
SENIOR YEAR TIMETABLE 4
INFORMATION ON COLLEGE WEBSITES 5
MAXIMIZING A COLLEGE VISIT 6
MAXIMIZING AN INTERVIEW 7
SAMPLE STUDENT RESUME 8
STANDARDIZED TESTING INFORMATION 9
TYPES OF APPLICATIONS 10
INFORMATION SENT ON YOUR BEHALF 11
PRIORITIES OF THE APPLICATION 12
QUICK CHECKLIST FOR APPLICATIONS 13
FREQUENT APPLICATION ERRORS 14
APPLICATION ESSAY GUIDELINES 15
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION 16
FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS 17
HELPFUL WEB SITES 18
RECOMMENDED READING 19
NCAA ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 20
NCAA ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 21
GLOSSARY OF TERMS 22
ARTICLES 23-35
CONTACT INFORMATION 36
Page 2
Dear Students...
The college selection process is a challenging and rewarding experience that is a
culmination of what you have accomplished in high school. The Steward School is
committed to helping you through this process by supporting you. Firstly, we want you
to examine yourself carefully, assessing your strengths, weaknesses, temperament,
academic aspirations, and possible career choices. Secondly, we will help you search for
college choices that match your strengths and goals. Lastly, we will assist you as you
apply to the range of colleges you select. This experience is personal and
individualized; our goal is for you to learn as much about yourself as possible in the
process.
This handbook is designed to help you throughout the college selection process. Its
format includes information to make your experience more productive. It should be
used as a supplement to personal conferences in the College Counseling Office. Our
goal is to ensure that all of Steward’s graduating seniors have a variety of options that
will allow them to choose a positive college experience. We look forward to working
with you!
Sincerely,
Heather K. O’Toole Jeter
Director of College Counseling
804.740.3394, ext. 5536
Page 3
Junior Year Timetable
1. Remember: this is the last full year of grades that will be on the transcript that is sent
to colleges.
2. Visit with college representatives when they come to visit Steward in the fall.
3. Visit colleges to tour campuses.
4. Practice and prepare for the PSAT.
5. Take the PSAT at Steward in October (all students are pre-registered).
6. Complete the PSAT and review your incorrect responses once results are received.
7. Plan to take the SAT Reasoning and ACT Tests in the spring (some students may also
need to schedule a date to take SAT Subject Tests).
8. Attend Junior College Seminar classes throughout second semester.
9. Attend Junior Parent and Student Night in January.
10. Meet with Mrs. Jeter for an initial college planning meeting with your parents.
11. Research colleges online, in resource books, and through Naviance.
12. Narrow your list to 6-10 schools.
13. If you are an athlete, begin the process of registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
14. Participate in the Junior College Tour in February.
15. Complete the following items in Junior College Seminar:
—Résumé
—Common Application (including essays) 16. Make plans early for a productive pre-senior year summer.
17. By May 15, decide upon two teachers from whom you will request recommendations
for your applications; ask these teachers if they will serve as recommenders for you and
provide Mrs. Jeter with the names of your recommendation writers.
Page 4
August/September Register for the September, October, and/or November SAT Reasoning or Subject Tests or ACT Test. Schedule an appointment with Mrs. Jeter for a kick-off senior meeting (student only). Create a “Yellow
Card” master list of the colleges to which you plan to apply. Attend Senior College Seminar. Attend Senior Parent and Student Night. Update your résumé, and email it as an attachment to Mrs. Jeter and Mrs. Riesbeck. Visit with college representatives when they come to visit Steward in the fall. Make college visits and interview if possible. Research scholarship and financial aid options. October Via email, send college essay(s) to Mrs. Jeter for suggestions and review. Continue to prepare for the SAT or ACT. Complete the SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject Tests, and ACT, as recommended. Register for the December SAT or ACT if desired. Attend a Saturday Application Work Session at Steward. WORK ON APPLICATIONS. Pay close attention to financial aid deadlines for ED/EA. November Complete the SAT Reasoning and/or Subject Tests or ACT. Continue to work on applications. Attend colleges’ Open Houses or “preview weekends” when possible. Check your email frequently and follow instructions contained therein regarding applications. Open all mail from colleges to which you have applied; read it carefully. December Complete the SAT Reasoning and/or Subject Tests and ACT. Receive ED/EA notifications; if applicable, withdraw other applications and mail deposit. The application process will be completed by the Holiday Break. With your parents’ assistance, begin collecting information to complete the FAFSA/CSS Profile. January File FAFSA and other financial aid paperwork as soon as possible; note individual schools’ deadlines. First semester grades are sent to colleges by Steward. Continue the same level of effort and commitment with your academics – avoid the senior slump! February - April Check your mail and email! College decisions should be arriving for Regular Decision applications. Visit colleges to finalize your decision. May 1 – College Declaration Day By this date, you must mail your deposit to the single college of your choice. Notify all colleges that accepted you, but which you will not attend, that you will not be enrolling. Notify the College Counseling Office of your decision, and let us celebrate with you! Attend all of Steward’s programming for graduating seniors.
Senior Year Timetable
Page 5
Start at the Admission Office website, often found by clicking a link for
Prospective Students, Future Students, or Undergraduate Admissions. Review all
deadlines and other information you will need to know as you proceed through
the application process.
Bookmark pages that provide essential information, such as the online
application, deadlines, and other forms.
Be certain that you are working on applications for the correct admission year.
Read Admission Requirements carefully to be sure that you have taken or will take
all courses and tests required for admission.
Check Financial Aid and Scholarships. This is a good source of information about
tuition, fees, and financial aid. Keep track of all deadlines!
Look for information For Students to look into campus life, clubs and
organizations, residence halls, club and intramural sports, etc.
Many colleges and universities have their course catalog on their website. If you
do not find a link from the Admission Office’s webpage, try looking under
Academics or checking the site index.
Read the Graduation Requirements to find out what you will be required to take
before graduating from the college.
Study Course Descriptions for an explanation of the courses you want to take and
to compare departments in different colleges.
Scan Faculty data for professional credentials and to see how many faculty
members with doctorates actually teach undergraduate courses.
Information on College Websites
Page 6
Plan your visit and start a file on each school. Do your homework!
Try to go when classes are in session and try to include part of a weekend.
Call to schedule an information session and/or tour. See if you can meet with the
admission officer charged with reviewing your application.
Make a list of questions not answered from your research. The questions should
reflect the things that are important to you. Ask the same questions of several
people and compare the answers to get a broad view of the college.
Visit a class in a department whose subject area you are interested in pursuing. Try
to attend the same type of course at every college you visit.
Always visit the college library, the student center, and the recreation center, and
listen to the students. These places are usually part of the campus tour, but you may
want to return to these areas after the tour to speak candidly with students about
the school. Read bulletin boards to see what student life activities are happening on
campus, and pick up a copy of the student newspaper to read about what issues are
currently catching the attention of the school’s students.
Immediately after your visit, write down your impressions of the college to keep one
visit from blending into the next.
Ask for the business card of any admission officer with whom you meet. If you find
that you still have questions, write them down and send them in a thank-you note/
email. Even if you don’t have follow-up questions, take the time to say thank-you.
See what the surrounding area is like. Is there a great restaurant or coffee house
where students hang out? Ask the people in the admission office and others on
campus where you should be sure to go before you leave town.
Maximizing a College Visit
Page 7
Though many colleges do not offer interviews, keep in mind that any interaction with a member of the admission staff may be remembered at decision time. For those colleges that do interview their applicants, these meetings can occur on campus or in the local area and are usually conducted by a member of the admission staff, a student, or local alumni. An Interview Technique: The Three-Box Approach
Consider the “three-box” approach: Think of three things about yourself that you want your interviewer to know, and use those as your mental framework for answering questions. If you are asked, “Talk about a time you’ve had to overcome a major obstacle. How did you do it?” you can see if you have something in one of the three “boxes” instead of mentally searching through 17 years of life experience. Not only will you ensure that you’ve covered three topics that are essential to understanding who you are, but you’ll also be more likely to have a quick response to each question.
Be confident and assertive.
Dress conservatively—Steward dress code or better—but do not over-dress.
Be on time and go in to the interview without parents or friends.
Do your research on the college’s website ahead of time.
Consider taking a current copy of your transcript, the Steward Profile, and your résumé. Leave all three with the interviewer.
Be aware of current national, state, and local affairs—at the very least, look at the headlines of the newspaper for several days in advance of your interview or spend time watching the news.
If asked for your opinion, give it, and back it up with reasons.
Be prepared to answer questions about your school record, your standardized test scores, your interests, your career plans, and your reasons for seeking admission to the college.
Most admission officers will ask if you have any questions, so carefully prepare a list of questions, following these suggestions:
—Don't ask anything that could be found on the college’s website. Do use the information you read on the college’s website as a springboard for questions. —Do ask questions that express your interests (e.g. “I noticed that you have a crew team. Do you have to have rowing experience to join the team?”). —Don't ask what the best departments are. Do ask for specific descriptive information about your particular department of interest (e.g. “What percentage of your graduates apply to medical school? What percentage were accepted? What were their undergraduate majors?”). —Don't be afraid to mention (and try to find a way to do it) your strengths – academic and/or non-academic. —Do ask for a business card from your interviewer. After the visit, write him/her a thank-you note. If you forget to get a business card, send a thank-you email.
Maximizing an Interview
Page 8
Mary Smith The Steward School
619 Main Street 11600 Gayton Road
Richmond, VA 23238 Richmond, VA 23238
(804) 265-9143 (804) 740-3394
[email protected] www.stewardschool.org
DOB: 07/05/1996
Awards and Distinctions
National Art Honor Society: awarded to top art students
Sewanee Book Award: awarded to a top student with leadership in community service
Academic Honors (9-11)
Varsity Soccer, Most Improved Player (11)
Leadership Positions
Treasurer, Peace Out Club (12)
Secretary, Church Youth Group (12)
Co-Captain, Varsity Soccer Team (12)
Athletics
Varsity Swimming (9-12)
J.V. Soccer (9-10)
Varsity Soccer (11-12)
School Activities
Environmental Club (10-12)
Peace Out Club (9-12)
Admissions Ambassador (6-12)
Internships
James River Association; assisted with planning for James River Ecology School program (10)
Chesapeake Bay Foundation; assisted with writing new “Save the Bay” curriculum for elementary
and middle school students (11)
Community Service
Church Youth Group (9-12)
Volunteer, Virginia Science Museum - over 100 hours in grades 10 and 11
Summer Activities/Employment
Counselor, Camp Allegheny (9-10)
Participant, Outward Bound, North Carolina School (11)
Paid Counselor/Presenter, Virginia Science Museum Summer Camp for Pre-Schoolers (12)
This template is just a guideline as you create your résumé—modify this format to suit your own needs and interests!
Sample Student Resume
Page 9
Suggestions for Testing:
2 PSATs: given in the sophomore and the junior years at The Steward School
2 or 3 SATs: at least once in the junior year and again in the fall of senior year
Possibly 2 or 3 SAT Subject Tests, including math and one or two others (foreign language, English, science, or history) preferably in June of junior year or once you have finished the
related course. Check college websites to see if Subject Tests are required! There are
excellent practice materials in the Counseling Office for you to peruse and borrow.
1 or 2 ACTs (the first ACT should be taken in the spring of junior year)
The College Board (PSAT, SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject Tests )
(800) SAT-SCORE (728-7267)
(609) 771-7600
http://www.collegeboard.com -- online registration and information
SAT Services for Students with Disabilities
(609) 771-7137
(609) 882-4118 TTY (for individuals who are deaf or hearing impaired)
Advanced Placement Program (AP)
(888) Call 4 AP (225-5427)
(610) 882-4118 (for individuals who are deaf or hearing impaired)
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html
American College Testing (ACT)
(319) 337-1270 Registration & ID Requirements
(319) 337-1313 Score Reports & Records
(319) 337-1332 Special Testing
http://www.act.org
The Steward School’s CEEB Code:
471904
Standardized Testing Information
Page 10
Early Decision (ED) – Early Decision requirements vary from college to college. Check the website of
your chosen college for exact requirements. The general guidelines for Early Decision are:
1. You must complete, by October of senior year, all standardized tests required by your college.
2. Early Decision is only for those who KNOW they want to attend one particular school
above all others. If you are wavering between two places, forget Early Decision! You may only
apply to one ED school.
3. You must agree to attend the college if that school accepts you. You will be asked to make a
deposit to hold your place in the class. This is a total commitment on your part.
4. Students admitted under Early Decision plans who will seek scholarships or need-based
financial aid will not be able to compare aid awards from other colleges. If you know that you
will need financial aid and/or scholarships to attend college, applying Early Decision may
present a considerable financial risk.
5. If the college does not initially accept you, in some instances, your application will be deferred
for reconsideration with the Regular Decision pool. At this point, you are no longer bound to
enrollment should you be admitted during Regular Decision.
6. If you are accepted and have submitted applications to other schools, you must officially
withdraw those applications. Mrs. Jeter will help you to make the appropriate contacts to
withdraw your applications from consideration.
Early Action/Notification (EA)– Though there is an earlier deadline and notification date for EA, you are
not bound to attend if admitted. You may apply to as many EA schools as you like. However, be certain
to read all information for each school closely. There are a few schools who prefer that students not
apply Early Action if they are also applying to another school under a binding Early Decision plan.
Single Choice Early Action – This is a wrinkle in college admissions that is offered at a few highly
selective universities. This plan is not binding but limits a student to only one early application. A
student can still apply to other colleges under Regular Decision plans and has until May 1st of senior year
to decide where to enroll.
Rolling Admission –Decisions are made on a regular, on-going basis. A decision is often rendered
within four to six weeks of receipt of all parts of the application. The earlier the admission office
receives your complete application, the earlier you will hear a decision. Therefore, you should apply as
soon as you are ready/able to a rolling admission school.
Regular Decision – Applicants are notified of the college's decision by a specific date (usually late
March/early April).
Types of Applications
Page 11
Information Sent on Your Behalf
The packet mailed to each college from the College Counseling Office includes:
The School Report Form: A basic information form for each student.
Transcript(s): The College Counseling Office sends the Steward
transcript, listing only semester averages and final grades for each
high school course. The Steward cumulative GPA is calculated only
from grades earned at Steward. The College Counseling Office will
send transcripts from other high schools a student may have
attended, but no GPAs from other schools will be factored into the
Steward cumulative GPA.)
Official School Recommendation: Mrs. Jeter provides a thorough,
personal recommendation for you in order to help each college
understand your strengths, accomplishments, and character. The
recommendation discusses both your academic and non-academic
interests and emphasizes highlights of your high school career. The
letter may also include information regarding any extenuating
circumstances that may have affected your school experience, such as
personal problems, family problems, or illness, if the family gives
permission for this information to be shared.
Teacher Letters of Recommendation: You will request two letters of
recommendation from teachers (ideally, with whom you studied as a
junior). The purpose of these letters is to discuss your performance in
the teachers’ classes. Any forms completed by teachers will also be
sent to colleges from the College Counseling Office.
The Steward School Profile: The profile provides detailed school
information, including a description of our grading scale and a listing
of AP and Honors courses available to students.
Résumé: A copy of the student’s résumé will be sent to each college.
First Semester Senior Year Grades: In mid-January, first semester
senior year grades will be sent to every college where a student has an
active application or where a student has already been accepted.
Final Grades: Following graduation, a final transcript will be sent to
the school that the student has chosen to attend.
DEADLINES
College applications, testing, financial aid, and scholarship deadlines are not negotiable. Cut-off dates are real. Be cognizant of all deadlines in the application process!
College application deadlines vary. To find deadlines, consult the colleges’ websites and/or Naviance. We strongly urge you to file applications to schools with rolling admission by early fall.
A particular caution: waiting until the last minute to complete applications is unwise for a variety of
reasons, but especially because application servers often overload. Do not cause yourself the unnecessary stress of being unable to access or save an application by waiting until the due date.
Page 12
Priorities of the Application
Most colleges and universities consider the parts of the application in the following
order of importance:
1. Grades and difficulty of courses are the most important factors for a student’s application.
2. Scores on the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, or ACT are important, but they are certainly not the
only factor in college admission decisions.
3. A deep involvement in non-academic areas is extremely important, particularly to the most
competitive colleges. Non-academic areas include: sports, art, music, politics, leadership,
dance, a job, etc.
4. Essays are an important part of most college applications. The purpose of essays is to learn
more about a student’s interests, opinions, and experiences.
5. Your progress from year to year is important. An improving record is a positive sign of
dedication to studies. Junior year and first semester senior year grades are of utmost
importance. It is never too late to begin an upward trend!
6. Letters of recommendation from teachers and your college counselor convey what faculty
at the college can expect of you in the classes and as a community member.
7. Interviews, if required/recommended, add a personal element.
8. Other factors of importance to the college may be considered: legacy (a parent or other
close relative who attended), athletics, artistic skill, and/or other factors that reflect the
needs of the institution.
Page 13
Quick Checklist for Applications
Create a working list of your application log-ins and passwords. Do not trust
your memory!
If you are using the Common Application, familiarize yourself with the website
before you begin.
SEND SAT, SAT SUBJECT, and/or ACT SCORES TO THE COLLEGE THROUGH
THE COLLEGE BOARD OR ACT WEBSITES. These must come from you! Take
care of this requirement as early as possible in your process, as there are often
issues to resolve with colleges receiving scores. Steward cannot send these
scores for you!
Prepare essay(s) and see if you can use the same essay on more than one
application by making small adjustments. Submit rough drafts to your college
counselor, allowing ample time for turn-around.
Ask others (parents, teachers, older siblings) to review your application and/or
essay(s) for corrections, reactions, and suggestions.
Often, you will be prompted to print a confirmation page or a copy of your
application before submitting it or logging off from the application site. Do so!
If questions about your application submission should arise, having the
confirmation page’s information is extremely helpful.
The College Counseling Office will send transcript(s), Steward’s School Profile,
and counselor and teacher recommendations to college(s) by the appropriate
deadlines as long as you have met our in-house deadlines.
Check your email frequently for application status updates! Keep in mind
that it may take several weeks from time of receipt for the college to collate all
of your application materials. If you receive notice from a college that something
is missing from your application, let us know; more often than not, a quick
phone call will resolve the matter. Don’t panic!
Page 14
Frequent Application Errors
1. Do not submit an application that is marred by capitalization, spelling, and punctuation errors. Essays and short answers should always be composed in Word first, then copied and pasted into applications after all errors have been resolved.
2. Do not reference a major or program that the college does not offer. You can find out what majors a college does offer by looking on the college’s website.
3. Do not exaggerate the amount of time you have spent in activities or working at a job. Presenting impossibly high total hours of commitment is not impressive.
4. Do not mention every school-sponsored club or activity with which you have ever had contact. Instead, present only those in which you participated regularly.
5. Do not fail to answer an essay question directly. There will be times when you can not recycle another college’s essay and must start from scratch. Be sure you understand the question so that you are answering precisely what the prompt asks.
6. Do not fail to address, either in the personal essay or in a supplementary statement, why certain course grades or semesters are poor.
7. Do not forget to check your application status on college’s websites to make certain that all credentials required by the college have been received—test scores, in particular.
8. Do not forget to check emails (including “Trash” and “Spam” folders) frequently for college-related emails. This point is especially important after you have submitted your applications.
9. Do not attempt to submit an application after the stated deadline.
10. Do not mistakenly use the previous year’s online application. Be particularly mindful of this error if you are applying very early to a college or if you are using the Common Application.
11. Do not use nicknames or list your middle name as your first name on an application. Your name on applications must match your birth certificate.
12. Do not create two versions of an application. Forgetting your password is not a valid reason to create a new application account.
Page 15
Application Essay Guidelines
There will be times when you can write one stellar essay and use it, with a few modifications, for several colleges. However, it is often better to start from scratch.
Be sure you understand the question so that you are answering what it asks, not just writing what you want. If you try to force an essay by recycling one or by writing on another topic, the admission officer(s) reading your file will certainly spot your technique. This is your one chance to show the three-dimensional aspects of yourself. Seize the opportunity!
Be yourself. Use your own unique style so that your voice as a writer is evident.
Consider the following suggestions to the open-ended questions. There is no right way of answering. However, you may wish to:
—Cite an experience that you have had that changed your way of thinking about life (e.g., Outward Bound, travel, a competitive sports event). —Examine what you really like (e.g., being with people and explaining how you achieve happiness through your life's activities). —Speak of a book (choose a good one!) or a person who has influenced your life and discuss that influence. —Write about your planned career and why you have chosen it.
Be as deep and as specific as you can, but don't reveal anything you might later regret.
Colleges don't want: "I was born in Henrico County on June 12, 1998, and...” They want something that shows a part of your character and how it was formed. The biographical information is elsewhere on the application. Focus instead on what DISTINGUISHES you from other applicants.
Read over and correct your essay many times—don't submit it with any misspelled words, typographical errors, or grammatical mistakes! You can consult with others, but you must write your own essay. (Furthermore, be careful not to solicit too many opinions. Writing is subjective, and everyone will have a different opinion of your essay. Too many readers will leave you with too many impressions and, ultimately, confusion!
If you are asked an open-ended question, you may wish to present something other than an essay that expresses your talents; for instance, you may opt to submit an original poem, an original musical composition, or drawings. For very competitive schools, the submission of these types of materials might be appropriate in addition to an essay. If you are considering this approach, consult with your college counselor before-hand.
Think of the essay as an opportunity to get the Admission Office to pay attention to you. You have the opportunity to promote yourself, to show what makes you a good applicant, and to explain what you can contribute to that school.
Page 16
Your college counselor will write the official School Recommendation for you. This letter provides a “macro” view of you: your strengths, accomplishments, and character.
Most colleges will require one or two recommendations from teachers who can
speak to your academic abilities and other personal qualities as they have observed them within the context of their classes. Think of these letters as a more “micro” view of your performance in specific classes. Be sure to note if the college asks for a writer from a specific subject area or a teacher from 10th - 11th grades.
In addition, you may wish (or may be required) to submit other recommendations.
These can come from the following sources:
—A peer/friend at Steward or a student who knows you well. —A teacher, advisor, coach, club sponsor, etc., who can write about your qualities and abilities as observed in a specific activity. —Another adult who has worked with you or supervised you in an activity (e.g., a sponsor of Youth Group, a boss at your job, or an adult advisor where you do volunteer work) and who can attest to your personal qualities as observed in the specific activity. Ask your recommenders well in advance of all deadlines.
The Steward School’s faculty and staff will submit their letters directly to the
College Counseling Office.
For a recommender outside of school, request a hard copy or PDF of the letter to
be sent to your college counselor. You should not hand-deliver the letter on the recommender’s behalf to the College Counseling Office.
Be sure to thank your recommenders! Keep them posted on your progress.
Letters of Recommendation
Page 17
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Financial aid falls into one of two categories: need-based and merit-based. Need-based aid always requires the family to submit financial information for consideration. Merit-based aid is sometimes awarded without a separate application for consideration, but many colleges will have an additional merit-based aid application that must be completed, often with additional essays or recommendations required.
Need is determined by the computer analysis of information submitted by both parents and the applicant. Information should be submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and in some cases the College Scholarship Service (CSS) PROFILE, available online. Families must complete the FAFSA to apply for Federal Title IV student aid programs: Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, College Work-Study, and Perkins Loans. Families must complete the PROFILE as well as the FAFSA to apply for aid at some colleges. The PROFILE collects additional information to determine eligibility for private scholarship programs and non-government funds.
Many colleges and universities will also have their own Financial Aid Application that you must complete in order to be considered for any need-based aid and, in some cases, scholarships.
Please read each college’s website carefully for particular requirements and additional forms. Also, contact colleges early in the fall for further information. Financial Aid Offices are often very helpful. Investigate options early in the process.
If you have a “college fund” for your student, you can expect that to be taken into account when a college assesses need. Once that fund has been depleted, you may qualify for aid that was not available to you when the fund existed.
Guaranteed Student Loans can be secured through some banks payable at the end of your schooling. Colleges and universities may be able to provide you with information on lenders with whom they have good relationships.
In Virginia, a grant is awarded to all in-state residents attending eligible, in-state private colleges. Contact the college you plan to attend for information about the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) Program. If you have a pre-paid tuition plan like the VPEP, be sure you understand the implications for in-state public, in-state private, and out-of-state colleges.
Besides college financial aid offices, there are other sources of aid. These are offered in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans by clubs, churches, corporations, foundations, and other organizations. Some programs require you to meet certain qualifications, but all will require extra effort on your part. For instance, you may enter poster contests, essay contests, and many other types of competitions. Don’t ignore “small” scholarships; even if an award seems small, it can cover books for a semester or two.
PLEASE NOTE: Financial aid and some scholarships vary from year to year and from school to school. Please work closely with the Financial Aid Offices at the colleges to which you are applying.
They will offer the best sources of specific information for their institutions.
Page 18
Helpful Web Sites
This is by no means a complete list of resources, but it should assist you in researching your college options and in compiling information. Naviance Family Connection provides access to information about colleges and universities nationwide, as well as information of specific interest to Steward students. This list is for your information and is not necessarily an endorsement of any product or service. Some of the sites are for-profit organizations.
College Search Information Common Application: http://www.commonapp.org The College Board: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search Peterson’s – Search and Find Colleges and Universities: http://www.petersons.com/ Hobson’s College and Financial Aid Center: http://www.collegeview.com American Colleges and Universities: http://www.clas.ufl.edu/CLAS/american-universities.html Historically Black Colleges and Universities: http://www.ed.gov/edblogs/whhbcu Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV): http://www.cicv.org/ College Prowler: https://collegeprowler.com/
Financial Aid/Scholarship Information FAFSA on the Web: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov CSS PROFILE online: https://profileonline.collegeboard.com Zinch: www.zinch.com FinAid: The Financial Aid Information Page: http://www.finaid.org fastWeb! http://www.fastweb.com United Negro College Fund: http://www.uncf.org Student Loan programs: http://www.salliemae.com Army ROTC: www.armyrotc.com Naval ROTC: www.nrotc.navy.mil Air Force ROTC: www.afrotc.com
Student Athlete Information NCAA: www.eligibilitycenter.org NAIA: http://www.naia.org/ Standardized Testing Information The College Board: http://www.collegeboard.com (SAT and Subject Tests) American College Testing Program: http://www.act.org International students: http://www.toefl.org Princeton Review: http://www.review.com or http://www.princetonreview.com
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Recommended Reading
The following resources should help with various aspects of the college application and
selection processes described in this handbook. College admission officers recommend that we all be wary of publications, like U.S. News and World Report and Money magazines, that publish college "rankings." These "rankings" are based on subjective data collected through polls sent to the colleges and do not consistently measure the same factors. We do not necessarily
endorse all of these books, but they have proven helpful to families in the past.
SELECTING A COLLEGE (Use the most recent edition available.)
Colleges That Change Lives – Loren Pope
The Best Value Colleges – Princeton Review
The Fiske Guide to Colleges – Edward B. Fiske
College Handbook – The College Board
The Insider’s Guide to the Colleges – Yale Daily News Staff
America’s Best Colleges for B Students – Orr and Tanabe
Profiles of American Colleges – Barron’s Educational Series
FINANCIAL AID (Use the most recent edition available.)
Getting In: The Zinch Guide to College Admissions & Financial Aid in the Digital Age – S. Cohen
Getting Financial Aid – The College Board
Peterson’s How to Get Money For College: Financing Your Future Beyond Federal Aid
Paying for College Without Going Broke – The Princeton Review
THE HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE TRANSITION
How to Survive Your Freshman Year – F. Northcutt, ed.
The Best Four Years: How to Survive and Thrive in College – A. Shephard
Who Moved My Laundry? – Fitzgerald and Peters
The Secrets of College Success – L. Jacobs & J. Hyman
FOR PARENTS
Letting Go: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the College Years – K. Coburn
Don’t Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money – Helen E. Johnson
You’re On Your Own (But I’m Here If You Need Me) – M. Savage
Sending Your Child to College: The Prepared Parent’s Operational Manual – M. Carr
NCAA Eligibility Information
The NCAA Eligibility Process: A Quick Overview
Grades 9 and 10
Take academic college-preparatory courses, preferably one in each of the following areas:
English, math, science, social studies and foreign language. The student should compare
course selection against the list of NCAA-approved core courses.
Grade 11
Continue to take college preparatory courses in the areas listed above.
Register for the SAT and/or ACT, making sure to use code 9999 at the time of registration. Using
code 9999 will ensure the score is reported directly to the Eligibility Center.
Register online with the NCAA Eligibility Center and complete both the academic information
and the amateurism questionnaire (before June 1). Be certain to use an email address that will
remain active through the end of your senior year.
Make note of your ID PIN number and share it with Mrs. Jeter.
In late May, send an email to Mrs. Jeter , formally requesting them to send your transcript to the
Eligibility Center. If you have attended more than one high school, discuss with Mrs. Jeter the
process of requesting transcripts from other schools.
Also in late May, send another email to Mrs. Jeter, giving permission for her to send your
transcript and/or SAT/ACT scores to any coach who may request this information. Or, you may
request to be notified before such information is sent on your behalf.
At the end of the student’s sixth semester, the student’s transcript is sent to the Eligibility Center.
Download A Guide for College-Bound Student-Athletes and Their Parents. This document includes
the core course and SAT requirements for eligibility, and should be read carefully and in full.
Grade 12
Continue to take college preparatory courses in English, math, science, social studies and foreign
language.
Register for additional ACT/SAT tests if necessary, making sure to use code 9999 at the time of
registration.
On or after April 1 of the senior year, go back into your Eligibility Center account to update your
academic and amateurism information and request final amateurism certification.
After graduation, Steward will send the student’s final transcript to the Eligibility Center.
NCAA Eligibility Center: (877) 262-1492
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Eligibility Requirements
Core Courses
NCAA Division I and II require 16 core courses. See the charts below.
NCAA Division I requires 10 core courses to be completed prior to the seventh semester (seven of the 10
must be a combination of English, math, or natural or physical science that meet the distribution
requirements below). These 10 courses become "locked in" at the seventh semester and cannot be retaken
for grade improvement.
Test Scores
Division I uses a sliding scale to match test scores and core grade-point averages (GPA).
Division II requires a minimum SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.
The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing
section of the SAT is not used.
The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the following four sections: English, mathematics, reading
and science.
When you register for the SAT or ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 to ensure all SAT
and ACT scores are reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency.
Grade-Point Average
Be sure to look at your high school’s List of NCAA Courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center's website
(www.eligibilitycenter.org). Only courses that appear on your school's List of NCAA Courses will be used in
the calculation of the core GPA. Use the list as a guide. A minimum 2.3 core GPA is required for Division I.
Division I students enrolling full time after August 1, 2016, should use Sliding Scale B (available at
www.eligibilitycenter.org) to determine eligibility to receive athletics aid, practice, and compete during the
first year of college.
The Division II core GPA requirement is a minimum of 2.000.
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DIVISION I 16 Core Courses
4 years of English
3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher)
2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab)
1 year of additional English, mathematics, or
natural/physical science
2 years of social science
4 years of additional courses (from any area
above or foreign language)
DIVISION II 16 Core Courses
3 years of English
2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher)
2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab)
3 years of additional English, mathematics, or
natural/physical science
2 years of social science
4 years of additional courses (from any area
above or foreign language)
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Glossary of Terms
Academic probation - Trial period for a student not making satisfactory academic progress Accreditation - Approval granted to an educational institution by an accrediting commission Advanced standing - Credit or advanced placement for freshmen who have done previous high-
level high school or college work or placed high on advanced placement tests. Associate’s degree - Degree granted for completion of a course of study, usually 2 to 3 years Audit - Attending a course without earning credit for it. Baccalaureate or Bachelor’s degree - Awarded for completion of an undergraduate curriculum. Bachelor of Arts - Degree conferred on those completing undergraduate study, usually lasting 4
years, in the liberal arts or humanities. Bachelor of Science - Academic degree conferred on those completing undergraduate study, usually
lasting 4 years, in the sciences. Bursar - School billing office. Credit - Official certification that a student has successfully completed a course. Three-credit
courses are most common, but some are for one, two, and four credits. Credit hour - Unit of measurement for credit. A three-credit course usually represents three credit
hours per week or three 1-hour classes. Dean - A senior administrative officer of a college or university Deferred entrance - An accepted student delays entering college in order to study, travel, or work. Doctorate - Highest academic degree awarded by a college or university for graduate study. Elective - Optional course not required in curriculum but contributing to total number of credits. Grade point average - Average numerical grade for courses taken by student. Grade points - Points given for the letter grade received in a course. Humanities - Courses concerned with thought and human relations, philosophy, literature, classical
languages, and the fine arts. Liberal arts - Studies in humanities, social sciences, and the abstract sciences, as opposed to
technical or professional subjects. Major - Subject in which a student takes the greatest concentration of courses. Master's degree - Conferred for a program of post-graduate work, usually lasting 1 or 2 years. Matriculate - To enroll in a degree program or be accepted as a candidate for a degree. Midterm - Halfway point in a semester or trimester; often a time of major tests. Minor - Subject in which a student takes the second greatest concentration of courses. Prerequisite - Basic course or courses needed for preparation in order to take higher-level courses. Registrar - University official who keeps records of enrollment and academic standings. Rolling admission - Policy under which students can be accepted and notified throughout the school
year rather than only in the spring. Semesters - Two approximately equal periods of 4 to 5 months in the academic year. Seminar - Course in which a small group of students, headed by a professor, engages in research
and discussion. Transcript - Record of student's courses and grades. Trimesters - Three approximately equal periods of 3 to 4 months in the school year. Syllabus - Outline of a course and its requirements.
Page 36
Mrs. Heather K. O’Toole Jeter
Director of College Counseling
Office Phone: #804-740-3394, ext. 5536
E-mail: [email protected]
Mrs. Debra Fitzgerald
Registrar
Office Phone: #804-740-3394, ext. 2318
E-mail: [email protected]
The Steward School’s College Counseling page is
located under the “Academics” tab on Steward’s homepage.
Finding the Answers You Need
11600 Gayton Road Richmond, Virginia 23238
804.740.3394
